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Community Users Guide

A guide to assist community users with accessing resources and services at the Patrick Power Library..

Borrowing Privileges

The Patrick Power Library is a member of Novanet, an academic library consortium that provides access to 12 university and community college library systems in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Faculty, students, and staff from any Novanet institution may borrow from the Patrick Power Library using a valid ID card from their university or community college. 

Students, faculty and staff from Atlantic Canada universities may borrow materials using the Council of Atlantic Academic Libraries / Conseil des bibliothèques postsecondaires de l'Atlantique (CAAL/CBPA) Borrowing Card. 

A CAAL/CBPA card is a free library card that provides borrowing privileges at most university libraries across Canada for all students, faculty and staff from Atlantic Canadian universities. The card must be issued from the borrower's home institution. Borrowers with a CAAL/CBPA card may return items at any Atlantic Canadian university library.

Students, faculty, and staff from provinces outside of the Atlantic region may borrow materials using identification cards as specified by the Canadian University Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement (CURBA). These cards, which include COPPUL, CREPUQ or IUBP cards, must be obtained from the borrower's home institution. Borrowers may return items at any Canadian university library.

Library Access

CAAL and CURBA members are welcome to use the following library resources and services:

  • Online library catalogue (also available off-campus)
  • E-books and e-journals (in-library use only) *
  • Most research databases (in-library use only) *
  • Print collections, including serials
  • Microform and microform readers
  • Photocopiers, scanners, and printers (printed documents can be paid for and picked up at Circulation desk)
  • Reference and research services (virtual and in-person)
  • Computers designated for public use
  • Access to the Saint Mary's University Archives/Institutional Repository
  • Borrowing and renewal of materials
  • Seating areas and individual study spaces

 

CAAL and CURBA members do not have access to the following library resources and services:

  • Study room reservations (available for SMU students only)
  • Computers that are not designated for public use
  • Interlibrary Loan service 
  • Reserve and Reference collection materials are not available for loan
  • Off-campus access to electronic resources licensed to the Patrick Power Library
  • Book recall privileges

 

*Access is permitted to electronic books, journals, and most Saint Mary's research databases in-person on designated "guest" computers within the Library. Off-campus access to Saint Mary's electronic materials and research databases is restricted to currently registered Saint Mary's University students, faculty, and staff.