Toronto Public Library Celebrates Record 14 Million Digital Checkouts

The Toronto Public Library (TPL) has achieved a milestone with a record-breaking **14 million** digital checkouts in the past year. This significant figure marks a continued increase in the library’s e-readership, demonstrating a growing trend in digital literacy among the public. According to **Matt Abbott**, senior manager of collection development, the library is on track to reach **100 million lifetime checkouts** by **April 2025**.

“We’re thrilled that our TPL customers have reached this incredible milestone,” Abbott stated. “It reflects something powerful: hundreds of thousands of readers discovering stories and accessing information anytime, anywhere, all for free with their library card.” Over the last five years, the library has recorded approximately a **35 percent** increase in digital checkouts from **2021 to 2025**.

Libby App Drives E-Reading Growth

A key component of this growth is the **Libby** app, which allows readers to access the library’s extensive **OverDrive** catalogue on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. **Oya Darici**, an enthusiastic reader and founder of the Toronto-based book club **Wine About Books**, exemplifies the app’s impact. Last year, she read **47 books**, with **42** accessed via Libby.

“The ability to read free books anywhere, anytime, has allowed me to read more than ever,” Darici explained. She noted that her book club, which has over **250 members**, has also seen an increase in reading frequency. “I personally used to read like one book a month. Now, I’m reading two to three, and this has been consistent across all of our members,” she added. The affordability of the app is particularly important given the high cost of living in Toronto.

“With Libby also being free, people have access to all the books at their fingertips,” Darici emphasized. “It’s really easy for people to join and then contribute to one of our meetings.”

The Evolving Role of Librarians

Despite the rise of digital platforms, librarians continue to play a crucial role in curating literary content. **Andreea Marin**, chief librarian of the **Robertson Davies Library** at **Massey College**, highlighted the necessity of curation in an age where information is abundant. “Now we have an abundance of information, so readers need a filter. They need someone to help them navigate this landscape with thousands, millions of records,” Marin stated.

She pointed out that digital catalogues remain highly curated in both public and private institutions. For instance, the University of Toronto catalogue allows users to browse similar titles, simulating the physical library experience. Marin also noted that as libraries worldwide digitize ancient texts, access to literature is becoming increasingly democratized.

However, the rise of “born digital” texts raises concerns about the permanence of future literary history. “I always have this recurring nightmare where there’s a big power outage all over the world and we lose the internet and then all of that information is forever lost,” Marin confessed. As digital publishing and AI technology evolve, she stresses the importance of balancing digital and physical media.

“It’s the newest thing threatening the way we live our lives,” she remarked. “You have to look at it as a balancing act: to be welcoming, but also cautious. Pick what works best for you.”

The Toronto Public Library has implemented an online tracker that allows patrons to monitor digital checkouts in real time, further emphasizing its commitment to enhancing reader engagement and accessibility in a digital age.