Borrow from Other Libraries

Borrow from other libraries with interlibrary loan (RACER)

  • Enables placing of requests online for books, articles and other types of materials available at other libraries.
  • This is a service available to all registered students, faculty and staff at York. These privileges do not extend to alumni or external borrowers.
  • Book loans and copies of journal articles are available free of charge to graduate students.
  • First time users must first register with RACER before they can place online requests (Passport York details are requested).
  • Regular users should login directly on the RACER site.
  • Further information about conditions and policies (what can be borrowed, for how long, loan conditions, options for pickup and renewal) is available.
  • Questions can also be sent directly to racer@yorku.ca or conveyed by telephone to (416) 736-5808.

Borrowing when you’re at another university library

Canadian university faculty, students and staff benefit from Reciprocal Borrowing Privileges at most Canadian universities.

  • As a result of these reciprocal borrowing arrangements, graduate students have borrowing privileges and on-site access to the collections of most other Canadian universities.
  • Please note that the University of Toronto Libraries is not part of the Reciprocal Borrowing agreement. See below for more information.
  • Note that direct borrowing does not extend privileges in terms of off-site access to the electronic database or journal collections of other university libraries.
  • To use the libraries at these universities, graduate students should present their YU-card at the appropriate desk and complete any necessary registration form. Collateral identification may be required. You will be issued a library card for use at the library.
  • The undergraduate loan period of the lending library applies to all transactions.
  • Only circulating material as defined by the lending library may be borrowed.
  • Books should be returned to the lending library, or to your home library. Books should be identified as Direct Borrowing materials.
  • For further information about direct borrowing privileges please consult this web site.

Access and borrowing at the University of Toronto Libraries

York Faculty & Staff

  • The University of Toronto charges a $300 user fee for borrowing privileges for faculty and staff of other institutions.
  • Access to Robarts stacks can be purchased by staff and faculty from other institutions for $50 per year.

York Graduate Students

  • Borrowing privileges for York graduate students is $270 per year. (For non-U of T graduate students the fee is normally $300, however York University is partially subsidizing this annual fee for graduate students only.)
  • The Robarts stack access fee for York graduate students is $20 per year. (For non-U of T graduate students the stack access fee is normally $50, however York University is subsidizing $30 of the annual fee for graduate students only.)
  • To register or renew your privileges, please present your York University ID at the Reader Registration Desk at Robarts.

York Undergraduate Students

  • The University of Toronto Libraries does not offer borrowing privileges or access to Robarts Library stacks to undergraduates from other institutions.

More detailed information can be found at the University of Toronto Library web site