Andrew Lowe, the Toronto Public Library’s (TPL) North York History Librarian, presented an illustrated overview of the extensive Native Peoples Collections available in the TPL system at NYHS’s March 2018 meeting.
TPL’s Native Peoples Collections are in two main locations: at the Spadina Road Branch and at North York Central Library (NYCL).
The Spadina Road Branch collection contains:
- adult, teen and children’s books, CDs, DVDs, magazines and newspapers
- over 5,000 items on a wide range of topics pertinent to Indigenous peoples and communities
The NYCL collection (at NYCL since 1987) contains:
- adult fiction and non-fiction materials in print, CD, and DVD formats
- over 3,500 items
In addition, the Languages & Literature Department on the 4th floor of the Toronto Reference Library houses two collections of Indigenous language materials.
Over 40 Indigenous languages and language families are represented in these collections, including Algonquian, Cree, Mohawk, Anishinaabemowin, and Oneida.
Please see the complete presentation (opens a 21-page PDF) for more information, including sample searches of the TPL catalogue.
The North York Historical Society and Toronto Public Library gratefully acknowledge these Indigenous nations for their guardianship of this land. We’d also like to remind and reaffirm, as Torontonians and Canadians, our accountability to these Indigenous nations, and to all Indigenous peoples and communities living in Toronto.
This land is also part of the Dish with One Spoon territory, a treaty between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (aka. The Six Nations Confederacy), the Anishinaabek and allied nations, to peaceably share and care for this land, its waters, and all of the biodiversity in the Great Lakes region.
All those who come to live and work here are responsible for honouring this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship, and respect.
Please contact Andrew Lowe with any questions about TPL’s Native Peoples Collections at alowe@torontopubliclibrary.ca.