The Fisher Library book and manuscript collections are many and diverse, with a corresponding variety of tools providing intellectual access to the contents, in varying degrees of detail. The purpose of all these tools is to facilitate access to the collections for researchers. As a further step in this direction the Library has also embarked on a number of digitization projects, which bring the specialized resources of the Library to a world-wide audience.
The Library, apart from the reference collection which is available on open shelves in the Reading Room and reference area, is comprised of non-circulating, closed-stack collections, which means that the material needed will always be available for use. Most of the material in the Fisher Library is housed onsite. The only exception is some modern Canadian literature, which can be requested and retrieved within 48 hours for use in the Fisher reading room. Readers may submit retrieval requests in person at the Library, or in advance by using our online Stack Retrieval Request Form. The material is then retrieved from the stacks by Fisher staff and is made available for consultation in the supervised Reading Room. Items may be kept on hold if they are going to be consulted over an extended period of time.
Please use the links to locate information on our reference service, patron registration procedures, seminar room bookings and the other services we provide to facilitate research and teaching at the University of Toronto.