COVID-19: Updates on Services & Spaces/Fall 2021 Reopening

Last update: Sept 13, 2021

Please check this page regularly for updates about the Gerstein Science Information Centre's services and spaces.

We are open to current University of Toronto students, faculty and staff.  Building entry will require your TCard* and a green UCheck screen.

(*If you don't have a TCard yet: You can show the email confirmation of your TCard office appointment instead*).

(NOTE: Students, staff, and faculty members coming to any U of T campus, including the libraries, must complete a COVID-19 health screening self-assessment before visiting (U of T News, Oct 26, 2020). People must login to UCheck with their UTORid and do the self-assessment beforehand.)


On this page: Spaces & Services  |  Remote Services  Access to Collections

Don't see an answer to your question? Check out these U of T Libraries COVID-19 FAQs.


Announcements:

Aug 25, 2021

  • wheelchair iconConstruction is underway at Gerstein Science Information Centre's main entrance. Important information about accessible alternatives for entering the building can be found here. – (August 19, 2021)

Here's what's available virtually this 2021-2022 academic year, and more details on which specific services and spaces are open and closed:

Spaces & Services

Building Spaces & On-site Services

As of Sept 7, 2021:

  • Access is for current U of T students, faculty, and staff only
  • Regular fall hours are in operation
  • All 5 floors will be open with reduced capacity, including study space and computers
  • Group study rooms can be reserved, with limited capacity
  • Book and journal stacks are open
  • Course reserves are available at the Short Term Loan Desk
  • LIRA workstations and study space for non-U of T visitors are not available

See our Building Spaces & On-Site Services 2021-22 page for full details.


Remote Services

Virtual Help Desk  |  Consultations  |  Email

Virtual Help Desk

  • Though our on-site public service desk is open, our Virtual Help Desk is also available, where you can also 'drop-in' virtually to get live online help from Gerstein Library staff (Mon-Fri)

Consultations

Email

  • Don't see the answer to your question? Email us at ask.gerstein[at]utoronto.ca with your questions about our current services, finding journal articles, citation management software, citation metrics & impact factors, and much more

Access to Collections

Scan & Deliver Service  |  Stacks Access  |  Course Reserves Borrowing & Due Dates Syllabus Service  |  Request a Hold  |  Request Intercampus Delivery  |  Request Interlibrary Loans 

Services that are changing or ending:

Hathi TrustIMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT HATHITRUST ETAS: The digitized in-copyright books which have been available during the closure through the online HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS) is no longer available as of Sept 7, as book stacks have re-opened.

curbside iconIMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT CURBSIDE PICKUP : U of T Libraries' Curbside Pickup Service ended on Sept 7, as book stacks have re-opened.

Scan & Deliver Service

  • Request articles from print journals at Gerstein, Robarts, UTM, UTSC, and other participating U of T Libraries.

image of book to represent the stacksStacks access 

  • The book and journal stacks have reopened for current U of T students, faculty, and staff

course reserves iconCourse Reserves

  • Print course reserves will be available to borrow from the Short Term Loans Desk (1st floor) again in September 2021

Borrowing & Due Dates for library materials

  • Due dates for checked out items currently due on September 29, 2021 have been extended one more time
  • To see the new due dates (varies by user category) and more, refer to this Borrowing page
  • As of Sept 7, the items you have borrowed will be subject to recall by other library users who have requested a hold on them

Syllabus Service

  • Faculty can use the Syllabus Service to make course readings (either in print and online) available to students

Request a hold

  • Library users are now able to request a hold for: 
    • items that are already checked out by another user
    • as well as items that are currently in the library 
  • Note: the ability to place holds on items currently in the library replaces what was formerly the Curbside Pickup Service, which ended on Aug 26

icon of renewing booksRequest Intercampus Delivery (ICD)

  • ICD service has resumed – you may request books from other U of T campuses
  • Borrowers must be signed into LibrarySearch to see the requesting functions. Look for the blue SIGN IN button on the upper right

icon of renewing booksRequest Interlibrary Loans (ILL) via RACER

  • ILL is available for both print and electronic items
  • New users to RACER (our ILL self-serve system) – no longer need to set up an account