[12] During the Burning of York in April 1813, several American officers under Commodore Issac Chauncey's command looted books from the library.

[13] Alderman John Hallam, whom historian Barbara Myrvold describes as having an "almost idolatrous regard for books", was a principal booster for the new library.

James Bain was the first chief librarian and he supplemented the collection with $15,000 worth of books purchased on a trip to England in late 1883.

In 2004, a new library was opened in the St. James Town neighbourhood of Toronto, bringing the total number of branches to 99.

"[24] On 27 October 2023, a ransomware attack was detected which brought down various online services, including the TPL website.

[25][26][27] While the library remained open with wireless internet available, public computers and services on its website were offline.

[35] The TPL operates two Bookmobile buses (24' Blue Bird CS), targeting communities who lack easy access to a neighbourhood branch.

[36] The bookmobile concept was previously used in the library systems of the former municipalities of North York and Scarborough as well as in Toronto as far back as 1948.

[40] The library also operates a Dial-a-Story telephone hotline, which reads stories to children in sixteen languages.

Ten branches of the Toronto Public Library also house Digital Innovation Hubs, where patrons can reserve a workstation or equipment and attend workshops to bring new and emerging technology to the community.

[44] They also offer free classes on using the equipment and other fabrication-related topics like knitting and crochet, embroidery, and watercolor painting.

[45] Toronto Public Library cardholders can digitally borrow books, music and movies since 2014 by creating an account on the online platform Hoopla.

[51] 3 branches of the library system offer performance theatres available for both non-profit community and commercial usage.