COVID-19: Updates on library services and operations

Last updated: March 30, 2020, 10:00 a.m.

On this page:

What's changed?

Regarding course reserves for winter term:
- Instructors, if students would have required print course reserve items to complete their winter 2020 courses and final exams, please contact course reserves staff at libreser@uwaterloo.ca or submit your requests online through the course reserves website. Staff may be able to replace print content with content that is digitally available. If no electronic version is available, you will want to reconsider the requirements for completing the course
Patrons with items currently on loan are encouraged not to return them but keep them until further notice. Fines will be waived
For official updates from the University please see the Coronavirus Information website

Dana Porter, Davis Centre, and Musagetes libraries closed as of March 17; reach us virtually using Ask us
Witer Learning Resource Centre is closed as of March 17
Access to the Pharmacy Resource Centre is limited to pharmacy faculty members, staff and students who have fob access as long as the pharmacy building remains open; the Centre will not be staffed
St. Jerome's University Library closed as of March 17; e-mail reference is available
Renison Lusi Wong Library closed as of March 17; virtual reference is available
Conrad Grebel Milton Good Library closed as of March 18; virtual reference is available
Special Collections & Archives (SCA) reading room is closed as of March 17; contact SCA staff for online reference help
Virtual reference hours March 23-April 3
- Chat: Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekend, noon to 4 p.m.
- E-mail: monitored Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; weekend, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

All research and instruction questions and consultations are virtual; reach us virtually using Ask us or contact your subject librarian
We have suspended access and circulation of all print resources, including print course reserves and archival materials
InterLibrary loans are available for e-delivery only. This can mean:
- Portions of an ebook that are owned by another library, up to the amount allowable by their license
- Articles that are in online journals owned by other libraries, where their license allows for InterLibrary loans
- Scanned portions of print items, if these can be located at one of the libraries that are still providing this service
Patrons with items currently on loan are encouraged not to return them but keep them until further notice. Fines will be waived
Drop-in services from our partners are cancelled

Ask us service
Online consultations with your subject librarian
Access to digital collections via Omni, Research databases, UWSpace, and Waterloo Digital Library
Online course reserves
Get access from anywhere
You can renew library books online; there will be no fines or fees for late items

Ask us service
Self-service frequently asked questions module to answer common questions about using the Library. Email service for questions and comments
Consultations by phone or email with librarians:
- To identify e-resources to meet teaching and learning needs (subject specific and interdisciplinary eBooks, journals and articles, handbooks, data, etc.)
- Questions about permitted use of these materials in an online learning environment
Purchase request forms for eBooks for use as eReserves, etc.
Instructors, if students would have required print course reserve items to complete their winter 2020 courses and final exams, please contact course reserves staff at libreser@uwaterloo.ca or submit your requests online through the course reserves website. Staff may be able to replace print content with content that is digitally available. If no electronic version is available, you will want to reconsider the requirements for completing the course
Course and research support in research guides
Online, self-service options for identifying appropriate resources. For example, research databases can be selected by title, by subject, by content type or browse
Online tutorials
Vendors and publishers open up electronic resources in light of COVID-19: View the dynamic list of offerings provided by information service providers (maintained by the International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC), university intellectual property officers)

Review the guide for instructors
See online-teaching related FAQs on the copyright website
If you have any copyright questions, please don’t hesitate to email copyright@uwaterloo.ca
Online workshops are available, and current listings are provided on the Copyright website's events page
Consultations are available. Fill out the Copyright Consultation Form to set up a consultation for yourself or your group