Perhaps the most iconic sleuth of all time (sorry Inspector Gadget), the detective Sherlock Holmes has long fascinated generations of readers with his wit and style.
While many recognize the Holmes brand, few are very familiar with the character's author Arthur Conan Doyle, who in fact was a prolific writer who dabbled in plenty of other literary genres aside from fictional crime.
The British author was so prolific, in fact, his legacy has warranted its own collection and showroom in the Toronto Reference Library. Located on the fifth floor, it can be accessed through the Marilyn & Charles Baillie Special Collections Centre.
According to library source (shh) the collection was sold at a very cheap price to the library by a collector of Doyles works – so many that the Reference Library decided to provide the books their own section, accessible anytime during library hours.
No bags or water are permitted in this area, even in the corner of the Centre's rotunda just outside the glass-fronted room lined. Here you'll find two walls with books from ceiling to floor, plus a round table with a useable Sherlock Holmes-themed chess set.
Within the glass-fronted room (which is known in the library Room 221B) is a Victorian-styled home truly reminiscent of what you'd expect from a Sherlock Holmes scene, replete with a fireplace, pipe, and plenty of busts.
Following renovations to the library in 2014, the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection includes editions of the authors books as well as secondary material like biographies, criticisms, and books inspired by Doyle's work, even in languages like Japanese.
You'll find all types of Doylean publications in this room, from his classic Holmes tales to his books on history, true crime, spirituality, and current affairs.
The best part about this display is that it's not all see-see no touch: any works that catch your fancy can be taken out of the room and brought to the table outside for, ahem, further inspection. 
by Tanya Mok via blogTO
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