Editing Robarts Library (section)

==Features and collections==
[[File:Nm toronto university of toronto library.jpg|250px|thumb|Interior shelving of the library]]
A 1974 article in the ''Canadian Architect'' magazine outlines the library's significance to serving a campus community the size of a town, as well as by being a central storage for humankind's recorded thoughts and inspiration.<ref>Gretton, Robert. "John P. Robarts Research Library, University of Toronto." Canadian Architect. v.19, n.8. Don Mills, Ont.: Hugh C. Maclean Publications, Ltd. 1974: 28-33</ref> The library was initially intended for use by [[graduate student]]s only, but following a student protest that included an illegal occupation of the building,<ref>{{Cite book|title = The University of Toronto: A History, Second Edition|last = Friedland|first = Martin L.|publisher = University of Toronto Press|year = 2013|isbn = 9781442615366|location = Toronto|pages = 537, 538}}</ref> [[undergraduate]] students were also granted access. The library's initial design was for a mechanical book conveyor belt system to allow for faster collection by library staff, who would then send books downstairs for pickup. After Robarts was opened to all students, the conveyor system was discarded, although the tracks used by the conveyor system are still visible above the shelves. The library is open only to current students, faculty, and staff, external researchers, associate members, and alumni with paid privileges, as well as members of the University of Toronto School community. It is closed to members of the public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/public|title=Members of the public|website=onesearch.library.utoronto.ca|date=26 November 2014 |access-date=2022-10-23}}</ref>

The building houses a number of special collections, including the Mu Collection ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 慕氏藏書) which is a set of rare books from China in the [[Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://east.library.utoronto.ca/about/about-library|title=About the East Asian Library {{!}} Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library|website=east.library.utoronto.ca|access-date=2019-08-27}}</ref> the largest research collection for Hong Kong and Canada-Hong Kong studies outside of Hong Kong at the [[Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hongkong.library.utoronto.ca/|title=Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library {{!}} 利銘澤典宬|website=hongkong.library.utoronto.ca|access-date=2019-08-27}}</ref> and a sizable collection in Russian, Polish, Czech and Slovak, Ukrainian, and other East European languages at the Petro Jacyk Central & East European Resource Centre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pjrc.library.utoronto.ca/new-acquisitions|title=New Acquisitions {{!}} Petro Jacyk Central & East European Resource Centre|website=pjrc.library.utoronto.ca|access-date=2019-08-27}}</ref>

In addition to an extensive collection of texts, the library provides limited after-hours study space to students during the academic year with the exception of weekends. The book stacks are off-limits after hours. In August 2010, the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre moved from the first floor of Robarts Library to [[OCAD University]], which is shared with students with disabilities from that college, as well as from nearby [[Toronto Metropolitan University]] and [[Seneca College]].