Borrow & Renew

You can find these resources using the following tools:

• Page 1+ Search: Set the Resource Type to your required source type on the results page, e.g. Articles, Journals, Books, Videos, etc.
• Databases A-Z: Set the Database Type to your required resource type, e.g. Ebooks & Audiobooks, Articles, Online Videos, etc.
• Journal Search: Search for journals and magazines by title to determine if the library holds a certain periodical title in a digital format.
• Newspaper Search: Search for articles from hundreds of newspapers.

You can borrow books by visiting the library during business hours or placing a hold (other than reference or reserve items) through Page 1+ and pick them up on campus during business hours. Please read the instructions for placing a hold on an item. You can find print books and DVDs by using the following tools:

You can find print books and DVDs by using the following tools:

Page 1+ :

• Under Availability, select Print and Physical Items.
• Books: Use the limiters on the left side and select ‘Books’ under Resource Type.
• DVDs: Use the limiters on the left side and select ‘Video’ under Resource Type.

Print versions of periodicals are available at the Ottawa and Pembroke campus locations. Borrowing is permitted for a 7-day period.

• Ottawa campus: Print journals and magazines are available to borrow. Please visit the circulation desk at Building C, Room C350.
• Pembroke campus: Print journals and magazines are available to borrow. Please visit the circulation desk in Room 145.

You can find specific print periodicals using the following tools:

• Page 1+ : Choose the Advanced Search and set your Material Type to Journals.
• Search Journals : Click “Journals” on the Library homepage under Find Resources menu tab. Search by title. Under ‘Refine Results’ – ‘Availability’, check Print and Physical Items.

The Reserve collection is made up of items that faculty members have put aside for student consultation.

• To borrow an item from the Reserve collection, please visit the circulation desk at your campus Library.

You can find Reserve material using the following tool:

• Page 1+ :  Click ‘advanced search’ and select Course Reserves from the ‘show results from’ field.

Forgot an essential accessory? The Library lends a variety of technology items to help you stay productive while studying. Items can be borrowed from the Library Front Desk and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Available equipment may include:

• Phone charging cables and blocks.
• Headphones
• HDMI cables
• Computer mice
• Calculators
• Other accessories

Renewing an item extends the length of time that you can borrow that item. Most items may be renewed twice. Material borrowed may be renewed under the following conditions:

• Renewal occurs before or on the due date.
• There are no holds on the material.
• You have no overdue material on your account.

Students and employees can renew materials in the following ways:

• Using their Library card in person at their campus library desk
• By contacting us
• Using their Library account in Page 1+. Log in to Page 1+ with your Algonquin College email ID and password

Alumni and members of the community can renew items that they have borrowed from the Algonquin Library by contacting us.

For more information on how to renew, read our FAQ on Renewals: Renewing your items.

Materials borrowed may not be renewed under the following conditions:

• Renewal occurs after the due date
• There are holds on the material by other patrons
• You have overdue material on your account
• You have reached the renewal limit

To place a hold on a print item:

• In your Page 1+ search results, click on the item you would like to request.
• Under ‘Requests’, select Place Hold. (*Note, you will need to be signed in to see this option)
• Fill out your information and choose the campus location where you would like to pick up the item.
• Click Send Request. You will now see whether your hold was successful or unsuccessful. Note: You cannot place holds on in-library items (course reserves or reference)
• When the item you have placed on hold is available for pick up, you will be contacted by email.

To view the status of a request, while signed in to your Library Account, click on your profile in the top right corner to see your account information. There, under “overview”, you should be able to view your requests.

For more information, view our FAQ on Borrowing items: Placing a hold on an item

For faculty information, see the Faculty and Staff Guide.

Placing a hold on an item (e.g. a book, journal or magazine) reserves that item for you. Some of the reasons you might place a hold on an item are:

• The item is checked out by someone else, and you want to borrow it when it is returned.
• The item is available and you want to prevent others from checking it out before you can get to campus.
• The item is at another campus and you want it brought to your campus (Intercampus loan). When you place the hold, you can choose your campus as the place you will pick it up.

Can I borrow from the Algonquin College Library?

You can borrow items and access digital resources if you are a student, staff, or faculty at Algonquin College.

Alumni, community members, and Smart Library participants have limited borrowing privileges. For more information, read our information about services and resources for Alumni and Community members.

It’s my first semester. When can I start borrowing from the library?

You should be able to borrow right away, as soon as you get your student number and your tuition fees have been paid. If you’re borrowing print material, you will also need your AC card.

Can I access the Library digital resources?

Students, staff and faculty at Algonquin College can access our digital resources. Alumni and community members do not have access to the digital resources.

Your Library Account will permit you to renew print books and cds, request books and cds, borrow from other campus libraries, and access digital resouces.

If you are a student, your Library account is automatically generated when you start classes. Your login will be your College Network Account username and password:

• Login – your student email address. E.g. abcd0001@algonquinlive.com
• Password – your network password. E.g. The same password you would use to login to Brightspace.

If you are staff/faculty, your Library account is automatically generated. Your login will be your College Network Account username and password:

• Login – your employee email address. E.g. abcdefg@algonquincollege.com
• Password – your network password. E.g. The same password you would use to login to your email.

Log in to your Library Account

Not all Library materials can be borrowed. For materials that can be borrowed, the length of the loan may vary. A maximum of ten (10) items can be borrowed at one time.

Note: If an item does not appear on this list, contact your campus library to inquire about the loan period for that item.

What will I be charged if I don’t return items on time?

The table below lays out the fines for different types of Library items, based on how late the item is when it is returned.

Note: All fines accumulate per item.

What will I be charged if I lose an item that I borrowed?

The fines for lost items vary. They include the value of the material plus a $10 processing fee. For more information on fines, see Overdue fines: Cost and payment.

How do I pay my fines?

If you need to pay a fine, please visit your campus library Front Desk. If you are unable to make it to campus, please email us at library@algonquincollege.com and we will respond within regular business hours.

Where can I return books that I borrowed?

Books may be returned to the Library drop boxes. Drop boxes are located at the following campus locations:

• Ottawa campus: Items can be returned to the Library Front Desk (Room C350) during business hours or you can place your items in the drop box found on the side of the front desk in Room C350. Do not leave items on top of the desk or anywhere else in the library.
• Pembroke campus: During business hours, return items to the Library Main Desk. After hours, please return items to the drop box located just outside the Library main doors (Room 145).

Can I have a book at another AC campus brought to my campus?

You can borrow books that are in the collection of another Algonquin College campus library (Ottawa or Pemrboke) and pick them up at your campus. This is called an Intercampus loan.

To borrow an item, request the item through Page 1+ and set the campus to your campus.

For further instructions about how to request and pick up your items, read our FAQ on Borrowing items: Requesting an item.

Can I get access to a resource that isn’t in the Algonquin College Library collection?

Yes. Students, staff, and faculty at Algonquin College can borrow from other libraries in two ways:

• An Interlibrary loan through the Algonquin College Library: You submit a request to us and we obtain the item for you at another library. Use this form to submit your request: Interlibrary Loan Request Form.
• Borrowing directly at another library: You can borrow from libraries in Ottawa through SmartLibrary, from libraries at other Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology, or from the Pembroke Public Library.

Note: Loaning library policies may vary from that of Algonquin College’s. Please make yourself aware of these differences (especially those concerning fees and fines, as these apply) by visiting the website of the loaning library.

How do I renew something I borrowed from another institution?

Material that is borrowed from another library directly or through Interlibrary loan are subject to the owning library’s policy on renewals.

Below are the methods of renewing items for each borrowing method:

• Direct Borrowing: If you borrowed directly from a Sm@rtlibrary Participating Library, another Ontario College Library, or the Pembroke Public Library, contact the lending library before the due date of your item.
• Algonquin Interlibrary Loan (ILL): Contact the campus where you requested the loan before the due date:
  • Ottawa: illwood@algonquicollege.com (613) 727-4723 ext. 5282
  • Pembroke: illpemb@algonquincollege.com (613) 735-4700 ext. 2707

For more information, see our Borrowing from other libraries: How to borrow directly or request an interlibrary loan FAQ.

How do I return something I borrowed from another institution?

Below are the methods of returning items for each borrowing method:

• Direct Borrowing: Borrowers should return items directly to the loaning library.
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL): borrowers should return the items to the campus from which they requested the ILL.

Can I get a resource in an alternative format?

We can obtain digital copies of books in order to assist users with perceptual disabilities. Complete the Accessible Library Book Request Form to request a Library book in an accessible digital format. You must know the title of the book to make the request, and the book must be part of the AC Library collection.

What other accommodations does the Library provide to help me access resources?

The Library provides the following accessibility services to assist users with disabilities:

• Retrieving material
• Extending a loan period
• Assistance with scanning/photocopying

For information on these services and how to request assistance, visit our Library Accessibility Guide.