John P. Robarts Library

Toronto, Canada

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-23:00; Sa 09:00-22:00; Su 10:00-22:00
Wheelchair access: Accessible

From OpenStreetMap — confirm before travelling

Find out more

The John P. Robarts Research Library, which opened in 1973 on the University of Toronto's St. George campus, is the institution's principal humanities and social sciences library and largest individual collection. Designed by Warner Burns Toan & Lunde, Mathers & Haldenby, and Diamond Schmitt Architects, the building exemplifies brutalist architecture through its commanding form: a towering structure set on an equilateral triangular footprint with geometric triangular patterns repeated throughout its facade. Named for John Robarts, Ontario's 17th Premier, the library houses more than 4.5 million books, 4.1 million microform items, and 740,000 other materials. It anchors a three-tower complex that also encompasses the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library and the Claude T. Bissell Building, home to the Faculty of Information. The library's austere, fortress-like silhouette has inspired the nicknames "Fort Book" and "The Peacock."