Main Street

137 Main Street,
Toronto, ON M4E 2V9

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

General Inquiries

To speak directly with staff at Main Street 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 Gerrard Street East and Main Street. Located on the east side of Main Street, 1/2 block south of Gerrard Street East.

Public Transit

Main Street subway station, walk 5 minutes south on Main Street to the library.
TTC buses #64 Main, #135 Gerrard.
TTC streetcar #506 along Gerrard Street.

Parking

Free - rear of library of laneway at north side of the building.

Upcoming Programs

Featured Programs

Mon, Jun 24

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

What's That Bird? A Beginner's Guide to Bird Identification

Curious about the birds you see in your backyard or neighbourhood? Learn the basics of bird identification using clues lik...

Regular Programs

Sat, May 18

10:30 am - 11:00 am

Family Time

Join us for stories, songs, rhymes and activities for children ages 5 and under with their parents or caregivers....

Thu, May 23

9:30 am - 11:30 am

Knit Wits Knitting and Crochet Club

Main Street's knitting and crochet club returns! Share your projects with other knitters/crocheters, teach a technique, le...

Thu, May 23

4:00 pm - 4:45 pm

Fun With Robotics!

Come to our Robotics Club! Meet our robots and explore the technology available for use including Snap Circuits, Dash and...

All Branch Programs and Events

Branch Features

General Features

Book Drop - 24 Hours
Express Checkout
Free Menstrual Products
Free Parking
Seating for 54

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

Adult Literacy Materials
Audiobooks on CD
Large Print Collection

Language

Medium collection in French - Children

Meeting Rooms

For booking information call 416-397-5969.

Program Room

687 sq. ft.
Seats 30 lecture style. Seats 10 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 60.
Equipment:
- chairs
- flip chart stand
- projection screen (portable)
- 5 tables

Program Room is located on the basement level. Washrooms are on the ground and second floors. Wheelchair accessible.

History

Year	Details
1903	Public library (not free) opens at East Toronto. Eventually two libraries are provided, one at Danforth Avenue and Dawes Road and the other in the YMCA building on the east side of Main Street between Gerrard Street and Danforth Avenue.
1908	Town of East Toronto is annexed to Toronto, 15 December. The assets of its library are transferred to the Toronto Public Library.
1914	Eastern Branch opened 15 December. Located in rented premises at Y.M.C.A. Gerrard Street East, northeast corner of Main Street.
1919	Toronto City Council provided funds "by a special appropriation of $100,000 for the purchase of sites and the erection of library buildings for the districts of Earlscourt and East Toronto." (TPL Annual Report, 1919).
1921	Relocated to Main Street, east side, between Swanwick Avenue and Gerrard Street East. Opened 15 December. Architect James P. Hynes.
1928	One-floor extension erected on south side for stack-room.
1977	Renamed Main Street. Renovated by Carter & Greenberg. Reopened September.
1985	Renovated, Klein & Taylor Architects. Branch closed 2 July to 28 October.
1992	Closed March 23 for barrier free access improvements. Reopened 19 April.
1996	Closed 26 February for infrastructure retrofit. Reopened 2 July.
2007	New hours, 8 January. Open hours per week increased from 60.5 to 62.
2013	Closed 23 November for a small renovation and installation of Express Checkout. Reopened 16 December.
	Main Street history panel (PDF 123.2 MB created 2021).

Main Street 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

Service Update