A micro-library centered on the arts in french.
Quartier Libre is the micro-library of Le Labo, an artist-run centre located in Studio 277 at 401 Richmond in Toronto. Launched in October 2025 by Dyana Ouvrard and Sawsan Borges da Moura, and custom-built for our space by carpenter Louis Bernales, this library was designed for our artists as a physical, hands-on tool to draw inspiration from and to nourish their artistic research. The Quartier Libre collection was built from exhibition catalogues, art magazines, zines, publications, technical resources and other works gathered over twenty years of Le Labo’s activity in Toronto’s and Canada’s francophone arts scene.
Follow the micro-library’s adventures on Instagram at @quartierlibr.e
This micro-library builds on the momentum of our cycle themed around “micro”: the idea of favouring small, human-scale formats, through intentional choices and spaces that give our members and new audiences the time and room they need to develop their ideas.
Several events in our programming grow out of this collection. The Permanence hivernale workshops offer a friendly place to discover new creative mediums, in French, during Toronto’s tough winter months. Les Veillées (evening gatherings) invite our member artists to share their most meaningful reads with new audiences, in person, in the moment, and then through our podcast Matières Douces.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I visit the micro-library?
At Studio 277, 401 Richmond St West, Toronto.
What are the opening hours?
11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday.
Why visit it?
Artistic inspiration, theoretical research or technical information.
Can I borrow books?
Only Le Labo members can borrow books from the micro-library, but everyone is welcome to read on site.
Are there events around the library?
Les Veillées are evenings where artists come to talk about what they are reading. Follow us on Instagram to see the programming.
I have another question
Write to us at info@lelabo.ca and our team will get back to you.