Providence Virtual Library: About Us

Unity Health Toronto Libraries

The libraries of Unity Health Toronto (Kathleen Meagher Health Sciences Library in the Knowledge Centre at Providence Healthcare, The George Pennal Library at St. Joseph’s Heath Centre and the Scotiabank Health Sciences Library at St. Michael’s Hospital) are integrating into one library service. 

Library Mission

• To support education, research and informed decision making in patient care by providing high-quality integrated knowledge-based health information to our physicians, staff and students affiliated with the Hospital.
• To promote and support the goals and objectives of Unity Health Toronto and foster our culture of discovery and innovation.

Hours

Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Staffed hours: Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At all other times, call (416) 864-5059 to speak with staff. 

All Providence Healthcare staff have 24/7 badge access, but volunteers and students do not at the moment. 

Location

Kathleen Meagher Health Sciences Library
BMO Resource Centre, Knowledge Centre, Room A 221
Providence Healthcare
3276 St Clair Ave E, Toronto, ON M1L 1W1

We are located in the Knowledge Centre on the main floor of Providence Healthcare (main hospital entrance) in the A Wing in room A 221. 

Providence Health Care map 

Access

The Kathleen Meagher Health Sciences Library welcomes Providence physicians, staff, students and volunteers, and these individuals must have their Providence Hospital Photo ID clearly displayed at all times. The Library is not open to the general public.

Off-Site Access 

The FortiClient VPN is a new method Unity Health Toronto employees can use to gain off-site access to library e-resouces. Please see IT's Staff Remote Access website for details. 

After-Hours Access

The Library space is also accessible after-hours and on weekends for staff and students with security access to Providence Health Care

Borrowing

Library cards give you access to all library resources and those of other libraries through our Interlibrary Loan service. Please fill out our Borrower Registration Form.

Loan Periods

• Books - 2 weeks
• Journals - 1 week
  • Current Issue: Non-circulating
• Reference Books: Non-circulating
• No overdue Fines

Renewals

Books and journals may be renewed three times if there are no requests by another client. Email library.phc@unityhealth.to or call 416-285-3666 x 4300 to renew items on your library account.

Returns

You may return items to the Library during open hours (8AM to 6PM, Monday to Friday) to the return bin. You may also return your items when the Library is closed; to do so let yourself in with your ID badge and place the items in the return bin, and library staff will properly discharge it when they Library opens.

Donations

The Kathleen Meagher Health Sciences Library is grateful for donations of books and journals, however our shelving and storage space is limited. Please contact us before you donate so we can properly determine whether or not we are able to add your items to our collection.

To donate materials contact us at library@providence.on.ca or call 416-285-3666 x 4300. Please prepare a list of the materials for donation as follows:

• Books (less than 5 years old only)
  • Title
  • Author
  • Publication year
• Journals
  • Titles
  • Year ranges and/or volumes/issues 

We also have a list of charities accepting items. Contact us for details. If accepted, donations become the property of the Kathleen Meagher Health Sciences Library.

WiFi

Wireless internet hot spots are available throughout Providence for patients, families and guests while at Providence. To access the service, connect to Providence Guest - no password required.

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