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Toronto's Carnegie Libraries
TPL Home > Hours and Locations > Branches A-Z > Beaches Branch


Beaches Branch (BE) Free wireless Internet access
Beaches Library
Mon.:
9:00 a.m.
-
8:30 p.m.
Tue.:
9:00 a.m.
-
8:30 p.m.
Wed.:
9:00 a.m.
-
8:30 p.m.
Thu.:
9:00 a.m.
-
8:30 p.m.
Fri.:
9:00 a.m.
-
5:00 p.m.
Sat.:
9:00 a.m.
-
5:00 p.m.
Sun.:
Closed

Wheelchair access Facilities for people with disabilities
2161 Queen St. East
Toronto, ON, M4L 1J1
416-393-7703

Programs

Search the map by address, major intersection or postal code.



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

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

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



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Collections Available

Local History Collection

  • Best Bets
  • Books on Tape or CD/Audiobooks/Cassette books
  • English as a Second Language Materials - Adult
  • Language Learning Kits
  • Large Print Collection
  • Parenting Collection



French Collections

Adult Children
  • Print
  • CDs
  • DVDs/Videos
  • Periodicals
  • Print
  • CDs
  • DVDs/Videos

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Services

Equipment for people with disabilities

  • Computer with screen magnification software (Zoomtext)
  • Magnifiers - hand held or stand
  • Page turner
  • Other - table lamp


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Historical Background

Building Beaches Branch, 1910-1916 (PDF, 921 KB)

1914
Opened in storefront on Queen Street East, northeast corner of Hambly Avenue, 23 February (TPL Annual Report, 1914)

1915
Toronto's Carnegie Libraries - Beaches
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.

1916
Opened 13 December. Eden Smith & Sons, Architects. Design almost identical to Wychwood and High Park branches.

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
Bookmobile service closed 13 January. 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)

2007
New hours, 8 January. Open hours per week increased from 60.5 to 62.


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More Information

Collection Size: 
54,089
Floor Space: 
8,000 sq.ft. (743 sq. m.)


Meeting Rooms
For booking information call: 416-393-7703

Room rental information and application forms

Room Type
SIZE
(sq. ft.)
SEATING – lecture style
SEATING - classroom style
EQUIPMENT
Meeting
Room
n/a
30
50

- chairs
- DVD/Video player
- LCD projector &
screen (ceiling
mounted)
- tables
Note: Fire Code Occupancy: 58


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Updated on: November 19, 2008




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