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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 8pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto

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Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto

The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library houses the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections inclu

03/23/2026

Please come to the library tomorrow (March 24) when we are holding a special Passover Haggadot Open House. It will feature a display of beautiful and rare Pesach (Passover) Haggadot, including early printed books, Kibbutz and secular Haggadot, artists' Haggadot, as well as satirical Haggadot.

The open house begins at 12:30pm and runs until 4:45pm.

This event is free and open to the public.

We look forward to welcoming you!

03/16/2026

There are still some open spots left for the Fisher's last workshop of the academic year this Thursday (March 19) on Introduction to Jewish Book History. The workshop, led by Jewish Studies Librarian Nadav Sharon, begins at 6pm and runs for 90 minutes.

You can register at: https://libcal.library.utoronto.ca/event/3996486.

03/12/2026

Today (Thursday March 12)! A free tour of the library's current exhibition, Arctic Fever: Image and Narrative in North Circumpolar Voyaging of the Long Nineteenth Century. The tour will begin at 6pm and will be led by curator Mark A. Cheetham. There's no need to register. Bring your curiosity and your questions!

12/23/2025

The Fisher Library will be closed from December 24th 2025 to January 5th 2026.

We hope you have a safe and cozy winter break, with no unexpected guests of the human *or* rodent variety ❄️

Holiday card from our ephemera collection, background is block printed Italian paper from La Circe in Italia; drama per musica, da recitarsi nel teatro vicinio a S. Lucia della Tinta.
Imprint: Napoli: N. Monaco, Si vendono a Pasquino nella libraria di P. Leone, 1721. Call number: itp pam 00162

12/12/2025

For those looking for something to do last minute: why not visit the Fisher Library on a rare Saturday opening, December 13. It will be the final weekend to visit the current exhibition celebrating 70 years of the department of Rare Books and Special Collections. It will also be the final viewing of Christine Davis’ amazing four panel artist book The Elements, on display in our main seminar room. We’ll be open December 13, 1-4pm. We hope to see you there!

12/03/2025

U of T's Department of Rare Books and Special Collections at Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto is turning 70! Visit now until Dec. 23 for a special tour to mark the anniversary. 📖 bit.ly/70RB

11/20/2025

You've always wanted to come to the Fisher but our Monday to Friday hours are not ideal?

Good news: we'll have a special Saturday opening this weekend, on Nov. 22! We'll be open from 1pm to 4pm for the viewing of Christine Davis' The Elements: Knowledge of Life, her reimagining of one of the famous copies of Euclid's Elements, from 1847.

You can also come and view the library's current exhibition: 70 Rare Books, Special Collections, Archives, which celebrates the 70th anniversary of the department.

We hope to see you here on Saturday!

10/24/2025

What better time than now to share some items from our Baillie collection, containing works on ornithology and related natural history formerly owned by ornithologist and author James Little Baillie (1904–1970).
Image one from Bird neighbors : an introductory acquaintance with one hundred and fifty birds commonly found in the gardens, meadows, and woods about our homes. By Neltje Blanchan. Toronto : G.N. Morang; 1903. call number jlb 01616
Image two from Bird guide. Part 2, Land birds east of the Rockies by Chester A. Reed. Toronto : Musson Book Co.; 1909. call number jlb 01626

10/10/2025

What were they eating in Toronto nearly 140 years ago?
A glut of sweets and meats, grapes from nearby Niagara, and Salmon from faraway California!
The Catholics of Toronto held a banquet at the Rossin House Hotel (formerly located at the corner of King and York Street) for the visit of Cardinal Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau.
This banquet took place just a year after he was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Leo XIII in 1886, becoming the first Canadian Cardinal.
This menu features an engraving of the Cardinal by The Toronto Engraving Company, and a silk souvenir bookmark with another view of the Cardinal with glasses and wearing his Biretta.
Complimentary Banquet Given by the Catholics of Toronto at the Rossin House to His Eminence Cardinal Taschereau. October 10th 1887. [Toronto], 1887.

10/01/2025

EXHIBITION TOURS

Join us for the next public tour of the current exhibition: 70 RARE BOOKS, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, ARCHIVES.

Wednesday, 8 October 2025
12:00-12:45
Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
120 St George Street
All welcome. Free

09/16/2025

Come see our latest exhibition!

"70 Rare Books, Special Collections, Archives" celebrates 70 years of the establishment of the Rare Books and Special Collections Department with a special exhibition featuring a selection of seventy items recently used in research, teaching, and learning at the library. The exhibition and catalogue are inspired by moments of discovery and creativity in the seminar room, reference desk, and reading room.

There will be a number of free tours offered through the exhibition's run. The next tour is scheduled for Wednesday September 24 at noon. There's no need to register. Please join us!

Address

120 Street George St
Toronto, ON
M5S1A5

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 8pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/

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