Library:UBC Library AskAway Policy Page

 AskAway Policy Page FAQ Further Information 

Library Homepage	https://www.library.ubc.ca/
Mobile Site	Not applicable.
General Information
Library Branches	Hours and Locations
Service Hours	Hours and Locations Click on location name to see building open hours and Reference help hours. Note that the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre building is open much longer than Music, Art and Architecture Library or Rare Books and Special Collections which are inside the Barber Learning Centre.
Library Policies	Copyright, Technology Use and Spaces Food and Drink - Vancouver
Library Floor Plans	Asian Library Biomedical Branch (BMB) Library David Lam Library: Visit the front desk for directions Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (Levels 1-4) Irving K. Barber Learning Centre: Music, Art and Architecture Library (Levels 3 & 4) Koerner Library (Floor 1) Koerner Library (Floor 2) Law Library Okanagan Library: Visit the front desk for directions Woodward Library (Main Floor) X̱wi7x̱wa Library: Visit the front desk for directions Disability Access by Building
Circulation/ Checkout/ Loans Phone Numbers	On location websites. Hours and Locations → Location/Branch Name → Location/Branch Page → Phone/Fax/Email or Contact Us link.
Reference Desk Phone Numbers	Email inquiries are encouraged. Please use the general reference query form at Ask Us, see Basic reference assistance by email, or e-mail the contact information of the appropriate subject librarian as per the link below. Remember to ask which campus (Vancouver or Okanagan) a patron is from and refer appropriately.
Email Address for Reference Questions	Fill in a form or email the appropriate subject librarian.
Make an appointment for a research consultation	Reach out to the subject librarians directly: https://directory.library.ubc.ca/subjectlibrarians/
Resources & Services
Library Catalogue	https://webcat.library.ubc.ca
Library Search	Summon is the default "General" search on the library homepage.
Indexes & Databases	"Indexes & Databases" search on https://www.library.ubc.ca, or direct link: https://resources.library.ubc.ca/ Note: EBSCO databases will migrate to the new EBSCOhost user interface on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Please refer to the EBSCOhost User Interface Migration 2025 LibGuide
Institutional Repository / Digital Collections	UBC institutional repository: cIRcle Main digital collection page: https://open.library.ubc.ca/ Digital copies of important documents from the University's history (i.e. yearbooks, department handbooks, senate minutes, annual reports etc.): https://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/documents.html UBC Archives Photograph Collection: https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/arphotos
Google Scholar link	https://resources.library.ubc.ca/page.php?id=524
Database/eResource Authentication	View OpenAthens documentation for all user types, FAQ and troubleshooting. If you cannot resolve the issue or find an answer here, use the Library & OpenAthens Account form available in the “Report a Problem” section of the Ask Us page. A login with Campus Wide Login (CWL) is required at all times (on and off campus) for current students, staff, faculty. Guest users can obtain OpenAthens Accounts in-person at Koerner and Okanagan library locations (note current library hours). Users with an OpenAthens access account (not CWL) must initiate access for each browser session by logging in at: https://openathens.library.ubc.ca/ Faculty Authorized users and Affiliated College employees require a Personal OpenAthens account to access library eResources. Patrons can apply online or in person at Koerner library. All questions can be directed to the Library & OpenAthens Account form for troubleshooting. Hospital staff: Please contact the BMB Library: Biomedical Branch Contact Us page AskAway service providers MUST sign in through OpenAthens (OpenAthens Login at bottom, not CWL Login) to access UBC's e-resources. Issues and error messages can be reported at https://ask.library.ubc.ca/.
Subject Guides	Via the Get Research Helppage. Scroll down to Finding Resources for Research Guides (direct link) for each discipline and department, plus multidisciplinary and format-specific guides. Some specific Course Guides are available
Citation Guides	Visit How to Cite and a list of Major Style Guides. APA Citation Style Guide MLA Citation Style Guide Chicago Citation Style Guide Citation Formatting Help: Refer to library branch or subject librarian. Remember to ask which campus (Vancouver or Okanagan) a patron is from and refer appropriately.
Instruction	Instruction Calendar Librarians provide course-based library orientations and research instruction. Please contact the appropriate subject librarians: https://directory.library.ubc.ca/subjectlibrarians/ Guided library tours for faculty, staff, and students.
List of Librarians	Search Subject Librarians by name or subject area for Vancouver, or Subject Librarians for Okanagan. Available via the "Ask Us" link on the library homepage. Remember to ask which campus (Vancouver or Okanagan) a patron is from and refer appropriately.
Course Reserves	Access to Course Reserve Materials for all courses is provided via the Canvas-integrated LOCR (Library Online Course Reserves ) system. General Info at Course Reserves. Course Reserve materials cannot be borrowed by UBC staff, Community Borrower or Alumni cardholders. UBC students and UBC Faculty may sign out course reserve materials on short-term loan. (Course Reserve loan period) Students may access their course reading list via their Canvas course or the library webpage by using their CWL (Campus Wide Login). For faculty and instructors with queries about course reserve, please consult the reserve Instructors' Guide, and you may also contact reserve staff directly via the Contacts page for your branch library For faculty and instructors who wish to add the course reserve module into their Canvas courses to please consult the Canvas user's guide section.
Interlibrary Loans (ILL)	Interlibrary Loan
eJournals and Print Journals	Journal tab on library Home Page or Journal title search or Journal title search in catalogue Electronic resources link to full text in UBC licensed databases is called UBC eLink.
Technical Help	Use the Ask Us portal at https://ask.library.ubc.ca.
Write Away	Not available.
Generative AI Guidelines	Teaching and Learning Guidelines. Generative AI and Chat GPT Library Guide.
eResources Emergency Contact	Check the eResources blog and Twitter feed  for current outages If not already on listed on the blog please report the issue (or have patron report it, whatever is easiest!) to UBC eResources via our Online Form If the form is not working for you, please email: ubclibrary.eresources@ubc.ca. If you have the time to Troubleshoot, it is appreciated! UBC eResource Troubleshooting 101: https://wiki.ubc.ca/Library:EResources%26Access_Documentation_Public_Desk_Triage
Borrowing Information
Library Cards	How to Get a Library Card
Loan Periods	Loan Regulations
Recalls/ Requests, including ASRS	From the catalogue record for the book, choose "Request this item: Recall/ASRS" from the Actions menu on the right. Log in with CWL/Barcode PIN and choose "Recall" or "ASRS Request" as appropriate. For information about requests for individual items please see Access Storage (ASRS/PARC) guide. Note: Recalls are available only for books that are currently checked out. Members of the public (i.e. who do not have a CWL or Barcode/PIN) may request ASRS retrieval in person at the Circulation Desk, Level 3, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, same open hours as Music, Art and Architecture Library.
Transfer book to/from UBCO	Borrowing between UBC Campuses (DocDel).
Renewals & Library Account Information	Log into My Library Account.
Fines/Penalties	Loan Policies and Fines
Borrowing Policies	Loan Regulations
Equipment & Facilities
Internet/Wireless Access	http://services.library.ubc.ca/computers-technology/internet-access/
Photocopiers, Printers and PayForPrint	Photocopying & Printing information for UBCV and UBCO. UBC Card Pay For Print - Students, Staff and Faculty Pay For Print for Visitors and Guests at UBC-V Complete list of public printers at UBC-V
Scanners	Scanning (general info) Scanning instructions
Microfilm/Microfiche	All microforms are at Koerner Library, Level 2, and the collection and equipment are available for use whenever Koerner Library is open. First-time users must visit during Research Commons and Reference hours for assistance and instruction on how to use the readers by staff at the Research Commons desk on Koerner Library, Floor 2. Collection description.
Meeting/ Study Rooms	Group and Silent Study Space
Outdoor Book Returns	Irving K. Barber Learning Centre: about 10 meters to the right of the East Mall entrance doors Koerner Library: Slot located a few meters to the right of the front doors Woodward Library: Book drop located in the UBC Instructional Resources Centre, beside the Woodward Library entrance Okanagan Library: Book drop located outside main library entrance X̱wi7x̱wa Library: Slot located a few inches to the right of the front doors, outside main library entrance.
Computer Labs	Public computers & software: http://services.library.ubc.ca/library-facilities/public-computers/ Data/GIS Lab, Koerner Library 218A: Esri, ArcGIS,R,SPSS,Stata, StatTransfer Note hours. Koerner Library Room 217: SPSS, ArcGIS, etc. Note availability info. Digital Media Rooms, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre: Includes four high-tech, acoustically buffered multimedia rooms and carrels that house Mac multimedia workstations and various types of listening equipment. Note access requirements.
Campus Information
Academic Calendar	UBC Vancouver: http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/ UBC Okanagan: https://okanagan.calendar.ubc.ca/
Class Timetable	https://courses.students.ubc.ca/
Exam Schedules	https://students.ubc.ca/enrolment/exams/exam-schedule
Campus Maps	http://www.maps.ubc.ca/PROD/printMaps.php
Campus Web Site Map	Vancouver Campus Map: http://www.maps.ubc.ca/PROD/index.php Okanagan Campus Map: https://maps.ok.ubc.ca/
Campus Security Contact	Vancouver Campus: https://security.ubc.ca/contact-us/ Okanagan Campus: https://security.ok.ubc.ca/
Affiliated Colleges	Vancouver Campus: Students, staff and faculty at Corpus Christi College and St. Mark’s College, Regent College, Carey College and the Vancouver School of Theology (VST) all receive UBC library access. Students need to be enrolled in courses at the affiliated college to receive access to UBC library services.
Other Resources
AskAway Local Coordinator(s)	You may contact anyone on our coordinator team for scheduling questions: Elizabeth Fernandes: 604-827-0249 Donna Langille 250-807-9233 Patricia Foster - schedules & listservs: 604-822-2883
FAQ	Refer to this page for FAQ and response samples: https://wiki.ubc.ca/Library:UBC_Library_AskAway_Policy_Page/FAQ
Further Information	Refer to this page for institutional memory; legacy services and relocated or closed branches: https://wiki.ubc.ca/Library:UBC_Library_AskAway_Policy_Page/Further_information