Downsview

2793 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3M 2G3

Contact Downsview

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	1:30 pm	to	5:00 pm

Wheelchair Accessible
Free Wifi

Directions, TTC & Parking

View on map

Closest major intersection Keele Street and Wilson Ave. Located at northeast corner of Keele Street and Wilson Ave. behind the plaza.

Public Transit

TTC Keele Street bus northbound from Keele subway station, stops right in front of the library.
TTC Wilson buses from York Mills subway station and Wilson subway station, stop at the corner of Keele Street and Wilson Ave. in both directions.

Parking

Free - lot adjacent to the library.

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, Feb 19

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Microsoft Word Basics

Learn to open Word, create a document, and save a file. An introduction to Microsoft Word 2013. Basic keyboarding and mous...

Mon, Feb 25

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Photoshop 3: Image Editing

Learn about Image Editing, Adjustment Layers, Smart Objects and more.

Tue, Feb 26

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Microsoft Excel Basics

Learn to open, create and edit a simple table using Microsoft Excel. Basic keyboarding and mouse skills required.

Regular Programs

Mon, Feb 18

12:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Adult Literacy

Free one-on-one instruction in basic reading, writing, and math for English-speaking adults. Adult volunteer tutors meet ...

Tue, Feb 19

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Learning Circle: Linux Unhatched

Linux is a valuable skill needed for in-demand IT careers. This course will help learners understand basic Linux commands ...

Tue, Feb 19

11:00 am - 11:30 am

Baby Time

Come join us for bouncing songs, stories and rhymes! Parent and caregiver participation required. Ages 0 -18 months. ...

All Branch Programs and Events

Branch Features

General Features

Equipment for persons with disabilities

Book stand
Computer with at least 29” clearance under table top
Computer with screen magnification software (Zoomtext)
Large print keyboard
Large trackball mouse
Magnifier
Natural spectrum lamp
Page turner
Wheelchair accessible furniture

Technology

Collections

Adult Literacy Materials
Audiobooks on CD
Large Print Collection

Language

Large collection in Italian, Spanish
Medium collection in Chinese, French, Tagalog
Small collection in Hindi (DVDs only), Turkish, Vietnamese

Meeting Rooms

For booking information call 416-397-5969.

Auditorium

1,405 sq. ft.
Seats 52 lecture style. Seats 52 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 110.
Equipment:
- ceiling mounted projection screen
- flip chart stand (shared with other rooms)
- tables
- whiteboard

Main Floor Meeting Room

600 sq. ft.
Seats 25 lecture style. Seats 25 classroom style.
Equipment:
- chairs
- coat rack
- puppet stage
- tables

Meeting Room A

242 sq. ft.
Seats 18 lecture style. Seats 18 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 25.
Equipment:
- flip chart stand (shared with other rooms)
- tables
- whiteboard

Meeting Room B

486 sq. ft.
Seats 22 lecture style. Seats 22 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 35.
Equipment:
- flip chart stand (shared with other rooms)
- tables
- whiteboard

Kitchen

Equipment:
- coffee urns (32-cup and 100 cup)
- microwave
- refrigerator
Kitchen is shared if two or more groups have made a booking.

Auditorium and wheelchair accessible washroom are located on the lower level (access by elevator).

History

Year	Details
1956	North York Public Library Board appoints Paul Meschino as the architect for the proposed Downsview Branch, 18 April. On 4 May, it passes a bylaw to expropriate "certain lands at the corner of Keele Street and Paxtonia Boulevard for public library purposes, said lands being part of Block B, Plan 4571, North York owned by Goodburn Construction Ltd." On 23 May, it approves "a price of $30,000.00 with the understanding that a donation of $2000.00 will be made to the Board." (North York Public Library Board minutes).
1960	North York Public Library Board plans Downsview Branch as its first regional library for the west end of the municipality.
1961	Sod-turning ceremony, 9 May. Officiating are Mrs. W.W. Allison, Chairman of the North York Public Library Board; William L. Graff, Chief Librarian; James Service, Councillor for Ward 7; William Lyon, Councillor for Ward 8; R. J. Stanbury and Sydney Moscoe, Board members; Paul Meschino, architect; and Anthony Fassel, contractor.
1962	Opened to the public, 6 March. Paul Meschino Architect.
1963	Officially opened on 26 May, with the cornerstone (dated 1961) laid by Vivian Thomas Graff, the widow of William L. Graff, North York’s chief librarian since 1955, who had died in office on 15 October 1962.
1965	Enlarged to regional/area size. Officially opened, 15 April. Paul Meschino Architect.
1995	Closed for renovations and expansion, 26 June.
1996	Reopened, 6 May. Makrimichalos Cugini Architects.
1997	Included on an inventory of North York's Modernist Architecture, prepared by the City of North York Planning Department, Urban Design Division.
2011	Renovation that included addition of Express Checkout, new shelving and display cases and reconfiguration of the service desk.
2012	50th celebration of Downsview Branch.
2016	Digital Innovation Hub created on the main floor level.
2018	Youth Hub opens September, 2018.

Land Acknowledgement

Downsview 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 New 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