Students

Welcome to UVic Libraries!

Looking for help with an assignment, a place to study or the chance to learn a new skill? We’re here to help! Feel free to explore our spaces, workshops and resources—we’re happy to have you here.

Find a study space

Visit the Mearns - McPherson Library or the Priestly Library to find a space that fits your needs. Check out our spaces and room bookings page to learn more about our study spaces:

• bookable study rooms and Tek Booths
• computer workstations
• quiet or collaborative study areas
• adaptive technology rooms
• and more!

Get help with an assignment

Feeling stuck? We have lots of different resources to help you move your assignment forward.

Self-paced help

We have videos, tutorials and research guides to help with everything from finding high-quality articles to citing your sources.

Try our assignment calculator! This project planning app is specifically designed for university students. Enter your assignment due date and the app will break down your assignment into stages, with clear advice at each stage.

Librarian help

Did you know that our librarians offer personal help with assignments? They’d love to talk to you about your project. It’s a big part of their job—they want to support you during your time at UVic.

• for one-on-one support with a specific topic, find your subject librarian and book an appointment
• for general questions, you can contact us through chat, email or text

We look forward to hearing from you!

Printing in the library

Printing stations are available in the Mearns - McPherson Library and the Priestly Library. You can print from library computers or your own device. You will be charged a small printing cost.

Awards & fellowships

Did you know that we offer awards, contests and fellowships to celebrate student success?

Have you used library materials for an assignment? Apply for a $1000 library scholarship.

Interested in research with our Special Collections & University Archives? Apply for the Peter and Ana Lowens Student Fellowship to work with a mentor on your own research project.

Are you a podcast creator with something to say? Submit an episode to our yearly podcast contest. We give out up to $1000 in prizes each year.

Using GenAI tools

We are here to help you learn about Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools. Explore our resources on how to use GenAI safely and ethically in your studies.

Online guides

• browse our online guide to understanding GenAI, including key concepts and terminology
• read our online guide to citing text and images created by GenAI tools

Workshops

Take one of our AI workshops to get a general introduction to generative AI. You can also learn more about specific topics like AI transcription tools and prompt engineering.

Take our asynchronous workshop on Prompt Design for Beginners. You will learn how to create effective prompts for querying large language models (LLMs).

Using GenAI in your coursework

International student support

The library is dedicated to supporting international students. We are here to help you find resources and use our spaces.

Our library guide for international students can help you find information about using the library.

We also have 2 librarians that focus on supporting international students:

• Ying Liu
• David Boudinot

They can help with your assignments or show you how to use the library. Please reach out to them if you need anything.

Graduate student support

Graduate students have access to a dedicated quiet study area. We also have lockers for your use. You can visit the Ask Us Desk to get a locker key.

We can support you as you write your thesis or dissertation:

• our popular Thesis Writers’ Intensive events can help you make progress on your writing
• we can advise you on how to comply with copyright law when you publish
• we can help you upload your finished thesis to UVicSpace

We know that graduate students often take on multiple roles in the university community. Browse our information for instructors and researchers to find other resources.

Learn more

Student newsletter

Do you want updates about what’s happening in the library? Sign up for our student newsletter to stay up to date on our events, resources and activities.

Workshops & events

Check out our workshops on software tools, photo editing, bookbinding, podcasting and more. The Digital Scholarship Commons offers training on 3D printing and laser cutting.

Interested in how books are made? Keep an eye out for events in the Book Arts Lab. You can learn to make posters, cards and other materials with our printing and typesetting equipment.

Rare books & art

Visit Special Collections & University Archives to find rare books, photographs and other materials not available in our regular collections.

Or check out the Legacy Maltwood Gallery on the lower level of the main library to find our most recent art exhibits on display.