Toronto Public Library (TPL) is a public library system in Toronto, Ontario. It is the largest public library system in Canada, and in 2023 had averaged a higher circulation per capita than any other public library system internationally, making it the largest neighbourhood-based library system in the world. Within North America, it also had the highest circulation and visitors when compared to other large urban systems. Established as the library of the Mechanics' Institute in 1830, the Toronto Public Library now consists of 100 branch libraries and has over 26 million items in its collection.
The Toronto Mechanics' Institute in 1884. A library was established at the Institute in 1830, whose collection was later absorbed into the Toronto Public Library in 1884.
The Toronto Reference Library was merged with the other library boards of Toronto following Metropolitan Toronto's amalgamation in 1998.
The Lillian H. Smith branch of TPL holds the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, and the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books.
Toronto Public Library operates two bookmobiles.
Government House (Ontario)
Government House was the official residence of the lieutenant governor of Upper Canada and Ontario, Canada. Four buildings were used for this purpose, none of which exist today, making Ontario one of four provinces not to have an official vice-regal residence.
The elevation and plans for the first Government House, built in 1799 and destroyed by war in 1813
Elmsley Villa, c. 1840
Elmsley House in 1854
The third Government House in 1908.
