PLEASE NOTE: This presentation was part of a project for INF2143H at the University of Toronto iSchool. The assignment was to propose a partnership on behalf of a library. Our group chose to propose a partnership between the Flemingdon Public Library (part of the Toronto Public Library system) and the Ontario Science Centre. We are not affiliated with either of these organizations, and the proposal is fictitious but based on real information.

1. Partnership Proposal:
Flemingdon Park Library & Ontario
Science Centre
INF2143 – Group Project
Darrell Joyce, Mobina Bhimani, and Meaghan
Nichols

2. Goals
• To create a partnership with the Ontario
Science Centre (OSC) to promote much-
needed science literacy amongst the children
from low-income families in the Flemingdon
Park community who cannot otherwise access
OSC’s resources, programs, and science
knowledge available at the centre.
• Access to science knowledge & literacy is
paramount to children’s futures.

3. The Community
Flemingdon Park: A Priority
Neighbourhood
• Population = 22,000.
• Children & Youth = 35% of population
• Low-income and living below poverty line =
45%
[Source: http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/cns_profiles/2006/pdf4/cpa44.pdf ]

4. Flemingdon Park Demographics
(2006)
Source:http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/cns_profiles/2006/pdf4/cpa44.pdf

5. Flemingdon Park Demographics
(2006) Income and Poverty
Source:http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/cns_profiles/2006/pdf4/cpa44.pdf

6. Flemingdon Public Library
• A branch of the Toronto Public Library
• Children’s attendance figures are not available,
but FPL had an increase in attendance of 25% in
2010 vs. 2009 [Source: TPL 2010 Annual Performance Measures Report]
• “there were 134 children's programs and an
additional 6 youth programs at Flemingdon Park
Branch and all were very popular!” [Source: Personal Conversation,
March 3 2012 on Toronto Public Library’s FaceBook Wall]
rd
• TPL has a good reputation and is a valuable
organization to partner with (high visibility, well
respected in the community).

7. Ontario Science Centre
• OSC is a government-run (Gov’t of Ontario)
agency, which is an ideal organization to partner
with as it is not a private corporation and will be
more acceptable to the community
• OSC is seen as valuable organization to the
community
• Attending the OSC is seen as a tradition/rite of
passage for children. To be excluded from visiting
due to economic factors is a big disadvantage

8. Ontario Science Centre
• In 2011, the OSC was attended by 1.13M people,
approx. 10% are low-income visitors, due to the high
admission costs [Source: http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/assets/2010_2011_Year-in-Review.en.pdf ]
• Very few people in the Flemingdon neighbourhood can
afford to attend the OSC (basic admission range from
$13-16 for children, $20 for adults. Extra cost for IMAX
experience, which most people attend). [Source:
http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/prices/default.asp#prices]
• OSC Community Access Program: already has funds
earmarked for programs to aid low-income visitors and
the community. We need to access these funds for our
children’s programs.

9. Science Literacy
• Toronto Declaration (2008)
– All citizens should have access to a science centre
– Should be able to overcome barriers to access the
science centre: cultural, geographic, physical,
economic, etc.
– Science Centres “support the skills needed for
effective problem-solving, creativity, innovation,
critical thinking and decision-making, therefore
enhancing lifelong learning of science and
technology”
– and “form strategic partnerships to help address
important local, national and global challenges”
[Source: http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/aboutus/torontodeclaration.asp]

10. Why Partner with the OSC?
Source: created by Darrell Joyce

11. Why Partner with the OSC?
• Overlap in our mission, vision, and values
– OSC Mission: "To delight, inform and challenge
visitors through engaging and thought-provoking
experiences in science and technology.” [Source:
http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/aboutus/default.asp]
– Toronto Public Library (TPL) “preserves and promotes
universal access to a broad range of human
knowledge, experience, information and ideas in a
welcoming and supportive environment. Library
services and programming support literacy, learning
and research, reading, recreation, employment and
culture.” [Source: TPL 2011-2020 Capital Plan,
www.toronto.ca/budget2011/pdf/presentation11_tpl.pdf]

12. Our Recommendations: Pilot Project
• We recommend creating a pilot project
partnership between the OSC & FPL, which could
later extend to other priority TPL branches
• Create monthly children’s science programming
to increase their scientific literacy and usage of
the library
• Invite guest speakers from OSC, set up activity
stations and small-scale science experiments
• Create science book displays and portable
science displays

13. The Microscope Works Project
• Theme: Health & the Human Body
• Guest speaker from OSC discusses the body, brings
some slides/pictures & models
• OSC provides a kit containing 2-3 “toy” microscopes,
tissue slides, 1 digital microscope, 1 projector (one
time purchase) to display slides on overhead
• Librarians create book display and discuss some books
• Activities/toy microscope stations/experiments are set
up at various stations
• Discuss issues such as diabetes, role of healthy diet
and exercise, etc.

14. Annual Budget
• First year: approximately $3,000 plus guest speakers’
time and free admission to OSC
– One-time purchase: Digital Projector (~$500), Digital
Microscope (<$500), 3 toy microscopes ($100, replace
every couple years), prepared slides (~$100 for several
sets) = $1200
– Ongoing: activities and small experiments (~$50/month *
12 months) = $600
– Extra science books and supplies = $1200
– OSC donates free admission for children & parents who
attend at least 3 program sessions. Doesn’t hurt their
budget as these are people who wouldn’t otherwise be
able to attend (~100 admissions)