Year |
Details |
1888 |
West Toronto Junction Mechanics' Institute established, February. A library and a reading room are opened in the Campbell Block, Dundas Street West, northwest corner of Keele Street in 1889. |
1894 |
Relocated to Kilburn Building, Dundas Street East (now West), northeast corner of Van Horne Street (now Heintzman Street). |
1895 |
Renamed Toronto Junction Public Library; this is not a 'free' library. |
1908 |
Andrew Carnegie grants $20,000 to Toronto Junction to build a public library, 6 April. As a Condition of the grant, the ‘free’ West Toronto Public Library Board is established. A site for the new library is acquired on Annette Street, southwest corner of Medland Street, 26 June, with additional property immediately west on Annette Street purchased in October. Ellis & Connery, the architectural firm of Junction resident James A. Ellis, are commissioned to design the building. |
1909 |
City of West Toronto is annexed to the City of Toronto, 1 May. The assets of the West Toronto Library Board, including the library building (under construction) and 3,800 books, are transferred to the Toronto Public Library Board. Western Branch is opened on 1 September with official ceremonies held on 27 September. Toronto's Carnegie Libraries - Western |
1911 |
Canadian Free Library for the Blind operates in the basement, 1 October - December 1916. |
1917 |
Children's Department is relocated from the main floor to the former auditorium in the basement, February. |
1962 |
Renovated; Boys and Girls Room is relocated to the main floor. Renamed Annette Street Branch, 14 April. |
1979 |
Closed for renovation and an addition to the west side, 30 July. Temporary storefront on the north side of Dundas Street West, west of Pacific Avenue, opened on 30 August. |
1980 |
Reopened 9 June. Renovation, restoration and addition by Sillaste & Nakashima Architects. |
1981 |
Hours increased; opened on Wednesdays, April. |
1990 |
Closed 13 August for minor retrofit. Reopened 9 September. |
1994 |
Hours reduced from 60.5 to 48 hours per week, 24 May. Closed 2 July for HVAC retrofit. Reopened 12 September. |
1998 |
Listed by Toronto City Council on the City of Toronto’s Inventory of Heritage Properties, 1 October. |
1999 |
West Toronto Junction Historical Society Archives officially opened in a basement room, 4 February |
2002 |
Refurbishment. Closed 28 March to 11 April. |
2007 |
Hours increased from 48 to 50.5 hours per week, 8 January. |
2009 |
Closed for a State of Good Repair retrofit from 3 August to 5 September, reopening Tuesday, 8 September. 100th anniversary of Western/Annette Street Branch is celebrated on 12 September. Heritage plaque presented by Heritage Toronto in partnership with the Toronto Public Library. Toronto's Historical Plaques |
2013 |
Closed for lobby and circulation desk renovation, painting, new flooring and RFID installation, 23 November. Closed for 5.5 weeks. |
2014 |
Reopened after renovation, 10 February. |