Library readies for 100th birthday

The Riverdale library is getting all gussied up ahead of its centennial birthday party.

The branch closed July 30 for a six-week retrofit, and is set to re-open before Sept. 20, its 100th anniversary of serving the community.

“It’s a pretty tight schedule and we’re working very hard to get everything done,” said Anne Bailey, director of branch libraries for the Toronto Public Library.

Open in 1910, the wedge-shaped building at Broadview Avenue and Gerrard Street East was built on part of the Don Jail Governor’s garden, and replaced the earlier Eastern branch built in 1888 on Boulton Avenue.

The current, Georgian-style building was designed by city architect Robert McCallum.

Some of the new additions and service improvements include an express checkout, urban living reading room, renovated washrooms and an expanded teen meeting area.

“We had on our plan to introduction express checkout at Riverdale this year, and then when we got in and took a look at the branch there were some state of good repair issues that needed to be addressed,” Bailey said.

The branch survived a fire in 1969, and in 1977 was listed on the city’s inventory of heritage properties.

The Riverdale book drop is closed for the duration of the renovations, and customer holds can be picked up at the Queen/Saulter branch.

Centennial celebrations for the Riverdale branch are set for Oct. 2, and will include a community walking tour by Heritage Toronto, the Riverdale Historical Society and the Toronto Public Library, face-painting, storytelling and other family entertainment. Walking tour starts at 10:30 a.m. at 791 Queen St. East.