All libraries on all campuses were closed as of 5 p.m. on March 18 until further notice. We are currently working with all of our employees to facilitate working from home and to ensure that essential library services can be delivered to users remotely.

There is an extensive collection of online resources, such as databases, ebooks, e-journals, streaming film collections, and e-reserves, to support teaching, learning, and research.

For details on what library services are available during this closure, please review the following frequently asked questions.

Can I access print or other physical materials while the branches are closed?

No, but we have contingency plans in place to provide access to resources for our faculty, staff and students. If you need an item that is in our stacks, or you need something that Memorial Libraries does not own, please complete our Request for Library Materials form and we will do our best to get you what you need. You may also want to check out our list of free eBooks and articles that publishers have temporarily made available during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What do I do with the books or other items I have checked out?

We have changed the due date on all library materials to April 30, 2020. You may also renew your items online. Sign in to OneSearch and view your account information by clicking on your name and selecting items to renew. Please be assured that absolutely no late fines will be charged to any library users. If you would like to return any items while we are closed, our book drops are currently accessible, but the advice from public health officials is to stay at home. Please keep your items for now, if possible. If you need to make arrangement to return materials, please contact us.

What if I get an overdue notice, or a notice to return an item?

Automatic notices have been turned off, however it is still possible you may receive a notice. Please disregard any such notices. You are not required to return items at this time. Absolutely no late fines will be charged to any library users.

How do I get help with research or citing while you are closed?

Librarians will be monitoring the online chat service from home. This service is available during the following times:

• Sunday-Thursday: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

How can I make course materials accessible to my students?

We are continuing to offer our online Course Resources(Reserves) service, but due to the closure of our branches, we cannot offer our digitization service. We can add ebooks, e-journal articles, PowerPoints, Word documents, streaming video and other materials submitted to us electronically so they are available to your students. We take care of all copyright clearance.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, textbook publishers have made the digital versions of many of their textbooks free for use by students. Publishers include: CRC Press, Garland Science, Macmillan, Nelson, OUP, Pearson, T&F, Wiley. Students just need to sign up for a free account with their university e-mail address and search for their textbook in VitalSource or Redshelf.

I’m a student. How can I get sources I need to do my course assignments?

We have an extensive collection of online resources. You can:

• Use OneSearch to find and use scholarly online resources.
• Pick a topic from our research databases page and use a database to find resources.
• Some databases include full text and/or the Get It @Memorial link, a shortcut to OneSearch. Databases tell you what’s published on a topic (MUN doesn’t own it all). OneSearch tells you what MUN has access to. But databases often give you more information about resources than OneSearch can.
• For help, try our online chat.
• You can also check out the Library Research Essentials tutorial, available to every student as a course in Brightspace.
• If you need something we don't own, or that we only have physically in one of our branches, please complete our Request for Library Materials form and we will do our best to get you what you need.
• For textbooks, sign up for an account with your university e-mail address and search for free textbooks in VitalSource or Redshelf.
• Access e-reserves for course materials your professor put on reserve.

What do I do if I need copyright clearance for course materials?

Memorial University Libraries are now responsible for copyright clearances for all course-related materials, including for online courses. Check out our copyright FAQ for more information.

What do I do if an online resource (like an ebook or e-journal) isn't working?

Please email LSPHelp@mun.ca. Librarians and staff are working to troubleshoot any issues that may arise in order to ensure continued access to all our online resources.

Am I still able to request books or articles through Document Delivery?

We regret that we are unable to offer our full document delivery service at this time. However, if there is a book or article you need, please complete our Request for Library Materials form and we will do our best to get you what you need.

Is there access to the libraries' physical collections, the Centre for Newfoundland Studies or Archives and Special Collections?

Not at this time. The safety of our employees and our library users is our first priority. As we do not have staff in our branches, we are not able to retrieve physical items. Health care professionals and researchers with exceptional needs may request access on a case by case basis. For the Centre of Newfoundland Studies, please email cnsqeii@mun.ca. For Archives and Special Collections, please email archives@mun.ca.

Will the libraries' open acess author fund re-open on April 1st as scheduled?

We will not have the capacity to re-open the application process at this time. We will keep you updated as soon as we know more. 

How long will the libraries be closed?

At this time, we do not know when we will be able to re-open. Please continue to check Memorial University's COVID-19 Information Hub for official updates.