Swansea Memorial

95 Lavinia Avenue,
Toronto, ON M6S 3H9

Hours

Monday	1:30 pm	to	6:00 pm
Tuesday	1:30 pm	to	6:00 pm
Wednesday	1:30 pm	to	6:00 pm
Thursday	1:30 pm	to	6:00 pm
Friday	1:30 pm	to	6:00 pm
Saturday	9:30 am	to	5:00 pm
Sunday	Closed

Self-Service Hours

Advance registration required. Please visit Swansea Memorial branch or Runnymede Branch to register.

About self-service hours

Monday	9:00 am	to	1:30 pm
Monday	6:00 pm	to	8:00 pm
Tuesday	9:00 am	to	1:30 pm
Tuesday	6:00 pm	to	8:00 pm
Wednesday	9:00 am	to	1:30 pm
Wednesday	6:00 pm	to	8:00 pm
Thursday	9:00 am	to	1:30 pm
Thursday	6:00 pm	to	8:00 pm
Friday	9:00 am	to	1:30 pm
Friday	6:00 pm	to	8:00 pm
Saturday	9:00 am	to	9:30 am
Sunday	Closed

Wheelchair Accessible
Free Wifi

General Inquiries

To speak directly with staff at Swansea Memorial Branch during branch hours, please call the number listed above.

For general questions about Toronto Public Library, your account, and quick reference help, email Answerline using the link below.

Email Answerline

Directions, TTC & Parking

View on map

Closest major intersection Runnymede Street and Deforest Road. Located on the east side of Lavinia Ave. south of Deforest Road within Swansea Town Hall.

Public Transit

Runnymede bus southbound from Runnymede subway station to Deforest Road.

Parking

Free - lot in rear of building off Deforest Road Street parking on Lavinia Ave.

Upcoming Programs

Featured Programs

Mon, Jul 10

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

LEGO Building Day

Kick off the summer at Swansea with LEGO Building Day! Build, create and use your imagination. Drop-in. No reg...

Mon, Jul 31

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Bentastic Magically Fantastic!

Find your "inner magic" during this upbeat, hilarious, and interactive magical experience with BenTastic! Expect a healthy...

Mon, Aug 14

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Hands on Exotics: Jurassic Adventure

Join us for a Jurassic adventure! Hands on Exotics is an exotic animal shelter that brings a wide variety of animals inclu...

All Branch Programs and Events

Branch Features

General Features

Book Drop - After Hours
Express Checkout
Free Parking
Seating for 20

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

Large Print
Local History Collection (Located at Runnymede)

History

Year	Details
1919	Women's Patriotic League of Swansea resolved 4 March to use monies on hand "to form a nucleus for a Public Library, Reading Room and Gymnasium...as a Memorial to our Swansea men who have seen active service in the Great War." (Swansea Memorial Public Library Minutes). Swansea Memorial Public Library Association formed 30 September at meeting at Swansea Public School. Swansea Memorial Public Library opened 30 November at Swansea Public School, Windermere Avenue.
1923	Swansea Public Library Board established. (Also called Swansea Memorial Free Library Board). First meeting held, 23 February, at home of Mrs. R.C. Smith.
1926	Swansea incorporated as village. First meeting of Swansea Memorial Free Public Library held 3 March in Swansea Public School for organization.
1959	Relocated to Swansea Municipal Building, 95 Lavinia Avenue. N.A. Armstrong, Architect. Building officially opened, 20 May.
1967	Swansea Public Library taken over by Toronto Public Library, 1 January, with amalgamation of Swansea to Toronto.
1987	Swansea Municipal Building listed on Toronto Historical Board's Inventory of Heritage Properties adopted by City Council, 19 May.
1991	Closed due to building renovation and retrofit, 13 April.
1993	Reopened 14 July.
2002	Hours change in service, 2 July.
2004	Extended weekly hours (35 hours per week) 2 February 2004 to 8 June 2005 during Runnymede closure.
2017	Extended weekly hours (59.5 hours per week) 30 January to 17 June during Runnymede closure.

Swansea Memorial is on Indigenous land and uniquely situated along Gabekanaang-ziibi (ka-be-ka-naang zee-bih), the Anishinaabemowin (Ah-nish-nah-be-mo-win) name for the Humber River, which means “Leave the canoes and go back.” This waterway provides an integral connection between Indigenous communities on the shore of Lake Ontario, Lake Simcoe, and the Georgian Bay region. The Anishinaabemowin (Ah-nish-nah-be-mo-win) name for this area is Adobigok (ah-doh-bih-gok), which means the Place of the Alders.

This is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee (ho-den-oh-sho-nee) Confederacy (aka. 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