Eager Readers

Eager Readers:
The Toronto Public Library

From its founding in 1883, the Toronto Public Library stocked juvenile books. But it was not until 1909 that space and staff were set aside for children. Part of the College Street Branch Library (located in the basement of the new Reference Library) became a children's room under the care of a library assistant.

The TPL soon adopted a policy of designing all new libraries with children's rooms. Riverdale (1910) was the first branch to receive this treatment. As the branch system grew, children found themselves at all levels: initially on part of the ground floor, then in the basement, and finally on the entire second floor. This last setting became the norm after 1916. Children were then able to enjoy a place of their own in bright, dry conditions.

Amid growing juvenile demands, the TPL hired Lillian H. Smith in 1912 to organize a Children's Department. Smith was responsible for hiring specially trained professionals - usually women - to serve boys and girls. These "tender technicians" gave a strong maternal character to the TPL's work with children.

Smith's programs soon brought her and the TPL wide renown. A high point was the opening of Boys and Girls House in 1922. It was the first children's library in the British Empire and the focus of international attention.

Smith also developed a system of "outpost" libraries. These were located in social settlements in the poorest neighbourhoods, and in schools where no branch library existed within walking distance. The first examples of each type were Central Neighbourhood House in "The Ward" (1918) and Queen Victoria School in Parkdale (1926).

In 1931, Boys and Girls House supported children's rooms in 15 branch libraries, four settlement houses, and six schools. Children flocked to story hours, book talks, and weekly reading clubs. They also borrowed a huge volume of books. Circulation jumped from 90,958 in 1912 to 1,001,679 in 1932.

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