Borrowing

Who can borrow material from the John W. Graham Library?

• Current students, faculty and staff of the University of Toronto with valid library cards
• Trinity and Wycliffe College alumni and clergy of the Anglican Church of Canada.
• U of T alumni/ae and researchers from other institutions may purchase borrowing privileges for the University of Toronto Graham Library system from Robarts Library.
• Other members of the public are welcome to use material within the library.

How can I get a library card?

• Current students, faculty & staff: University of Toronto library cards (TCards) must be obtained at the TCard Office.
• Trinity and Wycliffe College Alumni; Anglican Clergy: Extramural cards may be obtained at the Circulation Desk of the Graham Library, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Please provide a current piece of photo ID. These cards provide borrowing privileges to the Graham Library only.
• Public or External Researchers: Cards are available for purchase at the Robarts Library Reader Registration desk.

What are my responsibilities as a borrower?

• • All of the items signed out to your account.
  • Returning all Graham Library items on or before the due date to avoid fines. Patrons with unpaid fines may be blocked from obtaining transcripts.
  • Keeping track of due dates. Current faculty, staff, and students can view online University of Toronto Libraries website under My Account. Most items may be renewed (other than short-term-loan [STL] items or periodicals). Alumni & Anglican clergy must call 416-978-5851 or come in person to the Circulation Desk.
  • Ensuring your contact information up to date. You can update your information by logging into My Account on the University of Toronto Libraries website or contacting our Circulation Desk. *Please note: updating your information on ROSI does not automatically update your library account information.

How long is the borrowing period?

1. 1. • Regular loan periods vary by borrower type:
        • Undergraduates and External Borrowers: 14 days (2 weeks)
        • Graduate Students and Staff: 84 days (12 weeks)
        • Faculty: 84 days (12 weeks)
      • All items are subject to recall after two weeks.
      • Some periodicals may be borrowed for two weeks.
      • Theses and reference materials are for in-library use only.
      • Most audio-visual material may be borrowed overnight or for three days.

How can I renew an item?

1. 1. • Current students, staff, and faculty have automatic renewals (within their renewal limit). If there is a recall for your item, you will receive an email notification and have 2 weeks to return the item.
      • Online
      • By phone: call 416-978-5851 during opening hours.
      • In person at the Graham Library Circulation Desk.
      • Renewal limits: Current faculty staff, and graduate students may renew regular loans three times. Undergraduate students may renew regular loans five times. External borrowers can renew items once.
      • Items cannot be renewed if another patron has placed a hold on them.
      • Once an item has reached its renewal limit, it must be returned to the Graham Library. If there are no holds on it, it may be signed out again.
      • Course Reserves cannot be renewed, and when returned, cannot be re-loaned to the same person until at least half the loan time of the item has passed (i.e. must wait 1.5 hrs. for a 3 hrs. loan).
      • No more than one Course Reserve item is loaned out to a patron at a time.

Where do I return my books?

1. 1. • You may return books to any U of T library (except for Course Reserves).
      • All Course Reserves and fragile material should be returned directly to a staff member at the Circulation Desk of Graham Library.
      • After hours, there is a drop slot beside the library doors that face the main Trinity College building.

The proxy borrower service is available to Faculty and Staff who give permission to another library user to checkout materials from the University of Toronto Libraries on their behalf.  Patrons who are unable to visit the library in person because of a disability may also use this service.

All proxy borrowers must first submit an application to have their name added to a specific account. Please complete this application form to request this service.

How can I place a hold on an item?

1. 1. • Online: find the item record in the catalogue and use the “Request” button.
      • By phone: call 416-978-5851 during opening hours.
      • In person: see staff at the Graham Library Circulation Desk.

The item I’ve placed a hold on isn’t due for a long time. Can I get it sooner?

1. 1. • All items may be recalled after they have been out for two weeks.
      • To initiate a recall of a Trinity item, request the item online through your account by finding the item record in the catalogue and use the “Request” button. The Patron who has the item will be notified via email and have 2 weeks to return the item for the next patron in queue.

How do I access an item in Storage or Wycliffe Storage?

Graham Library staff will retrieve items located in Trinity College Library (John W Graham Library) Storage as noted in LibrarySearch on weekdays (Monday-Friday) at 10am and 4pm.  You will receive an email once your requested item is ready to be picked up at the Graham Library circulation desk by the following day. Make sure to have your TCard/Library Card with you to check out your item.

Note: storage retrievals cannot be fulfilled on weekday evenings or weekends. 

How to place a storage retrieval request:

Users with a TCard/Library Card can make a storage request online:

1. Log into your Library Account through LibrarySearch using your UTORid or library barcode.

2. Click on “Library Pickup” in the Request Area of the item record.

3. Select Graham Library as the pick-up location.

How do I access an item in Course Reserves?

1. 1. • Request Course Reserve material at the Circulation Desk.
      • Reserves/Short-Term-Loan (STL)  have one of the following loan periods: 3 hours; 24 hours (1 day); 72 hours (3 days).
      • No holds or renewals are possible on Course Reserves/STLs.
      • One Course Reserve/STL item can be borrowed at a time.
      • The late fine for all loan periods of Course Reserves/STLs is $0.50/hour.

How can I check the status of my library account?

• • • Online: log into My Account
    • In person at the Circulation Desk
    • By phone: 416-978-5851

What are the charges if I return an item late?

1. 1. • Regular loans: $.50/day
      • Course Reserves: $.50/hour
      • Recalled items: $2/day
      • Technology loans: $0.50/hour

What are the charges if I lose or damage an item?

1. 1. • Damaged item fee: $45
      • Lost item fee: $145

How can I pay for my fines?

• • • Online

How can I have my fines waived?

Fines may occasionally be waived in extenuating circumstances. Please speak to Billy J. Gekas (Circulation Supervisor) at the Circulation Desk to inquire. Note that medical or other documentation is normally required to reduce or forgive fines. Fines will not be excused for the following reasons, among others:

1. 1. • Did not renew item on time
      • Forgot the due date
      • Did not receive a courtesy or overdue notice
      • Was not able to renew online
      • Was unaware of library policies
      • Borrowed the item for someone else
      • Returned late by someone else
      • Did not report TCard stolen