E. J. Pratt Library
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The E. J. Pratt Library is the library of Victoria College, part of the University of Toronto. The library, located at the south end of the Victoria College Quad, was built in 1961. Previously the Vic library had been the Birge-Carnegie Library that today houses the United Church of Canada/Victoria University Archives. The site of the library, and the Northrop Frye building next door, was originally on the route of Queen's Park Crescent, but the road was pushed south into Queen's Park to make way for the new buildings. The library is named after poet and Vic graduate E.J. Pratt.
From 2000 to 2001 the library was closed and completely renovated. One of the more important changes was the introduction of more information technology. The library has some 55 computers for students and dozens of more ethernet hookups for laptops. With some 250,000 volumes it is one of the largest of the college libraries. The collection is geared towards the undergraduates who attend Victoria. It contains mainly humanities texts with a focus on History, English, and Philosophy.
The library has four levels. The main floor is home to most of the computer workstations, a large study hall, and the reference section. Below this floor the lower level has the majority of the stacks. Three sides of the lower level are not below grade and the walls there are almost wholly large windows lined with study carrels. To the east these look out of the Lester B. Pearson Garden of Peace and International Understanding, while the south and west sides look out towards Queen's Park. Above the main floor the second storey has more stacks, carrels, the Kathleen Coburn Reading Room, and the periodicals section. By the periodicals section is a group of black leather armchairs that are popular among the students. The third floor of the building is not part of the library but rather houses the Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies (CRRS) and administrative offices for the library.
