Alfreda Mordas Reading Room

About

In 2003, OWN received a legacy from a member of the OWN Friendship Link, Alfreda Mordas, “to establish a Reading Room” for older women. Two members formed a committee to look for space and set up the facility. After looking at various spaces in the area, they finally decided that the best way to fulfill the conditions of Alfreda Mordas’ will would be to utilize vacant but cluttered space in the OWN office. A larger committee worked for months clearing and organizing, then a Reading Room Working Group was formed to shepherd the re-design of the space.

During most of 2005 this group met regularly to order furniture, including bookshelves and comfortable reading chairs. The parameters of the collection were established at that time as well. It was to be a feminist collection with an emphasis on Canadian material. Most of the books were ordered, and continue to be ordered today, from the Toronto Women’s Bookstore, which gives us a discount. An opening Gala on October 25, 2005 honoured fourteen OWN members who were published authors.

Once opened, a Reading Room Operational Committee was formed to decide on policy, staffing, and future programs. It was agreed that the Reading Room would pay a share of OWN’s office expenses and a collection policy was developed for purchasing future books and magazines.

In addition to building a collection of Canadian feminist material of interest to OWN members, the committee sponsors events related to books and films. A new initiative is a film series for older and mid-life women in conjunction with the Toronto Public Library. 

Just as Alfreda Mordas envisioned, her Reading Room has become a cozy and popular space, perfect for small meetings, press interviews, and just relaxing with a feminist magazine or book.

Excerpted from “The Alfreda Mordas Reading Room – How it Grew” by Margaret Hawthorn, (OWN) Contact Summer 2008

How to Use

In-house

** Note that we are all volunteers and the office is not always staffed. Please call the office to check that someone will be there when you wish to come.

Books in the Alfreda Mordas Feminist Reading Room are available for loan by OWN MEMBERS ONLY. The loan period is one month and only two books at a time can be borrowed. A sign-out book, located above the bright pink flyer, is provided for your convenience. 

• In the book, enter your name, telephone #, the date, and the title of the book you wish to borrow

• Books are due back in one month

• Use note paper to remind yourself when your book is due back

• When you bring the book back, enter the date returned in the sign-out book and place the book in the basket below

Online Catalogue of Holdings

The author and title listings of books held in the Reading Room are provided here for your convenience. The lists are not searchable but you may browse to find something you would like borrow, and then come down to the Reading Room to sign it out.