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Toronto's Carnegie Libraries
2003 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Carnegie grant to Toronto
Public Library to construct new library buildings: $350,000 was given
to build a new central library and three branch libraries. Today, this
figure would be worth about $7.3 million. It was the largest amount given
anywhere in Canada, and, at that time, only New York, Philadelphia and
Pittsburgh (Carnegie’s home city) had received more funds.
With the first grant, Toronto Public Library opened a new central library
in 1909, and three branches: Yorkville (1907), Queen & Lisgar (1909-1964),
and Riverdale (1910). 
A second Carnegie grant of $50,000 built Beaches, High Park and Wychwood
branches (1916).
Libraries at West Toronto (1909), Weston (1914), and Mimico (1915-1966)
also were constructed with Carnegie funds.
Altogether, ten public libraries (and one university library for Victoria
College, University of Toronto) were opened in Toronto between 1907 and
1916 using Carnegie funds totalling $487,500. Toronto Public Library continues
to use seven of the ten Carnegie libraries, which have been renovated
in some manner. Two of them have been sold and converted to other uses,
and one has been demolished.
| 1903, January
23
Toronto Public Library Board granted $350,000 |
| Library Constructed |
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Yorkville
Branch
22 Yorkville Avenue
Architect
Robert McCallum, City Architect
Opened
1907, June 13
 More information and pictures |
Yorkville Branch
Library, 1907
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Queen
and Lisgar Branch
1115 Queen St. West
Architect
Robert McCallum, City Architect
Opened
1909, April 30
Closed - 1964
Current Use
City of Toronto Public Health
More information and pictures |
Queen and Lisgar Branch
Library, 1909 |
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| Central
Reference Library
214 College Street
Architect
Wickson & Gregg and A.H. Chapman, associated architects
Opened
1909, September 8
Closed - 1977
Current use
Koffler Student Centre,
University of Toronto
More information and pictures |
Central Reference
Library, c.1911 |
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Riverdale
Branch
370 Broadview Avenue
Architect
Robert McCallum, City Architect
Opened
1910, October 19
More information and pictures |
Riverdale Branch
Library, c.1910
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| 1906
Victoria College, University of Toronto granted $50,000
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Library Constructed |
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Birge-Carnegie
Library
73 Queen's Park Crescent East
Architect
Sproatt & Rolph
Opened
1910
Closed
1961
Current use
United Church of Canada Archives
Victoria University Archives
 More information and pictures |
Birge-Carnegie
Library, 1924 |
| 1908, April
6
Toronto Junction Library Board granted $20,000 |
Library Constructed |
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Western
Branch
renamed
Annette Street Branch,
1962
Architect
Ellis & Connery
Opened
1909, September 1
More information and pictures |
Western Branch Library,
c.1909
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| 1908, May 8
(promised)/1915, February 6 (granted)
Toronto Public Library Board granted $50,000 |
Library Constructed |
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Wychwood
Branch
1431 Bathurst Street
Architect
Eden Smith & Sons
Opened
1916, April 15
More information and pictures |
Wychwood Branch
Library, c.1916
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| High
Park Branch
228 Roncesvalles Avenue
Architect
Eden Smith & Sons
Opened
1916, October 31
More information and pictures |
High Park Branch
Library, c.1916 |
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Beaches
Branch
2161 Queen Street East
Architect
Eden Smith & Sons
Opened
1916, December 6
More information and pictures |
Beaches Branch
Library, c.1916
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| 1913, January 2
Weston Public Library Board granted $10,000 |
Library Constructed |
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Weston
Public Library
(now Weston Branch)
2 King Street, Weston
Architect
Lindsay & Brydon
Opened
1914, December 29
More information and pictures |
Weston Public Library,
1915?
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| 1914, February 26
Mimico Public Library Board granted $7,500 |
Library Constructed |
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Mimico
Public Library
47 Station Road
Architect
S.B. Coon & Son
Opened
1915, March 2
Demolished
1966
Replaced with Mimico Centennial Library, 1966
(now Mimico Centennial Branch)
More information and pictures
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Mimico Public Library,
1914 |
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Updated on: January 27, 2009
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