Having opened with pneumatic tubes to deliver book requests to the stacks and a corresponding elevator system to deliver the requested books to readers, Robarts Library has always been a leading-edge research library with state-of-the-art services and technology. From the beginning it was planned that the library would have an electronic catalogue, but it took time for the technology to catch up and allow the realization of this vision.

Library workers at Robarts were among the earliest adopters of the machine-readable format for catalogue records, which had gained popularity in the early 1970s. The MAchine-Readable Catalogue (MARC) standard facilitated the creation of records that could be read by computers and shared among libraries. When Robarts opened in 1973, the use of MARC records for new titles had become the standard for the Cataloguing Department — a major shift from the traditional paper card cataloguing process. The department collaborated with forward-thinking computer scientists at the University of Toronto (U of T) to modernize the catalogue, notably led by Professor C. C. (Kelly) Gotlieb. As the Director of the Institute of Computer Science, Gotlieb helped the library acquire its first computer in 1969. Through this partnership Robarts established an early tradition of staying at the forefront of technology and library services.

The push to automate library services continued during the 1970s, driven by the library's strong ties to computer science research at U of T and its significant leadership role within the North American library community.

Library users continued to search the collection on microfiche (a type of microform) using the readers in the reference areas of the library until 1987, when 'Felix', the first online catalogue was launched. Felix, a text-based electronic catalogue, allowed patrons to search by author or title, which displayed brief records for each title in the library. The electronic interface resembled cards from a traditional catalogue. By 1988, Felix was available at all libraries on campus via a dial-up connection, but its catalogue records were static and needed to be edited offline, limiting its responsiveness to updates.

Felix was eventually replaced by the Data Research Associates (DRA) catalogue in the early 1990s, a more dynamic cataloguing system. In 2002, the library adopted Sirsi, an advanced cataloguing program which included functions such as the ability to review loans and place holds online, ushering in online services for users. Sirsi accommodated natural language web-style searches — a huge leap from the clunky Boolean search required in older systems. Sirsi served the library for nearly 20 years, until a new platform, Alma-Primo, dubbed LibrarySearch, was launched in 2021.

In the early days of computing and technology in the library, computer terminals were reserved for staff use only. Library patrons needed to ask staff to perform catalogue and database searches on their behalf. There was even a separate department responsible for making photocopies for users. As computers and other technological equipment became more widely available, Robarts Library began to provide computer access and self-service options, and to support users with technology.

In 1985 the Centre for Computing in the Humanities (CCH) opened on the fourteenth floor of Robarts. Founded by U of T Professor Emeritus Ian Lancashire, in partnership with IBM Canada Limited and the Centre for Mechanical Engineering, the CCH aimed to introduce academics and humanities researchers to computing, marking the beginning of digital humanities in the library. The opening of the CCH demonstrated Robarts' commitment to making technological resources more available to library users and signalled the beginning of broader access to technology in the library.

In response to growing demand for computer access, the library opened the Scotiabank Information Commons in 1995, followed by the New Media Suites and Digital Studio in 1999. The Suites were equipped with digital audio and video equipment, while the Digital Studio had high-end scanners for text, images and film, and professional graphic design software.

As Robarts Library enters its next 50 years, it continues to innovate and respond to technological change, for instance, incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into library operations, considering AI's implications for library services and resources, and considering how the library can best support research, teaching and learning now and in the future.