Photo: "Reference Library" by Metrix X, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Thoughts of Luminato — Toronto's Festival of Arts and Creativity — don't always conjure up images of the Toronto Public Library, but as it did last year, the country's largest library system is sponsoring a whole slew of literary events as part of the upcoming festival.

The highlight of TPL's Luminato activities (especially for lovers of all things short like me) is the Festival of the Short Story, featuring readings and panels with eight of this country's best short story authors at four library locations across the city.

Among the authors presenting at the Festival of the Short Story are Ahmad Saidullah, whose Happiness and Other Disorders is a remarkable addition to the growing collection of acclaimed desi contemporary literature, and Pasha Malla, whose sometimes-surreal book The Withdrawal Method is among my favorite short story collections of this decade.

In addition to the Festival of the Short Story, TPL is offering special sing-along and storytelling sessions with Dan Zanes, 2007 Grammy Award winner for best children's album.

Not all the Luminato activities at the Toronto Public Library revolve around literature: special family sessions with Puppetmongers Theatre will introduce children and their parents to shadow puppetry and storytelling, while the Mark Morris Dance Group will hold family dance workshops for families and interested members of the public.

More information about all the TPL Luminato events (including dates and locations) can be found at the Toronto Public Library's Luminato at the Library page.