Members of the Public

Members of the public are those individuals who cannot provide proof that they belong to one of the following categories:

See also:
Alumni Library Access
External Researchers
Borrowing.

• Students
• Faculty
• Staff
• Alumni
• External Researchers.

Services to the members of the public vary at other libraries on campus.

Our services to the members of the public are limited to what is outlined on this page. 

Conduct Regulations for All Visitors

To create an optimal study and research environment for all library patrons, including external visitors, it is mandatory that every user of the Library familiarize themselves with and adhere to the University of Toronto Library Conduct Regulations. We reserve the right to ask anyone who does not adhere to these regulations to leave the library.

Borrowing

Access to our print collections (located in the stacks and the reference collection on the ground, first, and second floors of our library) is open to all persons (including the public) during normal library hours.

Borrowing is limited to all registered University of Toronto students, faculty and staff and others with a valid TCard.

Victoria College alumni may apply for a Vic alumni library card, for use only at Vic libraries, if proof of graduation from Vic is provided.

External researchers, Research Readers, non-Vic alumni, and members of the public may purchase library cards at the Reader Registration Desk on the first floor of the John P. Robarts Research Library to borrow books from our print collection.

Accessing Special Collections

Our special collections are available for consultation to all persons with photo identification from Monday to Friday, between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm.

A minimum of three-day advance notice is required for all requests, excluding weekends and holidays.

Using Electronic Resources

The library catalogue is available for public use online and you do not need to be a current university-affiliated patron to search our collections.

Due to licensing restrictions, access to electronic resources and the Internet is limited only to registered University of Toronto students, faculty, and staff.

Off-campus access is not available to the public.

Using Computer Workstations at the University of Toronto Libraries

Public computers are no longer available at any of the libraries. Workstations formerly designated as the Library & Internet Resource Account (LIRA) have been discontinued.

Victoria alumni requesting access to our workstations should speak to a member of the library staff.

Wireless Access

See also:
Can Recent Graduates and Alumni Access the U of T Wireless Network?

If you are an external researcher, and if your home institution participates in eduroam, you may access the network connection on the U of T campus by using your institutional login credentials.

A valid UTORid and password are required to connect to the campus wireless network.

Access is limited to all registered University of Toronto students, faculty and staff. 

Printing, Photocopying & Scanning

See also:
Can Visitors Print, Copy, and Scan?

Visitor card can be purchased for $5 at the circulation desk on the main floor of our library and at the Reader Registration Desk on the first floor of the John P. Robarts Research Library.

Essentially, members of the public are not able to print at our library because we do not have publicly accessible computers and we are unable to accept payment in cash for printing.

There are two photocopiers at the library, one on the lower floor and one on the main floor.  All of the copiers use TCard+/Visitor card for copying and do not accept cash. Please consult Photocopying for more details.

The photocopiers on the lower and main floor allow you to scan to USB keys. Scanning is free but users must supply their own USB keys to save their files.

The photocopiers scan multiple formats including Slim PDF which is suitable for scanning multiple pages into a single file.

If you require technical support at any point of the process, please visit us at the IT Support Desk in the South Information Commons on the main floor.

Study Spaces

Our study spaces are open to all persons (including the public) during normal library hours.

During peak hours or in certain circumstances, however, the Library reserves the right to prioritize space and security for current students, faculty, and staff.

Our bookable study room is available only to students, faculty, and staff of the university with an active UTORid.