About the University of Toronto Libraries’ central library system

The University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) are rightly referred to as a national treasure. We are the largest academic library system in the country and the fourth largest in North America.

The library system is administratively complex. The central library system includes 17 libraries and various central services administered by the University Chief Librarian Larry Alford.This strategic plan defines the priorities for the central library system over the next five years.

Central UTL libraries

  • Architecture, Landscape, and Design, Shore + Moffat Library
  • Bora Laskin Law Library
  • Milt Harris Business Information Centre
  • Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library (EAL)
  • Dentistry Library
  • Engineering and Computer Science Library
  • Gerstein Science Information Centre
  • Map & Data Library
  • Mathematical Sciences Library
  • Media Commons
  • Music Library
  • Noranda Earth Sciences Library
  • OISE Library
  • Petro Jacyk Central & East European Resource Centre (PJRC)
  • Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library (CHKL)
  • Robarts Library
  • Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
  • University of Toronto Archives & Records Management (UTARMS)

Central UTL services

  • Collection Development and Acquisitions
  • Finance, Human Resources and Administration
  • Information Technology Services
  • Materials Processing
  • Scholars Portal (a partnership with the Ontario Council of University Libraries)
  • Scotiabank Information Commons
  • University of Toronto Libraries Advancement
  • User Services, Robarts Library 
  • UTL at Downsview

The central library system works in partnership with 27 other libraries that operate independently in service to their constituents across all three University of Toronto campuses. Together, through our expert staff, the 40 University of Toronto libraries provide collections and services that inspire discovery and engage inquiring minds within the University of Toronto community and beyond. The central library system operates the discovery tools, such as the common Integrated Library System, that are used by all 44 libraries.The central system also manages licensing for most e-resources.

Source: Charting our Future: University of Toronto Libraries' Strategic Plan 2013-2018