About the Libraries
The Vancouver Island University Library consists of the Main Library, Building 305, centrally located on the Nanaimo campus next to the Cafeteria and Administration Building. There are branch libraries at the Cowichan (Duncan), and Powell River campuses. A limited library service is available at the Parksville campus.
The Library is a member of British Columbia's Electronic Library Network (ELN), the Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL) and the Canadian Association of Small University Libraries (CASUL). As well, the Library participates in Canada's Data Liberation Initiative (DLI).
The Library staff are available by phone, regular mail, fax or e-mail. The Reference Librarians are liaisons with the University departments; they are also subject specialists.
Vancouver Island University Library 's online catalogue is a SIRSI product. The catalogue is a component of the VIU Resources and Library Information Network (MARLIN). The Library provides access through the WEB-based version of the online catalogue for students, faculty and the general public to over 150,500 items ( books, videos, periodicals, CD-ROMs, art prints, maps, slides, kits). Of these items, 8,857 are audio-visual titles consisting of 5,742 videos, 2,065 periodical titles in print, microfilm or microfiche format, and more than 362 CD-ROMS or computer files. In addition, there are 55,647 microfiche titles from the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. Furthermore, the Library has added over 1,790 online government publications to its catalogue as part of its Canadian government publications collection with over 12,400 titles. There are over 1,000 other online resources excluding the more than 100 article indexes or databases.
MARLIN is available to anyone with a Web browser such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer. VIU students, faculty, staff, and community borrowers are able to place holds on items, renew items and access the article indexes on MARLIN from home, from labs or offices using the Internet although licensed article indexes are restricted to in-library use only for community borrowers.
Members of the community, and alumni, are most welcome to use the Library. Borrower cards for these groups may be purchased at the Service Desk. Outside groups wishing to use the Library are advised to read the special guidelines.
There is an inter-library loan service for books, videos and periodical articles but certain restrictions apply. Ask at either the Reference or Service Desk for details.
The Library offers a full complement of services in addition to those described above. Our Mission Statement is:
The Library supports the mission of Vancouver Island University to assist students in developing their full potential by providing lifelong learning opportunities. It facilitates this objective by being proactive in providing appropriate learning resources and services which assist users in developing specific information retrieval and analytical thinking skills to meet the changes and challenges of a rapidly evolving society.
MAIN LIBRARY
Tel. 1-250-740- 6330
Fax 1- 250-740-6473
Library Address:
Vancouver Island University Library
900 Fifth Street
Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5Director: Bob Foley
Phone: 1-250-740-6331
E-mail: foleyb@viu.ca
The Main Library building consists of five floors. The Library's Technical Services Department and Library Administration are housed on the second floor. The VIU Bookstore and Printing and Duplicating Department are also on the second floor.
The third floor comprises the Service Desk, the Reference Desk, the reference (non-circulating) collection, government documents, periodicals, newspapers, slides, audio and video cassettes, viewing carrels, compact discs, maps, microforms including periodicals (magazines, journals and newspapers) on microfilm and the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions set of microfiche, the Curriculum Laboratory, and Video Services. The VIU Commons is also situated on the third floor.
Computer stations for the online catalogue are concentrated on the third floor with others available on the fourth floor. Information from these stations can be saved to a CD or USB drive, or printed at either of the two black and white laser printers for a small charge or at a colour laser printer. In many cases the information can be e-mailed free of charge. Adjacent to the Information Desk are two networked computer stations which can be used for certain CD-ROMs in the collection (not accessible from home). There are several scanning stations, an imaging station and a publishing station. Together with the online public access catalogue computers, these make up the Malaspina Commons area.
Patrons may use their VIU ID card, or may buy a copy/print card for $2.25, and add amounts needed for copying or printing. Copy/print cards can be bought and valued at dispensers in the lobby and near the photocopiers, or at the Service Desk. The charge for copying/printing is 10 cents per page. Photocopiers operated by copy/print card or coin are available in the area immediately beyond the Service Desk. There are 4 microfilm reader-printers also operated by copy/print card. These are located near the photocopiers and in the proximity of the microform cabinets.
The fourth floor, reserved for silent study, houses most of the circulating collection, referred to as STACKS in the online catalogue. The Vancouver Island University Writing Centre is on this floor.
The Main Library is wheelchair accessible. There are two elevators but only one goes up to the fifth floor where the Library Instruction Room 508 is located. A special card available at the Service Desk is needed for this elevator. Washrooms are located on the third and fourth floors. Study tables and carrels are on the third and fourth floors. Library staff are available to assist users in taking full advantage of all Library resources.
Cowichan Campus Library
Tel.1-250-746-3517
Library Address:
Vancouver Island University Library
222 Cowichan Way
Duncan, BC V9L 6P4Librarian: Eileen Edmunds
Phone: 1-250-746-3517
E-mail: edmundse@viu.ca
The Cowichan Campus Library houses over 7, 500 items. The online catalogue (MARLIN), a variety of online periodical indexes, access to the Internet, and a daily delivery system of inter-campus loans are the major services provided at the Cowichan campus in Duncan. A mini-computer student access lab inside the Library provides access to all computer programs available in the classroom labs. There are seventy-five quiet study spaces, a small viewing room, a storage area for audio-visual equipment and a microfilm reader-printer. Library staff are available to assist users in taking full advantage of all Library resources.
The Library, located at ground level, is wheel-chair accessible. The campus is on Cowichan Way, beside the Native Heritage Centre, in the south end of Duncan.
Powell River Campus Library
Tel. 1-604-485-8044
Library Address:
Vancouver Island University
Library/Bookstore
3960 Selkirk Ave.
Powell River, BC V8A 3C6Librarian: Eileen Edmunds
Phone:1-250-753-3245 (ext. 2272)
E-mail:edmundse@viu.ca
The Powell River campus Library is combined with the Bookstore. The Library houses approximately 3,000 volumes. The online catalogue (MARLIN), access to Internet, a variety of periodical indexes online or on CD-ROM, and the Outlook database for access to B.C. college, institute and public library catalogues, as well as inter-campus loans service are all available for patrons at this campus. There are study carrels and tables, audio-visual equipment and photocopy services. Library staff are available to assist users in taking full advantage of all Library resources.
The Parksville campus, while not currently having a library collection, does have the online catalogue (MARLIN) available together with information guides and handouts. Intercampus loans can be arranged by e-mail, phone, regular mail or fax. Service is available through the campus administration office, or by contacting Library staff in Nanaimo.