A community resource well used by newcomers and the homeless will be temporarily closed in Parkdale as the public library branch undergoes an estimated three months of renovations.

The renovations include relocation of the music instrument lending library, reconfiguration of the adult computer area to allow more space per workstation, new mobile shelving in the teen and children’s area and new carpeting.

“The Parkdale library is the living room, study and social space for many people who live in small apartments and don’t have that space at home,” said Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park), noting the repairs are relatively small but necessary.

“There are a whole variety of programs both delivered by the library and community agencies, everything from language classes to settlement services to use of a computer.”

Perks himself spends time meeting with his constituents at the library.

There are plans to relocate at least some of the existing services, including moving the LGBTQ book club to the High Park branch.

Parkdale was the first branch to pilot the musical instruments lending program. High Park will also accept returns of instruments borrowed from Parkdale before the closure.

A notice on the Toronto Public Library website says the dropbox for loaned items will not be available during the closure of the branch on Queen St. West while holds will be defaulted for pickup at the nearest branch in High Park or a branch designated by the borrower. All other library materials can be returned to any branch.

To accommodate the closure, the High Park branch on Roncesvalles Ave. will open on Sundays from April 14 to June 23 except for Sundays adjacent to holidays.

Established in 1881, the busy Parkdale branch serves a diverse west-end community that includes higher-income homeowners from north Parkdale as well as recent immigrants who call the area home, students and others. South Parkdale was designated a neighbourhood improvement area by the city in 2014 based on income levels and other measures.

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