Borrowing

Loan periods and limits

Material	Loan period	Loan limit
Books	Full semester loan with the option for others to recall an item. A two week minimum loan is guaranteed.	75
DVDs and blu-rays	Four weeks and up to four renewals provided there are no requests for the item.	25
Zines	Four weeks and up to four renewals provided there are no requests for the item.	10
Equipment items	24 hrs or 5 hrs depending on equipment type. No renewals.	1 per item type
Wellness equipment	1 week.	1 per item type
Upgrading textbooks	Full semester loan.	1 per course
Reference material	Library use only.	N/A
Magazines and journals	Library use only with some exceptions for faculty.	N/A
Course reserve material	Loan periods are set by the instructor and vary (2 hours, 4 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 week).	No limit

Requests

Place a hold online through OneSearch or with someone at the front counter and you will be notified via your Office 365 when it's available. Allow a couple of days transit if the available item is at the other campus.

If the item you need is currently signed out for the semester, we will request that book be returned on your behalf. We guarantee a minimum two weeks with an item before it is recalled and the user has five days to return the requested material.

At the Coquitlam campus available items are kept for pick-up on a self-serve shelf in the public area near the front desk for a maximum of five days. At the New Westminster campus, just ask for your item at the front counter.

Rush requests

Items with a status of "in process" or "on order" may be rushed through Technical Services by request. Place a hold on the item via OneSearch but keep in mind we can never be sure when an "on order" item may arrive.

Example entry for a rush request:

1 copy being processed for Upper Level - New West
1 copy on order for Lower Level - Coquitlam

Renewals

Books	semester loan
Videos, DVDs, Blu-rays	up to four times
Equipment	non-renewable
Reserve materials	non-renewable

Number of renewals allowed, subject to availability
Renew by phone: 604-527-5568 (New Westminster) or 604-777-6130 (Coquitlam)
In person

Items on which recalls or bookings have been placed may not be renewed and must be returned by the due date to avoid fines.

Returns

Books can be returned 24/7 to either campus library but equipment must be returned to the campus from which it was borrowed.

When the Library is closed outside of our regular hours, contact a guard at the Security booth and they will arrange to open the front door so you can leave your media equipment securely in the foyer. Please do not return equipment through the external book drops or leave it unattended.

End of semester returns

If materials are not returned by the final day of the semester the library will issue a replacement bill in addition to any fines that may have accrued.

Library users who have long overdue materials from the previous semester will have their name submitted to a collection agency by the Finance Office. If you have questions or concerns about the status of your library account, email us at [email protected].

Book drop locations

There is an internal book return bin at the front desk of both campus libraries as well as three external book return bins. See the location maps of one at Coquitlam and two at New Westminster.

Coquitlam

Located outside the west entrance of the College, between the Security booth and the Library.

Coquitlam Bookdrop Location

New Westminster

There is one book return down the hallway to the left of the Library's front doors...

New Westminster Bookdrop Location

...and another in the back shipping bay accessible via 7th Street.

New Westminster Bookdrop Location

Fines

Fines are charged to encourage borrowers to return material on time. There are a limited number of materials which must be shared by a wide range of users and many reserve materials are required for course use. Fines can be paid in person or over the phone using a credit card, but we no longer accept cash. * Library privileges will be suspended when a borrower owes $10.00 or more.

Books, videos, DVDs, and blu-rays	$1.00 / day to a maximum of $20.00 for items that are recalled by another.
Equipment	$1.00 / hour to a maximum of $20 or up to the replacement cost of the item, whichever is greater.
High demand material. Any type of material above might fall into this category	Fines will continue to accrue up to the replacement cost of the item.

Replacement fees

Books and audio materials	Original price of the item.
Equipment, video materials, and periodicals	Replacement cost of the item.

These fees may seem high but, in fact, they do not truly reflect the cost to the Library of purchasing another copy and processing it so that it can go back on the shelves. Many valuable books are no longer in print. The Library would prefer to get all materials back, rather than try to replace them.

A full refund will be given for items that are later recovered. As a general practice, no refunds will be issued to patrons after the two-year period, however, at the discretion of the Collections Librarian, refunds may be granted. No refunds are provided on lost and found high demand items.

See the full access policy

Course reserves

Campbell Biology

Did your instructor say there is an item on reserve in the Library? Look no further!

Visit the Library’s Check out Desk to borrow reserve items, which may include books, textbooks, articles, supplemental readings, DVDs, etc. Course reserves are available on a first come, first served basis. Reserve items are available on short term loan for four hours unless otherwise specified by the instructor.

To ensure fairness, reserve items cannot be renewed immediately. You must wait 15 minutes before checking out the same reserve item again.

A $1.00 fine per hour or part of an hour is assessed when a reserve item is returned late. Reserve items must be returned to the campus from which they were borrowed.

Looking for access to a textbook that the Library doesn’t have in its collection? Suggest a purchase. Please note that priority is given to requests for high-cost textbooks used in courses with multiple sections and high enrolment.

For print reserves questions or support, email [email protected]

Course resources list

Some instructors make required and/or recommended course readings available digitally via Blackboard using the Library’s course resource management tools.

These lists provide you and your instructor with easy access to library resources, readings, videos, websites and other related materials. Lists may be organized by topic, week, and more. You can track your reading progress, if desired.

Access your course resource list via your Blackboard course.

For course resource list questions or support, email [email protected].

Open Educational Resources [OER] / Zero Textbook Cost [ZTC] resources

Some instructors are using OER or ZTC resources to reduce textbook costs for students when appropriate materials exist related to their course and discipline.

Visit the Library’s Open Education Resource guide for more information on what OERs are being used in Canada and see who at the College is using OERs to support their teaching and students.

For OER/ZTC resource questions or support, email [email protected].

Interlibrary loans

Students and employees of Douglas College may borrow books, journal articles, and videos/DVDs/blu-rays from other libraries. Due to budgetary limitations, the number of interlibrary loan requests processed for any one user may be restricted.

Books - normally filled within 10-14 days
Articles - normally filled within 3-10 days
Videos, DVDs and blu-ray - require a week's notice

Submit a request

Contact

Christine Fojas
Phone: 604-527-5197
Email: [email protected]

Illume partner libraries

The Douglas College Library ILL policy page URL is https://library.douglascollege.ca/ILLPolicy

A full list of partner policy pages is hosted on Illume's website.

Guidelines and regulations

Check the discovery platform OneSearch or Ask a Librarian for assistance to make sure that the item you need is not already available at Douglas College. Items already in our library and required textbooks may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan. Requests are limited to materials in support of work or studies undertaken at the College.
You will be contacted when the interlibrary loan is available for pick-up.
In general, books must be returned within two weeks after our library receives them, however, one renewal may be allowed depending on the lending library's ILL policy. Books should be returned to the Douglas College Library. Email interlibrary loans or phone 604-527-5197 to see if your interlibrary loan can be renewed.
Photocopies of periodical articles do not need to be returned.
In compliance with copyright legislation, no more than 10% of a book or journal may be photocopied. More information about the use of copyrighted materials is available via the College use of copyrighted works document.

See the full ILL policy.

Borrowing in-person at other universities and colleges

Who can borrow
Douglas College students and employees may borrow materials from participating institutions, though reciprocal borrowing privileges are not extended to alumni or extramural borrowers.

Requirements
You must present a current Douglas College photo identification card when you apply to receive a library card with one of our reciprocal borrowing institutions. A COPPUL card is not required at these institutions. Restrictions to borrowing may exist.

Responsibilities and fines
Library patrons are held accountable for all materials borrowed through the Reciprocal Borrowing agreement. It is the responsibility of the patrons to be familiar with and adhere to the lending policies of each library from which they borrow materials.

Any overdue fines and replacement costs for lost or damaged books will be charged to the patron by the lending library.

External users borrowing from Douglas

Douglas College Library extends free reciprocal borrowing to students and employees from other BC public post-secondary libraries. Picture ID, proof of current registration or employment, and current address are required to apply for a library card. COPPUL cards from students of Douglas College's out-of-province partnership agreement institutions are also accepted.

Reciprocal borrowing is available for most circulating items in the collection with the exception of equipment, audio visual, and reserve materials.
Borrowers may sign out up to five items at a time.
Videos and DVDs are to be used in the Library only.
An intercampus transfer of an available book may be requested, but holds can not be placed on checked out items.
Library privileges expire at the end of each semester and need to be renewed.
Access to electronic resources and interlibrary loans is only available through your own school library.

Reciprocal borrowing libraries

Douglas College students and employees may borrow for free from the following libraries, and the same privileges are extended in return. Check the individual institution for any restrictions they may have in place.

Alumni

As a Douglas alumnus, you have access to a wide range of library collections, services, and spaces to support your lifelong learning needs.

Access to collections

Your Douglas College Alumni Card is your Library card. It allows you to borrow books, select equipment, and media from the Library at our New Westminster and Coquitlam campuses.

Help with research

Our crackerjack librarian team can help you with your research by:

Recommending resources for finding information on your topic
Suggesting the best strategy to approach your research question
Assisting with search techniques and tracking down hard-to-find items

Use of Library spaces

Need a quiet space to read, write, or work? You are welcome to visit our library locations and use our study spaces. Please note that bookable group study rooms are for the exclusive use of students.

Access to reading events

The Library holds a number of reading events throughout the year to build community, encourage discussion and conversation, and highlight and amplify authors whose work is in our collections. These book clubs and book talk events are open to the entire Douglas College community – students, employees, and alumni. Join us by attending one of our upcoming events!

Community borrowers

Community members can apply for a Community Borrower’s Card for $25 per year, payable by debit or credit only. The card is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and can be used at both campus libraries. A piece of photo ID, proof of current address, and an email address are required at the time of registration. The annual fee is waived for borrowers aged 65 and older.

Applicants under 18 must submit a responsibility form signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Community borrowers may borrow up to ten books at a time, and are welcome to enjoy videos and DVDs within the Library.

Catalogue alerts

Alerts help you stay up to date with new research in your area of interest. By saving a search in your personal myEBSCO account, you can receive email notifications whenever new resources matching your search are added to the database. There are two types of alerts available:

Journal Alerts notify you when new issues or articles are published for selected journals.
Search Alerts notify you when new resources matching your saved search terms are added to EBSCO databases.

Setting up alerts is an easy way to keep current with the latest research without having to repeat the same search.

Set up a search alert

Ensure you are signed in to my EBSCO account
After performing a search you’d like to set up an alert for, click the three dots at the top of the result list on the right-hand side (labelled “tools”)
Select “Create alert”
Set alert name, frequency of the alert, and add the email address where you would like to receive notifications
Click “Create alert”

Video tutorial

Set up a journal alert

Ensure you are signed in to myEBSCO account
Navigate to the “Advanced search” screen
Select the “Publications” menu
Search the journal title
Click into the title
Click the three dots at the top of the result list on the right-hand side (labelled “publication tools”)
Select “Create alert”
Create the alert name, set your preferences for the alert, and the email address where you would like to receive notifications
Click “Create alert"