Toronto Reference Library (TRL)
Main branch of the Toronto Public Library (TPL) 789 Yonge Street, one block north of Bloor Street. The closest subway stop is Yonge/Bloor.
The Toronto Reference Library is the largest public reference library in Canada with an extensive collection of books, manuscripts, microfilm, and other items. Most items in its collection are designated for reference use only, so the public is unable to borrow these items for use outside the library. It is the research branch of the Toronto Public Library (TPL).
The library is known for its local history and genealogy resources. These include online research tools that focus on their digital archive of photos, books, and Toronto maps, city directories, fire insurance plans, access to the Ancestry Library Edition, Canadiana Online, and digital newspapers. Their local history and genealogy guide has online research tools, research guides, programs, local history collections, and books that support genealogical research.
Some of the most useful resources include:
- Digital archive of 170,000+ historical photographs, books, and Toronto maps.
- Digital newspaper databases for the Toronto Star Historical Newspaper Archive (1894–2016) and the Globe and Mail Historical Newspaper Archive (1844–2016). These are also available online with a TPL library card.
- Fire insurance atlases and plans — detailed maps used to research the history of buildings and neighbourhoods. Atlases cover the city as a whole. Plans cover specific neighbourhoods and often have more detail than atlases. Library holdings include online atlases and plans (1858–1912) or print versions (1858–1973), found onsite in the Toronto Reference Library.
- JGS Toronto’s Library Collection is also located at the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street (at Bloor Street). The collection is a reference, non-circulating collection, and is housed in closed stacks in the basement in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department. An index to our Society’s library resources is found at: https://jgstoronto.ca/jgstoronto-library-collection/. If you wish to view items from the collection you must ask for them at the circulation desk on the 2nd
- Ontario city directories: Over 1,000 digital city directories for other locations in Ontario, which were originally published between 1853 and 2013, have been digitized by several organizations from the collections of libraries and archives across the province. Find more information here: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/history-genealogy/lh-digital-ontario-city-directories.jsp
- Toronto City Directories. Published for almost 170 years, Toronto city directories are an invaluable research tool.
- All directories from 1833–1969 have been digitized, and are available online.
- The entire run of print directories may be viewed on open shelves in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department on the second floor of the Toronto Reference Library.
- Ontario Genealogical Society library collection is also located at the TRL. It includes cemetery transcriptions and virtually all publications of OGS and its branches. The catalogue is found here: https://vitacollections.ca/ogscollections/search
