Locke

3083 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4N 2K7

Contact Locke

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	5:00 pm
Saturday	9:00 am	to	5:00 pm
Sunday	Closed

Wheelchair Accessible
Free Wifi

Directions, TTC & Parking

View on map

Closest major intersection Yonge Street and Lawrence Ave. East. Located on the southeast corner of Yonge Street and Lawrence Ave. East.

Public Transit

Lawrence subway station.

Parking

Free - Small parking lot off Lawrence Ave. East.

Locke Manager

Luidmila Cibic

lcibic@torontopubliclibrary.ca

416-395-5844

Featured Services

Toronto Reference Library subjects by floor

Book a librarian for research or technology help.

Rare books and special collections

Visit TD Gallery
Showcasing art, artifacts, manuscripts and more.

Upcoming Programs

Featured Programs

Tue, Aug 21

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Terrific Tuesdays - Building Challenge

Challenge yourself, your imagination and the clock in these simple but fun KEVA challenges. For ages 6 yrs and up. Daycare...

Wed, Aug 22

2:00 pm - 2:45 pm

Puppet Show -- The Three Bears

See the adventures of Goldilocks and the three bears. For ages 3 yrs and up. Groups and daycares must call the branch 416...

Tue, Aug 28

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Terrific Tuesdays - Spy School

Codes and ciphers secret messages, disguises... have fun being a spy. For ages 6 yrs and up. Pick up a ticket 1/2 an hour ...

Regular Programs

Sat, Aug 25

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Writers' Room

Locke Writers' Room is a space for writers, published or unpublished to work on their writing independently.

Wed, Sep 05

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The Kids' Lit is All Right

A Children's Literature Book Club for Adults. Join us to discuss great children's books. Drop in. No registration required

Sat, Sep 15

10:30 am - 11:15 am

Family Time

A Ready for Reading program. Stories, songs, rhymes and activities for children age 5 and under with their parents or care...

All Branch Programs and Events

Branch Features

General Features

Book Discussion Group: contact the branch for more information
Book Drop - 24 Hours
Express Checkout
Free Parking
Seating for 81

Equipment for persons with disabilities

Book stand
Computer with screen magnification software (Zoomtext)
Large print keyboard
Large trackball mouse
Magnifier
Natural spectrum lamp
Page turner
Wheelchair accessible furniture

Technology

Collections

Audiobooks on CD
Large Print Collection

Language

Medium collection in French - Children

Meeting Rooms

For booking information call 416-397-5969.

Meeting Room

614 sq. ft.
Seats 30 lecture style. Seats 20 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 30.
Equipment:
- lectern
- screen (ceiling mounted)
- 5 tables
- built-in bench seating at the east end of the room
Meeting Room is on the ground floor beside the Children's Department. Wheelchair accessible.

History

Year	Details
1944	Toronto City Council approves a recommendation by the Parks Committee "that a portion of Lawrence Park, at the south-east corner of Lawrence and Yonge Street, with a frontage of 165 feet on Yonge Street and having the required depth, be deeded to the Toronto Public Library as a site for a new branch public library". (Toronto Public Library Board, Buildings & Finance Committee, Minutes, September 1944). The Toronto Public Library Board is given a capital grant of $125,000 by the City of Toronto for construction and equipment of a new library in the northern part of the city. Beck & Eadie, Architects are commissioned to design the branch in consultation with Eric Arthur.
1945	TPL Board passes a motion on 11 September to rename the proposed Northern Branch in honour of George H. Locke (1870-1937), Toronto Public Library's chief librarian, 1908-1937.
1949	George H. Locke Memorial Branch opens on 5 January.
1973	Listed on the City of Toronto's Inventory of Heritage Properties adopted by City Council, 20 June.
1982	Renovated, Stinson Montgomery & Sisam, Architects. Temporary quarters for the branch are opened in September.
1983	Branch reopens 21 March.
1995	Closes 10 June for infrastructure retrofit. Reopens 27 December.
1997	Catherine Fine, a branch patron, bequests $500,000 to the Toronto Public Library stipulating that the funds are to be used for books and other materials at the George H. Locke Memorial Branch. Catherine Fine Memorial Plaque is installed at the branch in recognition of her generous donation.
2005	A state of good repair retrofit is undertaken and the branch is closed for a few weeks in June.
2007	Hours open per week increased from 60.5 to 62 on 8 January.
2011	Heritage Toronto plaque commemorating the branch is presented on 10 September. Toronto's Historical Plaques
2016	Restoration of the building exterior completed.