Updated February 19, 2021 4:07 p.m.
Welcome! This service is available to University of Waterloo faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students and staff.
The service is limited to print materials from Dana Porter Library; Davis Centre Library; Witer Learning Resource Centre; Musagetes Architecture Library and Milton Good, Conrad Grebel as well as the collections of Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Guelph that show in Omni, the Library's catalogue, as "available" and where a digital version is not readily available.
Placing requests
- Place your request through Omni, the Library's catalogue.
- After locating the item, sign in using your WatIAM credentials.
- You will see two options if Waterloo owns the item:
- Get it from a Waterloo library.
- Request a digitized chapter/article/excerpt.
- If Wilfrid Laurier University or University of Guelph own the item, and Waterloo does not, you will see:
- Get it from another library.
- Select the Get it option that is available to access the request form, and once in the form you will see four options:
- Book Pickup @ Milton Good, Conrad Grebel
- Book Pickup @ Porter
- Book Pickup @ School of Architecture, Cambridge
- Books by Mail
- Select your pickup location.
- Add a comment if desired.
- Submit.
- You will see a "Your request was successfully placed" message and also be able to see your request in your library account.
Notification of availability
- Requests will be processed as they come in. Library staff will contact you if there are any available digital versions or other questions about your requests.
- You will receive notification for each print item that is available for pickup.
- Your item will be held for 14 days from the date you receive your notice.
- Each of the three pickup locations have their own hours and protocols:
- Book Pickup @ Porter
- Scheduled pickup times are no longer required.
- Pick up your items at Dana Porter anytime between 10 a.m. and noon, Monday to Friday.
- Book Pickup @ School of Architecture, Cambridge
- Scheduled pickup times are no longer required.
- Collect your items from the atrium in the School of Architecture anytime Monday to Friday between 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4:30 p.m.
- UWaterloo ID is required.
- See Book Pickup at Musagetes Architecture Library for details.
- Book Pickup @ Milton Good, Conrad Grebel
- Pick up your items at the Milton Good Library anytime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday to Friday. See Contactless Pickup at the Milton Good Library for details.
- Book Pickup @ Porter
- Books by mail:
- Requested items will be mailed out to any address within Canada or campus office location, if working on campus has been approved.
- As part of the process, patrons will receive an email asking for confirmation of the mailing address. If your request is for a book from the University of Guelph or Wilfrid Laurier University you will also receive a second notice from that university.
- Prepaid return shipping labels will be provided for off-campus addresses.
Picking up requests
- One piece of ID is required to pickup your materials (WatCard preferred).
- Effective November 30, 2020, you must complete a new COVID-19 screening assessment using the Campus Check-in tool before accessing campus.
- Wearing a mask is required.
- NOTE: Please do not sanitize library materials as these chemicals will likely cause damage. You may wish to leave your materials untouched for 72 hours as a precaution.
Book Pickup @ Porter
- Items may be picked up from Monday to Friday, anytime between 10 a.m. and noon.
- Book Pickup @ Porter is located just inside the main doors of the Dana Porter Library, marked LIB on the campus map. You will enter through the right main door and exit through the left main door.
- There is a one-way path setup to ensure social distancing. Please enter via the east stairs facing the Grad House. The exit will be down the stairs in front of the main doors.
- Please note: public access to the rest of the library building is not available.
- The accessible ramp will be reserved for those with need. This ramp will be used as both an entrance and exit. As such, markings will be placed on the ground two metres away from the entrance of the ramp for patrons to wait while another patron with accessibility needs is picking up items.
- Bicycle racks are available in front of the Library.
- Library materials can be returned; various options are available. Please see Returning library materials for more information.
Book Pickup @ School of Architecture, Cambridge
- Requests will be processed on Tuesdays and Thursdays for pickup anytime Monday to Friday between 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. You will receive notification for each print item that is available for pickup. You do not need to book a pickup appointment; just come during that time period.
- Items will be signed out to you ahead of time. If you miss the pickup window, please email libARCH@library.uwaterloo.ca.
- Enter the School of Architecture from the front entrance on Melville St.; follow the physical distancing instructions from the security guard as you enter.
- Items will be set out in a pile for you on a table in the atrium, identified by your name. If you have requested more items than you can carry, please bring a clean bag.
- Exit through the rear doors to the patio area.
- Library items can be returned to Musagetes Library on Fridays between noon and 2 p.m.. There are limited bins available each week, so if you are planning to return more than 10 items, please email libARCH@uwaterloo.ca to make arrangements. These materials may not be removed from patron records until the following Thursday.
Book Pickup @ Milton Good, Conrad Grebel
- Pick up your items at the Milton Good Library anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday to Friday.
- Enter through the main entrance to the Conrad Grebel academic building. You will be met at the reception desk, have your temperature taken, be asked to sign in, and be asked if you have completed a health self-assessment, such as this one from Ontario Health. You may then proceed by stairs or elevator to the Library.
- Your items will be held for 14 days. Please contact us if you no longer need these items or if you need this time extended.
- Library materials can be returned; various options are available. Please see Returning library materials for more information.
Other campus print pickup services
Pharmacy graduate students, faculty, and postdoctoral fellows can request to borrow print materials from the Pharmacy Resource Centre by sending an email with details about the book(s) to pharmacy.library@uwaterloo.ca.
Get help with your request
Contact your librarian for help finding resources in Omni, our catalogue, or in finding alternative resources to materials that are not yet available through the Print Pickup @ Porter service.
Questions?
Please use our Ask us service. View updates on library services and operations. See current book return bin options on campus.