295: Marci Stepak on Walking 300 km Through Grief, Connection, and Library Joy (Every Library TO)

I’ve spent a lot of time in libraries so far this year, both personally, with my kids, as well as professionally, with a variety of guests for my upcoming and ongoing Library Loiterers series. (More on that soon!)

I’ve also been thinking a lot about the rapid decline of social trust in the age of digital misinformation and disinformation, never quite knowing if what you’re reading (and now seeing) is real. In this lonely and scary tsunami of information overwhelm, libraries feel like the exact opposite; a gentle river where we can dip into a system of vetted info using a sharing economy framework that relies on social trust. It’s a place where all are welcome and a space where we’re not the product, but rather a connected community with open access to information. And it’s all free of charge, all in a way that feels decidedly… human.

Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Marci Stepak, who grew up using Toronto public libraries in the late 1970s and early 80s. Her mom—an incredible woman who understood that curiosity costs nothing and knowledge belongs to everyone—brought her to story hour most weeks and let her check out far too many books. Those visits taught Marci that libraries are more than buildings—they're proof that access, curiosity, and community matter more than what’s in your wallet.

In this conversation, you’ll hear about Marci’s journey, walking 300 km to visit all 100 Toronto Public Library branches on foot over 10 days. She’s calling it Every Library TO and the walk starts today, April 7, 2026. This walk is both a tribute to her Mom (today marks 1 year of her passing) and also to raise to raise funds for the Toronto Public Library Foundation.

You’ll hear a beautiful story of love, grief, and why libraries are more necessary than ever in an age of disconnection, loneliness, and algorithmic filter bubbles designed to reinforce existing beliefs. 

You’ll hear about the magic of curiosity while engaging in a library environment and why the library might become your new favourite hub for dating. This episode has something for every book and library lover.

Let’s listen in…

About Our Guest:

I'm Marci—a Toronto-based content strategist, former college professor, editor, and writer who's always been better at asking questions than sitting still.

I grew up in Toronto Public Libraries in the late 1970s and early 80s. My mom—an incredible woman who understood that curiosity costs nothing and knowledge belongs to everyone—brought me to story hour most weeks and let me check out far too many books. Those visits taught me that libraries are more than buildings—they're proof that access, curiosity, and community matter more than what’s in your wallet.

I became ME because of what I learned on those library floors.

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Music:

Bubbles ( Lofi , Bright , Relaxed ) by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle

Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash