S. Walter Stewart

170 Memorial Park Avenue,
Toronto, ON M4J 2K5

Hours

Monday	9:00 am	to	8:30 pm
Tuesday	9:00 am	to	8:30 pm
Wednesday	9:00 am	to	8:30 pm
Thursday	9:00 am	to	8:30 pm
Friday	9:00 am	to	8:30 pm
Saturday	9:00 am	to	5:00 pm
Sunday	1:30 pm	to	5:00 pm

Wheelchair Accessible
Free Wifi

General Inquiries

To speak directly with staff at S. Walter Stewart Branch during branch hours, please call the number listed above.

For general questions about Toronto Public Library, your account, and quick reference help, email Answerline using the link below.

Email Answerline

Directions, TTC & Parking

View on map

Closest major intersection Coxwell Ave. and Mortimer Ave. Located 1 block north of Mortimer Ave., 2 blocks west of Coxwell Ave.

Public Transit

TTC O'Connor bus northbound from Coxwell subway station.

Parking

Free - lot adjacent to library

Featured Services

Youth Hub

Mon - Fri, 3:30 - 7:00 pm
Adult Literacy Program

Wed, 12:30 - 8:30 pm
Thurs - Fri, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Upcoming Programs

Featured Programs

Thu, May 23

4:00 pm - 4:45 pm

Steelpan: Hands On Fun!

Let's have fun with Suzette Vidale and play the steelpan! Learn about the different parts of a steelpan, how to hold the s...

Thu, May 23

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

From Skin to Steel and Beyond

How did the banning of the African skin drum lead to the creation of the tamboo bamboo, ping pong, and eventually the crea...

Fri, May 24

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Origami Workshop

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. Learn to make classic animals and other objects with origami artist Sharon K...

Regular Programs

Thu, May 16

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Personal Development Book Club

For those of us who may see ourselves as a work in progress, come learn and grow together with a selection of classic an...

Fri, May 17

10:30 am - 11:00 am

Toddler Time

Stories, songs and rhymes for children 19 months to 3 years with their parents and caregivers. Families are welcome to sta...

Sat, May 18

10:30 am - 11:00 am

Saturday Family Time

Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes for children ages 0-5 with their parents and caregivers. Drop-in....

All Branch Programs and Events

Branch Features

General Features

Book Discussion Group: contact the branch for more information
Book Drop - 24 Hours
Branch Walking Tour
Express Checkout
Free Menstrual Products
Free Parking
KidsStop Early Literacy Centre
Seating for 114
Sensory Room
Teen Zone
Vending Machines
Youth Hub

Equipment for persons with disabilities

Book stand
CCTV (closed circuit TV also called print magnifier)
Computers with screen magnification software (Zoomtext) (2)
Large print keyboard
Large trackball mouse
Magnifier
Natural spectrum lamp
Page turner
Wheelchair accessible furniture

Technology

Collections

Adult Literacy Materials
Audiobooks on CD
Large Print Collection
Local History Collection

Language

Large collection in French
Medium collection in Chinese-Adult , Greek-Adult , Serbian-Adult

Meeting Rooms

For booking information call 416-397-5969.

John S. Ridout Auditorium

1,500 sq. ft.
Seats 130 lecture style. Seats 60 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 224.
Equipment:
- chairs
- piano
- portable flipchart / whiteboard
- portable video projector
- projection screen (ceiling mounted)
- raised stage
- tables

Auditorium and Wheelchair Accessible washroom are located on the lower level.

Kitchen (available with auditorium only)

Equipment:
- coffee urn (100-cup)
- microwave
- refrigerator
- sink
Located on the lower level. Wheelchair accessible.

Meeting Room

387 sq. ft.
Seats 24 lecture style. Seats 12 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 49.
Equipment:
- chairs
- coffee urn (30-cup)
- tables

Located on lower level. Wheelchair Accessible washroom are located on the lower level.

History

Year	Details
1944	Boys and Girls Libraries established by East York's Kiwanis Club and Board of Education, operated by Toronto Public Library staff. The Central Branch opened at R. H. McGregor School, 7 November. The Eastern Branch at Danforth Park School and the Western Branch at William Burgess School soon followed.
1946	East York electors vote to establish a public library, 1 January. S. Walter Stewart becomes chairman of the inaugural Township of East York Public Library Board, appointed 18 March.
1948	Former residence purchased for a library. Arrangements made with the Toronto Public Library Board to operate it, under the direction and control of the East York Library Board; this was discontinued in 1966.
1950	East York Public Library officially opened at the northeast corner of Coxwell and Mortimer avenues, 26 April. Renovation by H. E. Witmer, Architect. Cardinal design by Thoreau MacDonald adopted as the library's logo.
1955	Library Board resolves to build a central library to replace "the present facilities which have become inadequate," 2 May.
1956	Board considers "building a combined library and auditorium ... on the grounds of the [East York] Collegiate at Coxwell Avenue and Plains Road," 3 December.
1958	Board approves "building the new East York Public Library on the Municipally-owned location bounded by Durant, Roosevelt and Memorial Park Avenues," 1 August. Parrot, Tambling and Witmer, Architects, appointed, 22 September.
1960	S. Walter Stewart Building opened for service, 18 August; officially opened by Hon. R. H. McGregor, MP for York East, 3 October. The library's circular design was unique in Toronto, and, at the time, said to be one of only four circular libraries in the world. Named for S. Walter Stewart (1897-1969), a pioneer of library service in East York, serving on the East York Public Library Board from its establishment in 1946 until his death. He was the president of the East York Kiwanis Club when it started children's libraries in 1944.
1965	East York Public Library Board approves “that the boys’ and girls’ section be moved downstairs,” 8 March.
1966	Responsibility for operations of public libraries in East York transferred from Toronto Public Library to East York Public Library completed by June.
1967	Public Library Board becomes part of the new Borough of East York formed with the amalgamation of the Township of East York and the Town of Leaside.
1969	Stewart donates nine A. Y. Jackson paintings to the library - his first donation, Jackson's Gatineau Hills, was presented at the official opening, 3 October 1960. In addition, Reeve R. M. Leslie donated two Jacksons and Dorothy Ashbridge, East York's first librarian, gave one, Ottawa River, presented in 1966. Although their ownership was transferred from the library board to the East York Foundation in the 1960s, the 13 A. Y. Jackson paintings remain at S. Walter Stewart Branch.
1995	Auditorium named in honour of John S. Ridout (1926-2003) who served on the East York Public Library Board from 1968 to 1994, several years as chair. He also was a member of the Metropolitan Toronto Library Board, 1970 to 1991, five years as chair.
1998	Becomes part of the Toronto Public Library with municipal amalgamation, 1 January. Receives Certificate of Recognition from Mayor Mel Lastman for outstanding service to children.
2006	Closed for renovations, 2 September.
2008	Reopened, 29 May. Phillip H. Carter, Architect with Ellen Vera Allen, Architect. New hours, 29 May. Hours open per week increased from 54.5 to 63. S. Walter Stewart Branch history panel (PDF).
2010	New hours, 4 January. Hours open per week increased from 59.5 to 65.5

S. Walter Stewart is on Indigenous land. This is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee (ho-den-oh-sho-nee) Confederacy (aka. the Six Nations Confederacy), the Wendat, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Toronto Public Library gratefully acknowledges these Indigenous nations for their guardianship of this land. We'd also like to remind and reaffirm, as Torontonians and Canadians, our accountability to these Indigenous nations, and to all Indigenous peoples and communities living in Toronto.

This land is also part of the Dish with One Spoon territory, a treaty between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (aka. The Six Nations Confederacy), the Anishinaabek (Ah-nish-nah-bek) and allied nations, to peaceably share and care for this land, its waters, and all of the biodiversity in the Great Lakes region. All those who come to live and work here are responsible for honouring this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship, and respect. About Land Acknowledgement Statements