The Toronto Public Library’s support of the Canadian literary scene has is well-known, but fewer people are aware of its support of the music scene. Since 2006, the TPL has been putting on the Make Some Noise program, an initiative that includes a borrowable collection of local and Canadian music co-curated by Soundscapes indie record store, a workshop series for people interested in topics related to music and a series of free, and all-ages concerts in libraries across the city.
This Saturday (April 16) at 8 pm the TPL launches its fifth year of the program with a free show by hard-working local psych-country band the Sadies at the Toronto Reference Library (see listing). We caught up with the Make Some Noise mastermind, TPL Children and Youth Advocate Lisa Heggum, to talk about the program’s mandate and ongoing evolution.
How did the Make Some Noise program get started?
When we started the program a number of years ago, we were just sort of responding to what was going on in the city. People in the Public Library, they want to reflect and record what’s happening culturally. We really try and support Toronto and Canadian talent with the print collection, and we want it to be the same with music. So we got some money to build the collection and then we talked about launching it, and launching it has turned into an ongoing concert series.
So the concerts in the stacks weren’t meant to be an ongoing series?
We launched the collection in 2006 with two different concerts, one at North York Central Library and one at the Reference Library. We had amazing performers like Final Fantasy, Great Lake Swimmers, Elliott Brood and Shad. That went so well that we decided to do it again, and now it’s evolved into something we do every year. This year we’re starting with the Sadies, which is great because we’ve wanted them to play for quite some time. We’ll have more in the fall, too. We’re just working out the details.
What’s the goal with the workshop series?
Part of the goal of this project is to help aspiring musicians. There are a lot of great stories and a lot of great talent in the city, and the workshop series is meant to show people that, to help people realize that they can actually do this. It’s all music-related, but the topics have been pretty diverse. We’ve done stuff for people who are interested in writing or blogging about music, we’ve done some about filmmaking, we’ve done ones on DJing, and some about the business of music. I think it makes a lot of sense for us to support the local scene.
What are your criteria for what gets included in the collection?
Initially we were just looking at Toronto with that build-up project, but I’d say in the second year we started expanding. Our collection now, we look at all of Canada. And we’re looking for good quality stuff versus just anything. We get the more mainstream music in our collections in other ways, but we solicit stuff as well from smaller labels. And we get approached by people a lot. A lot of people seem very very excited about this project and want to be involved.
How integral are your partners to the success of this program?
What we’re ultimately trying to do is work with the right people. That’s why we’re partnering with Soundscapes, Exclaim!, and the Polaris Prize. We’re not just coming up with the ideas in our library world. We’re trying to work with the people involved in that music community and respond and do something that’s useful. We solicit recommendations from our staff and from patrons as much as we can, often through our youth advisory groups, and then we really look to Soundscapes for their expertise. They were on board from the start.
Some people tend to see the public library system as a stolid, dignified, sometimes boring institution. Is this a way to counter that?
The public library tries to be really responsive and relevant. We’re about so much more than just books. I guess that people don’t necessarily realize that, but we are. And it’s good because this project of ours has gotten us a bit of attention, so it’s helped make people realize the public libraries are changing, or have changed. It ends up bringing some people to the library who maybe haven’t been in a while, and I think it really kind of surprises a lot of people, but in reality it’s a perfect fit.
The program is entering its fifth year. Is it still growing?
We’re always trying to keep in touch and try new things. One of the things we’re doing is having more of our shows right in the stacks. The very first show at the Reference Library was like that, but a number of our shows have been at North York Central and it’s been a bit removed from the library. We received feedback from some of the fans saying it would be great if the shows were more integrated, and we’re actually doing more of that. We’ve had a number of shows in the stacks and in the fall we’re going to have a show that takes place in the afternoon while the library is open.
Do you think you’re filling a niche?
It’s such a great opportunity for people to see a free show. It often gets people out who may not normally be able to go, whether it’s because they work evenings or they have young children and they can’t do that sort of thing. It appeals to music lovers of all ages, and that’s who it’s for ultimately. I think there’s a demand for all ages concerts, and just out of the ordinary shows in general. We’re trying to help meet that demand.
