Rare Books and Special Collections, McLennan Library
Schulich Library of Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Engineering
Since 1996, the Library Improvement Fund (LIF) has invested in the most important Library needs of the undergraduate student body in order to enrich the student academic experience. As the Library Improvement Fund continues to grow and support projects that meet the needs of students, we want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributes to making these initiatives possible. Your ongoing support through student fees ensures that McGill’s libraries remain vibrant, inclusive, and innovative spaces for learning and discovery.
If you have any questions about the fund, the proposal process, or SSMU’s involvement with the McGill Library, please contact us.
About us
Thanks to the SSMU-LIF, the Libraries are able to hire between 30 and 40 students throughout the Fall and Winter terms. Additionally, between 10 and 15 students are hired to work on special projects over the summer months.On average, SSMU LIF covers the salaries of about 70% of the library’s student employees.
The Fund also proudly supports extended Library hours during Midterms and Finals, ensuring students have access to study spaces when they need them most.
What we do
In an effort to provide more opportunities for project development, the Library Improvement Fund has split into two allocations per academic year: one in the Fall, and one in the Winter semester.The Fund is administered by the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and is made up of a fee contribution of $8.50 per full-time students and $4.25 per part-time students each semester, matched equally by alumni donors. For more information on the make-up of the Fund and the Library Improvement Fund Committee (LIFC), please see the SSMU University Affairs Portfolio By-Law Book
Projects
Over the years, LIF has been involved in diverse projects to improve the livelihoods of the student body:
