Toronto Public Library - Riverdale

Certain periods of time are busy. Otherwise quite,unless some homeless bums or overdosed/highly influenced bumps in. Sometimes quite interesting and shocking.

A big Toronto library, conveniently located near multiple TTC stops and Green P parking lots. Great common meeting place to gather the gang. However, it sometimes get busy and you may have to register and wait for computer access. When it's busy, the noise level makes it difficult to study/sleep, and there may be many 'unsavory" characters at the building's entrance, or sleeping on chairs inside... or even worse harrassing library patrons and staff. Typical downtown library safety issues.

nasty Eurasian head librarian has become even nastier with her authoritarian attitude. i come here whenever i do shopping in east chinatown, or do my laundry, even though i live at dufferin and college. She always snaps at me, not to eat in the store, even though i'm not eating and my stuff is in a bag, or i can't put my laundry bag on the chair beside me, although the library is empty all the time. A couple of times i went to the washroom, and within 2 minutes, staff screaming at me through the closed door. No wonder this library is always empty. This Eurasian person, i remember her from yorkville library and she was always too full of herself. Now many marginalized people don't come to this library since the pandemic started, and i'll bet anything, it's because of her gestapo attitude. Annoying and infuriating to say the least. It's what she is.

Spacious, well equipped, public-friendly hours. Gotta love it

Toronto Public Library is a great organization; it's been especially important during COVID. I appreciate still being able to pick up books and agree with Kathryn that the mystery bags have been a great way to read things I otherwise wouldn't. Plus I really like the origami and other art they put on bulletin boards to welcome everyone. Great location.

There is a very limited space to sit and study plus it doesn’t look like a library the staffs speaks loudly as if it’s mall. All in all worst!

Good place to study after school. Place is quiet and offers you computers. Great place to warm up during thr winter as well. Workers are very friendly.

The staff were very helpful and quite pleasant. I brought a special needs client in and they were very accommodating with the resources

I've been here in Toronto for two months to attend an university course and I often studied at this library. The staff is very kind, but this seems to be everything but a library. It's full of disgusting people who are used to eat, burp, fart and spit like animals and the place is really dirty and smelly. I don't know if it's the normal local folklore or not. It's a pity because the place is a really good one, but it's impossible to stay in there.

I love this library, or as I tend to call it, my library. I've been coming here for twenty years. It's a short walk from my house. The staff do change quite often but they are all without exception, friendly helpful always and very kind. There is always something going on too, which gives you a sense of belonging to a thriving community. Reading groups for small children, play groups, others on the computers etc. The library has a great selection of current magazines there too, so you can catch up on what's going on without the huge expense involve. I notice many in there catching up on the news, with the daily papers too. Sometimes I order books online, and sometimes I do just go in and pick something up. Audio books are great, and there is a very large selection of those too. Of course the library can also order anything else you want. It just takes a few days.... PS I should add that the building itself is magnificent. There is an historical plaque outside which tells you it's story. E J Lennox, who designed Casa Loma and Old City Hall also designed this lovely place. So take a minute to admire its outside as a well