Toronto Public Library - St James Town Branch

Note on the review below by "Happy Disney Park" (The user name says it all): This review is filled with unsubstantiated opinion. All most all the "facts" about this sad state of the facility are simply not true. It is obvious from those statements that the reviewer has spent next to no time actually using the facility; which is also true of the claims of most of the other negative reviews.
8 years ago (24-09-2017)

This used to be one of the best libraries when it first opened in 2004. I think it was the first Toronto Public Library branch to feature self checkouts and this particular self checkout allowed you to insert your library card in this slit which then the computer would read and the card would pop back up after so of like an ATM machine but built into a desk and then the receipt would also come out of the other slit. I think this itself was so cool as it felt technologically advanced back then. I also remember they also had a fantastic large collection of multicultural material with a lot of new DVDs and magazines which other libraries didn't have. They also had a lot of new books and had a shelf dedicated entirely to new books that came into the library and this shelf would have A LOT of new books every single week. It had a lot of brand new children's magazines and a lot of magazines for teens as well. It was in it's prime time in the first few years of opening but I honestly don't know what happened but everything has gone down hill since. Long gone are the futuristic self checkout library card insert machines which broke down only like 4 years after it's opening, their DVD collections for multicultural languages are smaller, no shelf with new books anymore, no big selection of children or teen magazines, and the children section is just plain gross now. I am very disappointed as this used to be my favourite library and now I don't go here anymore. I think budget may have caused it to go downhill but I am glad I got to experience it during it's prime time.
8 years ago (28-03-2017)

Small to mid-sized library with very multicultural holdings, primarily due to the surrounding demographics interests (St. Jamestown) where a lot of immigrant families tend to reside. I've noticed news papers, books and magazines and TV/movie DVD's in Urdu, Hindi, Russian, Chinese and Tamil (possibly more languages but cant recall). Library card holders can use printing facilities (15 cents per printed page). Two small meeting rooms in the back which (I believe) are first come first serve. Staff tends to be friendly and knowledgeable. More then a dozen computers connected to the internet and usually not a long wait to use one. Seating is a bit limited but can be found more often then not.
9 years ago (10-01-2017)

It's small, but nice library, has some selection of books in other languages such as Russian, Chinese, Tagalog. There is opportunity to use computers and print documents, but no scanning facility.
9 years ago (01-01-2017)

it is nice place for families where you can drop your kid and make sure he is playing or reading. it is more like community centre than library. i would go there to study . Not a lot of options, however good place to pick up the holds.
9 years ago (08-10-2016)