Looking for a study spot on campus? Here’s where – and how – to find one near you

A view of the newly renovated library at University College with spiral staircase and stained glass window in the background
The University College library, reopened after an 18-month closure, is located in a newly renovated heritage space in the building’s East Hall, which was the library’s original 19th-century home (photo courtesy of University College)

With both online and in-person classes scheduled this fall, many University of Toronto students may find themselves on campus in need of a quiet space to kick back for a few hours, do some homework or listen to a lecture on their laptop.

U of T has more than 40 libraries across its three campuses with places to study, but they are far from the only options.

Here are some quiet and welcoming spots, as well as three online tools to help locate them.


Study spaces on the three campuses

 

U of T Mississauga

Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre (1675 Outer Circle)

U of T Mississauga’s library provides study spaces for 228 students on the main, third and fourth levels. On the main floor, there are an additional 42 physically distanced study spaces with computer workstations. Advance booking is no longer required; all are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Instructional Centre (1599 Outer Circle)

The instructional Centre has study spaces on the second and third floors.

Communication, Culture and Technology Building

Study spaces are available on the second and third floors.

Maanjiwe nendamowinan (1535 Outer Circle)

One of UTM’s newest buildings, Maanjiwe nendamowinan (which means “a gathering of minds” in Anishinaabemowin) includes study spaces on the first floor.

 

St. George

Robarts Library (130 St. George St.) and Gerstein Science Information Centre (9 King’s College Circle)

Space has been reserved for students to join online classes from campus on the first floor of Robarts Library and the Gerstein Centre’s Wallace Room. Space is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Student Commons (230 College St.)

The newly renovated building’s interiors aren’t entirely finished, but there are open spaces, seating areas and meeting rooms with Wi-Fi on the second and fifth floors. The building’s capacity is limited right now to 355 students. 

Hart House (7 Hart House Circle)

Students can book two-hour slots in the Reading Room, the Map Room and Hart House Library. All have Wi-Fi; capacity ranges from 10 to 22. The newly renovated and accessible Arbor Room, with healthy food and drink options, has also reopened in the lower level of Hart House.

University College Library (15 King’s College Circle)

The UC Library has reopened after an 18-month closure. It has moved to a newly renovated heritage space in the building’s East Hall – the library’s original 19th century home – and currently has 33 study spaces available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

 

U of T Scarborough

University of Toronto Scarborough Library (1265 Military Trail)

In addition to about 100 regular study spaces, the UTSC Library has six individual study rooms available for booking.

Instructional Centre (1095 Military Trail)

This north campus building includes study spaces and student areas, as well as classrooms that are available to students when lectures are not taking place. The BRIDGE Library is also available as a study space.

 

Online space-finding tools

 

SpacePlusU

This U of T Scarborough app, available for Android and iPhone, locates study space at the campus and lets you know how many people are using them. The app allows you to filter by building or type of study space. U of T Scarborough divides study spaces into three “zones” – for quiet study, group study, or silent study, with different rules for each about permitted noise. U of T Scarborough students are also welcome to use empty classrooms as study spaces; a schedule for all classrooms is available online.

St. George Online Synchronous Space Finder

This St. George app operates much like the space finder at U of T Scarborough, though it engages the map function on your mobile device to show you the nearest available study spaces. You can also “favourite” your preferred buildings.

U of T Map

With the online U of T Map you can search the three campuses by need, as well as by specific building. Each campus map has at least 10 categories, including washrooms, food, accessibility and student spaces. Click “student spaces” at U of T Mississauga, for example, and you will see another nine options, including “computer labs” and “study spaces.”

Find out more at UTogether

 

 

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