LEARNING TO USE THE LIBRARY:

Library workshops are held in September. Watch for notices of dates and times.

Individual courses also have instruction classes given by Librarians. Ask your professor if there will be one for your course.

You can also ask for help using the library at ANY TIME. No question is too small (or big).

Research Librarians are available to assist you at the Research Help Desk on the main floor of the R. P. Bell Library or at the Music Library. You can also reach a librarian by phone or by e-mail:

Research Help Desk hours are posted on our Hours page. You may also contact the librarian responsible for your subject area to make an appointment.

FINDING LIBRARY MATERIALS:

Find materials (including books, journals, audio-visual materials, etc.) by using the Library Catalogue.

Find articles in journals and newspapers using a Journal Index or full-text Database. Complete lists of indexes and databases may be found on the Find Articles page. Most indexes and databases are also available off-campus to Mount Allison students.

BORROWING MATERIALS (Circulating Items):

Your Mount Allison University Student ID card (or your ASIN card for non-Mount Allison students) is also your Library Card.

The normal loan period for most materials, including audio-visual materials, is two weeks. Loan periods are shorter (usually two hours or one day) for materials on course reserve and for maps and certain other materials. When you borrow items, note when they are due as they do not always carry a date due slip.

Students may borrow up to 50 books at any one time, but fewer of non-book materials.

RENEWING MATERIALS:

You may renew your books up to three times in person at the Access Services Department or by phone by calling 364-2568 (R.P. Bell Library) or 364-2561 (Music Library).

To renew books online, access the Library Catalogue and click on “My Account”. Enter your Library Card Number (the 13 digit barcode number on your student ID card) and your PIN (ask for a PIN at the Access Services Department). After completing the renewal process, verify that all of the due-dates have been correctly changed. Please note that you will not be able to renew items if you have exceeded your fine limit or if you have exceeded the number of allowable renewals. Items that have been requested or recalled by another patron are also non-renewable.

For more information, contact Access Services Staff at 364-2568 or circ-at-mta.ca, or the Music Library at 364-2561 or musiclibrary-at-mta.ca.

REQUESTING A BOOK THAT’S OUT:

There are two ways to request an item that someone else has borrowed:

In both cases, you will be notified by e-mail when the item becomes available.

You can place a HOLD on an item yourself in the Library Catalogue; a RECALL can only be placed by Access Services staff. Please note that RECALLS have priority over HOLDS.

For more details, please ask Access Services Department staff at either Library.

NON-CIRCULATING MATERIALS:

Non-circulating materials are for in-library use only. These include reference books, journals, magazines, newspapers, certain government publications, rare books, and the Bell Collection of Acadiana.

Please note that because of the fragile condition of the materials, copies of all material from the Bell Collection and the Rare Book Room must be made by Access Services staff. Photocopying of these materials is permitted within the Canadian copyright guidelines.

Some library materials, such as rare books and special collections, are kept in the Bell Room and the Davidson Room. To access material from these locations, ask a Access Services Department staff member.

INTERLIBRARY LOAN:

If the Mount Allison Libraries do not own or have electronic access to an item you require, we will try to borrow it from another library.

For more details or to submit a request, see the Interlibrary Loans page.

FINES:

Note that fines are charged for overdue materials. Please remember to return or renew your library materials BEFORE they are due.

For most circulating materials, the fine is $0.25/day.

For Audio-visual, Map, Rare and Bell materials, the fine is $0.50/hr; $0.25/day; OR $1.00/day depending on the loan period.

Fines for Course Reserve Materials:

For hourly (less than 1 day) Loans, the fine is $2.00 per hour or part thereof.

For 1 and 3 day Loans, the fine is $2.00/day.

Fines for Recalled materials:

$1.00/day

Replacement Cost for lost or damaged material:

$ 50.00 (or more depending, on cost of item) + $ 50.00 (processing fee) =
$100.00 total (minimum)

PHOTOCOPYING and PRINTING:

Photocopier/Printers are located on the main floor and ground floor of the R. P. Bell Library. At the Music Library, a photocopier is located near the entrance.

Digital and paper copies of microfilm and microfiche can be made using the micro reader/scanners in the Microform Room of the R.P. Bell Library.

User accounts and print credits are used for all printing and photocopying.

Students may add print credits to their student ID cards using the self-serve machine located by the elevator on the main floor. If you need help using the machine, please ask at the Circulation Desk. The printing and photocopying cost is $0.12 per page (tax included).

Copying Service: Access Services staff will photocopy materials for you as time permits (additional fees will apply).

Fragile Materials: To prevent damage, please ask Access Services staff to photocopy all material from the Bell Collection of Acadiana or Rare Book (Davidson) Room. Regular photocopying rates apply.

LIBRARY EQUIPMENT:

Microfilm/microfiche reader/printer/scanners, computer and audio-visual equipment for using CD-ROMs, audio recordings, DVDs and videos are available in the Libraries.

See the Services and Facilities page for more details.

BOOK LOCKERS:

Small lockers in the R. P. Bell Library are available for use during the school year. To obtain a locker, see the Library Secretary early in September. A nominal fee is charged.

ARCHIVES:

Located on the third floor, the University Archives' staff is happy to help students find archival material for class papers and theses. The Archives holds some private records of local families, clubs, businesses, and churches which you may find useful.

Please telephone or email in advance of a visit: (506) 364-2563 | archives-at-mta.ca

For more information, see the Archives web site.