Prior to 1963, all library departments and divisions submitted monthly and annual reports to the Librarian. When an Associate Librarian for Library Operations was appointed in 1963, reports were directed to that office.

Bound narrative and statistical reports by the Librarian and department and division heads, covering a broad range of library activities, including acquisitions, binding, cataloguing, classification, correspondence, readers, interlibrary loan, personnel changes, library size, donors, etc. Over the years reports vary in format and content. From 1890 until 1906, when the Medical Department was transferred to the John Crerar Library, Magnus Morenius prepared annual and special reports regarding that Department and the Senn Collection.

Departmental reports, 1909-1921, are also located in Record Group 03/20/01, Subject Files. Reports are also located in the Record Groups for various departments in the Library, e.g., Record Groups 09-12. For Annual reports from 1962 to present, see NL Archives 03/20/20, Annual/Biennial Reports.