In order to provide assistance to readers, the Reference Desk and Reading Room are always staffed whenever the Library is open. The Reference Desk staff offer assistance in locating material in subjects and areas of interest. Although the majority of the collection is represented by records in the University of Toronto Library catalogue, a limited amount of material is described only in on-site finding aids or card files.

The Reference Desk staff are able to assist readers in recommending search strategies in the online catalogue to help in locating relevant material at the Fisher Library.

The Reading Room staff supervise the operations of the Reading Room, and can assist with queries about reproduction, holds, and the physical use of the material.

Looking for a subject specialist? Below are the main subject areas covered by staff in Rare Books and Special Collections. Please click on the name to send an e-mail.

Alexandra K. Carter: History of Science and History of Medicine

David Fernández: Spanish & Portuguese, Latin America, Queer Studies, Book History and Print Culture

Grant Hurley: Canadian Studies

Lale Javanshir: Middle Eastern Studies

Timothy Perry: Medieval Manuscripts and Early Books

Natalya Rattan: Literary Papers and Archival Collections

Liz Ridolfo: Culinary History, Ephemera, Women's History

Nadav Sharon: Judaica and Hebraica

John Shoesmith: Artists' Books, Small and Fine Press, English (Literature and History)

Reference and Research Assistance at the Fisher

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