Borrow a Musical Instrument

The Sun Life Musical Instrument Lending Library is a collection of instruments (guitars, ukuleles, bongos, violins, and more) that can be borrowed for free with a valid library card.

Musical instrument lending library locations

Parkdale: 1303 Queen Street West, 416-393-7686

Downsview: 2793 Keele Street, 416-395-5720

Learn with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO)

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra's TSOUND ADVICE series provides an introduction on how to play your instrument from TSO musicians directly. Click on the thumbnails below to access instrument tutorials for the instruments available at the Sun Life Musical Instrument Learning Library.

Learn more about the TSO's programs for children, adults and families.

Toronto Symphony Orchestra website

Hand Drum (14:11 mins)

Viola (16:13 mins)

Violin (26:18 mins)

Cello (15:37 mins)

View all videos on TSO's YouTube

Instrument types

• Guitars

  • Acoustic Guitar
  • Classical Guitar
  • Electric Guitar
  • Bass Guitar
  • Acoustic Bass
  • Banjo
  • Ukulele - Bass
  • Ukulele - Concert
  • Ukulele - Soprano
  • Mandolin

  Accessories

  • Guitar Bow

• Percussion

  • African Double Bell
  • Bongo Drum
  • Cabasa
  • Cajon Drum
  • Conga Drum
  • Dholak Drum
  • Djembe African Drum
  • Doumbek Drum
  • Frame Drum
  • Shekere
  • Tabla Set
  • Tambourine
  • Talking Drum
  • Steel Pan Drum
  • Xylophone

• Keyboards

  • 88-note keyboard
  • 61-note keyboard
  • 49-note keyboard
  • 44-note keyboard
  • Accordion
  • Concertina

  Strings

  • Cello
  • Electric Oud
  • Electric Sitar
  • Small Harp
  • Viola
  • Violin

  Equipment

  • Amplifier
  • Amplifier cable

How instrument lending works

Borrowing an instrument

• Instruments can only be borrowed from one of the Musical Instrument Lending Library locations (please see the list above). Contact the branch to find out if the instrument you want is available.
• Make sure you have a valid Toronto Public Library card. If you need to renew your card or get a new card, bring the required identification.
• You will be asked to sign a Musical Instrument Lending Agreement. For children under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the agreement.
• Instruments must be returned to the Musical Instrument Lending Library branch that they were borrowed from.

Rules and conditions

• You may borrow 1 instrument at a time.
• The loan period for an instrument is 3 weeks. You are allowed 2 renewals, which means you can keep the instrument for up to 9 weeks in total.
• If you lose or damage an instrument or its accessories, you will be charged a replacement fee.

Caring for musical instruments

Learn how to take care of the instruments you borrow. These videos will show you how.

About the service

The Sun Life Musical Instrument Lending Library is the first of its kind in the city, and also the first in public libraries across Canada! With generous support from Sun Life through their Making the Arts More Accessible™ program, Toronto Public Library offers a collection of musical instruments that can be borrowed with a library card.