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Beaches

2161 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON M4L 1J1
416-393-7703
Branch is Wheelchair Accessible Wireless Access Available at Branch
Monday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

Directions


Closest major intersection Queen Street East and Lee Ave. Branch located on the south side of Queen Street at the entrance to Kew Gardens.

Public Transit


TTC Main Bus 64S (Queen Street) from Main Street subway station.
TTC Queen Streetcar 501 to Neville Park.

Parking


Paid - public parking lot on Lee Ave., south of Queen St; street parking.


Map


Map to library branch

Features


General Features

Equipment for persons with disabilities

  • Computer(s) with screen magnification software (Zoomtext)
  • Magnifiers (hand held or stand)
  • Page turner
  • Table lamp

Technology

Collections

  • Audiobooks on CD
  • Large Print Collection
  • Local History Collection

Language

  • Medium collection in French (Children's)

Branch History


1914 Opened in storefront on Queen Street East, northeast corner of Hambly Avenue, 23 February (TPL Annual Report, 1914)
1915 Carnegie Corporation of New York granted $50,000 to TPL to build 3 branch libraries. Mayor Tommy Church laid the cornerstone for Beaches Library in Kew Gardens, 29 October. Toronto's Carnegie Libraries- Beaches
1916 Opened 13 December. Eden Smith & Sons, Architects. Design almost identical to Wychwood and High Park branches. Building Beaches Branch, 1910-1916 (PDF)
1979 Listed on Toronto Historical Board's Inventory of Heritage Properties, adopted by City Council, 1 October.
1980 Renovated by Stinson Montgomery Sisam Architects. Reopened 26 September.
1993 Closed 3 July for barrier free access improvements. Reopened 3 August.
2004 Closed 19 April for renovation. Phillip H. Carter Architect and Kingsland & Architects Inc., (in joint venture). Bookmobile service provided at Beaches - Gardener's Cottage, Kew Gardens Park, 20 Lee Ave. - 1.5 hours per week starting 13 May.
2005 Beaches branch reopened 20 January. One-ton cast bronze owl by architect Phillip H. Carter and artisan Ludzer Vandermolen installed at the branch entrance 7 July.
2006 Heritage plaque presented by Heritage Toronto in partnership with Toronto Public Library, September 30. Plaque text (PDF). Toronto's Historical Plaques.
2007 New hours, 8 January. Open hours per week increased from 60.5 to 62.

Meeting Rooms


For booking information call 416-397-5969.

Meeting Room

  • 420 sq. ft.
  • Seats 50 lecture style. Seats 24 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 58.
  • Equipment:
    • chairs
    • tables

Directions


Closest major intersection Queen Street East and Lee Ave. Branch located on the south side of Queen Street at the entrance to Kew Gardens.

Public Transit


Closest major intersection Queen Street East and Lee Ave. Branch located on the south side of Queen Street at the entrance to Kew Gardens.

Parking


Paid - public parking lot on Lee Ave., south of Queen St; street parking.


Upcoming Events

Meet author Barbara Mutch
Thu, Jun 13 - 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Healthy Heart...Healthy Life!
Tue, Jun 25 - 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Street Smarts--Safe Cycling Workshop presented by Cycle Toronto
Sat, Aug 17 - 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Regular Programs

Wednesday Afternoon at the Movies
Wed, May 29 - 2:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday Afternoon at the Movies
Wed, Jun 05 - 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

All Branch Programs & Events