Reviews of Toronto Public Library - Scarborough Civic Centre Branch (Library)

Mel C

Such a beautiful modernized library. Open concept with amazing large windows all around. I had 3 hours to kill and I spent it sitting in a cozy chair infront of a sunny window reading a book. I love this library and will definitely be spending more time there jn the future.

Yu Tan

kids are very noisy

Heather K

The library is modern, has computers and free wifi. There are afterschool study rooms, computer lab, events, etc. Staff has always been helpful during my visits. However, no free parking, only metered road parking. The choice of location is convenient at first glance on a map, but, unless you know precisely where it is you'll pass it. The building is on Borough Dr and hidden from view if you're taking the 95 bus or walking on Ellesmere. These two reasons cut a 5th star from my rating.

Bo Pedersen (B3 Maker)

Well lit. Very spacious. Accommodating staff, with a wide variety of courses to take!

GD Tumampos

Loved it when it just opened because the library itself looks pretty neat but once everyone started to find out about it, it ended up always being packed with high school students so I always chose another library after that because I never get a seat or I get a seat beside a loud group. They have one elderly looking librarian lady and she is quite rude and seems to always give attitude. I didn’t really know how to use the printer and I wanted to use a computer but everyone was using it. I asked for her assistance but she responded to me with attitude as if I was so stupid for not knowing how to. Other than that, if you’re lucky to get a seat in there now a days, it’s a pretty cool place which is also very near and easy to go to with the ttc and mall across from it.

Daniel Ngan

The library is too hot without A/c

Ziteng Zhang

Too noisy

高静

I haven’t received a letter for a long time because any bills or documents are for my husband so I couldn’t renew my card.The young lady there sent me a post card and I can renew it now.That’s amazing.

Jyoti Ramadhin

This place is more of a daycare than a library. Might as well study in the mall. Zero quiet policy. It's a zoo. It's a waste of a beautifully built architecture.

Uv S

Out off all library I visited I love this one It's awesome great design and full of natural lights love to visit this place again and again.

Lucas T

such a well designd library ruined by baby's everlasting crying that destroys everything. But we get used to it. It has been a children's playground for a long time.

Shorbani Das

nice library but rude staff. Was in the middle of working at a computer station and was told to pack up in the middle of my work to give my space up for someone else who wanted the computer, even though i was there first. First come first serve should be a policy, no special treatment for late comers. The woman was rude and not understanding. Hate her.

Hooman B

One of the few branches with a 3D printer . Very nice architecture. No free parking though.

Mark Carrasca

This is the 100th Toronto Library branch to open, and the winner of Design Excellence Award handed out by the Ontario Association of Architects.

Victor Huang

Clean, organized, brighten, modern, and friendly staff. They also have cool stuffs like iMac and 3D printer, love that library!

Kenny Chau

many new books, excellent library !!!

Himauli Patel

Well constructed and helpful staff

Stephen Silk

Friendly staff, decent wifi, good location.

CHLOE - Audi Downtown Toronto

Quiet environment , relax and clean sitting area for reading. It’s pretty good , the Liberian told me this library is 3 years old.

nivethan nadanasivam

Awesome place to focus during exam times and great design.

Firstname Lastname

I was excited about having a library just few steps from where I live. It was pretty disappointing to see this turn out to be a less of a library than a playground for kiddies. Pitiful book collection, too few tables and seats, noisy and distracting environment, very few computers... I just wish they designed the spaces to be more of a practical library than an awkward playground that it turned into. In its current state it is neither a good library nor a good playground. I am still going to the Kennedy commons Starbucks to study for the time being.

Russ Hamel

The library is our go-to resource for movies. System wide, there are enough choices to keep us entertained for years to come. Even the newer releases are available within a reasonable amount of time. Why pay expensive monthly subscription fees when you have such great resources for free? As for this particular branch, it's right across the street from our home. Convenience is a no-brainer. More importantly though, the staff is very friendly and helpful. Just this morning one of the staff noticed I was having a challenge with the checkout scanner. Without any prompting, he came over and not only assisted me but gave me a useful tip on how I could better use the system myself next time. Again, the money we save on expensive, noisy, uncomfortable theatres as well as monthly subscription fees from the price gouging cable company, our local library is one of our most-used resources. And that's just for movies!

Denys Buso

clean, organized, wifi, excellent

Sean Sun-Crow

One of the most interestingly designed libraries in Scarborough, from the outside it looks very modern, from the inside my nose is in a book so it's hard to describe how the walls look.

Ambrose Chan

Great looking library. Inside is quiet and spacious. The only downside is lack of free parking during the daytime hours.

Chiranjeevi kaudi

Small n crowdy

Ehab Kholif

staff not helpful. only one to help and the other lady is not available all time

S S

Beautiful new library with special facilities like digital lab with 3D printing - one of the few of such in all of Toronto. Need to pay for parking which doesn't make sense for this area.

Reeva A

Paid parking at a free public library is atrocious. The baby programs do not run in the summer time (which is not so much the branches fault) but the program room is not sound proof like other branches so you can hear everything right across the whole place! Very tiny... I think they could have done better though it looks beautiful.

Yulia Abramova

(Translated) Spacious, bright, huge library. There is a large section for children, toys, tables for creativity. There are computers, desktops. There is drinking water and toilets. Everywhere you can go with a stroller, and a wheelchair too. There are departments for adults, children, adolescents. Quiet, light, spacious and comfortable. Definitely the best branch of the library that I have come across here at the moment. / Spacious, bright, huge library. There is a large section for children, toys, tables for creativity. There are computers, desktops. There is drinking water and toilets. Everywhere you can go with a stroller, and a wheelchair too. There are departments for adults, children, adolescents. Quiet, light, spacious and comfortable. Definitely the best branch of the library that I have come across here at the moment. (Original) Просторная, светлая, огромная библиотека. Здесь есть большая секция для детей, игрушки, столики для творчества. Есть компьютеры, рабочие столы. Есть питьевая вода и туалеты. Везде можно пройти с коляской, и инвалидным креслом тоже. Есть отделы для взрослых, детей, подростков. Тихо,светло, просторно и уютно. Определённо, на данный момент это лучшее отделение библиотеки, которые мне здесь встречались. /Spacious, bright, huge library. There is a large section for children, toys, tables for creativity. There are computers, desktops. There is drinking water and toilets. Everywhere you can go with a stroller, and a wheelchair too. There are departments for adults, children, adolescents. Quiet, light, spacious and comfortable. Definitely the best branch of the library that I have come across here at the moment.

Leonard E

If you are visiting the Scarborough Civic Centre area, drop in to see the 100th City of Toronto Public Library that opened its doors in May 2015. You can get here using public transit or metered street parking is available on Borough Drive beside the library. I was here for that grand opening and took a tour of the facilities. This is my first trip back. It's a very nice modern facility with a view to the outside from pretty well anywhere inside. There is plenty of seating based on what you want to do while you're here. If you need to plug in your electrical device (e.g. cellphone, tablet), power outlets are available. Free WiFi access is available at all library branches. Enjoy this public space but be respectful of others too!

Justin Rubin (Gintarjo)

It offers location convinience because of the location access from Scarborough Centre station, and the services provided by the library. It is one of the few locations in the Toronto Public Library network that offers a walk-in Innovation Hub, where you can print, scan, as well as 3D printing. And unlike the other locations, this has flexibility in hours, which means that the Innovation Hub is not always busy. It's a great place to stop by, for someone who lives in the Scarborough area

Haze M

I come here before or after I come from the mall. Great space.

Nawshad Parambil

I went to scan something the staff told me we close its already 5:01 .i said I need less than one min she said no .well customer service

Leo W

Feels like you are one with nature with high wood ceiling and windows facing a protected woodlot. A pretty busy branch with many high tech services that are unique in the City.

Jordan Song

First time I heard there is paid parking for pulic Library

Mushtari Ghafari

This is the absolute worst place to study! if your looking for a quiet place , this is not the place. I don't know why they even call it a library , they should call it a recreation place for kids. They have a kids area already but they also use the ONLY quiet area in the library to do kids activities, so they randomly tell you to leave because they have a program. So where am I supposed to study ? if I go outside the quiet area , you can hear the kids playing and cheering in kids area. People need to post honest reviews and not mislead the other people that come to the library expecting something else. DO NOT COME HERE IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A QUIET PLACE !! IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND WANT TO TAKE YOUR KIDS TO THE PLAYGROUND , COME HERE !! I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO GIVE THE ONE STAR BUT I COULDN'T POST THIS OTHERWISE.

Ayan T

This is a great library, and the 100th branch for TPL which is amazing. Many people are complaining that there is no free parking, which is true. However there is a gigantic mall right beside the library you can park at and 'shop' for a few hours which is exactly what I did. Think of this as a commuter library. It should mostly be access by transit, biking, or walking. I wish there was more signage to make people aware there is a library tucked away behind the Civic Centre. Anyway I found this library great and really like their digital innovation hub. I'm looking into getting into 3D printing and took a few free courses they were offering here to get 'certified'. I love the TPL network and all the resources they have to offer.

6ix_beast

Horrible, i had to pay $7 dollar to refill my library card, which is fine but the old lady couldn't help me to print some papers, and the computer are super slow i couldn't even log out from my email account, please be careful. And if someone hack my email ill blame 100% TPL

Poojan Joshi

Best place

Jason Yu

Gimcrackery！It's hot at Summer，cold at winter. library builded with glasses wall is really stupid idea！limited table for use

Ricardo Cummings

great place to be.

Mardian Thella

It's a great place to study, dedicated rooms to have a study group, a silent reading room, a computer lab room and tons of activity going on all year round in this library.

Bhautik Nada

My favorite working place!

Tarmandeep Kaur N/A

A very peaceful and well managed place. Specially the staff is amazing and always ready to help.

Sajini Pathmanathan

The parking aspect of course isn't making much sense to many including myself. Apart from that, the library itself is very nice, spacious and I was always able to find space to study. The wifi is good too. Greatest of all is the selection of books which is quite large, and most that I picked up looked brand new.

Anik Khan

Great place to study. Big windows so you get lots of natural light

Lydia Fernandes

I've had no problems here. I find that I finish work very quickly. The library follows covid regulations too.

Abdul Samad

Paid parking discouraged me to stop here and find another library. A place like library should have free parking.

keshan a

Terrible library. Rude manager. Rude staff. No seats ever available. And waaay to hot inside. Worst experience ever I do not recommend.

Joseph Mishean Peiris

Extremely loud due to the open space concept, which totally defeats the purpose of studying here. You could hear a sound from one end of the library to the other, with relative ease. I would not recommend visiting this place if you are looking for a place to study.

Tim Yeung

Is nice but also somewhat awkward in terms of access.but is not a big deal.

Brad Corner

Excellent site with street parking enforced Monday - Friday. Nice computer lab.

Randel Mars

Paid parking ridiculous.

Bored Kim

I come here to study once or twice every week. It's in a nice location, being so close to the RT and the mall is very convenient. The building is made mostly of glass. I enjoy being able to look outside and see the sunshine while studying, it makes studying and doing homework a little more bearable. They also have fast, free wifi. The only downside is just how small the library actually is. It can be hard to find a place to sit during the weekend, and the quiet study areas are tiny as well.

Andrew Ku

i like it

Wilbur Valdez

The place is nice and has good wifi, but there isn't a lot of available seating for studying. Also, you have to pay for parking during the busy hours, which makes me not want to go there. I did catch some nice pokemon there while playing Pokemon GO

Darryl Ellis

I'm really glad library is open again. Been a long time. A resource many people should use more often

Skelly

The space is nice, but a bit small. Not very many computers, and difficult to get on to one as they are always occupied. Closes early on some days.

YK Wong

Staff helpful. Seats are comfortable. The 3D Printer facilities are cool and accessible. Too bad there is no free parking.

Eva Ng

great facility and great staffs

ye zhi

(Translated) I am here to catch monsters. (Original) 我是來捉怪獸嘅????????

Rick Yong

The building has beautiful architecture however the staff is very rude. I used the public computer to search up a specific topic of books and their location in the library but because of the niche topic it was hard to find a suitable book. The librarian at the front desk rudely interrupted me to tell me it had been fifteen minutes and others were waiting in line to use the computer. I do not know if other computers were available but no one was anywhere in the vicinity of the computer I was using. She proceeded to come up to me and point out it said fifteen minutes. However when I showed her the display read three minutes, she finally left me alone. She didn’t even apologize for her behaviour and condescending way of speaking to me. I cannot believe a public servant has the nerve to confront citizens without first attempting to understand the situation. Coming from a customer service background I must say your service needs improvement.

winnie lim

Love this location. There's a little kid's corner where kids can play a bit but for now due to pandemic, it's closed. We can go in person to borrow books now.

Harinder Singh

Dont know what to say. Pic of keyboard speaks for itself

Anon Tablet

Nice building and tables with chargers, but issues with glare, noise, and capacity (despite large area).

William Law

The BIG PROBLEM of this library is that there isn't any free parking. You should park at the mall and walk to this place if you don't want to pay for the parking. The interior environment is excellent because it is a new one (100th library of the city)

Tao Mo

Wifi air-conditioning PC awesome staff.

Ernesto Olvera

The computures (desktop) are very slow and actually there are not many. And if you are thinking that you are going to have some space to work when you are using them, forget about it becase the tiny desks are basically for the computers, mouse and the dirty mouse pads. The chairs very uncomfortables. It's a shame all these because the library it's nice and practically new.

heybaby H

(Translated) Too many people No seats and small but Chinese books (Original) 人太多了 没有座位而且很小但是有中文书

Romeo Barbieto

bad library, no space at all

Ken Ye

Very cozy library with friendly staff. Very modern looking and it's pretty spacious.

kenneth fulton

My wife took my 3 kids to this locations because it was new and my kids wanted to go, That was the first and and the last, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR PARKING whats up with that city leaders?????? We will stick with the other branch, I think you guys waste our tax MONEY.

Varunan S

Very subtle yet nice and quiet library in the city of Scarborough. It is convenient in the sense of being a walk from STC (mall) and in the hub of modern condos. The civic centre is also there just seconds away. Newly built and came here a few times. Election ballots also held here. Feels homely and nice. Recommend it a lot !

sabella ramjallacksingh

Awsome library and lots of new books!!!! So nice in side!!! Love it ❤️

Helen Qtip

I was very excited at first as the new library stocks mostly new books, but the selections are very limited, and there are too many kids running around (it's open concept so it's kinda hard to hide them). I don't stay long per visit but I have friends who come often and say air circulation is terrible, terrible there! I know the AC is weak at times, so try to avoid coming if it's a hot summer day! I give it a 3-star just because it's new and close to my home. With only paid parking nearby it should only be a 2-star.

george heighington

Great Library- has mother's group. school group but most of all it has a 3 d printing hub. This lab is better equipped and further ahead than most school programs. On their computers, they have the Mac Movie and Sound and they do have a PC with Indesign CS6. I finished a book on CS6 moving it to PDF- CAS6 has spell check, and indexes ( which can upgrade at any time) . I wrote the book " A Radioactive Waste Dump in Malvern; A Citizen's Account" which describes how 48 lower socio-economic, culturally diverse families bonded with no signed agreements to launch successful legal action against the Crown. This book gives people hope. yet libraries much prefer books like 50 Shades of Grey.

Shiyan H

It's a nice library but it's always so busy. There's literall;y never any seats available

Faridah Omar

I'm there almost everyday! The staff are lovely and you're able to eat there. However if you want good comfortable seats, come a little early.

Adilika Sharma

Lovely and friendly staff! They take time to explain you the thing patiently. They pick up phone without fail. They solve your problems like its their own. The hygiene and social distancing measures being taken at this place is one of the best!

M YSW

Love the design and ambience of this place. The exposed wood, high ceilings and large windows make me feel relaxed whenever I'm there. The only downside was one larger, white, senior age lady was really rude to me one time and snapping at me one time when I was picking up my books a few months back and didn't have my card in me.