We are looking forward to welcoming students and faculty back to the libraries in September! Read on for details regarding how we are preparing to provide robust support for learning, research and teaching while maintaining health and safety as our top priority.

Library buildings and study space

Robarts Library and the Gerstein Science Information Centre will re-open to current students, staff and faculty on September 7. Please consult this listing to check hours and details for all our libraries. Robarts Library and the Gerstein Science Information Centre will reopen with regular hours, with the exception of extended overnight hours which will not be offered for the fall term. You will need to swipe your TCard and show a green UCheck screening to enter.

Robarts Library hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 11 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 10 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 10 pm

HOLIDAY CLOSURES: Monday October 11: Thanksgiving
No extended hours will be offered in Fall 2021.

The Robarts Library elevators, escalators and central staircase will operate as follows:

P1-P3: Stopping at all floors except 2, 6, 14
P4 & P5: Floor 14 Express, stopping at floors 1 (P5 only), 2 & 14
Escalator: Floors 1-4
Central Staircase: Open to all floors

Gerstein Science Information Centre hours:

Monday to Thursday: 8:30 am – 11 pm
Friday: 8:30 am – 10 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 10 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am - 10 pm

Please consult this listing to check re-opening details for our other libraries.

Remote Zone for students taking online classes

Space is available at Robarts Library on the ground floor and at the Gerstein Science Information Centre in the Wallace Room for students who are taking online courses and need to join their classes from campus. There are 18 computers with webcams on the north side of the ground floor of Robarts Library and 25 computers with webcams in the Wallace Room at Gerstein. Students will need to bring their own headphones. There are 66 additional seats in these two spaces where students can join online classes with their own devices.

Library services and research help

Many libraries will be offering remote research help via Zoom, Teams, or other platforms this fall. Please check individual library websites for details. For research help via chat, email or to make an appointment, start here.

Library services for Research Readers, Direct Borrowers and Alumni

Beginning September 7, Research Readers, Direct Borrowers, Alumni Borrowers and Alumni Research Readers with an active UTORid will be able to request items from the collections via LibrarySearch. Requested items can be picked up at the Loans Services Desk at Robarts Library. If you need to reactivate your library account, please visit Reader Registration at Robarts Library. All visitors to the library will need to fill out a paper UCheck form, which will be provided by staff upon entry.

Stack and building access, other than to visit the Reader Registration desk and pick up requested items, is only available to current students, faculty and staff at this time.

Health and Safety

Face masks are required in all indoor library spaces, in alignment with the University’s policy and guideline on face masks. Library users will need to swipe their TCard to enter the library and show a green UCheck screen to enter Robarts Library and the Gerstein Science Information Centre. We will use signage and traffic flow controls to reduce congestion in library buildings.

We are following the University’s 12-step plan for a safe return to campus. We will update our website and signage when details of physical distancing and capacity limits are known.

The health and safety of library users and staff is our top priority. We will continue to work closely with the University to implement the latest public health recommendations. Please consult our health and safety page for full details of health and safety protocols.

For the latest updates on library services this fall, please visit our Updates on Fall 2021 library reopening page.

Further Resources

Your guide to fall 2021 at U of T
Frequently Asked Questions
U of T COVID-19 Dashboard
Student Mental Health Supports
Faculty and Staff Mental Health Supports

Fall 2021 library reopening update