U of T has the third-largest library system of all North American universities behind only Harvard and Yale! As a student, you have unlimited access to millions of invaluable resources. Whether you’re researching for a Praxis project or need to read an online article with a pesky paywall or just want to flip through treasure troves of comic books in your spare time, the U of T Libraries have got you covered.
Access the University of Toronto Libraries website here. You can search for all volumes across the catalogues of all U of T libraries, with links to each individual library’s website. As an EngSci, you may frequent the Engineering & Computer Science Library.
Personal Librarian Program
The Personal Librarian Program automatically pairs each incoming undergraduate student with a librarian during their first year. You’ll receive an email within the first two months of starting your studies.
Throughout the program, you can receive research advice from your personal librarian and ask any questions regarding library services. You can also ask for advice on validating sources, such as through the CRAAP (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose) test.
Your personal librarian will also send information about upcoming events, fun things to do around the city, and academic resources that may be helpful for your courses throughout the year.
Remember, there are no dumb questions. For many of us, this is the first time we’re doing research, and it can be hard to figure stuff out alone. Asking for help saves you a lot of time.
Reference Desk
If you have specific questions regarding research or a project, how to use a database, etc., the Reference Desk has people that can give you advice one-on-one and help you find what you’re looking for. The Reference Desk in the Engineering and Computer Science Library is available seven days a week. This is especially helpful for courses like Praxis, where you need to back up your arguments and ideas with proper research.
In some of your first-year courses, you might also find that a lot of the research or referencing you’re doing is different and more advanced than it was back in high school. This can be challenging, so reach out to the people at the Reference Desk for help early in your project.
Online Resources
The Engineering and Computer Science Library has a lot of information and resources on its website. This is often the starting point on your research journey. Here you can find major databases for academic journals, standards, handbooks, and more. You can also reserve books, book study rooms, and find upcoming workshops. It may feel overwhelming, but there are supports (like the ones mentioned above) to help you navigate all the resources.
If the material you need is not available, ask a staff member at any library. They can often get it for you from a different library at no cost!
Group Study Spaces
Want to study with friends or have a team meeting on campus? Most U of T libraries let you book a group study room for up to 3 hours up to 2 weeks in advance. If you want to find a space that is immediately available, look for group study spaces or certain rooms (e.g. Gerstein Room 1230) where no reservation is required. In general, you can also use unoccupied rooms if they’re booked but unoccupied after 15 minutes or if the group has vacated the room for longer than 20 minutes. Check out the group study room policies of the respective library (displayed when you book a room) for more details.
Computers
Did you know that there are over 700 workstations available on campus? If you ever need to use a computer for schoolwork, print out notes, or scan documents, you can find available computers here.