York's five libraries provide essential support for York's teaching, learning, and research activities. The largest of our libraries, Scott Library, holds our major collections in the humanities, social sciences and fine arts. The Scott Library building also houses the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections, the Map Library and the Sound and Moving Image Library. In addition, the Peter F. Bronfman Business Library, the Steacie Science and Engineering Library and the Law Library are all located on the Keele campus. The Leslie Frost Library supports the curriculum and research on the Glendon campus in both French and English. In total, York’s libraries contain over 6.5 million items including books, periodicals, theses, archival materials, microforms, maps, films, videos, CDs, DVDs--even a skeleton.

Professional librarians are available in all the libraries to help with research. Assistance is available in person as well as by e-mail, telephone and online chat. Instruction in library use and research methods is also offered by librarians in course-specific sessions and through general drop-in workshops. These classes provide instruction on defining and narrowing research topics; conducting literature reviews and finding materials such as books, scholarly journal articles and Internet materials; critically evaluating information; and using it ethically. Check the library Web page for workshop offerings.

Research skills are of course part of a larger set of academic literacies needed to succeed at university. The Learning Commons @ Scott Library offers support on a variety of academic skills such as: writing skills, learning skills and career related skills.  In the Learning Commons Hub on the second floor of Scott, you’ll find professionals from the Reference Department, Writing Department, Learning Skills program who are there to help you in your academic work. For more information on workshops, drop-in desks and more, related to the Learning Commons, see http://www.library.yorku.ca/learning_commons/.

Many library collections and services are accessible on the Web. The libraries' online collections are available 24 hours a day at http://www.library.yorku.ca. Our site is a gateway to more than 40,000 full-text electronic scholarly journals and other electronic resources including e-books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, subject pathfinders, government documents, datasets and image collections. The libraries also provide RefWorks®, a Web-based citation management program. All these licensed “e-resources” can be used online by students and researchers with YU-card (or other valid library card) from home or elsewhere beyond the library buildings. For additional information on how to access our e-resources remotely, please consult http://www.library.yorku.ca/ccm/Home/eResources/RemoteAccess.htm.

In addition our print collections remain a crucial research resource. York has a collection of 2.5 million print volumes. For more information on our borrowing privileges,visit http://www.library.yorku.ca/ccm/BorrowRenew/.

The libraries provide a variety of types of learning environments. Quiet study areas are available in all of the libraries, as well as areas suitable for group work, including some 30 group study rooms. In addition to the provision of alternate format materials for students with disabilities, we have an adaptive equipment lab for drop-in use. Wireless is available through the libraries. Students can use any of our approximately 350 desktop computers, most of which also provide access to word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications.

Our libraries are open from early morning to late evening most days. Round the clock study space is available 24/5 during the core parts of the fall and winter terms. For more information on 24/5 and extended library hours, please see http://www.library.yorku.ca/ccm/FacilitiesAndEquipment/LateNightStudy/.

We welcome you to the libraries and we encourage frequent visits, whether you come to read at a carrel, work together with your classmates or search a database through our Web site. Librarians and other library staff members are here to help you get the most out of the libraries: do ask us!