Parkdale

Closest major intersection Queen Street West and Dufferin Street. Located on the south side of Queen Street West at Cowan Ave.

Public Transit

TTC Dufferin bus #29 southbound from Dufferin subway station to Queen Street, walk 5 minutes west to the library.
TTC streetcar #501 along Queen Street West.

Parking

Paid - lot 1 block west on Queen Street

General Features

• Book Drop - 24 Hours
• Express Checkout
• Individual Study Rooms
• Parkdale Community Information Centre
• Pedometer Lending
• Seating for 120

Equipment for persons with disabilities

• Computer with at least 29" clearance under table top
• Computer workstation with adjustable height surface
• Computer(s) with screen magnification software (Zoomtext) (2)
• Height adjustable table or desk
• Study tables with at least 29" clearance under table top

Technology

• Computer Learning Centre (11 computers)
• Internet/Microsoft Office workstations (21 including Learning Centre)
• Wireless (Wi-Fi)

Collections

• Adult Literacy Materials
• Audiobooks on CD
• Large Print Collection
• Local History Collection
• Rita Cox Black & Caribbean Heritage

Language

• Large collection in Chinese, Tamil
• Small collection in French, Hindi (DVDs only), Polish, Tibetan, Vietnamese

1880	Parkdale Library Association and Mechanics' Institute established, November.
1881	Library opened, 1 November. Located in school-house of St. Mark's Church, Cowan Avenue, east side, south of Queen Street West.
1888	Relocated to Town of Parkdale's former council chamber and municipal offices, Queen Street West, south side, east of Cowan Avenue.
1889	Town of Parkdale annexed to Toronto, 23 March. Books and furniture of Parkdale Library Association and Mechanics' Institute transferred to TPL, 10 May.
1890	Relocated to Dundas Street Branch, opened 25 January. Rented premises, Dundas Street (now Ossington Avenue), west side, just north of Queen Street West.
1903	Carnegie Corporation of New York granted $350,000 to TPL for new central library and 3 branch library buildings. Toronto's Carnegie Libraries - Queen and Lisgar
1907	Site acquired Queen Street West, southeast corner Lisgar Street.
1909	Dundas Street Branch closed March 15. Queen and Lisgar Branch opened 30 April. Architect Robert McCallum, City Architect.
1962	Site acquired for Parkdale Branch, Queen Street West, southeast corner of Cowan Avenue.
1964	Queen and Lisgar Branch closed. Relocated to Parkdale Branch, opened 28 February. Resource branch for region, also housed Languages and Literature Centre. Gordon S. Adamson & Associates, Architects.
1970	Community Information Post opened.
1990	Learning Centre opened.
1993	Closed 21 June for carpet replacement. Reopened 5 July.
1998	Closed 7 December for retrofit. Bookmobile stop provided during closure.
1999	Reopened 26 June.
2007	New hours, 8 January. Hours open per week increased from 60.5 to 65.5.

For booking information call 416-397-5969.

Meeting Room

• 239 sq. ft.
• Seats 15 lecture style. Seats 15 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 23.
• Equipment:
  • chairs
  • tables

Auditorium

• 3,610 sq. ft
• Seats 160 lecture style. 52 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 260.
• Equipment:
  • chairs
  • screen (ceiling mounted)
  • tables
  • kitchen

Meeting Room and auditorium are on the basement level. Elevator.