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UVic Libraries

Borrowing

All current University of Victoria students, staff and faculty may borrow materials from the library. Most loans are valid until the end of the term and allow for 5 automatic renewals. We don’t charge overdue fines for most of our items.

Undergraduate students can borrow up to 75 items at once. Graduate students, staff and faculty can borrow up to 200 items.

We also lend laptops, cables, cameras and more. Learn more about laptop and equipment borrowing.

Access your Library Account for an overview of your loans, requests and fines.

Do you live outside of Victoria? Learn more about borrowing our library materials from outside Victoria.

Loans

Detailed information about loan periods and renewals.

Loan type Loan period Maximum renewals Maximum items
Undergraduate (regular loan)

Term loans*

 5 75

Graduate, faculty, staff or affiliate (regular loan)

Term loans*

 5 200
Course reserves items (as marked) 2 hours/1 day N/A 2
3 days 5 2
Sound recordings

Term loans*

 5 N/A
Video recordings 3 days N/A N/A

*Term loans are loans that span a full academic term. Winter term loans are valid October 1 to April 30. Summer term loans are valid May 1 to September 30.

Please note that all loans may be recalled.

Read the UVic Libraries loan policy for more information. 

Borrow other materials

Alumni & community members

  • regular loans: 28 days, up to 25 items, 5 renewals
  • sound recordings: 28 days, up to 5 of each type, 5 renewals
  • course reserves: in-library use only
  • video recordings: not available

Read the alumni & community page for more information about how to use the library.

Visiting scholars

Read the researchers page for more information about the research supports we provide.

Library cards

Your UVic ONECard also acts as your library card. Visit the ONECard Office to get your own ONECard. 

Visit the Ask Us Desk or contact us for help getting a library card if you are not a UVic student, staff or faculty member. Learn more about community and alumni library privileges.

Returns

We assign a return date and time for each item you sign out. These dates may change due to renewals and recalls.

You can log into your Library Account to check your return dates. We will also send you an email 3 days before your item is due back.

You can return most items to the book return chutes in the lobby of the Mearns - McPherson Library. There is also a chute outside for when the library is closed.

The following items must be returned to the staff at the Ask Us Desk:

  • laptops, cables and other technology
  • CDs, records, videos and other audiovisual equipment
  • map tubes and air photo envelopes
  • interlibrary loan materials
  • recalled items
  • course reserve items
Return materials from the Diana Priestly Library to the front desk.

Renewals

Many library items will automatically renew up to 5 times. This includes regular books, maps, CDs, scores and microforms. 

Once an item has been renewed 5 times, you need to return it. If the item has reached its renewal limit and you would like to continue borrowing it, bring it back in person to restart its 5 renewals. You can return an item to the Mearns - McPherson Library or the Priestly Library, no matter which library you borrowed it from.

Recalled or overdue items will not be renewed.  

Recall, Retrieve, ReQuest

Recall 

If the item you want is currently checked out by someone else, you can recall it through Library Search. You will receive an email when your item is ready for pickup. Recalled items are held for 1 week.

If an item you have checked out is recalled, you will get an email with an updated due date. Recalled items are due 7 days from when you get the email. If the item is late, it will collect fines.

Please note that we may recall your loans over university holidays or breaks. We encourage you to return items to the library before leaving campus.  

Retrieve 

If you cannot pick up the item you want to borrow right away, you can ask library staff to retrieve it for you. Select “Hold/Recall” in Library Search.  

A staff member will collect the item and bring it to the Ask Us Desk for you. You can also choose to pick it up at the Diana Priestly Library front desk. You will receive an email when your item is ready for pickup. 

ReQuest 

UVic faculty and instructors can request library materials to be sent to your office or email. Use Library Search to place a request. We aim to deliver your items within 2 business days.

Fines

Regular loans do not collect overdue fines, but some materials do, including:

  • recalled items: $2.00 per day
  • course reserves items: $1.20 per hour
  • interlibrary loan items: $2.00 per day 
  • short-term laptops: $0.25 per minute
  • extended loan laptops and DSLR cameras: $10.00 per day
  • charging cables: $2.00 per day
  • all other media equipment: $5.00 per day

Pay fines online or in person at the Ask Us Desk. See the loans table for more detail about fines.

If your outstanding fines reach $20 or more, you will not be able to borrow more items. Pay the fines to start borrowing again. Stay on top of your due dates and fines with My Library Account.

We label loaned items as lost when they are 30 days overdue, or when recalled loans are 10 days overdue. Borrowers must pay a processing fee of $30, as well as a replacement fee, for lost items.

Please report any damaged, lost or missing library items to the Ask Us Desk.

For any questions about fines, please contact askus@uvic.ca.  

Share access to your account

You can choose to give another person access to your library account. This person is called a “proxy patron.” The proxy patron will be able to borrow, renew and recall items or pay library fines on your behalf.

To add a proxy patron to your account, both of you must have your own UVic library card—either a ONECard or a community library card. In compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, we need written consent to allow proxy access.

This service may be useful for:

  • users with a disability
  • faculty members who wish to grant access to research or teaching assistants
  • families who want all their materials on one account

To appoint a proxy, please contact askus@uvic.ca with the following information:

  • your name and V#
  • your proxy’s name and V#
  • the date range when you would like the proxy privileges to be active

Alternative text formats

We can provide accessible versions of library materials for course reserves. Contact reserves@uvic.ca or fill out the alternative format request form.  

We follow Canadian Copyright Act rules when providing alternative formats. By downloading these files, you agree to keep them for your use only.  

Are you registered with the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL)? If so, you can use their alternative format texts service instead. Contact CAL for help. 

Borrow from other libraries

 If UVic does not have what you need, you can borrow from another library with interlibrary loans. 

Are you planning to visit another Canadian university? UVic students, faculty and staff can also borrow from many university libraries in Canada. Browse the list of participating libraries. 

Contact askus@uvic.ca for more information.