Borrowing

Borrowing Privileges

All users with a valid University of Toronto library card (TCard) can borrow items from the Chemistry Library. External users are welcome to use our collection in the library during opening hours. Journals and reference materials are for in-library use only. 

Regular books are subject to the following loan periods:

  • Graduate Students, Faculty & Staff: 90 days with up to 3 renewals (maximum loan period of 360 days)
  • Undergraduate Students: 14 days with up to 5 renewals (maximum loan period of 84 days)
  • Research Readers, Direct Borrowers & Associate Members: 14 days with up to 3 renewals (maximum loan period of 42 days)
  • Alumni: 14 days with no renewals

Renewals

Current U of T students, faculty, and staff get unlimited renewals for regular* loans as of February 2022. This temporary measure has been put in place until further notice to help support a gradual return to campus.

Loans will only become due if:

  • Another user makes a hold request for a checked out item(s)
  • There is block on a user's account
  • The user's borrowing privileges expire

Users will be notified by email whenever an item they have borrowed must be returned to the Library.

*Not eligible for unlimited renewals: Course reserves and other short term loan items; audio/video items; technology loans, and interlibrary loans

Course Reserves & Short-Term Loans

The Chemistry Library has a number of Course Reserves and other short-term loans available to borrow behind our service desk. If you would like to borrow a short-term loan, please ask a staff member for assistance.

  • Course-related books and other high-demand items can used in the library or borrowed for 72 hours.
  • Items will be due back exactly 72 hours from when they were borrowed OR if the item would normally be due at a time when the library is closed, the due date will be at 10:00am the next day we are open. Examples:
    • If a book is borrowed at 3:00pm on a Monday, it will be due back at 3:00pm (the same time) on Thursday.
    • If a book is borrowed at 3:00pm on a Wednesday, it will be due back at 10:00am the following Monday since we are closed on Saturdays & Sundays. 
  • Course Reserves, technology loans and other short-term loan items cannot be renewed.

Technology Loans

The library has a variety of technology items that can be borrowed from the library service desk using your TCard. These include:

  • 1 90W Universal PC Laptop Charger (compatible with Acer, Dell tip, HP, Lenovo, Asus, and Toshibo devices)
  • 1 67W Apple Laptop Charger (USB-C)
  • 2 universal phone chargers (USB-C, Micro-USB, and Lightning)
  • 2 Android chargers (Micro-USB)
  • 2 iPhone chargers (Lightning)
  • 2 HDMI cables
  • 2 pairs of stylus pens
  • 2 sets of headphones (wired, on-ear)
  • 2 extension cords

Technology loans may be borrowed for 5 hours or until the library closes, whichever comes first. Items must be returned to the service desk at least 15 minutes before the library closes - please see our library hours

Fines & Lost Books

  • Regular books: $0.50 per day per item
  • Short-Term Loans and Technology Loans: $0.50 per hour per item
  • Recalled Items: $2.00 per day per item
  • Lost Books: Lost books are subject to a replacement fee of $145.00