Library Services for Off-Campus Students (Fredericton)

Off-campus students taking courses through UNB or Saint Thomas University have a wide array of electronic library resources available to them. More importantly, UNB Fredericton Libraries have staff designated to help close the gap between off-campus students and the library. Please remember that we are always willing to help you with any aspect of your library work. You can reach us by phone at 506-458-7741 or 1-888-393-8222, or by email at libde@unb.ca.

UNB Libraries via the Internet

You can use an Internet-connected computer to search our online catalogues, over 90 journal-indexing databases, online reference sources, and over 20,000 full-text journals and 300,000 e-books, all through the UNB Libraries' homepage (www.lib.unb.ca). Online tutorials for using resources are available on the UNB Libraries’ website: www.lib.unb.ca/research/video.php. If you have difficulty using any of these sources, we can help you.

Contacting Us

When contacting us, please identify yourself as an off-campus student, and be prepared to state the barcode number on your student card. If you are a UNB student and have not already received a student card, you can request one online through My e-Services. STU students should call 506-452-0530 to arrange to receive a card. If you would like some help with your research strategy, or with gaining access to or using our resources, contact us for help. Please give your topic some thought before calling. We will ask you to be as precise as possible in describing your subject, so that we will be able to suggest the best resources for your research.

By Phone:

You can reach us by phone at 506-458-7741 or 1-888-393-8222. If you call during regular office hours, the staff members who are most likely to be handling your queries will be available to speak with you. For after-hours help, you can call the Research Help Desk at 506-453-3546.

By E-Mail:

Send mail to libde@unb.ca.

By Instant Message:

Chat online with library personnel to obtain assistance with your library research. Ask Us provides synchronous online reference and information services.

To Request Material:

Use the online request form at: http://www.lib.unb.ca/requests/docdel/.

Borrowing Books

If you want to obtain specific titles or authors' work, we will send them to you as they are available. All off-campus loans are subject to the same limitations as regular loans. Generally, the borrowing period for off-campus loans is 21 days. Some books do not circulate, but we may be able to photocopy pertinent portions for you.

You may request that holds be placed on materials signed out to other borrowers, and you are responsible for returning materials on time.

Materials are sent out by regular mail service, with return postage provided by the library; you will not have to pay postage either way.

If you live near another Canadian University, you can now borrow books from participating Canadian University Libraries under a reciprocal borrowing arrangement, CURBA, without having to purchase a card. Get more information about CURBA.

Journal Articles

We will photocopy journal articles for you from print journals carried in the UNB library system. Articles from outside our collection will require extra time to arrive. All photocopying is controlled by copyright laws.

We do not generally charge for the photocopying of materials, and delivery of these can be by Canada Post, fax, or in a digitized format. We prefer to fax or scan articles to you, so please include a fax number or UNB/STU email address if you have access to one.

Online Request Form

Journal Articles

If you have found references to journal articles that are of interest to you, first check the Journals & Newspapers list to discover whether the Library has electronic access to the journals in which the articles were published. If we do, you are in luck, as you can read the article online. If you have located an article reference through one of our Article Databases, click on the Check for Fulltext link to see whether we provide access to the content. If we do not have electronic access, use our online Material Request Form to ask us to send you a copy of the article. We will either copy it from our print collection, or obtain a copy from another library and send it on to you when it arrives.

Books, Conference Proceedings, and Other Materials

Check Quest -- our catalogue -- to see if the material you want is part of our collection. Fill in the online Material Request Form, and we will send it out to you as it is available. We will complete inter-library (document delivery) loan requests on your behalf for material that is not in our collection.

Time Factor

Please bear in mind that delays are inevitable, and that you may even decide to alter your research topic during the course of an assignment. Allow yourself plenty of time to receive and analyse your materials. We suggest that you contact us as soon as you know your essay topic, or a minimum of three weeks before your assignment is due.

On-Site Visits

If you are able to visit the Library, call ahead (506-458-7741) so that we can schedule assistance for you. We will show you how to use QUEST and other online resources that can help your studies. Please note that some departments, such as Archives, are not open on weekends. Library hours change throughout the year. Call 506-453-4742 for an updated listing of our current hours or check online at www.lib.unb.ca/about/hours.php.

Library staff will visit off-campus locations to provide library instruction to groups of students. Call your community liaison representative, or Marc Bragdon, at 506-458-7741, or e-mail mbragdon@unb.ca to arrange a session.