About the Library

John W. Graham Library has areas designated as either quiet or silent study. Below are the designated spaces for each volume level.

Quiet Areas

Whispered conversations, cell phones on vibrate, and other electronics with earbuds or headphones are welcome in these spaces:

• 2nd & 3rd floor reading rooms
• Group study rooms*

*Group study rooms are not soundproof. Please keep conversations to a minimum or whisper so as not to disturb others studying nearby.

Silent Areas

No conversation, cell phones on silent (not in vibrate mode), and electronics with earphones are welcome in these spaces:

• Basement (including the popular reading area)
• 1st floor, in front of the circulation desk and entrances
• 1st floor computer lab
• 2nd & 3rd floor link rooms

Monitoring Noise Levels

Library staff will monitor the areas to ensure the noise guidelines are followed. Signage around the areas is posted to remind users of these guidelines. Users who are being disruptive will be reminded by library staff of the noise guidelines. If users do not comply with the library noise guidelines after a reminder and continue to be disruptive, further action will be taken. College Security will be notified to deal with the situation, and users may be asked to leave the library for the remainder of the day.

Regardless of a patron’s noise level, all patrons are bound by the Graham Library’s Conduct Policy, the University of Toronto Library Conduct Regulations and students are also subject to U of T’s Code of Student Conduct.

Consumption of food or beverages in the library, with the exception of water and covered drinks, is prohibited.  Please do not bring food or uncovered drinks into the library.  Consult the Graham Library Conduct Policy page for a comprehensive list of prohibited activities.

Smoking and vaping in the library or near the library entrances is prohibited.  Please consult the Graham Library Conduct Policy page for a comprehensive list of prohibited activities.

Requirements

• Minimum of two students required; maximum of four students allowed. (Maximum of one student allowed in the Personal Study Room.)
• Minimum of two students must be in the group study room for the duration of the booking.
• All group members must be current U of T students.
• Only one booking (in a group, and as an individual on your own or part of a group) per day is permitted.
• At least two group members must arrive no later than 15 minutes after the start time of the booking or it may be forfeited.

Please consult our Study Rooms Bookings page for more detailed information on study rooms and how to book them.

Key Facts

• In 1827 John Strachan, the first Bishop of Toronto, secured 400 books from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, now held in Graham Library’s Special Collections. The collection was to be the foundation for the future library of King’s College.
• Bishop John Strachan went on to found the University of Trinity College in 1851, after King’s College became the University of Toronto. The University of Trinity College was located in what is today known as Trinity Bellwoods Park, on Queen Street West in Toronto and included a library.
• Trinity College moved to the main University of Toronto campus in 1925, where the new library was to be located in Seeley Hall. However, the library remained in the basement level of Trinity College until 2000 when the Graham Library opened in the renovated then Munk School of Global Affairs building.
• The year 2000 also marked the official merger of Trinity College and Wycliffe College’s theological collections. Graham Library continues to provide library services and theological study resources to both Trinity and Wycliffe College theology students today.

The Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy Building

• The Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy building houses both Graham Library, and also the Munk School at Trinity College.
• Architect Eden Smith, 1906-7 designed the building in Arts & Crafts tradition, and it was a student residence, Devonshire House, until 1997.
• The shared building opened in 2000 after a major renovation designed by Tom Payne of Kuwabara, Payne, McKenna, Blumberg Architects. The entire interior of the building was gutted and modernized, with the exception of the central fireplace

John Webb Graham

• Graham Library’s namesake is John Webb Graham.
• John W. Graham married Velma Rogers in 1941 and became stepfather to Edward S. (Ted) Rogers.
• In 1997, Ted Rogers (Class of 5T7) donated $2.5 million to Trinity College for a new library named in honour of his stepfather.

Education & Career

• Had a distinguished law career, becoming a partner with the law firm Payton, Biggs & Graham, and later with Cassels, Brock & Blackwell where he continued to provide legal counsel until the time of his death.

Community Contributions

• Active member of the Anglican Church and was presented with the Anglican Award of Merit (1990) and appointed lay Canon of St. James Cathedral by the Bishop of Toronto (1994).
• At Trinity College, he was a long-time member of Corporation and Chairman of the Executive Committee for many years.
• It was John Graham’s foresight that led to the acquisition of the Devonshire House property, now the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy building and site of the John W. Graham Library.
• John W. Graham died on January 9, 1998 in Toronto, Ontario.
• The bronze bas-relief in the entrance of Graham Library was made by Dora de Pédery-Hunt.
  
  

  

The John W. Graham Library and Trinity College Archives team are pleased to share a new strategic plan that will inform our services, collections and facilities goals from 2024-2029.

To view our strategic plan,  download Graham Library and Trinity College Archives Strategic Plan 2024-2029 (PDF: 11.1 MB).

Annual Strategic Plan Reports

We are pleased to provide updates on the work and projects the Graham Library and Trinity College Archives have undertaken to support this plan.

2024-2025

Please download the 2024-2025 John W. Graham Library and Trinity College Archives Strategic Plan Report (pdf: 9MB) to learn more about the notable accomplishments of the previous academic year and find out about our ongoing plans for the current academic year.