The Unquiet Library: Fifty years of Robarts Library

Library Communications

The Unquiet Library: Fifty Years of Robarts Library is an audio documentary series uncovering the history, controversies, and cultural legacy of the University of Toronto’s John P. Robarts Research Library—one of Toronto’s most recognizable Brutalist landmarks. Hosted by Jesse Carliner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. Ep. 8 Robarts in the Early Days of Computing and Automation

    May 25

    Ep. 8 Robarts in the Early Days of Computing and Automation

    Discovery Systems librarian Susan Bond explains that the University of Toronto Libraries’ LibrarySearch blends results from Alma (the catalogue for items like books and journals) with a large database that can include chapter- and article-level content, and suggests AI’s most likely near-term impact is enabling natural-language queries instead of Boolean searching, rather than replacing the catalogue.   Host Jesse Carliner traces Robarts Library’s technological history from card catalogs to computer output microform (COM) catalogues and the Felix online public catalogue (launched 1987), highlighting early collaborations with Calvin “Kelly” Gottlieb, Ritvars Bregzis, and the IBM Toronto Data Center that helped shape the MARC record and produced the University of Toronto Library Automation System (UTLAS) in the early 1970s. Interviews with Carol Moore, Debbie Green, Patricia Bellamy, and Sian Meikle describe costs, resistance, database challenges, email and office automation, CD-ROM and dial-up searching, and the shift to user self-service.   More: uoft.me/robarts50; follow @unquietlibrary on Instagram, Blue Sky, and TikTok.   00:00 Opener- Susan Bond discusses AI and library searching  03:02 Introduction  05:30 Carol Moore- The early days of library automation  08:10 Carole Moore- The closing of the card catalogue  18:02 Debbie Green--The impact of technology on daily library work  21:35 Patricia Bellamy-- Early days of digital research tools  25:06 Sian Meikle- The early days of computing in the library  29:57 Conclusion    Robarts Library 50th anniversary exhibit: http://uoft.me/robarts50  Learn more about the history of automation and computing at the University of Toronto Libraries: Access & Discovery · University of Toronto Libraries at 125 · Exhibits  Bregzis, Ritvars, Calvin Gotlieb, and Carole Moore. "The beginning of automation in the University of Toronto Library, 1963-1972." IEEE Annals of the History of Computing 24, no. 2 (2002): 50-70. What is a card catalogue? Library catalog - Wikipedia  What is a microfiche/microfilm catalogue? https://lis.academy/organising-and-managing-information/microform-catalogues-space-saving-library-solutions/    What is the DIALOG search system? Milestones:DIALOG Online Search System, 1966 - Engineering and Technology History Wiki  What is a CD-ROM? CD-ROM - Wikipedia    Theme music:   Felipe Sarro, Bach-Siloti - Prelude BWV 855a  Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication    Sound credits:  2 08 Br Lib amb 5.wav by ERH -- https://freesound.org/s/51632/ -- License: Attribution 4.0  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  2. Ep. 7 The Analogue Era

    May 11

    Ep. 7 The Analogue Era

    In this episode of The Unquiet Library: 50 Years of Robarts Library, host Jesse Carliner explores Robarts’ pre-digital era through oral history interviews with current and former librarians. Margaret Wall describes processing 340 legacy CD-ROMs (plus cassettes and floppy disks) and determining whether their contents evolved into print or online databases, noting the convenience of today’s searchable platforms compared with swapping annual discs. Former chief librarian Carole Moore recalls card catalogues wired for phone reference, heavy photocopy demand, and the chaos of shared print journals and interlibrary delivery. Sean Meikle details intensely manual circulation work with charge files, typed loan cards, pneumatic tubes, book elevators, and noisy conveyor belts. Susanne Tabur explains serials “Kardex” tracking of roughly 30,000 journal titles and daily mail processing, while Debbie Green recounts research via print indexes, microfilm/microfiche catalogs, and early staff-mediated online, CD-ROM, and DIALOG searches.   00:00 Opener with Margaret Wall  02:07 Episode Introduction  03:14 Carole Moore- Phone reference and the card catalogue; sharing print journals  07:55 Sian Meikle—Library circulation during the analogue era  14:12 Susanne Tabur—Tracking print journal subscriptions with the Kardex  23:31 Debbie Green—The pre-digital research process  28:55 Conclusion    Robarts Library 50th anniversary exhibit: http://uoft.me/robarts50  Learn more about the pre-digital library What is a card catalogue? Library catalog - Wikipedia  What is the Kardex system for managing serials? https://lis.academy/management-of-library-and-information-centre/library-serials-management-periodicals-journals/#kardex-system   What is a microfiche/microfilm catalogue? https://lis.academy/organising-and-managing-information/microform-catalogues-space-saving-library-solutions/   What is a periodical (journal) index? What is a periodical index? - LibAnswers  What is the DIALOG search system? Milestones:DIALOG Online Search System, 1966 - Engineering and Technology History Wiki  What is a CD-ROM? CD-ROM - Wikipedia    Theme music:   Felipe Sarro, Bach-Siloti - Prelude BWV 855a  Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication    Sound credits:  2 08 Br Lib amb 5.wav by ERH -- https://freesound.org/s/51632/ -- License: Attribution 4.0      Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  3. Ep. 6 Facing Austerity

    Apr 27

    Ep. 6 Facing Austerity

    This episode of The Unquiet Library examines how decades of public funding cuts, neoliberal policy shifts, wage restraints, attrition, buyouts, and rapid technological change reshaped Robarts Library and culminated in major strikes in 1975 and 1991. Former Chief Librarian Carol Moore and retired Chief Administrative Officer Alfred Cheng describe repeated annual budget reductions, prioritization and fundraising, migration to digital services, consolidation of desks, and avoiding layoffs through attrition while protecting the acquisition budget. Union and management perspectives recount resentments over capped pay, anxieties about the threat of technology and inadequate training, grievances, picket-line tensions, damaged relationships, and a sense that “nobody won,” even as Robarts ultimately transformed into a modern digital library.  00:00 Opening with Alison Lang  02:02 Introduction   05:09 Carole Moore   10:46 Alfred Cheng   16:04 Dana Kuszelewski   20:18 Gabriela Bravo   25:19 Terrence Correia   31:04 John Iacono   33:36 Conclusion  Robarts Library 50th anniversary exhibit: http://uoft.me/robarts50    Learn more about CUPE 1230 and the 1991 strike  About CUPE 1230: Welcome to CUPE 1230 - CUPE 1230  CUPE 1230 1991 Strike Archival Materials: Flyers and brochures re CUPE strike, 1991 - Discover Archives  The University of Toronto Varsity newspaper coverage of the start of the strike, see March 4, 1991 issue: The Varsity, June 1990 - April 16, 1991 : University of Toronto : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive  doc-slotnick-cupe-local1230-strike-pamphlet-toronto-1975-OCR.pdf     Theme music:   Felipe Sarro, Bach-Siloti - Prelude BWV 855a  Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication    Sound credits:  2 08 Br Lib amb 5.wav by ERH -- https://freesound.org/s/51632/ -- License: Attribution 4.0  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
  4. Ep. 5 The Pink Collar

    Apr 13

    Ep. 5 The Pink Collar

    The gendered history of Robarts Library. This episode of The Unquiet Library: 50 Years of Robarts Library explores the gendered history of the John P. Robarts Research Library through 2021 oral-history interviews, framing librarianship as a “pink collar” profession dominated by women yet often led by men and undervalued in pay and influence. Kathleen Scheaffer explains that a 2019 gender salary-gap settlement for U of T librarians resulted from a University of Toronto Faculty Association (UTFA) grievance and created a joint working group to continually audit salaries and address systemic barriers across career stages. Retired librarians recount key struggles: Carole Moore describes the 1974 “reference revolution” sparked by Anne Woodsworth’s dismissal after seeking pay equity, leading to committees and more consultative management; Susan Johnston highlights safety and late-night working conditions; Debbie Green discusses undervalued service work, sexism, and pay differentials; and Evelyn Houtman describes the “glass escalator,” including interview dynamics and men advancing quickly in administration.    Index 00:00 Unquiet Library Episode 5: The Pink Collar 01:34 Introduction  04:49 Interview with Carole Moore  15:44 Interview with Susan Johnston  18:17 Interview with Debbie Green  25:09 Interview with Eveline Houtman   28:34 Conclusion  To learn more about the history of Robarts Library, visit uoft.me/robarts50. Follow us @unquietlibrarypodcast on Instagram, Blue Sky or TikTok for additional content and updates.      Additional Information about the 2019 gender-based salary gap settlement at U of T:  UTFA Instrumental in Securing 3.9% Salary Increase to Remedy Gender-Based Salary Gap for Female Librarians | University of Toronto Faculty Association  Gender-Based Salary Equity – Division of the Vice-President & Provost  Equitable compensation | CAUT   Pay Equity Act   Theme music:   Felipe Sarro, Bach-Siloti - Prelude BWV 855a  Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication    Sound credits:  2 08 Br Lib amb 5.wav by ERH -- https://freesound.org/s/51632/ -- License: Attribution 4.0  R120120_walking_through_building.wav by reinsamba -- https://freesound.org/s/142929/ -- License: Attribution 4.0      Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  5. Ep. 4 From Fort Book to the Heart of Campus

    Mar 30

    Ep. 4 From Fort Book to the Heart of Campus

    Host Jesse Carliner explores how the John P. Robarts Research Library at the University of Toronto evolved from an intimidating “Fort Book” into a more welcoming, student-centered hub through architectural changes, service innovations, and shifts in engagement culture. Retired U of T Libraries manager Gabriela Bravo describes efforts to improve navigation, promote reference help and instruction, and build a stronger service culture through staff training and morale initiatives. Retired reference librarian Eveline Houtman recounts how digital tools and end-user searching reshaped reference work, reducing reliance on imposing service desks and repositioning librarians as educators. Former head of user services Lari Langford highlights accessibility advances, from physical upgrades and a relocated entrance to the ACE accessible content ePortal and collaborative alternate-format services. Professor Emerita Lynn Howarth reflects on Robarts becoming a safe, inclusive space supporting students’ academic, physical, and emotional wellbeing, including 24/7 exam access.   00:00 Unquiet Library Episode 4: From Fort Book to the Heart of Campus   01:29 Introduction   02:19 Interview with Gabriela Bravo   10:49 Interview with Eveline Houtman   15:22 Interview with Lari Langford   25:45 Interview with Lynn Howarth   30:47 Conclusion    To learn more about the history of Robarts Library, visit uoft.me/robarts50. Follow us @unquietlibrarypodcast on Instagram, Blue Sky or TikTok for additional content and updates.    Additional Information:   Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility_for_Ontarians_with_Disabilities_Act   Accessible Content e-Portal (ACE): https://ace.scholarsportal.info/     Theme music:   Felipe Sarro, Bach-Siloti - Prelude BWV 855a  Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication    Sound credits:  analogue_phone_ring_004.flac by lorenzosu -- https://freesound.org/s/72064/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0    picht-type-writer2.flac by ondrosik -- https://freesound.org/s/203989/ -- License: Creative Commons 0  moretube.wav by NoiseCollector -- https://freesound.org/s/65325/ -- License: Attribution 3.0    2 08 Br Lib amb 5.wav by ERH -- https://freesound.org/s/51632/ -- License: Attribution 4.0    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  6. Ep. 3 The Gatekeepers

    Mar 16

    Ep. 3 The Gatekeepers

    Reference Service at Robarts Library in the 1970s and 1980s  Host Jesse Carliner explores Robarts Library’s intimidating reputation beyond its brutalist architecture, tracing how the building was intended as a formal, graduate student and faculty focused research facility until undergraduate protests led to full access when it opened in 1973. Through 2021 oral-history interviews, retired librarians Patricia Bellamy and Susan Johnston recall the busy 1970s–80s fourth-floor reference room—imposing service desks, constant phone questions, and pre-digital tools like card catalogs, microfiche, and rotating files—where librarians’ deep knowledge inspired awe but could also feel intimidating or even unwelcoming. Professor David W. Smith describes reliance on exceptionally skilled reference librarians, especially Mary McTavish, remembered as formidable and indispensable. Debbie Green, Eveline Houtman, and Suzanne Tabor discuss a perceived culture of elitism and hostility that gradually shifted toward friendlier, user-centered service.   Index  00:00 Unquiet Library Episode 3: The Gatekeepers  00:29 Marker Introduction  03:05 Marker Patricia Bellamy  10:14 Marker Susan Johnston  14:39 Marker Professor David Smith  18:47 Marker Mary McTavish  19:46 Marker Debbie Green  23:13 Marker Eveline Houtman  28:30 Marker Suzanne Tabur  32:48 Marker Conclusion  To learn more about the history of Robarts Library, visit uoft.me/robarts50. Follow us @unquietlibrarypodcast on Instagram, Blue Sky or TikTok for additional content and updates.  What is a library catalog? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_catalog What is a bibliography? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliography Who were the United Empire Loyalists? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Empire_Loyalist About Rosedale, Toronto: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosedale,_Toronto Theme music:   Felipe Sarro, Bach-Siloti - Prelude BWV 855a  Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication  Sound credits:  OFFICE SELF INKING STAMP ON PAPER 01.wav by sengjinn -- https://freesound.org/s/178650/ -- License: Attribution 4.0  escaleras_mecanicas_interior_-_metro.mp3 by sonsdebarcelona -- https://freesound.org/s/70146/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0    Price Tower Elevator 2 by Filmscore -- https://freesound.org/s/823076/ -- License: Creative Commons 0  Walking Up Stairs by qubodup -- https://freesound.org/s/210430/ -- License: Creative Commons 0      British Library sounds  2 08 Br Lib amb 5.wav by ERH -- https://freesound.org/s/51632/ -- License: Attribution 4.0  picht-type-writer2.flac by ondrosik -- https://freesound.org/s/203989/ -- License: Creative Commons 0    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  7. Ep. 2 A Brutalist Masterpiece?

    Feb 23

    Ep. 2 A Brutalist Masterpiece?

    This episode of 'The Unquiet Library' podcast delves into the historical context and architectural significance of the John P. Robarts Research Library at the University of Toronto. Hosted by Jesse Carliner, it features insights from architectural historian Mary Louise Lobsinger, preservation architect Michael McClelland, urbanist Sean Micallef, librarian and photographer Thomas Guignard, and Diamond Schmidt principal architect Gary McCluskie. The interviews explore the brutalist style of the building, its evolution in public perception, and its place in the cultural and educational landscape of Toronto.   The episode also touches on personal anecdotes, the broader impact of brutalism in Canada, and the growing appreciation for modernist architecture.   To learn more about the history of Robarts Library and see archival images, visit uoft.me/robarts50. Follow us @unquietlibrary on Instagram, Blue Sky or TikTok for additional content and updates.   00:00 A student’s opinion of Robarts Library  00:23 Introduction  01:24 Interview with Mary Louise Lobsinger  07:37 Is the architecture of Robarts Library Canadian?   08:50 Is Robarts Library a canonical building?   09:51 Interview with Michael McClelland  12:32 Interview with Shawn Micallef  15:22 Brutalism and higher education in Canada  17:28 Brutalism becomes fashionable again  20:01 Interview with Thomas Guignard   22:07 The beauty of brutalism  23:27 Interview with Gary McCluskie  25:57 Conclusion  Learn more about concrete architecture in Toronto:   McClelland, Michael, and Graeme Stewart. 2004. Concrete Toronto: A Guide to Concrete Architecture from the Fifties to the Seventies. 1st ed. Coach House Books: https://chbooks.com/Books/C/Concrete-Toronto3    Sound credits  Theme music:  Felipe Sarro, Bach-Siloti - Prelude BWV 855a  Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication  Sound effects  120120_walking_through_building.wav by reinsamba -- https://freesound.org/s/142929/ -- License: Attribution 4.0  littleitaly.mp3 by salgoodsam -- https://freesound.org/s/54282/ -- License: Attribution 4.0  escalator-close.wav by sarana -- https://freesound.org/s/81831/ -- License: Attribution 4.0    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  8. Ep. 1 Toronto's Ugliest Building?

    Feb 23

    Ep. 1 Toronto's Ugliest Building?

    This episode of 'The Unquiet Library' podcast explores the criticisms and emotional reactions surrounding the John P. Robarts Research Library—an iconic and controversial brutalist structure in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Host Jesse Carliner introduces its massive scale and unique design, which has drawn both admiration and ire since its opening in 1973.   Featuring experts urbanist Shawn Micallef, architectural historian Mary Louise Lobsinger, preservation architect Michael McClelland, and Diamond Schmidt principal architect Gary McCluskie, the episode delves into themes of architectural brutalism, historical context, and the library's profound impact on Toronto’s cultural and architectural landscape.   The episode also addresses the visceral reactions people have towards the building, debates on whether it is ugly or sublime, and the architectural significance of its design.    00:00 One student’s opinion  00:23 Introduction  00:44 About Robarts Library  01:58 Today’s episode  02:21 Interview with Shawn Micallef  11:01 Interview with Mary Louise Lobsinger  17:00 Interview with Gary McCLuskie  20:51 Interview with Michael McClelland  26:50 Is Robarts Library ugly?  26:52 Conclusion  To learn more about the history of Robarts Library, visit uoft.me/robarts50. Follow us @unquietlibrarypodcast on Instagram, Blue Sky or TikTok for additional content and updates.    Learn more about concrete architecture in Toronto:   McClelland, Michael, and Graeme Stewart. 2004. Concrete Toronto: A Guide to Concrete Architecture from the Fifties to the Seventies. 1st ed. Coach House Books: https://chbooks.com/Books/C/Concrete-Toronto3  Learn about the architect Ron Thom here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Thom Learn about Massey College, designed by Rom Thom here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massey_College,_Toronto   Theme music:   Felipe Sarro, Bach-Siloti - Prelude BWV 855a  Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication    Sound credits:  yonge_street_02.flac by tim.kahn -- https://freesound.org/s/35556/ -- License: Attribution 4.0  escaleras_mecanicas_interior_-_metro.mp3 by sonsdebarcelona -- https://freesound.org/s/70146/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0    2 08 Br Lib amb 5.wav by ERH -- https://freesound.org/s/51632/ -- License: Attribution 4.0      Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min

  9. Trailer

    The Unquiet Library Trailer

    Welcome to The Unquiet Library: Fifty years of Robarts Library, a podcast exploring the John P. Robarts Research Library at the University of Toronto—an iconic, debated, and often misunderstood building that has stood at the heart of Canada’s largest university for 50 years. Through interviews with architects, librarians, staff, administrators, alumni, and faculty, the series goes behind the scenes of “Fort Book” to uncover the social, political, and architectural forces behind its history.   For more on Robarts history and to see archival images visit uoft.me/robarts50, and follow @unquietlibrary on Instagram, Blue Sky, or TikTok for additional content and updates.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    2 min

Trailer

About

The Unquiet Library: Fifty Years of Robarts Library is an audio documentary series uncovering the history, controversies, and cultural legacy of the University of Toronto’s John P. Robarts Research Library—one of Toronto’s most recognizable Brutalist landmarks. Hosted by Jesse Carliner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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