Vinyl: digging in the crates at the Toronto Reference Library
Did you know the Toronto Public Library (TPL) has a collection of vinyl records? Up on the 5th floor of the Toronto Reference Library there are over 15,000 LPs available for patrons to listen to, although they can't be signed out and taken home. Back in the day, every branch in the city used to lend out records the way they do CDs and DVDs now; when I'm out looking for vinyl I still see them in thrift stores from time to time, with the branch name stamped on the cover and due date slips attached.
The library's collection includes a treasure trove of classic rock:
Spoken word:
Plays:
Folk music from every corner of the globe:
Documentaries and experimental music:
And classical and opera:
But I'm a jazz guy, so that's what I came to have a look at. And there was no shortage of it, from swing to bebop to free jazz to '70s jazz-funk:
So if you've got an interest in music or vinyl, or both, come on over and sit down with a record or three at one of our listening stations, also located up on the fifth floor:
If you’d like to dig through the TPL’s digital crates to see what we’ve got, here is the complete list of our vinyl collection.
11 thoughts on “Vinyl: digging in the crates at the Toronto Reference Library”
Can we use our own headphones for this; as in is it a regular jack plug? Thanks – this could be fun…
Hi elle,
You can bring your own headphones and plug them in as long as they’re compatible; you may wish to bring an adapter just to make sure. There are high quality Sony headphones available for use at the listening stations.
If you like jazz, check out the CCMC and Artist Jazz Band records. Great listens…
Gee, I have some of these albums I’m sure down in my storage locker. And I’m old enough to remember when libraries divested themselves of their vinyl collections to make way for CDs. Some of my best childhood musical experiences were had by just being bold and choosing albums at random from library collections. Libraries always had albums I would never be able to buy, but always could listen to and expand my musical experience.
Cool, I am glad to know and pass on that vinyl lives on at TRL.
Marie, if you still have that album collection, I’d love to check them out and maybe buy some 🙂
Francis.
I presume that–in this collection–there are a number of records from the CANADIAN TALENT LIBRARY (CTL) record label? OF COURSE,this was a record label that put out a number of songs/records that were played (from circa 1968 to circa 1981;at least)on radio stations such as CFRB 1010 (here in Toronto) & others that were then owned by the folks in the STANDARD BROADCASTING CORPORATION.(Nowadays,folks at radio stations such as the Toronto-based AM 740 play some songs from this record label [such as what the now-deceased Peter Appleyard & that vocal troupe known as The Laurie Bauer Singers].)
Please update the vinyl collection catalog. It is not available to borrow at Parkdale or Wychwood Branch.
Who do I contact re donating to the TPL vinyl collection?
Hi Cathy; I think the best bet would be to call the arts desk on the 5th floor, where the collection is located (416-393-7157).
Great findings in this library, I wish my library has at least half of that…