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Coordinates: 43°40′18″N 79°23′13″W / 43.67167°N 79.38697°W / 43.67167; -79.38697
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Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 17.5 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 31 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.
The '''Toronto Public Library''' is the largest [[public library]] system in North America<ref>{{cite journal |last=Oder |first=Norman |year=2003 |month=06 |title=Growing into a changing city: the Toronto Public Library, North America's busiest, must support traditional users and many newcomers |journal=Library Journal |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-23522259_ITM |accessdate=2009-05-30 }}</ref>, located in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. Established as the library of the York Mechanics' Institute in 1830 <ref>[http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/abo_his_index.jsp History of Toronto Public Library] from the Toronto Public Library website. Retrieved April 29, 2010.</ref>, the Toronto Public Library now consists of 99 branch libraries and has over 11 million items in its collection<ref>[http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/abo_col_index.jsp Collection development] from the Toronto Public Library website. Retrieved April 29, 2010.</ref>.


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 17:06, 25 May 2010

Toronto Public Library
File:Toronto Public Library logo.png
Map
43°40′18″N 79°23′13″W / 43.67167°N 79.38697°W / 43.67167; -79.38697
LocationToronto, Ontario, Canada
Established1884
Branches99
Collection
Size11 million
Access and use
Access requirementsBorrowers must live, work, go to school, or own property in the City of Toronto
Circulation31 Million (2009)
Population served2,503,281 (2006)
Other information
Budget$186,000,000 CAD (2008)
DirectorJane Pyper, City Librarian
Websitehttp://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 17.5 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 31 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.

History

Yorkville Library, one of several Carnegie libraries in Toronto
File:P2220029.JPG
Computers with free Internet access at the Steeles Branch

In 1830, a library was established in the Mechanics' Institute of what was then the town of York. In 1884, this collection became the Toronto Public Library.[1]

Between 1907 and 1916, 10 libraries were built with funds from the Andrew Carnegie trust. Several of these Carnegie libraries continue to be used by the public library; one, the original Central Reference Library, is now the Koffler Student Centre at the St. George Campus of the University of Toronto.[2]

Prior to 1998, each of the former constituent municipalities[3] of Metropolitan Toronto operated their own peripheral public libraries[4]:

  • Etobicoke Public Library - established 1950 with 13 branches
  • North York Public Library - established 1955 with 19 branches
  • York Public Library - established 1967 with 6 branches
  • East York Public Library - established 1967 with 5 branches
  • Scarborough Public Library - established 1955 with 19 branches
  • Metro Toronto Public Library established 1967 with 1 branches
  • Toronto Public Library established 1883 with 35 branches

When, in 1997, the Government of Ontario amalgamated the former municipalities, the individual library boards (plus the Toronto Reference Library) merged into the Toronto Public Library[5]. In 1998, the Toronto Public Library became the largest library system in North America serving a population of 2.3 million people with 98 branches and a collection of over 9 million items.

In 2004, a new library was opened in the St. James Town neighbourhood of Toronto, bringing the total number of branches to 99.

The Toronto Public Library is subject to the Ontario Public Libraries Act, which, among other things, ensures free access to library materials.

Toronto Public Library Board

The Toronto Public Library is governed by a Board appointed by Toronto City Council. The Board is composed of eight citizen members, four Toronto City Councillors and the Mayor or his designate. Members of the Toronto Public Library Board appointed for the 2006-2010 term are:

  • Mr. Matthew Church (Chair)
  • Ms. Eman Ahmed
  • Councillor Paul Ainslie
  • Mr. Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler
  • Councillor Janet Davis (Mayor's designate)
  • Ms. Ann Decter
  • Ms. Tina Edan
  • Mr. Okeima Lawrence
  • Councillor Chin Lee
  • Councillor Anthony Perruzza
  • Ms. Kathy Gallagher Ross
  • Councillor Adam Vaughan
  • Ms. Kate Wilson

Collections

The library's collection is approximately 11 million items[6], including books, periodicals and audio-visual materials. Along with general interest fiction and nonfiction there are numerous special collections and focused collecting efforts in areas such as multilingual materials, career and job education and local history.

Items withdrawn from the collection are typically offered for sale at individual branches or at two volunteer-run bookstores.

Notable special collections

Technology, Web and Interactive Services

The Toronto Public Library technology services include public access computers and free wireless internet access from all branches.

The Library also provides access to its collections online including books, music and movies, research databases, journals, magazines, online educational and literacy support resources and ongoing digitization of specialized collections.

The Toronto Public Library website allows users to reserve books, dvds and cds and have them shipped to the user's preferred branch.

Bookmobiles

Bookmobile Two

The TPL operates two Bookmobile buses, targeting communities who lack easy access to a neighbourhood branch. Currently there are 32 regular Bookmobile stops in Toronto, including one on Ward's Island.[7]

The bookmobile concept was previously used in the library systems of the former cities of North York, Ontario, Scarborough, Ontario and Toronto as far back as 1955.

Branches

Name Neighbourhood Opened Built Collection size Notes Image
Agincourt Agincourt 1918 1991 176,367 Originally the Agincourt Association Library for the village of Agincourt, later part of Scarborough Public Library; moved from Agincourt Mall location in 1991
Albert Campbell Scarborough Junction 1971 1971 120,658 Named after Albert Campbell; operated as Albert Campbell District Branch prior to 1998
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
Bayview Bayview Village 1966 2002 43,145 Inside Bayview Village Shopping Centre
Beaches The Beaches 1914 1916 54,089 Carnegie library
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
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
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
Downtown Branch Downtown 1928–1965 Closed 1965 and replaced by City Hall branch
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 mall
Elmbrook Park Eringate 1988 1988 35,929
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 At Fairview Mall
Flemingdon Park Flemingdon Park 1981 1981 48,177
Forest Hill Forest Hill 1955 1962 56,398
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
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 At Parkway Mall
McGregor Park Dorset Park 1960 2004 43,994
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
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
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
Spadina Road The Annex 1977 1977 42,573
St. Clair/Silverthorn The Junction 1981 1981 21,007
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 File:P2220029.JPG
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 1977 1977 1,653,665 The largest public reference library in Canada
Urban Affairs Downtown Toronto 1911 1992 346,650 Located at Metro Hall
Victoria Village Victoria Park Village 1967 1967 30,504
Weston Weston 1858 1914 43,686 Carnegie library
Woodside Square Agincourt 1977 1977 66,076 At Woodside Square Mall
Woodview Park Emery 1964 1964 23,130
Wychwood Bracondale Hill 1880 1916 51,433 Carnegie library
York Woods Jane and Finch 1970 1970 120,199
Yorkville Yorkville 1884 1907 62,240 Carnegie library

Chief librarians

...

  • 1998-2008 Josephine Bryant
  • 2008–present Jane Pyper

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toronto Public Library.

References

  • Myrvold, Barbara (1986). In Peter F. McNally (ed.). Readings in Canadian library history. Ottawa Ontario: Canadian Library Association. pp. 65–89. ISBN 9780888021960.
  • Oder, Norman (2003). "Growing into a changing city". Library Journal. 128 (10): 40–42. Retrieved 2010-05-18. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  • Penman, Margaret. " (1983). A Century of Service :" Toronto Public Library, 1883-1983 ". Toronto: Toronto Public Library,". ISBN 0919486738. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

Notes

  1. ^ History of Toronto Public Library from the Toronto Public Library website. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  2. ^ Central Library from the Toronto Public Library website. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  3. ^ Toronto Human Resources 2007 Annual Report from the City of Toronto website. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  4. ^ History of Toronto Public Library from the Toronto Public Library website. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  5. ^ [www.lois-en-ligne.gouv.on.ca/Download?dID=191182 City of Toronto Act, 1997 (No. 2). Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  6. ^ About the library, page 20, from the Toronto Public Library website. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  7. ^ [ http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/hou_boo_index.jspToronto Public Library Bookmobile Service] , from the Toronto Public Library website. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
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