Library Services for Students
This guide is intended to answer many of your questions about our Library Services for students. If you need further help:
- ask a Library employee at our service counters at each Library, or
- speak with a Librarian over the phone at (604) 599-3434 or,
- email a Librarian, or
- chat with a Librarian by entering your question in the blue window to the right.
Our top solutions for Students are:
How can Librarians ....
- help me start my research?
- help me avoid plagiarism?
- help me cite resources?
- help me find the difference between scholarly journals and popular reading?
- help me search the web for academic sources?
How can I ...
- get a Library card (Smartcard)?
- access the Kwantlen collection
- find items on reserve for my courses?
- get materials from other campuses?
- find out more about loans, fines, renewals, PINs and my library account?
- place an interlibrary loan for materials from other institutions?
- get a Library card at other BC post secondary institutions?
- use Audiovisual equipment from the Library?
- find out more about Copyright?
- book Group Study Rooms Online?
- find the Library Hours?
- use the Wireless at Kwantlen
- Print, Photocopy and make Transparencies in the Library?
- Find out more information about fines?
- Problems with a fine? Fill out a Library Fines Dispute Resolution Form
I need more information on ...
- Frequently Called Numbers
- Current Awareness & RSS
- Food & Drinks in the Library
- Cell Phone Use in the Library
- Computers in the Library
- The Check Out Counter
- The Information Desk
- Library Services for Students with Disabilities
- Services for Distance Learners
- Alumni Privileges
- TALK (Third Age Learning at Kwantlen)
- Community Borrowers
- Computer Assistance for Students (from IET -Kwantlen's Information and Education Technology Department)
Frequently Called Numbers
|
To reach a Librarian at an Information Desk, call (604) 599-2538 |
|
| Cloverdale Campus Library | Langley Campus Library |
|---|---|
| (604) 598-6043 Checkout (fines, circulation, holds) (604) 599-3434 Information desks (research assistance) (604) 598-6041 AudioVisual Desks (604) 598-6035 Fax |
(604) 599-3204 Checkout (fines, circulation, holds) (604) 599-3434 Information desks (research assistance) (604) 599-3209 AudioVisual Desks (604) 599-3202 Fax |
| Richmond Campus Library | Surrey Campus Library |
| (604) 599-2692 Checkout (fines, circulation, holds) (604) 599-3434 Information desks (research assistance) (604) 599-2582 AudioVisual Desks (604) 599-2644 Fax |
(604) 599-2103 Checkout (fines, circulation, holds) (604) 599-3434 Information desks (research assistance) (604) 599-2216 AudioVisual Desks (604) 599-2106 Fax |
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University Switch Board (604) 599-2100 | |
The Library Collection
The Library Collection provides a wide variety of materials designed to assist students with course study and to encourage self directed research and learning on all campuses. The library collection currently includes more than 150,000 catalogued items including print and non-print materials, books, records, CDs, videos and slides as well as more than 700 magazine and journal titles. The following links will help you access our collection.
- Search our Catalogue to find books, videos, journal titles, and reserve material listings.
- You can renew material from home once you are in our catalogue.
- We have over 60 Article indexes - many contain full text articles.
- Kwantlen students and employees can access our indexes from home. Our remote access help sheet provides information on how to be successful when linking from home.
- Find out where our journals are located by searching our Journal titles database.
- We also have tutorials, help sheets and more - you can access them all from our Library Home Page.
Library Orientations
Library Orientation and subject specific library instruction sessions are often scheduled during classes and occasionally at other times. If your instructor has booked an orientation, please attend prepared to learn more about the library and do some subject specific research in your program/course. If you instructor has not booked an orientation for your class, please ask a Librarian for help.
Smart Cards
The Kwantlen Smart Card
- Serves as your student identification card
- Must be presented in order to borrow library materials and equipment
- Can be loaded with cash value for photocopying and printing
- Has no expiry sticker, the card is permanent and is updated online each semester
Smart cards are issued free of charge in the library at the Checkout Counter. Photo identification is required to get a Smart Card. Remember that your Smart Card is a permanent card. The replacement cost for a lost card is $5.00.
Borrowing Library Material
| Books : 3 weeks Videos and DVD's : 1 day Course Reserves : 2 hours (in library use only), 1 day, 3 days and 1 week Periodicals : 3 days. (limit of 3 periodicals at a time) Reference : In Library Use Only |
Notices
The Library will only use 'myKwantlen' email for e-mail communication with students. Please ensure that you check your 'myKwantlen' email regularly for information on your holds, overdues and recalls.
Fines
Loan regulations help ensure that all users have fair access to Kwantlen Polytechnic University Library's collection. Fines are charged for overdue materials to encourage borrowers to return items on time so others can use them. To avoid fines, and as a courtesy to others, please return library materials on time.
Fines will be charged for overdue material as follows:
- Books and general collection $0.50/day per item
- Recalled books $2.00/day per item
- Periodicals $1.00/day per item
- Reserve materials are charged at $1 per hour for overdue 2 hour in-house Reserve material or $2.00/day per item for all other Reserve material.
- Videos, DVD's and AV Equipment - $2.00/day per item
Hourly fines accrue for each hour the material is overdue until it is returned, even the hours the library is closed. Fines are not calculated on Sundays or holidays.
For long overdue items, fines will be charged up to the replacement cost of the item. Overdue recalled items could be fined up to the replacement cost of the item.
Failure to return material, pay the replacement cost of a lost or damaged item or pay outstanding fines may result in the loss of library privileges and for students, the withholding of transcripts, diplomas, certificates or citations. It may also interfere with registering for courses. Please check the My Library Account button on our Library website to see if you have fines or overdue materials.
If you would like to disupte a fine you have received, please fill out the Library Fines Dispute Resolution Form.
Renewing Books & Journals
You can renew your books & journals on-line through the My Library Account button on our Library Website. Our step by step Guide for Renewing Books shows you exactly how it is done. All General Collection materials may be renewed three times. Items requested by somone else may not be renewed. Any book that has been renewed can be recalled and the renewal due date shortened. In some cases this could mean that the item would have to be returned before the renewal due date is reached. If kept longer, fines will be charged. Journals can be renewed once unless someone else has requested the item. Videos and DVDs and Course Reserves cannot be renewed online. Exceptions may be made on renewing videos and dvds and course reserves depending on availability but this must be done in person at the Checkout Counter.
My Library Account
My Library Account provides information on:
- Bills: if you have any fines or other library fees owing
- Checkouts: items you have out on loan
- Holds: the number and status of holds you have placed on Kwantlen books & journals
- Requests/Library Messages: if the periodical (journal article) or book from another institution such as UBC or SFU is ready for pickup, or if there is a message regarding the material you requested.
- For more information click on the Helpsheet for My Library Account
PINS
The Student PIN starts as your birth date (ddmmyy), then you must change it on-line through WEB registration to a personalized PIN. You must use the new PIN to view your Library Records. If you forget your PIN, you can login to WebReg and answer your security question to change your PIN to something new.
Students are eligible for Distance Learner Services from the Library if they are:
- Currently enrolled in an online course through Kwantlen Polytechnic University and
- Unable to come to the campus because of distance (currently living outside Metro Vancouver, formerly the GVRD)
Students who are living within Metro Vancouver, as noted below are expected to present themselves in person to apply for a Smart Card and to check out library materials.
Metro Vancouver
|
Aldergrove |
New Westminster |
Richmond |
|
Burnaby |
North Delta |
South Delta |
|
Coquitlam |
North Vancouver |
Surrey |
|
Fort Langley |
Pitt Meadows |
Vancouver |
|
Langley |
Port Coquitlam |
West Vancouver |
|
Maple Ridge |
Port Moody |
White Rock |
Distance Learner Services include:
- Research and Reference Help
- Online Access to subscription databases
- Library Cards & PIN
- Access to Your Library Account
- Borrowing Library Material
- Interlibrary Loans
Students who are unable to come to the campus in person are not permitted to borrow audiovisual equipment nor to request Non-Kwantlen videos or DVDs.
| Research and Reference | How Do I | Obtain Material |
|---|---|---|
| Help with Research | Register for Distance Services | Overview |
| Ask A Librarian | Get a Library card | Find Material |
| Online Access to Article Indexes | Renew Materials | Request Kwantlen Books |
| Access my Library Account | Request Kwantlen Periodicals |
|
|
Request Kwantlen Videos or DVDs |
||
|
Request non-Kwantlen Articles |
||
|
Reserve Material |
How to Get a Library Card if you are a Distance Learner
- Please come in to any campus library and you will be issued a Library card called a Smart Card.
- If you cannot come to a campus in person, you can be issued a Library Card that will be mailed to you:
- After confirming your eligibility for Distance Learner Services, the Library will issue you a Library Card.
- The Library Card will not have a photograph on it and it will be mailed to your home address.
- The Library Card has a barcode and a PIN that provides access to online library services.
- If you would prefer to have a photograph on your card, it will be necessary to come to one of the campus libraries.
The Student PIN starts as your birth date (ddmmyy), then you must change it on-line through WEB registration to a personalized PIN. You must use the new PIN to view your Library Records. If you forget your PIN, you can login to WebReg and answer your security question to change your PIN to something new
Non-students' PINs (including employees) are random and are issued when you first receive your Smart card. At the time of card issuance, you may ask staff to change the PIN to one of your choosing. If you do not know your PIN, you can come in person to the Library and change it to one of your choice or you can go to the Library Website and click on My Library Account / Forgot Your PIN?. Your PIN will be emailed to you. To respect confidentiality, we cannot change your PIN over the phone.Your Library PIN allows you access to your confidential library record. For reasons of confidentiality, the Library does not know your PIN - only you should know your PIN.
Students Registered With BC Campus
BC Campus students are entitled to library services, including off site database access and interlibrary loans, through their home institution library. Their home institution is defined as the institution through which they are taking the online course. BC campus students might have more than 1 home institution, and therefore more than 1 home library, if they are registered in several courses at different institutions. BC Campus students are not entitled to library services from institutions they are not registered at, apart from library services that any student can have. Any student is entitled to on-site access to resources, community borrower cards, reciprocal borrower cards. Only registered students are entitled to offsite access to databases or e-resources like e-books, and interlibrary loans. For further information, please contact: Susan Bruchet, susan.bruchet@kwantlen.ca
The Library will notify you via 'myKwantlen' email:
- When the books or articles you have requested are available for pickup
- If your books are overdue so you can avoid registration problems
- If you owe fines or fees
- To inform you that the book you have on loan has been requested by another student and must be returned
- To confirm that the video or DVD you requested has been reserved for you
- With a list of New Books at the Library
Please note that your 'myKwantlen' email account is our means of communicating with you regarding overdues and all other Library information. It is your responsibility to check your'myKwantlen' email regularly to avoid missing this important information.
Booking Group Study Rooms Online
Group study rooms are booked online. Use the Online booking system and book your group rooms up to 2 weeks in advance. Rooms can be booked for 1 two hour block per day. Have your student number handy as you will need to login using your WebReg id and password. Study rooms are available to Kwantlen students only.
Course Reserves
Each campus library has a small collection of reserve materials (including books, videos, and photocopied articles) that are placed on short-term reserve by instructors. Reserves may be searched through the on-line Library Catalogue by course name or number or instructor's name. Reserves are located at the Checkout counter. Browse our guides for Finding Reserves and Accessing E-Reserves to see how you can find your course material. *Instructors please refer to the Course Reserve section of the faculty guide for details on placing items on reserve.
Books at other Campus Libraries
Search the Library Catalogue for the book you want and then click on the Place Hold button. Books from other Kwantlen campuses generally only take one to three days to be transferred from one campus to another. Up to date status reports are available in 'My Library Account' available as a link from the library website. Remember to check both "holds" and "requests" in 'My Library Account'.
For more information on how to place a hold, use one of the following helpsheets:
Request a Kwantlen Book
Request a Kwantlen Periodical
Request a Kwantlen Video
My Library Account
InterLibrary Loans
Interlibrary loans from other institutions (such as UBC or Simon Fraser) are available to registered students. Please allow 2-5 days for journal articles and up to two weeks for book requests to be processed. You can look at our helpsheet for placing Inter-Library Loan Requests Online for more information on how to place a request.
Fines and Limits for InterLibrary Loan items: If you fail to return an ILL book on time, you will be fined a dollar a day to a maximum of $25. If it has been over 30 days past the book's due date, the book will be considered lost and you will be billed for the overdue fine AND the full replacement cost as determined by the lending library.
Audiovisual Services
Audiovisual Services are located within the Library at each of the three campuses. The hours of service are Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm; however, pickup and return of pre-booked Audiovisual (AV) items can be done during all open hours of the Library. Services include access to our collection of videos and DVDs and access to a variety of AV and computer equipment. AV preview and listening stations are available in each campus library. For more information please go to Audiovisual Services page or check 'The World at Your Fingertips' handbook.
Computers in the Library
Computers are available to students in the opac area, as well as in the teaching computer labs in the library as per below.
OPACS (On-Line Public Access Catalogues)
The OPAC computers are located near the information desk and provide access to the on-line library Catalogue , to the Kwantlen Library web page and the internet. There are at least two guest stations at each Library that can be used for research or registration for non-Kwantlen students.
Users in the Library must adhere to Kwantlen Polytechnic University's computer usage policy.
Library Teaching Labs
The Library Teaching Lab computers are used primarily for Library research but also offer access to the Internet and come installed with Microsoft Office applications. The Library Teaching Lab is reserved for Library instruction during orientations and will not be open to students during these times. Always check the white board outside the room to see if any orientations are booked. You must have an active student account in order to use the computers in the lab. Ask a Librarian for assistance if you are having problems accessing the computers in the lab.
Printing
To print in the Library, you need money loaded on your Smartcard. You can print directly from any of the computers in the Library and Library Teaching Lab. They are attached to a network black and white printer in the copy areas at each campus. You simply need to select print from the program you are in and insert your Smartcard and enter your student number to release your print job at the printer/copier units in the copy room. Copies are $.10/page.
Colour printing is available at all campus Libraries $.25/page. The computers in the research area (OPACs) can print to a colour printer. Funds may be added to your Smartcard at any campus Library checkout counter. Note: if you are printing from a guest station, you need to enter the guest station ID instead of your student number at the print station to pull up your print job.
You cannot print to our networked printers from a laptop. You can only access the printers from a library computer.
Photocopying and Transparencies
To copy anything, you need money loaded on your Smart Card. Funds can be added to your Smart Card at the Library or the Bookstore. If you do not have a Smart Card, see the staff at the Checkout Counter to borrow a temporary card to be used for printing or copying.
Black and white photocopiers are located at each campus library. The cost of a single, one sided, black and white copy is $0.10. Colour photocopies are also available at a cost of $0.25 per copy.
Microfiche/microfilm printers are also provided at the Langley, Richmond and Surrey campus libraries. A single copy with your Smart Card costs $0.10.
Staff at the Checkout Counter can copy your material onto a black and white transparency for $1.00 per copy. Colour transparencies can also be made at a cost of $3.50 each. The Library provides the transparencies.
The Check Out Counter
The staff at the check out counter will check out books and reserves, make transparencies, take fine payments for overdue materials, and much, much more. Do not be afraid to ask them questions. If they cannot answer the question they will send you to the Information desk.
The Information Desk
Librarians can answer reference questions, help you start research, locate books and videos, find articles in journals, show you how to use the online catalogue or article indexes, get you started on the Internet and much, much, more. We are there to help you. Please do not be afraid to ask us anything about the library or research.
Services for Students with Disabilities
In conjunction with Services for Students with Disabilities, the Kwantlen Library offers a variety of services and equipment for students with disabilities.
At each of the Richmond, Surrey and Langley campus libraries there is a computer work station for users that have a vision/perceptual disability. These stations provide the same access to the Internet, email and all the software programs as the other stations in the library but have JAWS (voice activated screen reader software) and Zoomtext (screen magnification software) loaded on them.
At each of the Richmond, Surrey and Langley campus libraries there is a Print enlarger for in- library use by students.
Kwantlen has a variety of adaptive technology equipment that is available for loan through the Audiovisual Departments of the Library. Items available for borrowing include: laptops with JAWS and Zoomtext loaded that can be loaned for exam purposes and Victor Players to be used by students who require digital books for reading course materials or texts. Students need to contact their Disability Advisor if they require the use of this equipment.
Find out more about Services for Students with Disabilities at Kwantlen.
Alumni
All Kwantlen Alumni (graduates of any certificate, diploma or degree program) are welcome to use the Kwantlen Library at all campuses during all open hours. Alumni who come to the campus may:
- Search the Library catalogue
- Consult books, journals and other materials
- Access online article indexes. Note: there is no off campus access to our licensed databases
- Obtain Reference assistance
- View videos/DVDs in the Library (videos/DVDs cannot be borrowed)
- Obtain a free Kwantlen Alumni Smart Card: the Alumni Smart Card allows the borrowing of books (limit of 5 items at any one time)
Please see other benefits of being a Kwantlen Alumni.
TALK (Third Age Learning at Kwantlen)
The Library is pleased to offer the following services and access to collections to students, instructors/facilitators and Board of Directors of the TALK program:
- Borrow books, journals and other materials.
- Access online Library research databases from on or off campus
- Obtain Reference assistance in person, by phone or by email
For more information on the TALK program click on the following link to the TALK website: TALK
Community Borrowers
Kwantlen is pleased to provide people in our community that may not be students or employees access to our library services. Please review our Community Borrowers information page to find out what our services are.
Copyright Resources
Copyright of print, audiovisual and digital material is a serious issue for you to consider when using the library. We have brought together some of the more important information in our guides below:
- Copyright Quick Facts - our quick information copyright guide (2 pages)
- Copyright Guide - Access Copyright and Print
- Audiovisual and Electronic Resources Copyright
- Copyright and your Course Web Site
- Copyright and Digital Images
Plagiarism Resources
The Library has a complete guide to Avoiding Plagiarism. Additional resources are bleow that you wish to take a look at.
Some Do's and Don'ts of Plagiarism
Students: How Can you Avoid Plagiarism?
Resist the temptation to buy or borrow a term paper from another source! There are hundreds of sites on the Web that offer to provide you with a term paper for a fee. Turning in one of these papers as your own work is plagiarizing. You are capable of doing much better work!
You must give credit whenever you use:
- another person's idea, opinion, or theory;
- any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings--any pieces of information--that are not common knowledge;
- a quotation of another person's actual spoken or written words; or
- a paraphrase of another perAuson's spoken or written words.
Try these links
- Our Termpaper Research Guide has more information on putting together a bibliography.
- How Not to Plagiarize - from the University of Toronto
- Avoiding plagiarism: mastering the art of scholarship
Food and Drinks in the Library
- The Library permits select snack foods and drinks in spill-proof containers to be consumed in the Library.
- Please help us provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for all library users and protect and preserve our materials and equipment.
- Open drink containers or hot, messy food or food that carries a strong odour should not be consumed in the Library. Allowable snack foods are of the prepackaged, vending machine type. Foods like burgers, pizza, donairs are not to be consumed in the Library.
- Please help keep our library clean by depositing waste in trash receptacles and recyclable beverage containers in a recycling bin
- Food and drink that is not considered acceptable in the judgment of Library staff should be consumed outside the Library.
Cell Phone Use in the Library
Kwantlen Library is committed to providing a welcoming and supportive environment that facilitates individual and collaborative study and research. All library users are treated with courtesy and respect. Please be considerate of other library users when using your cell phone.When you enter the library please:
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Set your cell phone to a non-audible signal (vibration, flashing light, etc).
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Do not place or receive calls in the Quiet Study areas of the library.
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Move to the entrance of the library when placing or receiving calls.
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Please keep your cell phone conversations short and your voice lowered.
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Please complete your calls before requesting assistance from Library employees.
Library users who wish to report inappropriate cell phone use or any other disturbance should go to the nearest service point and speak to a library employee. The Library reserves the right to ask anyone to leave the Library if he/she is inappropriately using a cell phone or disturbing others in any area of the Library.
Updated: 16/04/12


