List of Toronto Public Library branches

Summary

The Toronto Public Library operates a total of 100 branch libraries across Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Map showing locations of all branches of the Library as of July 2019

Current branches edit

Name Neighbourhood Opened Built Collection size Notes Image
Agincourt Agincourt 1918 1991 176,367 Originally the Agincourt Association Library for the village of Agincourt and located at Agincourt Continuation School, joins Library Board of the Township of Scarborough in 1955 (later renamed Scarborough Public Library); moved from Agincourt Mall location in 1991 to 155 Bonis Avenue as Agincourt District Branch  
Albert Campbell Scarborough Junction 1971 1971 120,658 Named after Albert Campbell; operated as Albert Campbell District Branch prior to 1998. The library renovated from 2019 to 2022  
Albion Smithfield 1965 1973 133,268  
Alderwood Alderwood 1958 1999 49,830  
Amesbury Park Amesbury 1967 1967 39,287
Annette Street The Junction 1888 1909 39,083 Carnegie library  
Armour Heights Armour Heights 1982 1982 26,528  
Barbara Frum Lawrence Manor 1992 1992 138,657 Replaced Bathurst Heights Regional Library. Named after Barbara Frum  
Beaches The Beaches 1914 1916 54,089 Carnegie library built in 1916[1]  
Bendale Bendale 1834 1961 38,957 Founded as the Scarboro' Subscription Library and then became the Scarborough Mechanics' Institute. In 1955 became one of the first three branches of the Scarborough Public Library  
Black Creek Downsview 1968 2002 32,052 Located in the North York Sheridan Mall
Bloor/Gladstone Dufferin Grove 1911 1911 59,825 Reopened after renovations in 2009  
Brentwood The Kingsway 1955 1955 97,432 Etobicoke's main library from 1955 to 1966  
Bridlewood L'Amoreaux 1976 1992 59,472 At Bridlewood Mall  
Brookbanks Parkwoods 1968 1968 49,023  
Burrows Hall Malvern 1998 1998 53,137  
Cedarbrae Woburn 1966 1966 158,760 operated as Cederbrae District Branch prior to 1998  
Centennial Branson 1966 1966 36,360  
City Hall Downtown 1965 1965 36,683 Inside Toronto City Hall  
Cliffcrest Cliffcrest 1972 2008 30,087  
College/Shaw Little Italy 1984 1984 37,123  
Danforth/Coxwell East Danforth 1989 1989 52,136  
Davenport Davenport 1988 1988 15,971
Dawes Road O'Connor-Parkview 1976 1976 48,472 Replaced Woodbine Gardens branch  
Deer Park Deer Park 1905 1952 74,088
Don Mills Don Mills 1961 1961 128,059  
Downsview Downsview 1962 1962 83,604
Dufferin/St. Clair Corso Italia 1921 1921 38,883  
Eatonville Eatonville 1964 1964 73,786
Eglinton Square Golden Mile 1955 1965 44,306 In Eglinton Square Shopping Centre  
Elmbrook Park Eringate 1988 1988 35,929
Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Bayview Village 2023 2023 43,145 Opened in 2023, it is the newest branch in the system. Located inside the Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Community Recreation Centre and Library behind the Bessarion station southern entrance, the library hosts collections and services from the former Bayview branch.[2][3]  
Evelyn Gregory Silverthorn 1968 1968 42,632 Named in honour of York Public Library Chief Librarian Evelyn Gregory  
Fairview Don Valley Village 1972 1976 218,432 Adjacent to Fairview Mall  
Flemingdon Park Flemingdon Park 1981 1981 48,177  
Forest Hill Forest Hill 1955 1962 56,398  
Fort York CityPlace 2014[4] 2013 -  
Gerrard/Ashdale Little India 1924 1924 52,172  
Goldhawk Park Milliken 1992 1992 58,182
Guildwood Guildwood 1974 1974 30,034
High Park Roncesvalles 1916 1916 55,794 Carnegie library  
Highland Creek Highland Creek 1889 1994 45,712 Founded as the Highland Creek Mechanics' Institute
Hillcrest Hillcrest Village 1975 1975 48,104  
Humber Bay Humber Bay 1925 1951 29,517 Etobicoke Public Library headquarters 1951-1955  
Humberwood Humberwood 1996 1996 39,652
Humber Summit Humber Summit 1974 1974 24,225  
Jane/Dundas Runnymede 1951 1975 46,429  
Jane/Sheppard Downsview 1989 2009 31,668
Jones Leslieville 1962 1962 33,290  
Kennedy/Eglinton Ionview 1988 1988 34,331 In Liberty Square Shopping Plaza  
Leaside Leaside 1944 1950 60,607
Lillian H. Smith Grange Park 1922 1995 122,412 Originally the Boys & Girls House. Focus on children's literature. Named after Boys & Girls House founder Lillian H. Smith  
Locke Lawrence Park 1949 1949 70,804 Named after chief librarian George Locke  
Long Branch Long Branch 1944 1954 34,305  
Main Street Upper Beaches 1903 1921 44,279  
Malvern Malvern 1982 1982 149,256 The library complete renovation and expansion in 2003  
Maria A. Shchuka Fairbank 1951 1951 106,228 Named after Maria A. Shchuka, York Head Librarian from 1979 to 1996.  
Maryvale Maryvale 1982 1982 52,793 Inside Parkway Mall  
McGregor Park Dorset Park 1960 2004 43,994
Mimico Centennial Mimico 1915 1966 48,591 Original was a Carnegie library, but was demolished in 1966  
Morningside West Hill, Toronto 1968 2006 47,530
Mount Dennis Mount Dennis 1923 1951 46,982  
Mount Pleasant Davisville Village 1992 1992 19,654
New Toronto New Toronto 1921 1994 40,427  
North York Central Library North York Centre 1959 1987 542,218  
Northern District North Toronto 1909 1975 177,153 Re-opened after renovation in February 2011  
Northern Elms Rexdale 1991 2005 24,983  
Oakwood Village Library Oakwood 1997 1997 37,647
Palmerston Seaton Village 1971 1971 39,802  
Pape/Danforth The Danforth 1929 1929 64,490  
Parkdale Parkdale, Toronto 1881 1964 74,065  
Parliament Cabbagetown 1955 1969 60,663  
Perth/Dupont West Junction Triangle 1977 1983 23,003  
Pleasant View Pleasant View 1975 1975 40,413  
Port Union Port Union 1974 1984 41,474
Queen/Saulter Riverside 1979 1980 19,523 In the Ralph Thornton Community Centre  
Rexdale Rexdale 1959 1959 35,431  
Richview Richview 1966 1966 198,928
Riverdale Riverdale 1888 1910 68,221 Carnegie library  
Runnymede Bloor West Village 1904 1930 73,075 Designed by John M. Lyle  
S. Walter Stewart Old East York 1950 1960 97,466 Named after S. Walter Stewart, first chair of the East York library Board  
Sanderson Alexandra Park 1968 1968 64,914 Named in honour of chief librarian Charles Sanderson  
Scarborough Civic Centre Scarborough City Centre 2015 2015 40,000 Located within Scarborough Civic Centre.
Spadina Road The Annex 1977 1977 42,573  
St. Clair/Silverthorn The Junction 1981 1981 21,007 Was featured in the opening credits of the former TVO kids show
Bookmice
 
St. James Town St. James Town 2004 2004 59,802  
St. Lawrence St. Lawrence 1982 1982 29,617  
Steeles Steeles 1987 1987 48,086 At Bamburgh Gardens Plaza  
Swansea Memorial Swansea 1923 1959 10,049  
Taylor Memorial Birch Cliff 1962 1985 29,687 Named after Florence Nightingale Taylor, wife of John Taylor who donated his home for the original library building  
Thorncliffe Thorncliffe Park 1961 1970 41,752  
Todmorden Room Pape Village 1961 1961 8,874  
Toronto Reference Library Yorkville 1909 1977 1,653,665 The largest public reference library in Canada. Previously housed at Koffler Student Centre  
Victoria Village Victoria Village 1967 1967 30,504
Weston Weston 1858 1914 43,686 Carnegie library  
Woodside Square Agincourt 1977 1977 66,076 At Woodside Square Mall. Relocated from former location (renovated 1989) at northwest exit to current location next to former Dominion's store in 2007.  
Woodview Park Emery 1964 1964 23,130
Wychwood Bracondale Hill 1880 1916 51,433 Carnegie library, renovation and expansion project completed in 2022  
York Woods Jane and Finch 1970 1970 120,199
Yorkville Yorkville 1884 1907 62,240 Carnegie library  

Former branches edit

Name Neighbourhood Opened Closed Built Collection size Notes Image
Bayview Bayview Village 1966 2023 2002 43,145 Located inside Bayview Village Shopping Centre. Closed in 2023, and collection was transferred to and replaced by Ethennonnhawahstihnen' branch.[2]  
Central Library University of Toronto 1909 1977 1909 Ontario's largest Carnegie library, it served as the main branch until 1977 with the opening of the Toronto Reference Library and now houses the University of Toronto Bookstore.  
Downtown Branch Downtown 1928 1965 First located at Old City Hall 1911, 42 Adelaide Street West in 1928, 39 King Street West in 1952 (now Bank of Nova Scotia Building) and 25 Richmond Street West (now Cloud Garden) in 1956. Closed in 1965 and replaced by City Hall branch
Mechanics' Institute Downtown 1883 1927 1853 Served as the first home of the Toronto Public Library, and as the main branch until 1909, but was closed in 1927  
Urban Affairs Downtown Toronto 1911 2011 1992 346,650 Previously located at Metro Hall, the branch was closed September 14, 2011, and the collection moved to the Toronto Reference Library[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Beaches Branch, Toronto Public Library 1916". Toronto's Historical Plaques. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Bayview Branch Relocation". Toronto Public Library.
  3. ^ "Ethennonnhawahstihnen'".
  4. ^ Jivov, alex (28 May 2014). "New hi-tech public library branch set to open in Fort York with 3D printers, DJ equipment". National Post. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  5. ^ Woods, Michael (September 15, 2011). "Tears flow as Urban Affairs library closes". The Toronto Star. Toronto. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2023.

External links edit

  • A-Z list of branches at the Toronto Public Library