University of Toronto Libraries

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University of Toronto Libraries
UTL logo.svg
Robarts Library in UofT.jpg
Robarts Library, the largest in the UTL system, located on the St. George campus
University of Toronto Libraries
Location Toronto and Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Type Academic library
Established1892;134 years ago (1892)
Branches40
Collection
Items collected Books, journals, newspapers, sound recordings, databases, maps, drawings and manuscripts
Size12,426,395 physical volumes, 5.6 million microforms, 2,624,513 digital books, 184,228 e-journal titles, 33,063 linear metres archival material (2020)
Other information
BudgetCAD 111 million (including CAD 41 million for collections, CAD 45 million for salaries, CAD 10 million for benefits, and CAD 13 million for other expenses)
Employees683 (including student assistants)
Website library.utoronto.ca

The University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) system is the largest academic library in Canada and is ranked third among peer institutions in North America, behind only Harvard and Yale. [1] The system consists of 40 libraries located on the University of Toronto's three campuses: St. George, Mississauga and Scarborough. [2]

Contents

This array of college libraries, special collections, and specialized libraries and information centres supports the teaching and research requirements of 215 graduate programs, over 60 professional programs, and more than 700 undergraduate degree programs. In addition to more than 12 million print volumes in 341 languages, the library system currently provides access to 184,228 journal titles, millions of electronic resources in various forms and more than 33,000 linear metres of archival material. [2] As of 2014, more than 150,000 new print volumes were acquired each year. [3]

The largest library in the system is the John P. Robarts Research Library, located on the St. George campus, which houses the main collection of social sciences and humanities research resources at the University of Toronto. The Robarts Library complex is also home to the central Libraries’ administrative offices, exhibit galleries, Scotiabank Information Commons, Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation, Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library, Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library, Map & Data Library, Petro Jacyk Central & East European Resource Centre and the Media Commons. Robarts Library is only accessible to University of Toronto students, faculty, staff, and those with a valid ID card. [4] [5]

The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library is connected to Robarts Library and is open to the public. [6] It houses both the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections and the University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services. [7] It is Canada's largest rare book library and its holdings include books, manuscripts, maps, and graphic and audiovisual material covering a broad range of subjects and time periods. [7] [8]

Also located on the St. George campus, the Gerstein Science Information Centre is the main library for the science and health science disciplines. In addition to the centre's comprehensive print collection, there is a vast selection of health and scientific databases and indexes available online. [9]

Partnerships and collaboration

The University of Toronto Libraries system is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, Canadian Association of Research Libraries, and the Ontario Council of University Libraries. [10] [11] [12]

Branches

The following is a list of the 40 branches of the University of Toronto Libraries system. [13]

Main

NameCampusImage
Gerstein Science Information Centre St. George Sig Sam.JPG
John P. Robarts Research Library St. George Robarts Library-2.jpg
U of T Mississauga Library Mississauga UTM-Library.jpg
U of T Scarborough Library Scarborough University of Toronto Scarborough Library.jpg

Colleges

CollegeNameCampusImage
Emmanuel College Emmanuel College LibrarySt. George
Innis College Innis College LibrarySt. George
Knox College Caven LibrarySt. George Knox College library 20250403 155208.jpg
Massey College Robertson Davies LibrarySt. George
New College Ivey LibrarySt. George
St. Michael's College John M. Kelly LibrarySt. George John M. Kelly Library.jpg
Trinity College and Wycliffe College John W. Graham LibrarySt. George
University College University College Library St. George UofT-UC-Library.jpg
Victoria College E. J. Pratt LibrarySt. George E.J. Pratt Library, Victoria University, University of Toronto, Canada.jpg

Subject

SubjectNameCampusImage
Architecture, landscape, and design Eberhard Zeidler Library St. George The Daniels Building Eberhard Zeidler Library interior 2022.jpg
Arts (fine)Department of Art LibrarySt. George
Business The BRIDGE Scarborough The BRIDGE Exterior @ UTSC.jpg
Milt Harris Library St. George
Ceramics Gail Brooker Ceramic Research Library at the Gardiner Museum St. George Gardiner Museum Toronto.jpg
ChemistryA. D. Allen LibrarySt. George
Christian studiesInstitute for Christian StudiesSt. George
CriminologyCentre for Criminology LibrarySt. George
DentistryHarry R. Abbott Memorial LibrarySt. George
Earth SciencesNoranda LibrarySt. George
East Asian studies Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library St. George Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library.jpg
Education OISE Library St. George Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.JPG
Engineering and Computer ScienceEngineering and Computer Science LibrarySt. George EngineeringAndComputerScienceLibrary4.jpg
European studiesPetro Jacyk Central and East European Resource CentreSt. George
First Nations studiesFirst Nations House LibrarySt. George
GeographyMap and Data LibrarySt. George
Hong Kong studies Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library St. George Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library 2025.jpg
Industrial Relations and Human ResourcesNewman LibrarySt. George
Law Bora Laskin Law Library St. George University of toronto flavelle 2.JPG
MathematicsMathematical Sciences LibrarySt. George
Media Media Commons St. George
Music Music Library St. George
Mediaeval Studies Pontifical Institute of Mediæval Studies Library St. George
Physics, astronomy and astrophysicsPhysics Library [14] St. George
Rare books Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library St. George Seminar room and mezzanine.jpg
SeminarySt. Augustine's Seminary LibrarySt. George
Archival Royal Ontario Museum Library and Archives
U of T Archives and Records Management Services (UTARMS)St. George
UTL at Downsview
MiscellaneousU of T Schools (UTS) Library Information CentreSt. George

Chief librarians

University Librarian [15]

Chief Librarian

References

  1. "Principal Component Scores ARL Library Investment Index Description and Worksheets". ARL Statistics. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 "About". University of Toronto Libraries. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  3. Wall, Margaret (2014-09-09). "U of T Library System Ranked in Top Three with Harvard and Yale". University of Toronto Libraries. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  4. Libraries, University of Toronto (2014-11-26). "Members of the public". onesearch.library.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  5. "Robarts Library stack access (floors 9-13)". onesearch.library.utoronto.ca. 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2019-08-26.
  6. Libraries, University of Toronto. "Visit | University of Toronto Libraries". onesearch.library.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  7. 1 2 "About Us". fisher.library.utoronto.ca. 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2019-08-26.
  8. Sung, Jenny (15 April 2016). "Rare books: Thomas Fisher library has Canada's largest collection". globalnews.ca retrieved 11 March 2021.
  9. "About us | Gerstein Science Information Centre". gerstein.library.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-26.
  10. Administrator. "List of ARL Members". Association of Research Libraries. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  11. "Members". Canadian Association of Research Libraries. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  12. "University of Toronto | Ontario Council of University Libraries". ocul.on.ca. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  13. "Libraries and Departments". University of Toronto Libraries. University of Toronto Libraries. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  14. "Research Resources in Physics". www.physics.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  15. "Historical Bits and Bytes: Chief Librarians / University Librarians". University of Toronto Academic Librarians. 2011-03-13. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  16. "Larry Alford". Association of College and Research Libraries. Retrieved 2024-07-04.