Library (COVID-19) Services Update

Access to library spaces
Access to collections
Library Services
Notice of disruptions

Last updated

Tab was last updated: June 22nd, 2021

Building access

Effective Monday April 5th, all campus library spaces and the Laurier Archives and Special Collections will be closed.

Cultural Programs

The Library published a compilation video called Love in the Time of COVID. Along with an audio described video for the blind and visually impaired and closed captions for the Deaf and hard of hearing on both videos, this video features creative submissions from more than 20 local arts organization.

Laurier Archives and Special Collections

Starting Monday April 5th, bookable research appointments for the Archives and Special Collections are not available. The Library will provide updates on this service in the future.

Staff are working remotely and can provide some virtual reference services, on-demand scanning services and answer questions about supports for classes and research. Please see the Laurier Archives Research collections and University Archives websites to research our holdings online. Please contact the Laurier Archives and Special Collections by email or by email form.

Library Makerspace

The Library Makerspace is currently available with online services only for the Laurier community. However, Virtual Maker Mondays drop-in sessions are running from 1pm to 4pm each week. Email Darin White for the Zoom link. A Facebook group has been set up for sharing projects and connecting with other makers.

If you'd like to consult on a maker project, finding community maker resources, or just ask a question, email Darin White.

Gallery space and exhibitions: The Robert Langen Art Gallery and in-building exhibitions are currently not available. However, the Reconnection and LIFT Serie's Face Lift exhibitions are available online.

DIY Artists Toolkits: The distribution of Robert Langen Art Gallery's DIY Artist Toolkits distribution are temporarily suspended.

Study Spaces

Starting Monday April 5, bookable study space appointments for the Laurier Library are not available. The Library will provide updates on this service in future.

Last Updated

This tab was last updated: June 22nd, 2021

Accessible Content ePlatform (ACE)

The ACE service, which provides alternate formats of printed books, is currently operational. Due to COVID-related operational restrictions, workflows have been modified to accommodate safety protocols and response times may be slower. Students with ACE tokens can browse materials currently digitized and contained in the ACE repository. Students can also make a request to access an alternative format, digital version of items not found in the repository.

The ACE service is currently limited to books already available in the e-portal or those items available through one of the University of Toronto libraries participating in curbside pick up. If an item is not available through ACE, Library staff will attempt to locate it using a number of other options, including the HathiTrust Accessible Text Service.

For more information, please contact the Library’s Accessibility staff.

Access to Online Resources

Databases and Electronic Collections

Laurier Library has a rich collection of online databases, eBooks, eJournals, and other digital materials to support your teaching, learning, and research throughout the mandated closure of our library locations. These include:

Hathi Trust Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS)

Wilfrid Laurier University is a member of the HathiTrust and has activated access to the Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS). ETAS provides electronic read-only access to approximately 30% of our in-copyright print library collections. HathiTrust also provides access to more than 4 million worldwide freely available and public domain books and materials. The service is available to all current Laurier faculty, students, and staff.

For screen readers needing an orientation to this new interface, email Mark Weiler at mweiler@wlu.ca or by email form.

Additional information on accessing and how to search HathiTrust ETAS is available.

Access to Physical Collections

Laurier students, faculty, and staff can request circulating collections (such as books) to be mailed to any Canadian address through Omni. The library will provide you with a prepaid mailing label so you can return the books to the library by mail for free.

Books to Go

Note: Starting Thursday April 1st, the Books to Go pickup service for Waterloo will be changing to two day per week pickup schedule, Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Pickup times will remain the same (9 am to 11 am)

The Library is committed to supporting Laurier faculty, students, staff, and University’s educational and research missions by maintaining core academic operations online. Our primary concern is the health and safety of library users and staff. We will maintain close contact with the university's leadership and working groups in the days and weeks ahead, making adjustments to Library operations as needed.

Books to Go Service Highlights:
  • New: Faculty, students and staff can now request books from the University of Guelph and University of Waterloo through Omni for pick up at Laurier
  • Requests for Laurier items can now be placed in Omni
  • Users select a campus pick up location at time of request
  • Items requested for Brantford pick up will be delivered by our service partner the Brantford Public Library (BPL)
  • Full details on the Books to Go service page service can be found here
Item Pick-Up Schedules and Locations:

Pick-up times:

For more information on pick up locations, see the Library’s Books to Go service page.

Mail on Demand

Laurier students, faculty, and staff can request circulating collections (such as books) to be mailed to any Canadian address through Omni. The library will provide you with a prepaid mailing label so you can return the books to the library by mail for free.

More details are described on the library's Mail on Demand service page.

Scan on Demand

The Library has a new digitization service, Scan on Demand, which gives undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty the ability to request digital scans from books or journals.

Scanning is limited to items from the Library’s Waterloo collection and will follow the University's Access Copyright and Fair Dealing guidelines.

Requests can be submitted through Omni.

For more information on how to access and use this service, including lists of which resources are included, please see the Scan on Demand service page.

Course Reserves

All library electronic reserves remain available via Ares. Library print reserves are not currently accessible as our facilities are closed. Faculty members are encouraged to work with Library Copyright and Resource Delivery Services Department (CaRDS) to develop and provide access to electronic reserves and electronic course packs.

Please consult the course readings (reserves) page or email libreserves@wlu.ca for assistance with course readings (reserves). Students are encouraged to check with their professors with questions about revised course readings.

Subject librarians can also provide assistance to faculty members for course readings through purchase of electronic books (where available). The Library also maintains a resource page with information on openly licensed teaching materials, such as Open Educational Resources (OERs).

The Library provides a number of copyright services to faculty, including copyright clearance services for course materials. The Library’s Quick Guide to Copyright is available. Questions on copyright including clearances should be emailed to libreserves@wlu.ca.

Gaming Collection

The Library’s gaming collection, including all game consoles, digital games and board games, located in the Brantford Digital Library and Learning Commons (DLLC) is currently not available.

Interlibrary Loan (Requesting from other Libraries)

Interlibrary loan (ILL) services for physical and electronic items has been restarted. Resources are now available from a number of participating Ontario university libraries.

Placing Requests

  • If you find the item after searching Omni, then you can place the request directly through Omni. The library will automatically place the request with an Omni library that has it
  • If you can't find the item after searching Omni, then submit your interlibrary loan request through Racer and the library will borrow the item from a library beyond Omni

Delivery

  • All physical ILL requests will be delivered through Laurier's Books to Go service or the Mail on Demand service
  • Items from the University of Guelph and the University of Waterloo, as well as the shared Annex, are delivered to Laurier 5 days a week
  • Items from other universities may take longer

Returns

  • Drop-off bins for physical books are located at Waterloo campus and Brantford Public Libraries Main Branch.
  • Returns can be accepted at Kitchener on Tuedsay and Thursday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

Fines

  • Fines will not accrue for late interlibrary loans at this time

Interlibrary Loan and HathiTrust

  • Laurier is a participant in the HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS).
  • ILL requests for either print or electronic items that are part of the ETAS cannot be supplied under the terms of service

Last updated

Tab was last reviewed: June 22nd, 2021

Accessibility services

The Library continues to offer accessibility services to Laurier students, faculty and staff with disabilities who are working online. For research or other assistance, please email the Library's Accessibility Services staff.

Returning books and other items

Borrowing books and other items

Users can request books through Omni. Books are delivered by the Bookmobile at pre-set pick up times for each campus. Please refer to the Books to Go service page for more details

Returning items

You can review your borrowed items online through the My Library Accounts menu option in Omni. Should you have trouble renewing your loans, or have any questions, please contact us Library’s Ask Us chat or email us.

Your items can be returned to the book bins at the entrance to the Waterloo library and at the BPL main branch in Brantford. Returns can be done at any time. Returns at the Kitchener location can only be done while the Books to Go van is on-site (Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:30 am – 12:30 pm).

Due dates and fines

No fines will be charged for overdue Library books and other materials not returned during building closures. All borrowed items will have their due dates extended accordingly.

Current due dates for all books and materials on loan from Laurier and Waterloo have been extended to September 7th, 2021. Loans from University of Guelph must be renewed (if desired) through your My Library Account in Omni. If you are unable to renew items from the University of Guelph, email library circulation. The Library will provide additional information about materials borrowed from other libraries (interlibrary loan) in the future.

The Library provides a number of copyright services to faculty, including copyright clearance services for course materials. For general information on copyright services, see the Copyright page. The Library’s Quick Guide to Copyright is available. Questions on copyright including clearances should be emailed to: libreserves@wlu.ca.

Help & research assistance

The Library’s Ask Us chat service is available Monday to Friday 10 am to 10 pm and Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm.

Subject librarians are also available to work remotely with members of the Laurier community. Appointments can be booked online with librarians. Course guides and subject guides can provide support for your class assignments. You can also send us your questions directly by email.

The library phone is currently not available. The Library’s Ask Us chat service is available Monday to Friday 10 am to 10 pm and Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm.

Online library instruction

Librarians can support online courses by providing online research skills instruction and student research help. Some possible options are suggested on the online instruction support page. Librarians can do live instruction using Zoom, create help resources, or be added to your MyLearningSpace course to assist students. Please contact your subject librarian to discuss options. The Library also provides a large number of video tutorials on basic research skills, which can be linked to or embedded in MyLearningSpace.

Subject librarians

Subject librarians are also available to work remotely with members of the Laurier community. Appointments can be booked online with Librarians. Course guides and subject guides can provide support for your class assignments. You can also send us your questions directly if you email us.

Last updated

Tab was last updated: June 22nd, 2021

Notices of service disruptions

Accessible Content ePlatform

Access to physical building

  • Description: Complete access to all Laurier Library buildings is restricted
  • Reason:
    • Access to the Laurier Library spaces is limited due to the provincial lockdown
  • Alternatives:
    • Access to some online Archive and Special Collection materials may be possible
  • Duration:
    • To be determined

Borrowing from Laurier Library’s physical collections

  • Description:
    • Borrowing books from Laurier libraries by browsing the open collections is not active
    • Borrowing from the Gaming collection is not active
  • Reason: To protect the health and safety of library users and staff
  • Alternatives: You can access items by:
  • 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

Inclass library instruction

  • Description: Having librarians give inclass library instruction is not available
  • Reason: University closure of building for health and safety
  • Alternative: Online library instruction is available
  • Duration: To be determined

Interlibrary loan

  • Description:
    • While interlibrary loan (ILL) services for physical and electronic items has been restarted for Laurier and some participating OCUL libraries, some libraries are still not lending their materials
    • For a more detailed service updated see the interlibrary loan section of the this covid-19 services update page
    • For full instructions, please see Request from other libraries
    • Delivery procedures may be slower at lending universities
  • Reason:
    • Some libraries are not lending materials due to covid situation
  • Alternatives:
    • No alternatives to slower book delivery
  • Duration: To be determined

    Library Makerspace

    • Description: The Library Makerspace and equipment is currently unavailable.
    • Reason: To protect the health and safety of library users and staff
    • Alternatives:
      • Virtual Maker Mondays drop-in sessions, 1 pm to 4 pm each week. Email Darin White for the Zoom link.
      • Laurier Library Makerspace Online, Facebook group for sharing projects and connecting with other makers
      • Project consultations, finding community maker resources, ask a question. Email Darin White.
    • Duration: To be determined

    Library spaces for relaxing and respite

    • Description: The regular library space for relaxing and respite are not available
    • Reason: To protect the health and safety of library users and staff
    • Alternatives
    • Duration: To be determined

    Phone help

    Robert Langen Art Gallery and exhibitions

    • Description: The Robert Langen Art Gallery (RLAG) and all on-site exhibitions and activities are temporarily suspended.
    • Reason: To protect the health and safety of our students, staff, faculty and public at large
    • Alternatives:
    • Duration: To be determined

    Robert Langen Art Gallery DIY artists toolkits

    • Description: Robert Langen Art Gallery (RLAG), DIY artist toolkits distribution are temporarily suspended
    • Reason: To protect the health and safety of our students, staff, faculty and public at large
    • Alternatives:
      • None identified yet
    • Duration: To be determined

    Fully restored services

    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