A message from the University Chief Librarian
Welcome to the University of Toronto Libraries. With 40 libraries at three campuses, we are proud to support learning, teaching and research at the University of Toronto with collections that are unparalleled in Canada in their richness and diversity. In addition to more than 12 million volumes in 341 languages, 1,500,000 electronic resources in various formats, 28,000 linear metres of archival material and 500 terabytes of data, our international network of resource sharing partnerships extends access on our students’ and faculty members’ behalf to materials held by thousands of other institutions.
A wide variety of study space is also available for your use at our 40 libraries. We have been revitalizing our buildings to create modern new spaces that are conducive to both quiet individual study and collaborative group work. Indeed, the libraries have become a vibrant hub where students, faculty and researchers meet to interact with librarians and expert staff, use collections and collaborate. As many as 18,000 people visit Robarts Library alone on a busy day, and with so many digital books, articles, primary source materials, data sets and more accessible from wherever you are working, online visits to the U of T Libraries now number in the millions each year.
Whether you are a new student writing your first paper, a faculty member using digitized primary sources to look across the centuries in new and different ways, a graduate student exploring open access scholarly publishing options, or a visiting scholar drawn here by our extraordinary special collections, our librarians and information specialists are ready to connect you with the materials you need and lend their expertise to help you leverage new technologies to their full advantage. You can chat with a librarian in real-time via our Ask Chat with a Librarian instant messaging service, or phone, e-mail, or visit us in person.
I hope the Libraries’ rich collections, inspiring spaces and innovative services will help you achieve your academic goals and enrich your campus experience. As always, I welcome your ideas and comments.
With best regards,
University Chief Librarian