Computers

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 Library has 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.

Browsers (Firefox and Internet Explorer)
DataStream Advance
Digital versatile disc (DVD) / Compact disc (CD) burner software Roxio Creator or LG Tools
Microsoft Office 2010 (Word, Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Access)
Secure Shell (SSH) Telnet client - Putty
Refworks Write-N-Cite
Adobe Flash Player
Adobe Reader
Beyond 2020
Irfan View
QuickTime
Specialty viewers and plugins
Xnews news reader
ArcGIS (only at Porter library, fifth floor, all 15 workstations)

Save your work regularly to a memory stick (USB storage device) or email it to yourself. Documents saved on library’s 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)

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

Current students, staff, and faculty can connect their laptops to the Internet via either wired or wireless connections.

You can use your own ethernet cable or borrow one from the library Circulation desk to connect your laptop at one of the the following locations:

Floor one: along the “red wall” slightly above floor level and on pillars at the tables in the centre of the room
Floor two: all study tables, the group study booth and the laptop counter along the windows near Browsers
Floor five: tables at end of the microfiche cabinets
Floor six: LIB 608 study room
Floor eight: LIB 808 study room
Floor nine: LIB 908 study room
Floor ten: LIB 1008 study room

Carrels in the southwest corner (at the windows across from the Centre for Environment, Innovation and Technology (CEIT) building)
- Access receptacles are in a track on the floor beside the windows

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

Short-term visitors may get Net-ID (temporary user name and password) free of charge at Davis or Porter library service desk
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)

If you are experiencing difficulty using the campus wireless service, please check the IST troubleshooting resources.