TRL & Yorkville

The Toronto Reference Library (TRL) is the biggest public reference library in Canada. It is located near Bloor-Yonge Station. It has an exhibition space on the first floor, called the TD Gallery.

This is the entrance to the Eat In or Dine out Exhibit. It ended on June 16th 2024

Pasta boxes on the wall from the 1920s.

When I went to the TRL, there was an exhibition about food and cookbooks in the TD Gallery, which was exciting. Also, around the library, there were boxes containing items having to do with the history of Toronto. The boxes were at my eye-level when in my wheelchair.

Toronto Trade Cards.

There was a shelf that contained banned books. The reasons for banned books were anything from bad language to talking to strangers. Luckily, the TPL doesn't ban books, they protect them.

On the fifth floor, there is The Arthur Conan Doyle Collection. It was a room with a chair and a lot of old books related to Sherlock Homes. It was very cool. 

Inside the collection

Outside the Collection

Overall, the TRL was very accessible. I noticed the accessible bathroom was big, but it did not have an automatic button.

After I went to the TRL, I went to the Yorkville Library, which was a small library opened in 1907. It is the oldest public library in Toronto.

It was a one-minute walk from the TRL. There was a steep and narrow ramp to get into the back of the library.

There was a kids section that was very cute.

At the library. I took out The Noh Family by Grace K. Shim.

After I left Yorkville, I went to Nani’s Gelato, where I got strawberry rhubarb sorbet and vegan pistachio. I forgot to take a picture of the outside. It was a tiny store with nowhere to sit. I ate my ice cream nearby, on a bench. It was a one-minute walk from the store. By the time I ate my ice cream, it was a little melted, but it was so good, that I didn’t mind. 

This is the book I got from the Yorkville Library.

I got a lift to the library, but took the TTC home. I walked 5 minutes to the Bloor-Yonge Station. I went into the One Bloor Street entrance, but the elevator to go downstairs was out. I checked the TTC Alerts but because the elevator was a non-TTC elevator, it was not on the list. Then, I went to the 20 Bloor Street E. entrance, and the elevator worked. I was very annoyed because all the elevators to the subway should be on the TTC alerts whether they are TTC operated or not. 

Overall, an excellent outing. Great libraries and great ice cream.