Library (COVID-19) Services Update

Summer service summary
Notice of disruptions

Last Updated

Tab was last updated: July 20, 2022

Update on Library Services for Summer 2022

The Library has returned to normal summer operations at its Waterloo and Kitchener campuses. The Brantford Public Library will continue to deliver book requests and related services on the Brantford campus for the summer.

Key Highlights

All services in the Library continue to be guided by Laurier’s health and safety protocols and policies.

The following service elements will apply for the summer:

  • Users entering the Library are no longer required to wear a face covering during their visits
  • Library users continue to be able to request items in Omni for pick up in Waterloo and at Kitchener at the service desks
  • Group study rooms are available for booking by groups of users
  • Access to Archives and Special Collections will be available by appointment only
  • Library will provide access to individual study rooms through booking system with priority booking for students registered with the Accessible Learning Centre (ALC)
  • Individual study rooms for all students are available on the 3rd floor. Reservation required
  • Study space at the Brantford DLLC is available, but DLLC Library services will not be available until further notice
  • Library facilities and services are now open to Laurier alumni and community borrowers

Library Service Details

In-Building and In-Person Services

Library Building Hours
Waterloo Campus Library
Kitchener Faculty of Social Work Library
  • Thursdays and Friday, 10 am to 2 pm (see following note)

Note: Access to the FSW Kitchener campus is limited to current students, faculty and staff registered in Social Work.

Students may access the Kitchener Faculty of Social Work library for study space at all other times the building is open by One Card swipe.

Brantford (Book borrowing services provided at Brantford Public Library Main Branch)
  • Students can study in the DLLC
  • Game Collection is currently not available
  • Brantford Public Library (BPL) will continue to provide access to print collections and will offer borrowing services for Laurier Brantford users based on BPL protocols
  • See BPL websitefor Main Branch service hours
Student Study Space

For information on Library study rooms and other areas, please see Study areas

Course Reserves

Students can access a wide variety of course materials (scanned journal articles and book chapters, eBook chapters, streaming audio/video, etc.) through the Library's ARES online reserve system from the Library homepage or within MyLearningSpace.

For information about course readings, see https://library.wlu.ca/services/reserves

Access and Circulation of Print Library Materials

Access to book stacks at the Waterloo campus and Kitchener Faculty of Social Work libraries is open including browsing and direct borrowing. Users can request items for pick up at the Waterloo campus library (main service desk) or Faculty of Social Work library (user services desk). Brantford Public Library will provide borrowing services for Laurier Brantford users.

Additional Service Details
  • Omni and interlibrary loan (ILL) requests will be available for pick up at the service desk at the Waterloo campus library, the Kitchener Faculty of Social Work library, and the Brantford Public Library
  • Access to materials from the fourth floor ensemble room (scores and videos) will be available by request to be picked up from the main floor service desk
  • For users who are not able to come to campus, the Library will continue to offer a direct to home mail service (Mail on Demand, see below)
Omni Service Enhancements (Scan on Demand, Mail on Demand)

The Library offers several innovative services developed to improve user access to our physical collections.

Scan on Demand: Users can request scans of print book chapters or single journal articles held at the Laurier Library Waterloo campus. Scanned items will be delivered via email. For more details, visit the Scan on Demand service page.

Mail on Demand: Users can request books and other print items from Laurier and all partner Libraries through Omni for delivery by mail. The Library will mail your requested items to you with return postage included. For instructions on how to use it, visit the Mail on Demand service page.

Archives and Special Collections

The Archives and Special Collections is open for research appointments only from Mondays to Friday 10 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 4 pm

Robert Langen Art Gallery

The Robert Langen Art Gallery is currently closed for the summer

The Reconnection, Chain Reaction, 2020-2021, Chain Reactions, 2021-2022, and LIFT Series Face Lift exhibitions are available online.

Please email RLAG@wlu.ca with any questions.

Library Makerspace

The physical Library Makerspace is now open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm.

No appointments are necessary and there is no room capacity limit

Maker Monday is now in-person only, virtual is discontinued

Online/Virtual Services

Ask Us Virtual Chat Service

The virtual research support service Ask Us will continue to be available for Laurier users during the virtual chat service hours

Subject Liaison Librarian Support

Through summer 2022, Subject Liaison Librarians will provide support primarily online.

Each academic program has a librarian who manages the collections and provides research help and teaching support on research and information management skills using the Library. A listing of Subject Librarians is available on the Library’s website.

Liaison Librarians provide a variety of support services to faculty including:

  • Providing research help students and faculty
  • Selecting & managing information resources across disciplines
  • Creating online course and subject guides
  • Supporting teaching and learning by providing instruction on Research skills
  • Integrating research content within MyLearningSpace

Support for Accessibility/Students with Disabilities

The Library provides a number of targeted services to support students registered with Accessible Learning Centre (ALC) to remove barriers, and allow opportunities for equal participation.

The Library provides a number of individual study rooms for the use of (ALC) registered students.

The Library also provides alternative accessible formats with visual or perceptual disabilities through our scanned book services (ACE and HathiTrust Accessible texts services) and our in-house adaptable technology and software services.

For further information, see the Library’s Accessible services listing.

Last updated

Tab was last updated: July 15, 2022

Notices of service disruptions

Accessible Content ePlatform

Access to the physical collections

  • Description: Access to the Gaming library in the DLLC is restricted
  • Reason: Health & safety

Alternative: None

  • Duration: TBD

Noise in Waterloo Campus Library

  • Description: Noise on 2nd floor and some upper floors
  • Reason: Repair to water system
  • Alternatives: There will be other spaces in library where noise may be less
  • Duration: Approximately 8 weeks

Access to physical buildings

Hours
  • Description:
    • Kitchener Social Work library is open Thursday and Fridays from 10 am to 2 pm.
    • At the Brantford Campus
      • The Digital Library and Learning Commons and game collection is also closed
      • See the Brantford Public Library services page for service hours
  • Reason:
    • Other hours are limited due to health and safety
  • Alternatives:
    • Virtual library services are available, such as by emailing or virtual meetings with subject librarians
    • Books and other circulating items can be requested through Books to Go and picked up at the Waterloo campus library and the Brantford Public Library
  • Duration:

Archives research appointments

  • Description
  • Reason:
    • Health and safety
  • Alternative
    • Staff continue to provide some virtual reference services, on-demand scanning services and answer questions about supports for classes and research
  • Duration:
    • Unknown

    Borrowing from Laurier Library’s games collections

    • Description:
      • Borrowing from the Gaming collection is not active
    • Reason: To protect the health and safety of library users and staff
    • Alternatives:
      • None identified yet
    • Duration: To be determined

    Course readings: Print reserves

    • Description: Library print reserves are not currently accessible at our libraries
    • Reason: To protect the health and safety of library users and staff
    • Alternatives: Electronic course reserves
    • Duration: To be determined

    In-class library instruction

    In-person/in-library research appointments

    • Description: Librarians and staff are currently not available for in-person/in-library consultation on research
    • Reason: Health and safety
    • Alternative:
      • Virtual library services are available, such as by emailing or virtual meetings with subject librarians
      • Online chat is available for questions too
    • Duration: To be determined

    Library Makerspace

    • Description: The Library Makerspace is closed until July 25, 2022
    • Reason:
    • Alternatives: None identified
    • Duration: July 18 to July 24, 2022
    • Description: The Library Makerspace's virtual Maker Monday is no longer active
    • Reason: Service no longer offered
    • Alternatives: None identified
    • Duration: Going forward

    Library spaces for relaxing and respite

    • Description: The regular library spaces for relaxing and respite (comfy chairs) are not available
    • Reason: To protect the health and safety of library users and staff
    • Alternatives:
      • None identified
    • Duration: To be determined

    Phone help

    Robert Langen Art Gallery and exhibitions

    • Description:
      • For Laurier faculty, students, and staff, the gallery is open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm
      • For visitors not from Laurier, the Gallery is open by appointment only. For more information email: RLAG@wlu.ca
    • Reason:
      • Current level of restrictions is for health and safety reasons
    • Alternatives:
    • Duration: To be determined

    Study space

    Waterloo campus library
    • Description
      • Use of the individual study rooms by PhD students is not available
      • Use of the 3rd floor individual study rooms is not available for reservations
      • Description of accessible software in the individual study rooms at the Waterloo campus library is not available
    • Reason
      • A review of the accessible software in the individual study rooms is pending work assignment by trained staff
    • Alternatives
      • To be determined
    • Duration
      • To be determined
    Brantford Digital Library and Learning Commons
    • Description
      • The group study room in the DLLC can not be reserved
    • Reason
    • Alternatives
      • General study space in the DLLC is available
    • Duration
      • To be determine
    Kitchener Faculty of Social Work library
    • Description
      • Access to the Kitchener Faculty of Social Work library for study spaces or for study rooms for individual use is only available Thursday to Friday, 10 am to 2 pm
    • Reason
      • Health and safety
    • Alternatives
      • None
    • Duration
      • To be determined

      Restored services

      Access to the physical buildings for studying

      Waterloo campus library
      • Front door access to the Waterloo campus library no longer requires a OneCard
      • Waterloo campus library is now open according to the Waterloo building hours calendar
      • Access to the Waterloo campus library's main floor (floor 2) through 7 are open
      • The 3rd floor is now open to students for general study areas
      • Graduate student commons on the 3rd floor is now open
      • Students are permitted to work in groups
      • Group study rooms on floors 4 through 7 are now available for group study
      • Individual study room use on floors 4 through 7 for students registered with the Accessible Learning Centre are reopened
      • Individual study rooms for all students is available on the 3rd floor
      • Food and drink are allowed, following the guideline of removing mask briefly for eating or drinking
      • See description of access to Waterloo campus library space
      Kitchener Faculty of Social Work library
      Brantford Digital Library and Learning Commons

      Access to the physical collections

      • Access to the Waterloo campus library collections is open on the main floor (floor 2) and floors 4 through 7
      • Access to the Kitchener Faculty of Social Work Library is open Thursday and Friday 10 am to 2 pm
      • Appointments to use the microform on the third floor of the Waterloo campus library is no longer required
      • See description of restored services tabs/links

      Borrowing services

      Picking up materials
      • Items requested through Omni or through interlibrary loan (ILL) are now available for pickup at the Waterloo Campus Library, the Kitchener Faculty of Social Work Library, and the Brantford Public Library.
      Returning materials
      • Items can be returned at the Waterloo Campus Library, the Kitchener Faculty of Social Work Library, and the Brantford Public Library.

      Borrowing Service

      Borrowing from the University of Guelph and the University of Waterloo
      • Description: Borrowing and lending of print books and materials has been restored between Laurier and the University of Guelph and the University of Waterloo
      Borrowing from other Ontario university libraries
      • Description: Borrowing and lending of print books and materials has also been restored between Laurier and other Ontario university libraries, beyond the University of Waterloo and the University of Guelph

      Pickup and Return Service

      Waterloo Campus Library
      • Items ordered through Omni or interlibrary loan (ILL) can be picked up and returned at the Waterloo Campus Library
      Kitchener Faculty of Social Work Library
      • Items ordered through Omni or interlibrary loan (ILL) can be picked up outside of staffed hours
      • Self-service pickup is available for users during non-staffed hours
      Brantford Campus
      • Items ordered through Omni or interlibrary loan (ILL) can be picked up at and returned to the Brantford Public Library

      Laurier Archives and Special Collections

      • Bookable, onsite research appointments for Laurier faculty, students, and the community with the Laurier Archive has been restored, within the limits of university health and safety policies
      • More information on bookable research appointments can be found on the Laurier Archives page

      Library Makerspace

      • The physical Library Makerspace is now open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 am to noon and then 1 pm to 4 pm
      • No appointments are required
      • No room capacity
      • Maker Monday is now in-person only

      Arts and Culture

      Robert Langen Art Gallery
      • Description:
        • Robert Langen Art Gallery is open to faculty, students, and staff, Monday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm, closed 1 pm to 2 pm for health and safety purposes.
        • Robert Langen Art Gallery (RLAG), DIY artist toolkits distribution is restored