Borrow Our Materials
Access Services staff are pleased to assist you with all library circulation matters. Normally, when a problem arises from your use of material from another library, we ask that you get in touch with that library directly.
E-mail us at access@smu.ca
Eligible Borrowers
A significant portion of the collection at the Patrick Power Library at Saint Mary's is available to be borrowed. Most of our books and periodicals, and some special collections such as government documents and multi-media collections, may be signed out under our borrowing rules.
Students, staff and faculty of Saint Mary's and other Nova Scotia post-secondary libraries, some high school students, and adult members of the general public are eligible for borrowing privileges at the Patrick Power Library. Most of those associated with universities and colleges automatically have borrowing rights; other categories of borrowers must apply for privileges. In most cases, members of the public need only present an official picture ID, such as a driver's license, for privileges to be granted right away.
Your Library Card
Your Saint Mary's identification (ID) card is also your library card. ID cards are issued through the Patrick Power Library. To obtain a SMU ID card, submit an electronic ID photo using our .
Students applying for a University Identification Card must bring a photo ID (such as a Driver’s License or Passport) and their Banner number (i.e., A number) to the Library to pick up their ID card.
Saint Mary’s faculty and staff may also for a SMU ID card. Faculty and staff must fill out a Library and Staff Registration Form . This form must be signed off by the Department Head and emailed to library.id@smu.ca before an ID card is issued.
University Identification Card Policy
All University Identification cards are the property of Saint Mary’s University.
ID cards are required to borrow Library material; may be required when writing exams; is paired with a UPass for Metro Transit; allows access to the Homburg athletic facility; and may be requested when you attend University functions.
It cannot be transferred; only you can use it to take out material. It may be used to borrow material from any Novanet library. Do not lend your card to anyone for any purpose.
ID Rules and Regulations:
For your safety and to protect your property, lost cards must be immediately reported to the Library.
A replacement ID card will be produced for a $15.00 fee. The card owner is responsible for replacing other permissions on the card.
In the event of replacing a lost ID card, the original card is no longer valid and should the original card be used, it will be confiscated by staff and destroyed.
Saint Mary’s ID cards must be renewed annually in September but may be renewed earlier if the student has registered for classes.
Do not tamper or deface the card. Cards that have had obvious neglect or misuse will have a replacement cost of $15.
There is no charge to replace the ID if the photo or information on card is no longer visible, or if the card has cracked or broken.
Take care of your ID card. If it goes missing, report its loss to staff at the Circulation Services desk right away. An unreasonable delay in reporting your card's loss may make you responsible for its use in the interim. A card that is lost or destroyed may be replaced, for a $15.00 fee. Again, check with Circulation staff for assistance.
Please arrange for free replacement of your card if your name changes, or if your status within the University changes.
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP): Saint Mary’s University respects your privacy. Your personal information is protected and used in compliance with Nova Scotia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act 1993, c5, s.1. For more information, please visit l
Novanet Privacy Statement:
Loan Periods
Loan periods for library items vary, depending upon the type of material, and your 'status' within the University:
Books, periodicals, and DVDs - basic loan period is three weeks and may be renewed for a maximum of 12 weeks. This loan period is available to all Novanet undergraduate students and to off-campus (community) borrowers.
Novanet undergraduate students who are writing honours theses are entitled to loan periods of six weeks, with a maximum renewal period of 18 weeks.
Graduate students, staff, and faculty registered at other Novanet libraries have loan periods lasting the current academic term. They may renew to a maximum period of 16 months.
Saint Mary's faculty may borrow books for the current academic year, with a maximum renewal period of 48 months.
The Reference Collection - Material from our Reference collection and a smattering of other specialized items, are non-circulating.
Reserve Collection - Library books and other material set aside for students registered in particular classes have shorter loan periods, which are established in consultation with course instructors. They may be loaned for periods between one hour and seven days.
We recommend that you verify the dues dates of items you have signed out through your online Library Account.
Fines and Lost Books
All borrowers are responsible for items borrowed on their Library cards. Do not lend your card or the items you borrow to someone else. You must notify the Library right away if your University ID card is lost or stolen.
Although we no longer charge late fines for books, periodicals or DVDs, some material signed out from the University Library is subject to overdue fines, including course reserves, laptops and other equipment, and books that have been recalled and returned late.
When an item becomes significantly overdue, we assume that it has been lost. We will apply a fee to your library account to cover the replacement cost. If the item is returned, this amount will be waived in full.
An accumulation of fines or fees will mean that your borrowing privileges are suspended, and may cause the loss of other University privileges. Students with significant fines will be unable to register for courses, and may lose their right to graduate, so make sure to pay any fines that accumulate as soon as you can.
Please check your personal library account to keep track of the due dates of any material you have borrowed and to see any fines. If you have questions, just ask at the Circulation Desk, or email access@smu.ca. We can show you how to access your account and discuss any payment issues with you.
Returns
Library material may be returned directly to the Patrick Power Library. Library items from Saint Mary's may also be returned to any .
We also have a secure off-hours book drop. Please note that Reserve items (course reserves) must be returned to Library staff, and not left in the book-drop, to avoid fines and so that other students can access them right away.
If you have been notified that an item has been recalled for another patron, please give it directly to a Library staff member when you return it. This will help us speed it on its way to the next person.
Items should be returned on time, so that others can use them. If you need an item past its due date, please renew it online.
Need help renewing? No problem! E-mail us at access@smu.ca, or call us at 420-5547. We're happy to assist.
You are responsible for the condition of any book you sign out. Please remove any personal effects or page-markers from library books before you return them, and please do not write in any library books you borrow.
If you notice that a book you want to sign out is damaged in any way, please let library staff know.
Renewals
Patrick Power Library material not returned by their due date will be automatically renewed within the item's maximum renewal limit, unless an item is on hold or has been recalled for use by another borrower. When an item has reached its maximum renewal period, it must be brought back.
In person: Items may be brought to the Patrick Power Library's Access Services desk for renewal. We cannot renew items from other libraries in person.
Online: SMU Library items, or items from other Novanet libraries, may also be renewed online, through the following steps:
- Go to your
- For SMU students and staff, please enter your SMU email and password. If you cannot access your library account with this information, please . If this does not work, please contact EIT.
- For other users, please enter your email address and chosen password. If you cannot access your Library Account with this information, come by the Access Services desk, or email us at access@smu.ca.
- Choose the institution you have books borrowed from on the left panel, and then select the tab labeled "loans".
- You'll see a list of the items you have out. Select "Renew All", or check the box next to the items you want to renew. Then select "Renew".
If an item has reached its maximum renewal period, or is on hold for another borrower, it will not be renewed.
"In Processing" Materials
When the Library catalogue indicates that an item is "In Processing", it has been received but not yet added to the collection.
It can take several months for new items to be added to the collection. If you find an item in the catalogue that you would like to borrow right away, please complete a Rush Request form at the Access Services Desk. Library staff will locate and process the item on a priority basis, allowing you to pick it up in one or two working days.
"In Storage" Materials
Less-used items from our collection have been placed in off-site storage. These items appear in the Library catalogue as "In Storage". For faster service, we recommend making a Document Delivery request for the item. If you require assistance, please reach out to Research Help.