More than 2,000 libraries across Canada will help children retain or
    improve their reading skills this summer with the free reading program

    HALIFAX, June 16 /CNW/ - The TD Summer Reading Club is encouraging kids
to take a break from school but not from the fun of reading books this summer.
For the 13th year, TD Bank Financial Group is partnering with Library and
Archives Canada and the Toronto Public Library to bring the award-winning
reading club to more than 250,000 children across the country. TD has also
pledged a three-year, $2.7 million investment to help Library and Archives
Canada and the Toronto Public Library run the TD Summer Reading Club through
2011.
    This year's TD Summer Reading Club theme, LOL (Laugh Out Loud) is
designed to encourage the enjoyment of reading among children. All
participants receive a reading kit containing a colour poster, sticker sheet,
and a logbook to keep track of their progress. To encourage participation,
many local libraries will offer reading games, challenges and discussions,
book-related crafts, author visits and storytelling sessions.
    "The latest literacy study by Statistics Canada shows that millions of
Canadians do not have the literacy skills they need to keep pace with the
escalating demands of our society and the economy," said Frank McKenna, Deputy
Chair, TD Bank Financial Group and TD Literacy Champion. "TD is committed to
doing its small part to encourage reading at a young age and to help build the
foundation for a strong Canadian future."
    With a focus on children ages four to 12, participating libraries will
offer a range of books for all reading levels that fit into the LOL theme.
Libraries will be hoping to surpass the two million books read by participants
last summer.
    "Our goal is to have children discover the laughter, fun, and excitement
they can experience through reading," said Ken Setterington, Children and
Youth Advocate for Library Services, Toronto Public Library. "The club is
focused on helping children build their reading skills while having a great
time in the Laugh Out Loud program."
    "The reading club is a smart way to include an educational component into
children's summer vacation," said Doug Rimmer, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Library and Archives Canada. "Reading is an important life skill and everyone,
including parents, teachers and mentors, has an important role in nurturing
this skill at a young age."
    In recognition of its success at bringing children and books together,
the TD Summer Reading Club has previously received the Angus Mowat Award of
Excellence.
    The 2008 program, available in English and French, is being offered by
libraries in Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario,
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Yukon.
New this year, all 400,000 free reading kits that will be given out across the
country will be printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper
stock.
    For more information about the TD Summer Reading Club, please visit
www.td-club-td.ca.

    TD Community Giving: Making a Difference Together

    Children's health, literacy and education, and the environment are the
three main areas of focus for community giving at TD. Flagship programs within
these areas include: TD Children's Hospital Fund; TD Friends of the
Environment Foundation; TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup; TD Canadian
Children's Book Week; TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership;
and the TD Summer Reading Club. With support from customers and employees, TD
is also involved with a host of national, regional and local causes benefiting
diversity, arts and culture and other community programs. In 2007, TD donated
$33 million to more than 2,000 organizations across Canada.

    About Library and Archives Canada

    Library and Archives Canada is one of Canada's newest and most innovative
national institutions, dedicated to providing Canadians with a single window
into the richness of its documentary heritage. As part of this national role,
LAC supports, develops and works together with Canada's library and archival
community, fostering a love of learning and delivering programs and services
that meet the needs of all Canadians.

    About Toronto Public Library

    Toronto Public Library (TPL) is proud to be the creative force behind the
TD Summer Reading Club. As the busiest public library system in North America,
every week over 300,000 people visit its 99 branches and borrow more than half
a million items. TPL has a distinguished history of providing excellence in
children's library services.

For further information: Matthew Cram, TD Bank Financial Group, T: (416)
983-1514, E: matthew.cram@td.com; Jill Quinn, GCI Group on behalf of TD, T:
(416) 486-5906, E: jquinn@gcigroup.com