Playtime at Robarts Library: Opening a family-friendly study space at the University of Toronto

Abstract

If academic libraries are sincere about their commitment to equity and inclusion, they must become more accessible for student parents—a large and underserved population whose members may also have other marginalized identities. Although accommodating children may seem to be outside the scope of academic libraries’ mandate, if we are to fully support research and learning on campus, we must try to reduce obstacles for parenting students however we can, including welcoming their children into our libraries. To address this need, the University of Toronto Libraries recently opened Canada’s first academic library family-friendly study space.