Research Resources
A curated directory of institutions, databases, and reference tools assembled for rare book enthusiasts, researchers, and collectors.
Old Favorites Book Shop has always been a place where serious collectors and curious readers could find guidance alongside books. This directory gathers the most useful resources we know of — from national library catalogues to specialist bibliographic databases — to help you research, identify, and locate rare and antiquarian books.
Bibliographic Databases & Catalogues
Search millions of rare, antiquarian, and out-of-print titles across global dealer networks and library holdings.
The world's largest marketplace for rare, used, and out-of-print books. Old Favorites' active inventory is listed here.
www.abebooks.comSearch the collections of thousands of libraries worldwide to locate specific editions and holdings.
www.worldcat.orgUnion catalogue of major UK and Irish research library holdings, invaluable for British and Commonwealth imprints.
copac.jisc.ac.ukProfessional association for rare book librarians; includes provenance research tools and controlled vocabularies.
rbms.infoCanadian Libraries & Archives
National and provincial institutions holding significant collections of Canadiana, historical documents, and rare imprints.
Canada's national memory institution. Holds extensive collections of Canadiana, government records, and historical publications.
www.bac-lac.gc.caRare books, manuscripts, maps, and Toronto history materials including the Baldwin Collection.
www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/research-and-reference/special-collections/One of Canada's largest research library systems, with strong holdings in humanities and rare materials.
onesearch.library.utoronto.caProvincial archives holding records, maps, photographs, and documents relating to Ontario history.
www.archives.gov.on.caBook Valuation & Identification
Tools and references for identifying editions, assessing condition, and researching market values.
Aggregates listings from multiple dealers to give a real-time picture of market pricing for specific editions.
www.bookfinder.comSearches rare book dealers and auction records simultaneously — excellent for establishing value and locating copies.
www.vialibri.netAuction records database covering decades of rare book sales at major houses worldwide.
www.rarebookhub.comThe global professional body for antiquarian booksellers; member directory and standards for the trade.
www.ilab.orgDigitized Historical Collections
Free online access to digitized rare books, newspapers, and historical documents.
Millions of digitized books, periodicals, and ephemera freely available to read online or download.
archive.org/details/textsA partnership of research institutions offering access to millions of digitized volumes from major university libraries.
www.hathitrust.orgDigitized Canadian historical publications from the 17th century onward, including newspapers, government documents, and monographs.
www.canadiana.caOver 70,000 free eBooks, primarily works whose copyright has expired — useful for verifying texts and early editions.
www.gutenberg.orgCollector Associations & Trade Organizations
Professional bodies, collector societies, and trade organizations for the antiquarian book world.
The national association of Canadian antiquarian booksellers, with a member directory and code of ethics.
www.abac.orgThe leading American trade association; hosts major book fairs and maintains a searchable member catalogue.
www.abaa.orgPromotes the study of books and manuscripts in Canada; publishes Papers of the Bibliographical Society of Canada.
www.bscan.caAmerica's oldest and largest bibliophilic society, based in New York; exhibitions, lectures, and publications.
www.grolierclub.orgVideos Worth Watching
A growing collection of films, documentaries, and tutorials for collectors, restorers, and anyone who loves books.
Restoring Old Books
A fascinating look at the craft of book restoration — repairing spines, rebinding, and bringing damaged volumes back to life. Essential viewing for collectors and anyone who cares for old books.
How to Fix Old Books
A practical guide to repairing damaged and worn books at home — covering common fixes for loose pages, broken hinges, and deteriorating covers.
How to Care for Old Books
Expert advice on storing, handling, and preserving old books — from controlling humidity and light exposure to proper shelving and cleaning techniques.
How to Value Old Books
A practical introduction to assessing the value of old and antiquarian books — covering edition identification, condition grading, rarity, and where to research current market prices.
Kurt Vonnegut's Nissan Commercial — Filmed at Old Favorites
A rare piece of literary and commercial history: Kurt Vonnegut filmed this Nissan advertisement at the Old Favorites Book Shop Greenriver location. A remarkable cameo for one of Toronto's most beloved bookshops.
The Last Stand — A Film About the Pickering Airport Lands
A documentary about the Pickering Airport lands — the vast tract of farmland expropriated by the federal government in the 1970s and never developed. A story of displacement, resistance, and the long fight to preserve one of Ontario's most contested landscapes.
This directory will grow as the archive expands. If you know of a resource that belongs here, or if you are researching a title that once passed through Old Favorites, we welcome your inquiry.