City Council has approved Toronto Public Library’s 2026 budget, which will support extended operating hours Monday through Saturday at select library branches beginning this summer. With this change, all 100 TPL branches will operate seven days a week year-round, excluding public holidays, as of July 2026. Additional operating hours will be added in November.
This expansion follows the introduction of Sunday hours at all TPL branches in 2025, which drew positive community response. From mid-October through December 2025, TPL branches recorded a 50% increase in Sunday visits compared to the same period in 2024. Library materials borrowed during Sunday hours increased by 54% year-over-year. These results echo TPL’s previous expansion: when the library increased open hours in 2024, participating branches saw a 44% increase in visits.
With demand for library services continuing to rise, the expansion of operating hours ensures that the library remains accessible when people need it most.
Additional budget highlights
Expanded crisis support in Scarborough
- TPL’s partnership with community agencies to provide Social and Crisis Support Services will expand to library branches in Scarborough. This successful program places crisis workers in library branches to provide short-term counselling, mental health support, primary healthcare and housing referrals. The initiative also offers wellness and recovery programming. Currently, this initiative is offered in 12 downtown library branches in partnership with Gerstein Crisis Centre.
New initiative to reduce seniors’ social isolation
- A new initiative will increase social connection and belonging for seniors across the city, helping them remain independent, connected and supported. Through enhanced programming in library branches and outreach to Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), including Toronto Community Housing sites, TPL will strengthen social connections and improve access to supports for seniors. This initiative is made possible through the largest gift ever received by the Toronto Public Library Foundation, an investment of over $7 million over five years made by the Waltons Trust.
Financial empowerment service expansion
- TPL’s Financial Empowerment Service will expand to two additional branches. This service provides free one-on-one, in-person support from community agency expert partners, providing in-depth and personalized counselling to Torontonians on topics such as filing taxes, savings & debt levels, credit and budgeting, all within library branches. Customers also have access to curated online resources and opportunities to engage with library staff and partner agencies for additional supports.
Modern, welcoming spaces
- The approved capital budget will allow TPL to address critical state of good repair (SOGR) needs and help it achieve its strategic objective of creating modern, welcoming spaces across the city.
Quote
"This budget is a milestone in making Toronto Public Library more accessible to everyone," said Moe Hosseini-Ara, City Librarian. "Expanding to seven-day-a-week service at all 100 branches, along with new and enhanced initiatives, means Torontonians can access the services and resources they need on their schedule, whether that's a weekday evening or a Sunday afternoon."
About Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library is the biggest and busiest public library system in North America, with more than 46 million annual visits to our branches and online. We empower Torontonians to thrive in the digital age and knowledge economy through easy access to technology, lifelong learning, and diverse cultural and leisure experiences, where, when and how our customers need us. To learn more, visit tpl.ca, email Answerline at answerline@tpl.ca or follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to email updates.