Co-op students on work term and Extended Learning students

To borrow materials, access the Library's online resources and check your library account, you need a library card.

• Co-op students: Your WatCard serves as your library card
• Students taking online courses: A WatCard will be automatically mailed to you when you register for classes; this serves as your library card. Please note that due to COVID-19, the WatCard Office will be e-mailing a PDF WatCard to students for the spring term. Please contact Centre for Extended Learning at ExtendedLearning@uwaterloo.ca for questions or problems with receiving your Watcard. Please contact Library Circulation at libcirc@uwaterloo.ca for problems with your library barcode number.

To request books from the Tri-University Group library catalogue

• To request a book, use the library catalogue to locate the book. Click on the "Locations & Requests" link within the search results display. Then click on the link "Sign in to request".

If you need delivery service:

• Provide mailing address and phone number (required by courier) in comments box
• Select "UWaterloo Ext. Learning & Co-op" for pickup location

Note: It can take up to three business days for retrieval of books from Guelph, Wilfrid Laurier, or the Annex (our storage facility).

• To request scanned copies of book segments from any library location in the catalogue and have them delivered via email (as copyright and licensing permit), use Interlibrary loans services (ILL)

To request books not found in the catalogue

Use Interlibrary loans services (ILL) to request books that are not found in the library catalogue.

Tip: The easiest way to request a material through ILL is to log in and fill out a blank request form (can be found at the right hand column of the main page).

Don't forget to type your mailing address and phone number (required by courier) in special instruction box and to select "UWaterloo Ext. Learning & Co-op" for pickup location.

The requested books will be sent by courier (whenever possible), at no expense to you.

Tip: You also have an option to email us your request at libdist@uwaterloo.ca. If doing so, please provide the following information:

• Bibliographic description of the item (author, title, call number)
• Mailing address and phone number (required by courier)
• Student ID number

Follow general Library instruction on finding articles.

In addition,

• Provide mailing address and phone number (required by courier) in special instruction box
• Select "UWaterloo Ext. Learning & Co-op" for pickup location

The requested articles will be sent to you by email (digital copies) or courier (hard copy), at no expense to you.

Tip: You also have an option to email us your request at libdist@uwaterloo.ca. If doing so, please provide the following information:

• Name of the journal the article is published in
• Title of the article
• Author’s full name
• Volume and issue number
• Year of publication
• Mailing address and phone number (required by courier)
• Student ID number

By mail

You are responsible for returning books by the due date to the Library, at your expense.

Please note, if the postal stamp is on or before the due date, we will consider that the book was returned by the due date. If the postal stamp is later than the due date, you will incur overdue fines.

Return address:

Tip: If you have any questions or need help, please email us at at libdist@uwaterloo.ca.

Drop-off

• If you live near another Ontario university, you may return the books to the Circulation desk of that library and they will be returned to us by  inter-university transit.
• Consult the Ontario Council of Universities (OCUL) directory for universities near you.

Books borrowed through InterLibrary Loans (ILL)

Books borrowed via ILL must be returned directly to the University of Waterloo library or may be returned by courier at your expense to:

Tip: If you have any questions or need help, please email us at at libdist@uwaterloo.ca.

It might be more efficient to borrow items you need from the university or public library in your area, rather than wait for mail delivery of items from University of Waterloo Library.

• Direct borrowing from other Ontario university libraries is also possible. You must register your WatCard with their library first.
  • Library catalogues of Ontario university libraries can be searched before you visit another library to borrow directly.

Note: Undergraduate students do not have borrowing privileges at Quebec university libraries, the University of Toronto and Ontario College of Art.

Our library staff members are committed to providing timely response to questions and requests. Every effort is made to respond within 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.

• Circulation Services: 519-888-4567, ext. 84883
• Ask us: research help via chat, email, visit, phone
• Resource Sharing: 519-888-4567, ext. 42598, libdist@uwaterloo.ca.