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Toronto Reference Library

Libraries ·Toronto ·Closed
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#1Libraries in Toronto#3Libraries in Canada
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About

Toronto Reference Library is Canada’s largest public reference library, at Yonge Street and Asquith Avenue in Yorkville, downtown Toronto.

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Toronto Reference Library — The library’s distinctive brick facade and glass atrium across the street

Toronto Reference Library — The library’s distinctive brick facade and glass atrium across the streetToronto Reference Library — Interior atrium with curved balconies and reading tablesToronto Reference Library — The library entrance and glass atrium framed by the surrounding streetToronto Reference Library — Street view of the glass-fronted entrance and brick exteriorToronto Reference Library — Historic view of the library’s brick facade and glass bridgeToronto Reference Library — Library exterior beside street construction scaffoldingToronto Reference Library — The library’s brick facade and central glass atrium from across the streetToronto Reference Library — Glass-walled meeting area inside the libraryToronto Reference Library — Shelves of books lining a library reading aisleToronto Reference Library — Overhead view of tables and seating in a library areaToronto Reference Library — A row of narrow projecting windows across the brick facade

Why go

  • The Arthur Conan Doyle collection is housed in a Victorian-style room inspired by Sherlock Holmes’s fictional study.
  • The central atrium has a skylight, plants and water features inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
  • The Baldwin Collection preserves primary sources on Canada before Confederation.
  • Over 1.6 million items occupy open shelves across more than 80 kilometres of shelving.
  • Recessed upper levels give Raymond Moriyama’s building a pyramid-like form.

Opening hours

Today09:00 – 20:30Show all
Monday09:00 – 20:30
Tuesday09:00 – 20:30
Wednesday09:00 – 20:30
Thursday09:00 – 20:30
Friday09:00 – 20:30
Saturday09:00 – 17:00
Sunday12:00 – 17:00

What's inside

  • Special collections are housed mainly in the Marilyn & Charles Baillie Special Collections Centre and TD Gallery.
  • Collections are arranged by discipline and subject across the building’s levels.
  • Library materials include books, manuscripts and microfilms.

Know before you go

  • Open Monday to Friday, 09:00–20:30; Saturday, 09:00–17:00; Sunday, 12:00–17:00.
  • Most collection items are for reference use inside the library. Members can borrow some books, DVDs and musical scores.

Services and visiting hours

Visitor seating
About 1,250 seats, with study rooms and public workstations
Member services
Work rooms, workstations, computers and event programming For Toronto Public Library members
Creative facilities
Paperback self-publishing press, green-screen photography, and sound and video recording rooms
Theatre
575 seats Hosts free events, including public readings

Interesting facts5

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  1. The Marilyn & Charles Baillie Special Collections Centre holds more than two million items.

    Toronto Reference Library - Wikipedia
  2. 39,626.4 square

    The building covers 39,626.4 square metres and rises about 36 metres at its highest point.

    Bibliothèque de référence de Toronto - Wikipedia

  3. The Doyle collection later grew to include original manuscripts, photographs of Doyle and translations of his works.

    Bibliothèque de référence de Toronto - Wikipedia

  4. It is the largest and most visited branch in the Toronto Public Library network.

    Bibliothèque de référence de Toronto - Wikipedia
  5. 2010

    Its interior appeared in the 2010 film Red.

    Toronto Reference Library - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The former reference library building now serves as the University of Toronto’s Koffler Student Centre.

  1. 1909The library opened in a Beaux-Arts building on College and St. George streets, designed by Wickson & Gregg and Alfred H. Chapman. It was Ontario’s largest Carnegie-funded library.
  2. 1969The library acquired about 500 books from Arthur Vincent Baillie’s estate, including 200 about Sherlock Holmes. This began its Arthur Conan Doyle collection.
  3. Mid-1970sRaymond Moriyama Architects designed the present library building.
  4. 1977The current building opened to the public on November 2.
  5. 2009–2014A C$34 million renovation led by Moriyama & Teshima Architects added a glass-cube entrance, expanded lobby, event spaces and a special collections rotunda.

How to get there

  • TrainBloor–Yonge is a nearby station; its proximity helped determine the library’s location.

Sources: Toronto Reference Library - Wikipedia · Bibliothèque de référence de Toronto - Wikipedia · checked 1 Oct 2026

Where
789 Yonge St., Toronto

Questions and answers

Is the Page & Panel comic shop at Toronto Reference Library still open?

No. It opened in 2015 and closed in 2022.

How can I contact Toronto Reference Library?

Call +1 416-395-5577.

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