New Toronto Public Library
The
first library was formed as an Association Library in May of 1921 in a small
room provided by Town Council. On
February 9th, 1923, the associate library and assets were taken over
by the Town. All work from the
inception of the Associate Library up to February 9, 1923 was run on a
voluntary basis. As the library grew it
became a Public Library and was housed in a store on the north side of the Lake
Shore Road.
In
October 1927, construction started on a new building on Eleventh Street where
the current library stands. The library
opened on February 3rd, 1928.
The land was donated by Mr. W.G. Jackson and Mr. A. Keith, and the money
for the library furnishings was supplied by the industries in New Toronto, as
well as private gifts.
In
1928, it was found necessary to secure a Children’s Librarian, due to the
demand for children’s books, and in 1938, owing to the increase in circulation,
a drive was made to secure funds to erect a Children’s Library. A house to house canvass of all homes and
industries was made and a total of $6131.27 was collected, including a donation
of $1441.00 from the Lakeshore Chapter, Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire
(IODE). (This organization continued to
donate money each year towards furnishing the Children’s Library). The balance of $7500.00 was donated by the
Town and the Children’s Library was opened on June 22nd, 1941 and
the Ina M. Keesee Children’s Library (long-time supporter of library service in
New Toronto)
In
1954 an addition was built for a reference and reading room. In 1967, the New Toronto Public Library
Board was taken over by the Etobicoke Public Library Board with the
amalgamation of the Town of New Toronto with the Township of Etobicoke becoming
the Borough of Etobicoke.
In
1993, the building was demolished. A
new building opened on November 3rd, 1994 (Moffat Kinoshita
Architects).
Below
is a picture from 1953 and a picture of the library today - now part of the
Toronto Public Library system.
I also found the following picture on the University
of Guelph's website of the Etobicoke Bookmobile c.1953.
