Welcome to the Great Library! We are pleased to make a substantial portion of our collections and spaces available to members of the public for legal research. When you come to the Great Library in person, you will have access to its full range of print resources. In addition, the library’s catalogue, blog posts, research guides and database of continuing professional development programs are freely available online. Please note that, while library staff cannot provide research assistance to the public, we can direct you to appropriate resources, including but not limited to:
Search the library’s holdings to discover items that may help with your research. The catalogue can be accessed on the Great Library’s homepage by searching under the “Everything” tab. You can also use InfoLocate’s browse function to find materials.
When on site, you can access the library’s vast print collection, which contains legal encyclopedias and dictionaries, law books and journals, court forms and sample documents, and many other items. You are welcome to use the photocopiers in the library’s photocopy room to make limited copies.
There are directional guides, arranged by subject, posted throughout the library that will help you find things, and we are always available to assist if needed.
CPD materials are produced by legal professionals for legal professionals. They serve as practical primers for specific legal topics and can also highlight the basic principles of a legal issue.
All CPD programs produced by the Law Society of Ontario have been digitized from 2004 onwards and can be freely accessed through the AccessCLE database. Alternatively, use the CPD tab on the library’s homepage to search for CPD articles, or use the "browse by topic" link.
Library staff have created several research guides to help you find specific types of material. From how to use InfoLocate, to tips on where to find forms and precedents, to guidance on finding legislation online, these guides can help jump start your research.
The library’s Know How blog contains invaluable tips on how to conduct legal research, where to find online materials and tools, how to perform historical legislative research, and more.
You may also want to refer to our research guide for self-represented litigants, which lists links to resources that offer free or subsidized legal information and services. This indispensable tool will advise you of websites and organizations to help you make more informed decisions about your legal situation. It includes sections on general law, as well as family and housing law matters.
Please note that while we strive to provide valuable resources, we cannot guarantee the accuracy, validity, timeliness or completeness of any information on any website within this guide. Inclusion of a website in the guide does not constitute an affiliation with the Great Library, or an endorsement by the Great Library of the website or its operator.
The Great Library is open to public users Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. You can enter Osgoode Hall through either the main entrance north of Queen Street West, or through the Law Society of Ontario entrance on the east side of the building, facing Nathan Phillips Square. See Library rules for public users for specific guidelines.