Visiting the Libraries
Effective March 24th at 6 pm, all libraries on campus are closed. For updates on library services, please check the UTL homepage.
We know a small number of students have continued to use U of T libraries in recent days in order to access their courses and efforts are underway on all three campuses to support individual requests. If you are one of those students, you should use the Contact Us button located at the top of the FAQ section on the University web site, indicating your campus, in order to receive additional information.
The Inforum is closed for the foreseeable future. Updates related to the Inforum will be regularly updated on our website and shared to you through our weekly newsletter.
Please always follow the University of Toronto’s latest guidelines about coming to campus if you are feeling ill, have interacted with somebody who is ill, or have recently returned to Canada.
Inforum Techloans
If you need to borrow technology please complete this request form, and we will contact you about coordinating a time for pick-up.
Course reserves and other physical materials
As of March 18th, no physical books or audiovisual materials will circulate from UTL. Students are encouraged to make use of online resources. At this time, there is no need to return materials already checked out – all loans will be extended. If you wish to return physical materials, you may do so at Robarts, UTM, and UTSC Libraries.
Quick reference support
For quick reference requests, including locating specific UTL resources, visit our online Ask Chat service (https://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/ask-librarian).
Note that, in light of COVID-19, Ask Chat services are currently under review. If any significant service changes occur, you may direct quick reference questions to Daisy Dowdall, User Services Librarian: daisy.dowdall@utoronto.ca.
In-depth reference support
For in-depth reference support, contact the Faculty of Information liaison librarian, Nalini Singh. Nalini may be reached via email at: nalini.singh@utoronto.ca.
Online research guides
The Libraries have developed hundreds of subject research guides (https://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/research-guides) that are a wonderful starting place for your research.
Guides of particular interest to Faculty of Information students include:
- Citations
- Critical Information Policy Studies
- Computer Science
- Essential Research Skills
- Government Information
- Library and Information Science Literature, Publishing, and Communication
- Museum Studies
- Newspapers
- Systematic & Scoping Reviews: Methodology Behind the Search Strategies
UTL video guides
UTL also has a number of videos guides related to library skills. These videos are available on the Libraries’ YouTube Channel
Playlists include:
- How to … at the library (in one minute or less)
- Introduction to Major Databases
- Using Citation Management Tools
UTL ….beyond your studies
UTL’s resources are invaluable for your coursework and research, but many of them can also be very fun! As you look for ways to de-stress and stay occupied during these challenging times, check out the following:
- Criterion on Demand, a movie streaming service with box office hits and classics alike.
- The Toronto Film Map: exploring the city in TV and film, a tool that allows you to explore where in Toronto your favourite movies were filmed (fun fact: Robarts Library is a hot spot!).
- Air Photos, a page that connects you to collections of aerial photos of Toronto from as early as 1947.
- Proquest, which includes Canadian and international newspapers and magazines, including The Globe & Mail, the NYT, Vogue, and many more (just be sure to filter your research results by newspaper or magazines).
