Toronto Reference Library Blog

Toronto Public Library is thrilled to reopen the newly expanded TD Gallery, a vital exhibition space, located on the main floor of the Toronto Reference Library. Renovated as part of a five-year, $34 million revitalization of the Toronto Reference Library, the TD Gallery opens today, Saturday June 16th, with the exhibition, A Passion for History: The Legacy of James Bain.

The premiere exhibition features maps, prints, and books personally collected by James Bain, Toronto Public Library's first Chief Librarian (1883-1908).

As a collector in his own right, James Bain amassed a rich inventory of Canadiana, which has been donated by his family to the Library, where his legacy is preserved in the Special Collections of the Toronto Reference Library. Bain recognized the Library's role in preserving our cultural heritage.

The gallery expansion was made possible through a major corporate gift to the Toronto Public Library Foundation’s re:vitalize – Toronto Reference Library Campaign from TD Bank Group.

TD’s gift has enabled a significant redesign and expansion of its gallery space, which is primarily used for four expertly curated exhibitions each year featuring a broad range of rare and original materials that are drawn from the Special Collections in Canadiana, performing arts, documentary art, early children’s literature, speculative fiction and Arthur Conan Doyle materials. Opened originally in 1997, the gallery closed in early 2010 for renovations. Features of the expanded TD Gallery include:

•     A 40% increase in size to 2,600 square feet;
•     A new curved glass wall to increase gallery transparency and profile;
•     New interactive technology features to enable new mixed media presentations;
•     New museum standard HVAC, lighting and other conservation features.

We invite everyone to come by and have a look at the newly renovated spaces at the Toronto Reference Library, visit the newly re-opened TD Gallery, and check out the exhibit, which runs to Sat Sep 1, 2012.

How can you resist an invitation from James Bain, our first chief librarian and, a gentleman with such a twinkle in his eye?