Reviews of Toronto Public Library - Lillian H. Smith Branch (Library)

Robert Griffin

A quaint, small, public library in the university district. Top two floors are special collections. Generous seating, seems to always have available computer terminals. A great place to spend an afternoon catching up on newspapers or finding a new favorite author.

Glenn Dickler

Gr place just to hang out

Lion Mar

(Translated) Narrow, few seats, poor air, (Original) 狭い、席が少ない、空気あまりよくない、

Anita Windisman

Helpful staff at this smallish library. Be sure to check out the science fiction, children's, and steam punk collections. Trivia: This library makes an appearance in the Netflix film, "The Umbrella Academy".

Matthew Shipton

I concur with the two reviewers who concisely rated this library as "shady," and am completely befuddled by others who said it was "great." As stated, the library itself is fine, but the "regulars" make this an absolutely sordid location. From the guy who is literally there every day loudly playing games on the main floor, the dregs who wander in at 9am smelling like a joint, the people just using the tables for sleeping, students(?) watching movies such that the entire place can hear them, or the surly man who threatened my fiancee because she looked at him, this place is rife with the fauna that makes downtown Toronto so great. None of the staff ever seem to address any of this, and the most questionable part is that there's a full time security guard. Perhaps someone can comment as to his intended purpose.

Monica Galiano

Excellent place to spend time with your kids when you want to seacrh / read , enjoy some quiet time with your kids. The library also offers plenty of activities and programs for kids and families at no extra cost. Really nice staff and welcoming calm environement with free wifi and many ressources. There is toodler time, youth workshops, adult seminars, and even little kids after school programs.

Undead Nightorc

One gentleman has discovered that the ONE isolated study room on the third floor requires no reservations and he has proceeded to occupy it Monday to Friday, eight hours a day. Staff needs to implement some kind of reservation sign-up system. The next time you drop by the Merril Collection room, check if some large fellow with dreads is occupying the private study room at the far end. That's the guy I'm talking about.

Speech Empowering Impediments

Great library. Lots of places to sit and study. I even prayed in a corner lol.

Vladimir Shevchenko

The shadiest experience ever! I went there twice. First time there was a guy watching porn in the computer lab, and in research library there was a guy who would screen at everyone who walks by. The second time there was a guy who called the police on the people next to him because they were talking. I think it has to do with the fact that there is a mission nearby, and as such this library gets a lot of interesting visitors.

Wen Li

Nice staff.

Leer Wesen

Even though it's my neighbourhood library, I'd rather trek it to a less close location. The staff is all over the map - some are nice, some try to be helpful even though it's clear their training is lacking, and one person in particular is not. There have been multiple times when I've seen behaviour that would get someone in a non-unionized job flat out fired.... Great book selection, but you're better off getting them sent to another branch.

T Phan

Excellent library

Hark Lee

Internet speed

Grant Martin

Excellent staff very helpful,great experience every time I visit.

Peter Musser

Awesome SciFi, fantasy, and speculative fiction collection open to the entire community.

Roman Mbwasi

Staff were great and helped me use the combined printer/copier scanner to scan a picture which initially refused my PIN but they fixed it. The problem is with the scanner itself it produces very low quality scans pictures come out looking like impressionist paintings almost, Toronto Libraries should really consider keeping the old school flatbed scanners not these multi-function Xerox machines.

Alexandra Kam

Wonderful place to borrow books. :)

Colin Wilkinson

Good community based library.

Chuan Chee

The Lillian H. Smith public library is a large library with 2 floors. It is especially great for children's books, on the ground floor. One side has fiction and DVDs and the other side has non-fiction (including academic books). They have books that other libraries don't have. There ar plenty of seats for reading books on sight. They have self-serve terminals for checkout. They are more sophisticated that other branches in that you can actually login and make reservations and pay over-due fines (there is a credit card terminal along side each station). The entrance doors are self-opening. In front of the entrance are two impressive dragon statues. Just inside the entrance is an information plaque explaining the history of Lillian H. Smith. There is a large Chinese section as well. The librarians are courteous. There is free WiFi.

Jerad Johnson

How do I write this review fairly? The staff are excellent, the facility is great. The library is always full of really shady or otherwise loitering type of people who never seem to leave. You wont be able to find a spot to read, a computer to use, or a way to print anything. Do not come here if you need to get something done. Just pick up your books. I'm not sure if these people have anywhere else to go (perhaps homeless?) But I don't feel like they are using the library for its intended purpose and makes it difficult for others to go there and get anything done at all. This was just my observation.

Hillary Snyder

Selection isn't as good as others I've been to, but overall a good library with nice staff.

Chris Enceladus

Great selection (especially sci-fi), nice physical layout, but never enough seating available.

Ana Camille Tucci Patterson

Safe, clean and fun. Love the library. Such an awesome kids collection.

peilan yu

hi, i lost phone at Toronto Public Library - Lillian H. Smith Library(garden), (wuxiaoqin and liyuchen) tooked sale it to bruno mars singer(mark office next, Xiangdown), Wuxiaoqing--Joane, Liyuchen--Amandar;

Vincent Devrand

(Translated) Very quiet, perfect for studies - Very calm. Computers on the floors also (Original) Very quiet, perfect for studies - Très calme. Ordinateurs aux étages également

Lari Ferg

Love this place, great selection on books, and they can ship them in from other Toronto libraries if they don't have what you want. staff was also super helpful.

A Ko

extremely big library with a variety of selections. but it can get noisy due to echoes.

Bosco Tung

The staff are super friendly and helpful. The third and fourth floor have nice quiet spots with tables to read and study.

Minori

(Translated) Public library along College Street. It is 4 stories, but the number of seats is small. Compared to Bloor × Yonge's Toronto Reference Library, it is quite small. It has a history-like appearance, and the work space is spacious. Drinks and foods are OK as well as other libraries It is much more comfortable than staying in a cafe. In winter, it is hot because of the heat. It is recommended to wear temperature-controllable clothing under the outerwear. I went to HEATTECH and a trainer and became sweaty. . In addition, the homeless people are on the ground floor Security is not very good. We recommend the second and third floors for study and work. (Original) Collegeストリート沿いの公共図書館。 4階建てですが席数は少なめ。 Bloor × YongeのToronto Reference Libraryと比べるとだいぶこじんまりとしています。 歴史を感じる佇まいで、作業スペースはそれなりの広さ。 他の図書館とおなじく飲み物・食べ物持ち込みOKなので カフェで長居するよりはずっと快適です。 冬場は暖房ガンガンで暑いので、アウターの下は温度調節ができる服装を推奨します。 ヒートテックとトレーナーで行って汗びっしょりになりました。。 また1階はホームレスの方々がうろうろしており 治安面はあまりよろしくありません。 勉強やお仕事に利用されるのであれば2階、3階の利用をおすすめします。

Neive Lin

Kind staffs but with a little out of date books.

Stuart Sackler

Not just a great library but also a great place for "meet the author" events.

Amy Yang

Very friendly staff and a nice self-serve style service for books on hold.

Péter Komjáti

Nice sci-fi and children fiction collection.

Simon Mee

I dunno. Yes, there are some characters there, some of whom enjoy naptimes, gaming and non-mainstream personal hygiene practices, but I've never felt threatened, or even particularly disturbed. There is a nice selection of books, particularly in the sci-fi and fantasy categories, and I haven't had trouble using the computers. Anyway, if the thought of being near the more unusual sorts of people worries you, then for sure, just use this for book pickups, otherwise it's a good library.

Charo Salemi

This library is so beautiful. I love the architecture and I love their Osborne collection of children’s books. Is an beautiful place for study, research and feel like you are in anther year decades ago.

David Willox

Helpful and kind thank you very much ...

Justine Van Veen

A great branch. Good washroom facilities that are now open. They have books.

xoenea

Lots of books but not the ones I needed for research.

DANNI YOU

Friendly services and quite environment for work.

Cassia Finkelstein

The staff here is great! The best part of this branch is on the top floor where you can see the collection of old, original children's books in a rotating display of what they have in the archive. Well worth checking out!

Ashok Tak

Iconic location of TPL with amazing collection! Even though it’s a small library but at a prime location adjacent to UofT St George campus, I loved my visits here.

Synthia S

Great library. Right by the UofT entrance.

adrian gomes

Beautiful Historic and heritage building. 239 College Street

khaja Arsalaan

Always a great place to study.

Khan Adib

Today I went to pick-up Orientalism by Edward Said. John from the reception helped me out and shared his story with the twin towers. This branch is a historic one and the staffs are friendly.

Daniel De Sousa

Strange characters, nice staff. Queue for the quick access machines went quickly and I was able to print a bunch of stuff without any trouble (you don't even need a library card). There's also a ton of places to sit and study with ample places to charge your devices. The lady next to me wore a plastic bag on her hand while using the mouse, and I can understand why. The guy using the computer before me flicked through 10 videos of female vloggers and then stormed off to the washroom. Minus one star for the gross factor.

Florence McCambridge

Really friendly & helpful staff, great selection of children's books. Not a ton of seating when I was there, but still a quiet place you can work and read. The Osborne collection upstairs is fantastic and well worth a visit if you're interested in early children's literature.

Thiru Mahal

Convenient location for UofT commuter students

Vincent Mok

Medium to large sized library. Some of the seating areas could use a refresh.

Dsprgd

I like studying at the library and haven’t checked out books, talked or interacted with the staff at the front. Every time I’m here they sound like they don’t want to be here and usually just give a lot of passive aggressive attitude to the people that come by the front. They are pretty loud too considering it’s a library. The library is pretty mid too; half the building is just a void area and there aren’t much places to sit down and study. Does the job ykwims, you can still check out books, read them, study, rate 2/5.

J F

Beautiful library, and very peaceful, too. Plenty of seating, tables and computers. There are a lot of customers but low density because of the large space. Love it there! I come from very far just to sit there...

W P

Interesting building

Wilson Tsang

Nice library but could use more study space. However, the older lady librarian with glasses is extremely rude. I was unpacking stuff from my bag in the science collection and she proceeded to lecture me about the rules and how bags are not allowed. I just arrived to a table and I was taking out the stuff I needed before I put my bag in the locker. There is no need to lecture in rude manner which is unwelcoming to visitors.

Prashant A

Whimsical feel in contrast with the clean lines - glass and steel construction of newer libraries in keeping with the Sci-Fi & Fantasy collection housed here.

Linda Zhou

Great library with large selection of books and study space. The problem is that it's too cold in there. It feels like winter in there. Bring a jacket or a hoodie if you need to study in there. T-shirt is definitely not enough.

J J

It is probably Toronto’s the best historically builded branch. There is a collection of story books by Osborn must be seen definitely. I recommend here to study, research also for touristic purposes.

Andrew Au

Great library. Often able to find a spot to do work.

Demuth Flake

Excellent and quiet environment, excellent location steps away from UofT, Parliament Bldg, Kensington Market and Chinatown

Ki Sequeira

Super slow service and they kept sending me up and down instead of giving me all the correct info at one time.

Ki Sequeira

Super slow service and they kept sending me up and down instead of giving me all the correct info at one time.

Brittney Wykurz

The staff there are kinda useless the security doesn't do anything. It always smells like someone's body odor. You can never get a computer. If you want to go to the library to get books or to get some help don't go to this one. If you want to go to the library to pass time then go here

Naoki Izumida

(Translated) I got to tell you the printing method, carefully and it was safe. (Original) 印刷方法、丁寧に教えてもらって無事出来ました。

Dom

Its a good library, open for a longer duration than many other public libraries

Christopher Cooco

I used these place listening music go the internet. Great resources it has wheelchair access

Sebastian Cohen

This library branch houses the Merrill special collection of sci-fi and fantasy books. The librarians are very helpful as well.

Dev Patel

This is an excellent library with a beautiful façade. If you need a place to relax or read a book, I would highly recommend coming here for a few hours. They have a great selection of resources and the librarians are very nice.

Tara Sardinha

I heard the second floor staff (lady with glasses) directing a racial slur towards someone who was using one of the computers, not sure if there was any sort of argument between the two ... but still a very inappropriate behaviour

Nusrat Shabnam Nessa

Super pretty library. Not a huge selection but you can always get titles sent to it by selecting it as your pickup location. Very kind staff.

Shelley Sam

One of my favorite places! I love the new renovations the library used to look so grungy but now it's gorge. Also they have the best children's section of the Toronto Public Libraries.

Dr Moayad Al Ahmad

Very lovely staff, great varieties, medium sized to big library

Arash N

You are most likely to be distracted by someone yelling, snoring or laughing every 10 seconds or so, or at least that was my experience in the 2 days i tried to study here. You are guaranteed to meet People who are coming to eat their launch, read newspaper while taking their shoes off, playing online games on the computers for hours, sleeping and passing time in general. One personed shushed the 2 younge gentlemen with arm tattoos and pierced noses laughing loudly and got threatened to be punched in the face, all while the security was sitting at the desk other side of the library. We complained and they said they were aware and were trying to solve the homeless situation.

Ally Bhojani

Excellent staff, very helpful

A C

Nice library with an excellent collection of children’s books.

Luke Young

The staff here are super nice. they are also extremely helpful. The problem is that they dont offer as many books compared to the other libraries and also it is very loud so you ca not study properly. Over all, this libraray is worth visiting.

Phuong Ngo

The library seems to be back to its full capacity. Particularly, in the Merril Collection for quiet study, each table has 2 chairs now, although no food or drink are allowed.

Bridgette Nuqui

awsome place!!