Toronto Public Library is now giving away free Presto cards

The Toronto Public Library is now doing more than just lending books for free: they're giving away free Presto cards.

They're available to anyone who doesn't already have one, or might face challenges getting one. Using a Presto card, you can load fares to pay for trips on the TTC with a tap.

We’ve teamed with the TTC to provide a free PRESTO card to anyone who doesn’t already have one, or might face challenges purchasing one. Cards are available at select TPL branches, while quantities last. Details: https://t.co/WSATcRDm0a. Please retweet!@TTChelps @PRESTOcard pic.twitter.com/0VUjKUFP0X

— Toronto Public Library (@torontolibrary) October 17, 2021

Available at select branches, the free cards are available while quantities last. There are 52 branches giving away the cards for the initiative that began Oct. 5.

"The cards are available at select TPL branches located near neighbourhood improvement areas in the city, busy bus routes and areas identified as having limited access to purchase passes," Amanda French, manager, social development at Toronto Public Library tells blogTO.

Some branches the cards are available at include Jane/Sheppard, Parkdale, Pape/Danforth, Albion, Runnymede, Black Creek, Malvern, Weston and Lillian H. Smith.

"TPL branches are located in areas across the city and provide an additional point of access to areas of the city where customers may not have easy access to purchase one," says French.

The library has given out 18,000 cards to date, and will continue to give out the cards until all Presto cards supplied by the TTC have been given out.

The cards have a $6 cost that's waived since they're free, but no funds are loaded onto the free cards. Money or a monthly pass needs to be loaded onto the card before it can be used.

Like a library card, a Presto card can unlock all kinds of opportunities that get you where you want to go, so maybe it makes sense that TPL should be the one to distribute them.