Toronto Reference Library

This place is huge. There are so many books and computers are always available. The wifi is fast and this is a good place for studying because there are literally large tables everywhere and everyone is quiet. Unlike the library near my home, there aren’t little kids anywhere in sight.

The largest library and collection in system. The reference library is divided into 5 floor (could be 6, never venture past the 4^th).
The second floor is their science section and the third is their business section which where I usually spend most of my time. It’s fairly quite at time but given this right at Bloor and Yonge which pretty much the centre of downtown, it does get fair share of homeless and crazy. This library has 3 security guard, it use to be 4 thou two of them are usually at the desk but I think usually the staff call down to desk for security so it easy to get a hold of them.
This branch has many feature from the newpaper and spare computer room in basement, to coffee shop in lobby to big gallery like room for events on third floor which they hold book reading with authors that do draw alot of attention to social function and even coin shows.
I think their most unique features I love is that they have an Arthur Conan Doyle Collection on the 4^th and I still need to check it but also the Baldwin Collection of Canadiana on the 5^th.

Best library ever!!! There are music practice rooms equipped with a piano, study rooms, 3D printers, an espresso book printing machine and even a green room for filming! You can’t take out many books, but you can utilize them within the building. You can even rent filming equipment!
Bathrooms here are decent. Clean enough. If you’re going to use them try to use them in the upper floors.

Overall an excellent library, but not without its problems. Three major ones to be exact.
Problem 1: the wireless internet is notoriously unreliable. The farther up the floors you go, the worse it gets – as if some wifi blackhole is keeping it all around the first floor information desk.
I will often need to set up a Hotspot because I simply cannot load basic email. My 1996 AOL connection could do better.
Problem 2: many, and I stress the word many, of the outlets on the study tables on the 2^nd-​5^th floor don’t work. If you’re planning to study here, get ready to play outlet roulette. You won’t be the only one. You’ll see other players walking around, laptops in hand, trying their luck. The only place it seems to functions is in those awkard exhibit pods they use to display sad students.
Problem 3: probably not a major problem but the sheer amount of homeless, loud, or obnoxious people can be startling. Despite what the signs would have you believe, there’s no such thing as a quiet area. It just wouldn’t be a day at Toronto Reference without hearing someone yelling across the building or two friends striking up a conversation amidst dulled readers.
Other than that though, it can be quiet pleasant and has tons and tons of material on any conceivable subject.

A Great place to work and to study. This Library has a great interior with a nice open feeling and of course lots of interesting books to peruse. I often come here on my downtime to grab a computer and get working on a pressing project. The construction is now thankfully done.
The Baldwin Room, The Music Collection and the rotating Gallery exhibit on the main floor are all worth checking out.

I love going here. In many ways, it exemplifies Toronto: big, anonymous, there’s always a place for you and nobody bugs you.
It does one better: free wifi!
It’s easy to concentrate on your work with the nice murmuring in the background. You can eat your snacks on the first floor. Their free lecture series is decent, though they move it around among different halls on many different floors all the time, so you have to check. Lots of electrical sockets.
It’s so spacious, there is no smell. You can read magazines and books for hours, misplace all the stuff and not get yelled at.
I hope to participate in their digital hub and other activities some time!

One of my favorite libraries for sure.

Gorgeous building, awesome selection of books and something about the energy inside is magical.

I was in awe when I stepped inside this library the first time. Was looking for a book for high school, and I’ve never seen such a huge selection of knowledge. Cool experience.

I was blown away by my visit to the Toronto Reference Library. I had seen this library in the Scott Pilgrim comics and I was blown away by what a wonderful building it is in person. The librarian in me definitely had some serious library-​envy when I visited the TRL.
First off, the building itself is beautiful. Even though the design is somewhat dated, they’ve managed to create a modern looking space. I love how open it is! The view from the fifth floor of the rest of the library is pretty amazing.
There are plenty of PCs available for public use as well as free wireless internet. There is also lots of space useful to individuals wanting to read or study quietly or to groups wanting to quietly collaborate on a project. They even have some sound-​resistant study orbs that can be booked when you really need to focus. Too cool!
Another intriguing feature of this library is some of the «maker» services that they offer. The library has a 3D printer for public use as well as a book printing service (both for a fee). I love the idea of a patron being able to walk into a library and have their scrapbook, novel, or home cookbook bound.
I wish all libraries were like this one. Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card!

I used to love this library… Spent days studying here. Not to be offensive, but I felt very uncomfortable. It is full of homeless people, very disruptive. The security just seems defeated and don’t do much to make this a positive educational environment. It was like a daytime shelter. I had to move 5 times. Won’t be going back — for extended visits anyways.

Based on architecture only, I would give it 3.5 stars. I mean, compared to NYC Public Library, the Toronto Reference Library is like a half-​shrug. The reason why this place gets 2 stars are the ongoing (and present) construction. How can one read, study, or do anything with that constant banging? Shh!!! As for the patrons, many of the homeless people come to the first floor in the back and just plop down and take a 3 hour nap. I think this should not be allowed since this is a library, not a place for taking a doze. Come on Toronto Reference Library, clean up your act. Plus, there’s a coffee place in the library, but come on, Balzacs? Stay away from this coffee bar and head to the Starbucks a few doors down for better coffee. Not to say that this place doesn’t have it’s positives, including some of the window views, the open concept feeling, and the study carrels. But there’s a long way to go! Pro-​tip: If you need the internet, stay clear of this place. Speed is slow and connection is shotty because so many users try to join the network that it gets congested.

We are very lucky to have such a great reference library in Toronto
Why?
Because not only do they have digital media available on line, e-​books and magazine subscriptions for your Galaxy Tablet and are keeping up with the times but because they also have a
Digital Innovations Hub
They have two 3D printers, a 3D scanner, and a variety of design software easy enough even for beginners to use.
The cost is low but you need to take a free course
No printing of guns, weapons or sexually explicit items will be allowed

This is my fave lib ever.
They’ve got huge windows that overlook the small park outside. A reminder that life goes on — even during midterm season.
A tonne of resources for the randomest most esoteric course you have ever taken. I recommend checking whether or not they have your course books. I often don’t buy mine and just read them here.
And it’s quiet! There could be a thousand people here at a time but the upper floors are always dead silent.
Negatives — Firstly, bathrooms on some of the floors have those damn eco rolls that only let you pull out two single ply sheets at a time.
Secondly, there has been far too much interior remodelling this summer. Large sections of the lib are shut down. Thankfully, I have yet to hear drilling noises halfway through Kafka.

Toronto’s public library system is the largest in North America and this is the flagship central branch of our library system. When you picture libraries, you might see old dark and dusty buildings with rows and rows of bookshelves and a old gentleman watching your movement through an eyepiece.
Not the case here! The TRL is a beautifully designed building reminiscent of an architectural style that is a few decades older. There are some surprise contemporary elements such as a bold open concept design and the use of glass that suggests fluidity. The lower section is dedicated to the use of computer terminals, desks for people to hookup their laptops on (free wifi as is the case with all libraries) and special purpose areas. Upper floors are filled with books and communal study desks. Students take over this building when classes are in session, and their constant chatter may affect your concentration, but otherwise it is quite quiet.
The library building also has a convention halls for private events, a movie theatre for free screenings and other spaces for artists and event organizers. Like most other libraries, the staff is friendly and very helpful.
I bring most of my visitors and tourists to this building, it is very un-​library like and I like that. :)

I have been to Toronto Reference Library so often over all these years.
Great place to study as I can get lost among all these stacks of books. And it still feels like a library with the quietness. No toddlers running around and screaming their heads off.
I also been here for the Power of Movement event. Having a yoga session here is definitely really cool.
Close to Yonge/​Bloor subway station and with all these restaurants around made TRL my to go to library to chill when I am downtown.
⁸⁄₁₅

The library is great! There’s enough space to spread your stuff on the tables and you never worry about not finding an empty spot. This place is huge and the free internet is a big bonus.
What I like even more about the library is the tiny coffee shop on the first floor. You can come there early and get some work done until the library opens in the morning.
The only thing I don’t like about it is that they make you open your backpack every time you exit the library despite having an electronic detector.

One of my favorite libraries in the Greater Toronto Area. This place is really quiet so it is perfect for studying. There are 5 floors so it’s spacious but it can packed on the weekdays by students, researchers, etc. There are tons of spaces on weekends.
Seating options include individual desk and tables or large desks to share with others, plenty of lighting, a large collection of books, including prep materials if you are preparing for an exam such as the LSAT or GMAT. Some are available for you to borrow outside of the library. If you need anything, just ask the staff at the information desks located on each floor. They are so helpful!
No food except on the first floor but coffee and drinks are fine. Clean restrooms. Relatively fresh air. Free wireless internet that’s fairly stable.
And if you need to grab some food during a study break, plenty of options nearby in the neighbourhood!

Quietness can be found in this huge library, free wifi is there but really slow, lots of computers to use if you don’t have your own, and tons of books & other media (movies, audio, etc.) as well as equipment to play the media in question on.
So the environment isn’t bad for studying, as long as you’re willing to wait on the wireless internet connection. I wasn’t patient enough, so I resorted to tethering (using the internet connection on my laptop via my smartphone). Any other Toronto library that I’ve ever been to (at least 5 of them), have had rather decent speeds on wifi.
That is mostly-​so my only complaint about this joint. For the most part, people are quiet. Every now and then you’ll hear a cellphone ring or what-​not, but it’s nothing compared to any smaller Toronto library, where the noise levels are constant and rather loud.
So all-​in-​all, for studying or working on whatever you might need ot work on, this library is pretty decent as long as you’re OK with the slow wireless internet connection and some minor intermittent surrounding noises.

This is our flagship library in Toronto. By far the largest library both architecturally and in size of its collection. The second largest library, I think is Albert Campbell in Scarborough and it pales in comparison.
The TFL is 5 floors and open concept to the extreme as you can see the building’s ceiling by just looking up from the center of The Common’s area.
From an architectural perceptive the TFL is decidedly 1970’s, and although I do like the overall round/​fluid touches found threw out, I have never been a fan of 70’s pseudo-​futuristic queues. However, thanks to the grand size of the building, the architecture actually becomes somewhat nondescript than tacky so I do not find it offensive.
Now since this is a reference library, most of the books cannot be borrowed out, which is a shame but many library have items in their collections that are meant to be kept safe. So I have no issue with that.
Now the main floor is where all the computers/​wifi are and generally is always busy with people coming in, chatting, using their laptops and going out. You can also book PC’s for an hour a day, and it is quite simple to do. I generally do it on my phone as I am going in and by the time I get inside, my PC is already waiting for me. There is also some PC’s that can be used for longer but you have to wait in line. Unfortunately that is a crap shoot as it will come down to luck whether you wait at all or not.
Now the interesting thing about the TRL is they are more than just a library. Aside the PCs you can use, many authors drop by for a reading. Plus they have free classes ranging for ESL for new comers to how to run a business.
Also they have free movie screenings and seminars that you might find interesting. We should be happy that we have such a wonderful thing as this library to enjoy.
Oh, it should be worth mentioning, the library, although still open to the public is going through a major renovation which is schedule to last… uh, about 5 years.
So except it to become more noticeable as time goes by.
Still, a great Toronto landmark.