North York Central Library

Creation Loft's scanner, laptop lending, button maker, embroidery machine and serger sewing machine are unavailable.

Teen Zone closed March 3, 2025 for approximately one year for renovations.

Open today until 8:30pm

Monday

9:00AM - 8:30PM

Tuesday

9:00AM - 8:30PM

Wednesday

9:00AM - 8:30PM

Thursday

9:00AM - 8:30PM

Friday

9:00AM - 8:30PM

Saturday

9:00AM - 5:00PM

Sunday

12:00PM - 5:00PM

5120 Yonge Street

Toronto, ON M2N 5N9

Get Directions

Phone: (416) 395-5535

Answerline: (416) 397-5981

General Inquiries

To speak directly with staff at North York Central Library Branch during branch hours, please call the number listed above.

For general questions about Toronto Public Library, your account, and quick reference help, email Answerline.

North York Central Library on Facebook, opens a new window

Wheelchair Accessible

Free Wifi

Featured Services

Upcoming Events

Holidays and Closures

Family Day

Monday, February 16, 2026

Closed All Day
Good Friday

Friday, April 3, 2026

Closed All Day
Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Closed All Day
Easter Monday

Monday, April 6, 2026

Closed All Day
Scheduled Sunday Closure

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Closed All Day
Victoria Day

Monday, May 18, 2026

Closed All Day
Canada Day

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Closed All Day
Scheduled Sunday Closure

Sunday, August 2, 2026

Closed All Day
Civic Holiday (Simcoe Day)

Monday, August 3, 2026

Closed All Day
Scheduled Sunday Closure

Sunday, September 6, 2026

Closed All Day
Labour Day

Monday, September 7, 2026

Closed All Day
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Closed All Day
Scheduled Sunday Closure

Sunday, October 11, 2026

Closed All Day
Thanksgiving Day

Monday, October 12, 2026

Closed All Day
Christmas Eve

Thursday, December 24, 2026

Closes early: 1:00pm
Christmas Day

Friday, December 25, 2026

Closed All Day
Boxing Day

Saturday, December 26, 2026

Closed All Day
Scheduled Sunday Closure

Sunday, December 27, 2026

Closed All Day
New Year’s Eve

Thursday, December 31, 2026

Closes early: 1:00pm
New Year’s Day

Friday, January 1, 2027

Closed All Day

About North York Central Library

- Art Exhibit Space
- Auditorium
- Best Bets
- Borrow a Laptop
- Computer Learning Centre
- Digital Innovation Hub
- Express Checkout
- Flatbed Scanners
- Internet/Microsoft Office workstations
- KidsStop Early Literacy Centre
- Light Therapy Lamps
- Meeting Room
- Microform Readers
- Piano/Practice Room
- Quiet Study Space
- Virtual Interview Room
- Wireless (Wi-Fi)
- Youth Hub
- Book Ends Used Bookstore
- Entrepreneurs Suite
- Fabrication Studio
- Free Menstrual Products
- Local History Collection
Closest major intersection Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue. Located on west side of Yonge Street on the north side of Mel Lastman Square beside the North York Civic Centre.

TTC

TTC subway station North York Centre. Walk to library located in the mall.
Paid - parking lot on Beecroft Road, meter parking on side streets, paid parking lots in vicinity and underground.
Equipment for persons with disabilities
- Book stand (Not available due to renovation - alternative location is Toronto Reference Library)
- CCTV (closed circuit TV also called print magnifier) - 4th floor - Currently unavailable
- Cassette players - in-library use or for loan (Not available due to renovation - alternative location is Toronto Reference Library)
- Computers with screen magnification software (Zoomtext) (5)
- Kurzweil Personal Reading Machine (Not available due to renovation - alternative location is Toronto Reference Library)
- Large print keyboard
- Large trackball mouse
- Magnifier
- Microfilm/microfiche reader/printer machine with at least 29" clearance under the table top
- Natural spectrum lamp
- Page turner (Not available due to renovation - alternative location is Toronto Reference Library)
- Wheelchair accessible furniture

Collections

Language

Meeting Rooms

For booking information call 416-397-5969.

Auditorium

1,764 sq. ft.

Seats 139 lecture style. Seats 92 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 220.

Equipment:

chairs
coat racks
flip chart stand *
Heintzman piano with 2 piano benches
2 microphones (with cords) *
2 microphone floorstands
1 microphone tabletop stand *
2 extension cords (various lengths)
podium
projection screen (ceiling-mounted)
ceiling mounted video projector
tables
whiteboard stand *

* Equipment available for sign out from Security Office.

Room 1

868 sq. ft

Seats 66 lecture style. 24 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 95.

Equipment:

chairs
coat racks
flip chart stand *
projection screen (ceiling-mounted, no projector)
tables
whiteboard

* Equipment available for sign out from Security Office.

Room 101

850 sq. ft

Seats 60 lecture style. 56 classroom style. Fire Code Occupancy: 90.

Equipment:

chairs
flip chart stand *
podium
tables

* Equipment available for sign out from Security Office.

Room 2/3

608 sq. ft

Seats 41 lecture style. 36 classroom style. Fire Code

Occupancy: 80.

Equipment:

chairs
coat racks
flip chart stand *
tables
two screens (ceiling-mounted, no projector)
whiteboard

* Equipment available for sign out from Security Office.

Kitchen

Equipment:

coffee urns: two 55-cup, two 42-cup *
microwave
kettle
refrigerator
sink

* Equipment available for sign out from Security Office.

Kitchen is shared if two or more group have made a booking and must be booked separately.

History

Year	Details
1950	A library opens on the ground floor of the North York Memorial Hall, located on the west side of Yonge Street, south of Park Home Avenue, on 30 September. The North York Public Library Association Board, established that year, operates the library.
1956	North York Public Library Board, established as a municipally-supported board by North York Township Bylaw 9612 passed on 3 January 1955, is allotted property on Yonge Street at the southwest corner of Park Home Avenue by North York Council in January 1956.
1957	The library’s adult and children’s departments are relocated from Memorial Hall to three rented stores at 5188, 5190 and 5192 Yonge Street, a block north of Park Home Avenue, opening there on 9 May. North York Township Council passes Bylaw 12412 on 12 August formally selling the 1.573-acre (.64 ha) property at the southwest corner of Yonge Street and Park Home Avenue to the Library Board for $52,000.
1959	The Gladys Allison Building is opened by the North York Public Library Board on the site on 8 July. Designed by architects James Murray and Henry Fliess, the building includes adult and children’s libraries, an auditorium/art gallery, two meeting rooms, and, on the second floor, offices for library administration and technical services. It is named in named in honour of community activist Gladys Allison (1901–1979), the driving force behind the establishment of a public library system in North York, who served on its Library Board from 1950 until 1966.
1985	The Gladys Allison Building is closed on October 5. A temporary branch called Central-on-Sheppard is opened to serve the community until the new North York Central Library is ready.
1987	New North York Central Library, in the North York City Centre, opened on May 13. Moriyama & Teshima Architects.
1996	Opening of new Gateway Services Department on April 15.
2001	LINK closed 29 June. Services now provided by Society and Recreation and Business & Urban Affairs Department.
2007	New hours, 8 January. Hours open per week increased from 59 to 59.5. Renovated Learning Centre reopened in January.
2009	New Performance space on Concourse level with seating for 200.
2010	New hours, 4 January. Hours open per week increased from 59.5 to 65.5. Implemented Express Checkout on 5 March. Auditorium renovated with seating for 203.
2011	Automated checkin as of 12 December.
2012	Teen Zone reopened, February. Urban Affairs Collection dispersed to appropriate departments at NYCL and TRL. Business and Urban Affairs Department renamed Business Department to reflect the change.
2013	Gaming Room opened March 2013.
2014	IBBY Collection for Young People with Disabilities opened 27 February.

Map

New at North York Central Library

Land Acknowledgement

North York Central Library is on Indigenous land. This is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee (ho-den-oh-sho-nee) Confederacy (aka. the Six Nations Confederacy), the Wendat, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Toronto Public Library gratefully acknowledges these Indigenous nations for their guardianship of this land. We'd also like to remind and reaffirm, as Torontonians and Canadians, our accountability to these Indigenous nations, and to all Indigenous peoples and communities living in Toronto.

This land is also part of the Dish with One Spoon territory, a treaty between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (aka. The Six Nations Confederacy), the Anishinaabek (Ah-nish-nah-bek) and allied nations, to peaceably share and care for this land, its waters, and all of the biodiversity in the Great Lakes region. All those who come to live and work here are responsible for honouring this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship, and respect. About Land Acknowledgement Statements

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North York Central Library

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