Seneca Libraries and Study Rooms: Booking Rules, Borrowing and Access
Seneca has libraries at Newnham, King and Seneca@York. Each has bookable group rooms and a quiet study zone.
Sources checked September 29, 2026. View sources
Three campus libraries
Seneca Libraries lists locations at Newnham (1750 Finch Ave. East), King (13990 Dufferin Street) and Seneca@York (70 The Pond Road). Opening hours change by term and holiday, so use the live hours page rather than a saved copy.
On September 29, 2026, the study room page carried a notice that construction at Seneca@York may cause more noise and dust in that library. If you need calm, check the notice before you go.
Booking a study room
You can book study rooms at the King, Newnham and Seneca@York libraries through each campus's booking page. The rules below apply to every campus.
Newnham and Seneca@York libraries also have accessible group study rooms. All Seneca libraries have designated quiet study zones.
- Up to six students can use one room.
- Each student can book up to two hours a day.
- You can book up to seven days ahead.
- You have 10 minutes to arrive. After that, any student can use the room for the rest of the hour.
Borrowing books and returning them
You borrow with a valid OneCard and use online resources with your Seneca login. General collection items go out for two weeks. Reference material stays in the library.
You can return books to any Seneca campus library. New students can start borrowing on the first day of term.
| Rule | What Seneca Libraries says |
|---|---|
| Loan period | Two weeks for the general collection. High-demand items are shorter. |
| How many items | Up to 20 at a time, and up to 3 books on one subject |
| Renewals | Unlimited, unless someone has placed a hold or you owe fees |
| Overdue items | An item is treated as lost 8 weeks after its due date. Your library account and student record are then blocked until you pay the replacement fee. |
| Lost item fees | Market replacement cost plus a $10 processing fee, which isn't refunded even if the item turns up |
Getting books Seneca doesn't have
Interlibrary loans usually take 7 to 15 days. Staff look for a free loan first. If there isn't one, loans typically cost $5 to $25, and staff confirm the price with you before ordering.
You can have up to 3 books and 4 articles requested at once. Current Seneca students can also borrow directly from other Ontario colleges under a shared agreement. Students in joint Seneca and York University programs can borrow directly from York.
Accessible spaces and support
All Seneca libraries have automatic doors, visual and audio fire alarms, and wheelchair-accessible workstations with 28 inches (71 cm) of clearance. Self-checkout kiosks can be raised or lowered.
The Assistive Technology room is in the Newnham Computing Commons, and IT Services answers questions about it. You can book time with an Assistive Technologist through Accessible Learning Services. If you have an accommodation, library staff can fetch print items from the shelves between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Food, help and research appointments
Food and drink are allowed in Seneca libraries. You're expected to clean up and report spills to staff.
For help, use the library's live chat through The Service Hub or email library@senecapolytechnic.ca. You can also book a virtual research and citation appointment, and the library's Sandbox has studios with digital media equipment and software.
Keep exploring
Sources and updates
This independent guide summarizes the official information linked below. Prices, dates, hours and access rules can change; check the relevant Seneca page before making a decision.
- Seneca Libraries: home
- Seneca Libraries: current hours
- Seneca Libraries: Contact Us and locations
- Seneca Libraries: Book a Study Room
- Seneca Libraries: Borrower Services Guidelines
- Seneca Libraries: Accessibility at Campus Libraries
- Seneca Libraries: Food and Drink Guidelines
- Seneca Libraries: Sandbox Guidelines