Toronto Reference Library
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Toronto Reference Library (previously the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library) is a six story facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada opened in 1977. The library was designed by architect, Raymond Moriyama and is part of the Toronto Public Library system, but its collection is mostly non-circulating.
Prior to 1998, the library was operated separately from the then Toronto Public Library system. It is one of three large libraries in the city, which includes the Robarts Library at the University of Toronto and Scott Library at York University.
The library collection consists of:
- 1.5 million volumes (monographs and bound periodicals)
- 2.5 million other materials (films, tapes, microforms, maps, fine art, ephemera, etc.)
- 360,000 linear metres of manuscript materials
Among the special collections is 1) the Arthur Conan Doyle Room, a collection devoted to the works of the creator of Sherlock Holmes, 2) the Baldwin Room, a collection of books, manuscripts, ephemera, and pictures relating to Upper Canada (now Ontario) and to early Toronto, named after Robert Baldwin a leading political reformer in Upper Canada and pre-Confederation Premier. The library also has an extensive performing arts collection, including papers and information on many Canadian artists, such as Al Waxman.
The library is located at 789 Yonge Street, one block north of Bloor Street.
