Use one of the many public-access computers in the Library. Or bring your laptop and connect to the campus network via wired or wireless access.
Library computers
The Libraries have over 200 public-access computers available across its locations. Your use of these computers is subject to the Guidelines on use of Waterloo Computing and Network Resources.
Software available
- 7-Zip
- Adobe Reader
- Adobe Digital Additions
- ArcGIS (Geospatial Centre located in the Dana Porter Library, third floor, room 328 and the Computer Lab in Dana Porter Library, room 329)
- Beyond 2020 Professional Browser
- GIMP
- FileOpen plugin for Adobe Reader for DRM
- Fonts (Waterloo specific fonts)
- IrfanView
- Kurzweil 3000
- Microsoft Office 2019
- Mozilla Firefox
- Notepad++
- PuTTy
- Red Hat OpenJDK
- VLC Media Player
Save your work
Save your work regularly to a memory stick (USB storage device) or email it to yourself. Documents saved on the Libraries' public computers are lost when:
- Power is lost
- The computer is turned off or restarted
- If working windows are inactive for 15 minutes (windows will close without saving)
Guard your privacy
- Close your work before you leave
- Delete it with Shift + Delete: Holding the shift key down while deleting ensures that no one can recover your work from the recycle bin
Laptop computing
Current students, staff, and faculty can connect their laptops to the Internet via wireless connections.
Wireless connection
Student, faculty, and staff
Waterloo Identity and Access Management (WatIAM) credentials are required to authenticate to the wireless network.
- Select eduroam from the list of available Wi-Fi networks
- When asked for a userid and password enter your full userid@uwaterloo.ca and your WatIAM password
Visitors from other educational institutions
- Institution must participate in eduroam
- Use your home-institution user name and password
Guests
- Long-term visitors to the University of Waterloo (visiting scholars, postdoctoral fellows, students in joint programs, etc.) should request user name and password from Information Systems and Technology (IST)
- Short-term visitors (guests) can establish wireless connection using the steps outlined below:
- Click and connect to 'uw-wifi-setup-no-encryption' found under your computer's list of available Wi-Fi networks.
- In the Join 'uw-wifi-setup-no-encryption' pop-up window, scroll down and select the 'Click here if you are a guest user' option.
- Enter your first name, last name, and email address into each respective field. Click 'I Agree' to continue.
- A confirmation code will be sent via email. Enter the code into the pop-up window to connect to the Wi-Fi. There will be a 10-minute window for you to enter the code before the process times out and needs to be restarted.
Note: Wi-Fi access will timeout after 24 hours.
For more information, please visit IST's Guest Wi-Fi network page.
If you are experiencing difficulty using the campus wireless service, please check the IST troubleshooting resources.
Technical support
- Technical support at the Davis Centre and Dana Porter libraries
- IST Service Desk
- Faculty service desks