After doing thorough researches and finding most of the relevant materials in the library, I have discovered more about Robarts library than I expected. The library’s original name is Humanity and Social Science Research Library (HSSRL). Apparently, information about library is very limited. However, at the Faculty of Information library, there are backed up copy of reports on how Robarts library is built as well as the motivation, architectural design and serving community. On March 14, 1958, a letter sent from the Acting President to Dean R. R. McLaughlin, Professor T. A. Goudge and DR. M. G. Ross regarding forming a small committee to “examine the Chief Librarian.” In response to this letter, the committee started to gather information to prepare “a draft report of its findings and tentative conclusions.” On January 1, 1959, Philosophy Professor Gouge submitted this report to Dr. Bissell, President of University of Toronto at the time. On the preface page, Prof. Gouge states the main purpose of the report, “We beg to submit our report on ‘The Planning for Future Library Facilities.’” This particular report was the trigger point of building HSSRL and creating a “library system.” The report first discussed the circumstances that the university was encountering, library budget, library seats, co-ordination of services etc… In order to resolve the issues, the report suggested building a main library to be the central library of the university to organize the libraries on campus systematically. The report also suggested building a 157,700 square feet new library covering half of the Queen’s Park to King’s Circle. This report seemed to be a rough draft of building a library. The committee sent another report on March 28, 1961; the report cannot be found but was mentioned on the report of March 11, 1963. The 1963 report had reconstructed the ideas in details. In Part B, the general nature of the building, the report already stated some questions that became the elements of the Robarts library, such as how to consider minimizing the sound. In Part C, the division and interrelation of space, it divides the library into different departments that were used in the current library, such as the Rare Book and Special Collection Department became the “Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library.” Within the report, the essential ideas were discussed and showed in the report. Later on, based on the 1963 report, in 1965, the committee submitted a report called “Programme for the Construction of a Building Complex to House the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library and the School of Library Science.” This was the embryo of the Robarts Library. This report answered the concerns in the 1963 report. Furthermore, point such as giving “the building character,” was the embryo of the giant turkey look of the library. For minimizing the sound in the public reading area, the report suggested carpeting the public reading areas. As I recall when I read this point, I found out that
all the study areas in Robarts library are carpeted!

In “Evolution of the Heart: A History of the University of Toronto Library,” the book stated the history of Robarts library. The content included how the committee had the idea of building a library and what difficulties the design team encountered while building it. After the construction began in 1968, the library was finally established in the spring of 1973. Building the library took five years and forty million dollars. While doing the research, I was very excited. Through the material sources, I felt I was one of the team members involving building a historical library. Although the history of Robarts just began at this point, it was extremely difficult to find information on the history of Robarts. Hence, my essay will focus on how the library was built and the community it serves. If I am able to find more sources, I may add how the library appears on the television or movies.

Sources:

Blackburn, Robert. Evolution of the Heart| A History of the University of Toronto Library up to 1981. Toronto: University of Toronto, 1989. Print

Users’ Committee on the Central Library. Programme for the Construction of a Building to Serve the University as A Humanity and Social Sciences Research Library. Toronto: University of Toronto 1963. Print

Toronto. University. Presidential Advisory Committee on the Planning for Future Library Facilities Report.

University of Toronto. Task Force on Robarts Service. Being and Becoming

University of Toronto. Libraries. Preserving the past, preparing for the future.

University of Toronto. Library. Management Review and Analysis Program. Report

University of Toronto. President’s Working Group on the Library. Report of the President’s Working Group on the Library and Response of the President ot the Report of the Working Group on the Library.

Toronto. University Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library Users’ Committee – Report

University of Western Ontario. Libraries. An Overview of the Role and Function of the Library System

P. S. Ross & Partners. University of Toronto Library System Interim Report June 1970.