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.[6]
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 Centre at the St. George Campus of the University of Toronto.[7]
Before 1998, each of the former constituent municipalities[8] of Metropolitan Toronto operated their own public libraries[9]:
- 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 branch
- Toronto Public Library established 1883 with 35 branches
When, in 1997, the Government of Ontario amalgamated the former municipalities with the City of Toronto, the individual library boards (and the Toronto Reference Library) merged into the Toronto Public Library[10]. 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.
In 2004, a new library was opened in the St. James Town neighbourhood of Toronto, bringing the total number of branches to 99. A new branch is scheduled to open in the Scarborough Centre area in 2014.[11]
The Toronto Public Library is subject to the Ontario Public Libraries Act, which, among other things, ensures free access to library materials.
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.
