How do I find a book?
The library catalogue, Discovery (access here), searches our entire physical and electronic collections. You can access e-books and articles directly from Discovery.
Print books each have their own call number, a series of numbers and letters, which is printed onto a sticker on the book's spine and displayed under a book's title in Discovery. Call numbers are organised alphabetically and numerically; there is a guide to following them in the "Call Numbers" tab on the home page.
If you need further assistance finding a book, see the library staff at the circulation desk, who will be happy to help!
How do I find journal articles?
Electronic articles can be accessed directly from Discovery. Direct subscriptions are also listed and linked on the library Moodle page.
To access print articles, you will need to know which volume and issue number hold the article you're looking for. Print journals are in the Periodicals section, which is organised alphabetically by series title.
For further assistance, please see the library staff at the circulation desk.
How do I get library materials via interlibrary loan (ILL)?
If there is a book or article that you need that the library does not have, you can request it via interlibrary loan (i.e. borrow it from another library). To make a request, send an email to ill@crandallu.ca with the article/book title, author, and publication date. If you are requesting an article, please also include the journal/container title, volume number, and issue number.
Note that a processing period of one to three weeks is required for all ILL requests. Electronic titles usually arrive within a week, but print items can take up to several weeks to arrive. Please also note that full books can only be lent via ILL in print format, not electronically, due to copyright reasons; however, you can request individual chapters in electronic format for faster delivery.
Please also note that the library will not approve requests for course reading material that is sold by the university bookstore.
How long can I keep an item once I've checked it out?
Undergraduate students, alumni, and community borrowers can check out items for 3 weeks.
Graduate students can check out items for 6 weeks.
Staff and faculty can check out items for 4 months.
All patrons can renew books a maximum of two (2) times.
How do I renew items?
You can renew your own checkouts on Discovery: log in and click on "Checkouts" (under "My Account" at the bottom of the page). Select the books you want to renew and click "Renew Items."
You can also visit the circulation desk OR email Alyssa at alyssa.ohlhauser@crandallu.ca to provide your name and the title(s) of the book(s) you want to renew. You don't need the physical copy of the book to renew it.
How do I return items?
To return items, you can drop them off at one of the drop-boxes (around the corner from the main doors; inside the library, by the desk; or outside Murray Hall, by the tower) or at the circulation desk, and the library staff will take care of the rest for you!
Is there anything I'm not allowed to check out from the library?
Periodicals (magazines, journals, etc.), items from the Reference section, and items on course reserve MUST stay in the library.
How do I find books on course reserve?
Just ask the library staff working at the circulation desk for the book you're looking for (be sure to specify that it is on course reserve). You will be allowed to borrow the book for a maximum of two hours, and it must stay in the library.
How do I get notified about upcoming due dates, fees, etc.?
Students will receive notification emails when they have a due date coming up.
To see your current checkouts, go to Discovery and log in using your Crandall email credentials. Once logged in, you will see "My Account" at the bottom of the page. Below are links you can follow to see your checked out items with their due dates, any fees you owe, your search activity, etc.
Will I have to pay a fine for overdue/lost/damaged items?
Overdue items accrue a fee of $0.25 per item per day to a maximum of $50.00 per item.
Items that are lost or significantly damaged while on loan result in a replacement fee (determined by library staff, according to the value of the lost/damaged book) plus a $10.00 administrative fee per book. Please DO NOT attempt to purchase replacement copies yourself.
How do I print/scan/photocopy?
To use the printer/scanner/photocopy machine in the library, you will need your student ID card and/or Crandall email credentials.
To print or photocopy, you will need print credits, which you can purchase on Moodle, at the library circulation desk (cash only), or at Student Services. Printing costs are 10 cents per page in black and white, or 15 cents per page in colour.
Printing must be done from one of the library desktop computers or from a USB drive.
There are specific instructions for printing, scanning, and copying by the machine. For further assistance, please see the library staff at the circulation desk. (The same procedures are used in the computer lab.)
How do I book a study room for group work?
To book a study room in the library, just ask someone working at the front desk. All you need to provide is the name of one person in your group and the time(s) you want to book the room (for a maximum of three (3) hours at a time).
How do I access EBSCO, JSTOR, etc. (a.k.a. “database platforms”)?
Go to the library resources page on Moodle (login here); there, you will find a list of all database platforms (as well as links to Discovery and the periodical and e-book platforms we have access to). Click on any link to be redirected to that platform (no additional logins!).
**NOTE that Discovery will search ALL platforms at once and is much more efficient!
How do I use microfiche/microfilm?
There is a microform digitiser in the library; it creates PDFs from microfiche and microfilm. For help using the microform digitiser, please see library staff. The digitiser is available for anyone to use.