Quiet Happiness at Annette Street Library (1909)

On a spring day in 2009, I went in search of my 74th Toronto Public Library.  After taking the subway to Keele station, I walked north along Keele Street until I discovered Annette Street. Then I turned left and quickly spotted the solid classical form of Annette Street Library, which opened more than a century ago.

Situated beside a Masonic Temple and across from a church, Annette Street branch shared Edwardian sensibility with Yorkville Library. The year of Annette Street Library’s construction, 1908, was etched in stone above a grand entrance flanked by ramps. Two solid Corinthian columns framed the door, adding drama to the act of ascending the stone steps into the building. As I approached the entrance, I slowed my gait to match the dignity of the temple-like edifice.

Initially descending into the basement level, I came upon an office devoted to the West Junction Historical Society and its archives. The office was closed, but I was able to peer into a darkened room that was waiting for the next day’s scholars to arrive. This lower level also contained two community rooms concealed behind massive wooden doors with wide frames.

Retracing my steps to the lobby, I climbed a short curving staircase to the main level, enjoying the heightened suspense afforded by a slight delay in accessing the library proper.

At the top of the steps, the check-out desk appeared directly in front of me. Pausing to get my visual bearings, I looked up and was captivated by the high ceilings with cornices decorated with carved ferns. I also loved the luxurious mouldings and hanging lamps with glass globes.

An Edison Home Phonograph rested in the gap between the wall behind the checkout area and shelves of children’s books behind it. Moving closer to study the historical object, I wondered how such a thin tube could support the giant unfurled cornucopia of a speaker.

To the left of the checkout station (and behind it) was the Children’s wing. Filled with a wide variety of books, DVD’s, French materials, and music, this section of the library was all about informative fun. For example, next to a collection of CD-Roms (including one on dinosaurs) sat a stuffed purple Barney.

On a narrow ledge far above Barney’s head, two train sets faced off in opposing directions. The trains were a fitting tribute to Annette Street’s location in West Toronto Junction, which was an important stop for the Canadian Pacific Railway. For more Canadian content, I also enjoyed reading a poster in the non-fiction section that described trees found in Ontario’s Forest Regions: White Birch, Trembling Aspen, Sugar Maple, Sassafras, Tulip Tree, and Eastern White Pine.

Before I explored the remainder of the building, I paused at a table to get a better sense of the atmosphere. It was fairly quiet on the Wednesday afternoon of my 2009 visit. Most of the windows were open on that glorious May day, making Annette Street Library the perfect oasis to celebrate the end of a long winter.

Eggshell-white walls complemented the pearly natural light which filled the interior, and all was calm, clean, open, and airy. The only element the scene lacked was a gentlewoman playing the pianoforte in an Empire gown while her listeners reclined in states of polite repose.

Imaginary pianofortes notwithstanding, the library also focused on practical matters. When I got up to investigate the west wing, I noticed a special display of books for job-seekers. (Margaret Penman’s A Century of Service: Toronto Public Library 1883-1983 noted that the Toronto libraries performed a similar function in the 1930’s, providing a haven for the unemployed and books on topics such as crafts, welding, sales and agriculture (p. 43)). In an equally helpful manner, Annette Street offered a solid English as a Second Language section and a large collection of French books.

The west wing also housed a Local History section, which contained titles such as Mayors of Toronto and Not a One Horse Town. Supporting the historical theme, portraits of the first five mayors of West Toronto Junction (in office from 1889 to 1898) presided high on a wall near the check-out desk, a quintet of purposeful-looking gentlemen in sober attire. And a nearby plaque commemorated the fact that Annette Street branch (formerly Western Branch) was built with funding from Andrew Carnegie and the Public Library Board of the City of West Toronto.

Of Annette Street Library’s many charms, one last feature was a pleasing study area that dipped about two feet below the main floor. I found this carpeted depression to be a great spot to take in a view of Annette Street. Although chairs were available, one relaxed patron was sitting on the floor beside the window studying the newspaper. I felt content to linger for several minutes while a quiet happiness filled the sunny room.