Toronto Public Library Open Data

Introduction

The concept of Open Data is part of a growing global movement to make public information more accessible. Providing information to the public through Open Data programs are intended to lead to more accessible, accountable and transparent government.

Toronto Public Library has released datasets on this page under the Library's Open Data policy. Under this policy, Library data is made available license free and free of charge.

Members of the public may request the release of additional data sets. Staff will assess requests based on the criteria in the policy of a) public demand, b) value to the library sector including academia and c) resources required to extract and format data. A request can be made using our Contact Us page.

Library Data

Z39.50 is available:
  • host: symphony.torontopubliclibrary.ca
  • port: 2200
  • database name: unicorn
  • search map name: unicorn_bth
  • unicode server: yes

What is Z39.50?

Catalogue, Event, and Feed Data from the website (XML)

This includes ~2.4 million catalogue records as well as all RSS Feed and Upcoming Event data. Zip-compressed, roughly 1.5 GB compressed, and 20 GB uncompressed.


Data available: 2015-11, 2016-09, 2018-02
Last updated: 26-Feb-2018
Frequency of updates: Annual
Catalogue MARC Data (MARC/BZ2)

The Toronto Public Library catalogue in MARC format. Files are 500-600M compressed, 2.5-3.0 GB uncompressed.


Data available: 2015-10, 2016-09, 2018-02
Last updated: 13-Feb-2018
Frequency of updates: Annual
Top website searches (JSON)
Lists the most common searches made on the website from 2011 to 2014.
Data available: 2011-2014 inclusive, monthly
Last updated: 04-Nov-2015
Frequency of updates: Annual
Branch Information - Branch Geolocations (KML)
Geolocations of all library branches with street address, phone number and link to branch profile.
Data available: 2018
Last updated: 20-Feb-2018
Frequency of updates: Annual
Branch Information - Census Tracts (CSV)
This report provides a list of library branches and its assigned census tracts. Branch demographic information is determined using these assigned census tracts.
Data available: 2016
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Every five years (Census years)
Branch Information - General Profiles (CSV)
This report provides the locations and general information about the library branches within the City of Toronto: Address, Telephone, Postal Code, FSA, City neighbourhood region, City Ward region.
Data available: 2018
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Branch Information - Catchment Population (CSV)
This report provides a list of library branches and its catchment population. Branch catchment population is determined using the branch's assigned census tracts.
Data available: 2011, 2016
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Every five years (Census years)
Branch Information - Hours of Operation (CSV)
This report provides the hours of operation for all library branches. Includes a breakdown of the daily total operating hours. This schedule includes the Poverty Reduction enhancement for Sunday service from 2016 - 2018.
Data available: 2018
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Branch Information - Neighbourhood Improvement Area Branches (CSV)
This report provides a list of neighbourhood improvement area branches. The designation of these branches align with the Toronto Strong Neighbourhood Strategy 2020 neighbourhood improvement areas.
Data available: 2015
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Branch Information - Public Parking Spaces (CSV)
This report provides a list of library branches and the number of public parking spaces available. *Shared parking spaces are shared public parking spaces between other nearby facilities such as malls, community centres etc.
Data available: 2017
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Branch Information - Rooms for Rent (CSV)
List of meeting rooms, auditorium and theatres available for rental at Toronto Public Library branches. Includes size, capacity and amenities. To check for rates, availability or book a room call 416-397-5969 or email roombookingunit@tpl.ca.
Data available: 2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Cardholders (CSV)
Introduced in 2018, this new internal measure replaces Active Cardholders and Registered Cardholders reported in 2017 and earlier. Cardholders captures customers whose records have reported activity in the past 2 years.
Data available: 2017-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Cardholders - New Registrations by Cardholder Type (CSV)
This report provides branch statistics on the number of new registrations. Statistics are broken down by Child, Teen, Adult under 25 and Adult 25+.
Data available: 2010-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Cardholders - New Registrations (CSV)
This report provides branch statistics on the number of new registrations - no card renewals, just new registrations.
Data available: 2010-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Children - KidsStops Early Literacy Centres (CSV)
Locations of branches with KidsStops Early Literacy Centres. Includes street address, postal code, FSA, neighbourhood number, neighbourhood name, ward number and ward region.
Data available: 2020
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Children - Leading to Reading Locations (CSV)
Locations of branches with the Leading to Reading program. Includes street address, postal code, FSA, neighbourhood number, neighbourhood name, ward number, ward region and hours of operation.
Data available: 2020
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Circulation - Circulation (CSV)
This report provides total annual branch circulation that includes first-time checkouts, staff renewals, and patron renewals.
Data available: 2012-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Circulation - Circulation by Cardholder Type (CSV)
This report provides branch circulation according to the type of card i.e. the number of items checked out on child, teen and adult library cards.
Data available: 2012-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Circulation - Circulation by Intellectual Level of Material (CSV)
This report provides branch total circulation broken down by the intellectual level of the material, i.e. the number of child, teen and adult items checked out.
Data available: 2012-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Circulation - Circulation by Language Group (CSV)
This report provides branch total circulation according to the language group and intellectual level of material - English, French and Multilingual items broken down by child, teen and adult items.
Data available: 2012-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Collection - Collection Size (CSV)
This report provides a list of library branches and its collection size.
Data available: 2012-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Programs - Programs by Age Group (CSV)
This report provides total annual branch statistics on the number of programs and attendance by age group: Preschool, Child, Teen, Adult and Senior. *In 2014, a new data collection method was implemented. Cosponsored programs are no longer counted separately. Cosponsored programs are now categorized according to program age group.
Data available: 2012-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Programs - Programs (CSV)
This report provides total annual branch statistics on the number of programs and attendance.
Data available: 2010-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Programs - Programs by Type (CSV)
This report provides total annual branch statistics on the number of programs and attendance by program type: Cultural, ESL, Information & Current Issues, Literacy, Literary and User Education. *In 2014, a new data collection method was implemented.
Data available: 2012-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Technology - Computer Learning Centres (CSV)
Locations of branches with Computer Learning Centres. Includes street address, postal code, FSA, neighbourhood number, neighbourhood name, ward number, ward region and hours of operation.
Data available: 2020
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Technology - Digital Innovation Hubs (CSV)
Locations of branches with Digital Innovation Hubs. Includes street address, postal code, FSA, neighbourhood number, neighbourhood name, ward number and ward region.
Data available: 2020
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Technology - Workstations (CSV)
This report provides a list of library branches and the total number of computer workstations (public PCs with Internet Access) available for public access.
Data available: 2017-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Technology - Workstation Users (CSV)
This report provides the total number of people using public access computer workstations in the branch. It excludes computers dedicated to catalogue use. In 2018, a new data collection method was implemented.
Data available: 2010-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Technology - Wireless Sessions (CSV)
This report provides the total number of wireless (Wi-Fi) sessions at the branch. Wi-Fi access is available 24/7 at all branches.
Data available: 2017-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Youth - Youth Advisory Groups (YAGs) Locations (CSV)
Locations of branches with Youth Advisory Groups (YAGs). Includes street address, postal code, FSA, neighbourhood number, neighbourhood name, ward number and ward region.
Data available: 2020
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Youth - Youth Hubs (CSV)
Locations of branches with Youth Hubs. Includes street address, postal code, FSA, neighbourhood number, neighbourhood name, ward number, ward region and hours of operation.
Data available: 2020
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual
Annual Visits (CSV)

This report provides total annual number of customers entering the branch.


Data available: 2012-2019
Last updated: 1-Oct-2020
Frequency of updates: Annual