2024 marks the 50th anniversary of TMU's Library building. Scroll through this timeline to learn about our beginnings and the innovations that have happened over the last five decades. See how the Library building, situated at the corner of Gould and Victoria became a landmark at the heart of the campus.;xNLx;;xNLx;How to use:;xNLx;;xNLx;Use the scroll bar at the bottom or swipe up or down to navigate the timeline. To learn more about an event, tap on the image card to open the details panel. You can close the details panel by tapping outside the details panel box, or by tapping the X at the top right.
The Ryerson Archives (now TMU Archives) moves to the 3rd floor of the Library building and becomes affiliated with the Library (then called the Learning Resource Centre)
Opening as the Learning Resources Centre, the building is shared with faculties and departments. John North is appointed the director of the Learning Resources Centre, which will eventually becomes the Ryerson University Library and Archives, and finally TMU Libraries.
The Library improves and expands areas of automation, student facilities, services and community outreach programs. The Library's card catalogue is converted to microfiche; subject areas are established; a media library became more prominent; and a lounge area was developed on the third floor of the building to foster engagement.
Two new special collections are established within the Library: Energy Information Service on the 9th floor, which supported research at the Ryerson Energy Centre; and the Third World Resource Centre on the 7th floor, which disseminated information and resources about developing countries for the Third World Committee.
The Library becomes the first library in North America to install the IBM's DOBIS/LIBIS online computer system, which operated all circulation and inter-library loans.
The Library participated in a field trial of an early wide area network, conducted by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority. Developed by engineers at the federal Department of Communications, the network consisted of Telidon user terminals that linked to other terminals in homes and education institutions. The Library installed a Telidon terminal which consisted of a modified television set, a telephone and a computer allowing users to retrieve information from numerous connected databases. In conjunction with Bell Canada, Ryerson developed a three-day training course for faculty, students, and staff. The field trial ran in the Information Centre on the 2nd floor and ran for three months.
Library Publications Office. Increasing demand, and ever-growing services were juxtaposed with a stagnant budget in the 1980s. The Library establishes a library publications office in order to raise funds.The first publication created by students and librarians is "Food Nutrition and the DIsabled: An Annotated Bibliography.
The Microcomputer Facility is established within the Library.
Academic Council approves the establishment of a formal challenge procedure to books in the Library but endorses recommendations against internal library censorship.
Academic Council approves a two-hour closing of the Library to protest Bill C-54, the federal government's anti-pornography legislation.
