LibrarySearch is a tool you can use to find resources to support your learning, teaching, and research. Use this guide to help you use LibrarySearch successfully and use Ask Chat for help overcoming search challenges as they come up. To learn more advanced research strategies tailored to your specific needs, please contact the library or book a consultation with a librarian.

To improve your search experience, increase the number of results, and gain access to advanced features and item retrieval options, always log in by clicking My Account on the library landing page:

Or click the Sign In button at the top right of the LibrarySearch interface:

If you choose not to sign in at the beginning of your session, you can always click on the sign in prompt that appears above your search results:

Once you have signed in to LibrarySearch you can: 

• Update your profile to be sure you will receive important library notifications
• Check due dates, request item retrieval for pick-up, place holds, review item requests, and pay fines
• Renew your borrowed items 
• Email records to yourself
• View the search history of your current session 
• Saved your searches, search results, and citations
• Create alerts to keep up to date on new publications

Please note: LibrarySearch login times out after 30 minutes of inactivity, automatically signing you out and resetting itself to the default search page.

LibrarySearch provides access to library collections in print and digital formats including books, articles, videos, maps, government documents, music, data sets, and more. You can also discover materials that are not available at U of T but that you can request for free through interlibrary loan.

Use LibrarySearch when you want to find:

• Background information 
• Several articles to get started
• An exact book or article by title
• Various formats (e.g. books and newspapers)
• Sources on an interdisciplinary topic 
• Local and/or unique resources

If you find it difficult to narrow your results, consider using a subject-specific database or see what is recommended in one of the many Research Guides.  

Remote access to the University of Toronto Libraries' digital collections is only available to current students, faculty, and University staff. Access to e-books, full text articles, databases, and other digital tools require users to log in via the University of Toronto's web login service. If you forget this before you start your session, you will be directed to log in as soon as required.