Locke

3083 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4N 2K7

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

Service Update

The drop box is open 24/7 for returns of library items. Holds pick-up service and in-branch computer access are available. More about our reopening plan

Service Update

The drop box is open 24/7 for returns of library items. Holds pick-up service and in-branch computer access are available. More about our reopening plan

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.

Upcoming Programs

Regular Programs

Sat, Aug 22

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Cancelled: Locke Writers Room

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this event has been cancelled. While we're working to reschedule as many events as p...

Tue, Aug 25

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Cancelled: Tuesday Night Book Club

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this event has been cancelled. While we're working to reschedule as many events as p...

All Branch Programs and Events

Branch Features

General Features

Book Discussion Group: contact the branch for more information
Book Drop - 24 Hours
Computer Access
Express Checkout
Free Parking
Holds Pick-up
Returns
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.

Locke is on Indigenous land. This is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee (ho-den-oh-sho-nee) Confederacy (aka. the Six Nations Confederacy), the Wendat, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Toronto Public Library gratefully acknowledges these Indigenous nations for their guardianship of this land. We'd also like to remind and reaffirm, as Torontonians and Canadians, our accountability to these Indigenous nations, and to all Indigenous peoples and communities living in Toronto.

This land is also part of the Dish with One Spoon territory, a treaty between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (aka. The Six Nations Confederacy), the Anishinaabek (Ah-nish-nah-bek) and allied nations, to peaceably share and care for this land, its waters, and all of the biodiversity in the Great Lakes region. All those who come to live and work here are responsible for honouring this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship, and respect. About Land Acknowledgement Statements