External researchers

Direct borrowers |  Research reader  |  Other

Purchase either the Direct Borrower or the Research Reader card at the Robarts Library Reader Registration desk.

Direct Borrower

A direct borrower is a university affiliate who has been granted library borrowing privileges at a participating Canadian university other than their home institution. Direct borrowing allows researchers to borrow print material without having to use their home institution's interlibrary loan service. Generally, a prospective direct borrower will require proof of registration from their home institution prior to the issuance of direct borrower privileges. Please note that direct borrowing policies, fees, and guidelines are set by the lending library.

Eligibility

• University of Toronto graduate students, employees, and faculty looking to borrow from participating Canadian university libraries; or,
• Eligible graduate students, faculty or staff from other participating Canadian university libraries wishing to borrow library material from the University of Toronto Libraries (see Cost).

Requirements

University of Toronto graduate students, employees, and faculty

You must request an Inter-University Borrowing Program (IUBP) card by contacting reader.reg@utoronto.ca. An IUBP card serves as proof of your current affiliation with the University of Toronto and is used by other participating Canadian universities to confirm your affiliation with U of T so they can provision direct borrower privileges and a library card to you. Generally, IUBP cards are available through university library systems that are part of the Ontario Council of University Libraries. The Canadian University Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement website has more information on other valid forms of proof for reciprocal borrowing at Canadian Universities.

Eligible graduate students, faculty or staff from other participating Canadian university libraries

You must purchase a direct borrower library card from the Reader Registration desk at Robarts Library in person. Please ensure that you bring the following:

• valid home university identification (student card, employee card, etc.), 
• valid IUBP card or recognized equivalent, and 
• valid, government-issued photo identification

Cost

Expires yearly on September 30th. Cost is pro-rated depending on the time of year purchased:

Privileges

Privileges may vary at individual libraries.

• Robarts Library book stacks access
• Up to 100 loans at a time
• Access to stacks, computing, and facilities
• 14 day loan period, renewable anytime up to 42 days
• Renew your card at the Robarts Library Reader Registration desk

Please note that the Direct Borrower card does NOT include the following:

• Access to interlibrary loan services
• Remote access to U of T Libraries' online databases due to licensing restrictions.
• Wifi access

Research reader

Eligibility

• Our borrowing plan for researchers unaffiliated with a university
• Please note that undergraduates or pre-undergraduate students are ineligible for this plan

Cost

Privileges

Privileges may vary at individual libraries.

• Borrow up to 100 books at once
• 14 day loan period, renewable anytime up to 42 days
• Request up to 25 books for library pick-up at once
• Access to stacks, computing, and facilities
• Access to interlibrary loan services – $30 per request
• Renew your membership online (valid UTORid required)
• On-site access to most of the University of Toronto Libraries’ online databases

Please note that the Research Reader card does NOT include the following:

• Remote access to the U of T Libraries' online databases due to licensing restrictions.
• Wifi access