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- Welcome
- Library Instruction - Information Literacy
- Floor Plans
- Services
- Circulation
- Access to Resources @ LU
- Collection Development
- Reserve Material
- Getting Material not held @ LU
- Equipment
- Feedback
Welcome
Hours of Operation
Current hours are posted at the entrance to the library, or may be accessed from the library’s home page.
Find books and journals
A Message from the University Librarian
GreetingsLibrary Instruction - Information Literacy
Orientation and Instruction
The Library’s core workshops have been mounted in the Links section of our new home page under the heading "Online Library Instruction."
Senate regulations require that these workshops “be integrated as a required component into each undergraduate program in the earliest-level course (or courses) that expect(s) the use of the library." However, we encourage you to make these workshops a compulsory part of any course requiring the use of library resources. The workshops teach students library fundamentals; they require no class time on your part; they may be done at any time by students; and best of all, once they have been done, they need not be done again as students can print off as many certificates as they require. Students need the information in these workshops if they are to exploit the library to the fullest. If you would like your own password, please contact the E-Learning Office, ext. 3962.
In addition to the online workshops, special in-class instruction in your discipline is also available. To make your arrangements, contact Ashley Thomson at ext. 3322. For instruction about the Archives, contact Marthe Brown, ext. 3339.
Services
Class Space
The Library has small rooms available that may be reserved on special occasions for classes. Contact the Access Services Desk, ext. 4800.
The Library Instruction Room (30-230) which seats up to 40 and the Brenda Wallace Computer Centre, which has 25 terminals, are also available for your classes. To book, contact Ashley Thomson, ext. 3322.
Exams
GIS/DATA
Photo Identification Cards
Photo identification cards are the property of Laurentian University and are used by University faculties, services and staff to identify you as a member of Laurentian and to give access to campus services. These include library privileges, photocopier use, cafeteria, and entrance to the gym. For faculty, these cards are available at no charge.

If you are a new faculty member or have not yet obtained a card, should complete the Online Application Form and return it to the Access Services Desk. If you already have a card, you may also obtain a renewal sticker at that desk. For more information, please click here.
Promotion
Research Assistance
Circulation
Faculty may borrow a maximum of 50 books. Books are due 120 days from the date of borrowing, and are subject to recall after 3 weeks if requested by another borrower, or after 3 days if required for Reserve.
Faculty may renew books once using the My Account link in the catalogue; for additional renewals, books must be presented at the Access Services Desk.
Late returns are subject to a fine of $0.50 per day per item. For more information, please contact Lise Seguin, ext 3336.
Email Notification
For items with a loan period of more than 4 days, a reminder notice will be sent to the email address associated with your library system account before the item is overdue. Two overdue notices will be sent to the same email address after the item is overdue. After an item is more than 30 days overdue, you will be sent another notice, and a $5 fine will be applied to your account.
Your LU Library Account
Login to your library account through the catalogue to renew your books, to see which books you have out, to place holds, and to verify whether you have fines owing.
Your username is your Laurentian email address. If you do not know your password, click below the login screen. You are required to change your password to seven digits containing at least one number and one letter once you login for the first time.
Access to Resources @ LU
The reserve collection, periodicals, the reference collection, atlases, recreational paperbacks, newspapers, as well as indexes and abstracts are located on the second floor.
Circulating books and the government documents collection are located on the third.
The Archives, located on the first floor of the Desmarais Library, houses the following special collections: Regional; Faculty; Mining Environment Vertical Files; Rare Books; 4th Years Honours Essay and Theses; and Archives.
The J.N. Desmarais Library also contains several specialized collections spread throughout the building such as the Collection franco-ontarienne and the Mining Environment collection.
E-books
E-books are a terrific new resource that the library in acquiring, largely because they may be accessed anywhere there is an internet connection.
They are located in two different places:
- Some may be located by using the library’s catalogue. These records will have [electronic resource] in the title.
- E-books can also be located by searching in e-book collections. Searching in these collections is the same as searching in a database.
Access to the Collections
Access to Laurentian’s library collections starts with the catalogue. Electronic collections are also available from off-campus through our proxy server. For faculty, the default log-in and password are your Novell log-in and password. For assistance, contact Information Technology, ext. 2200.

Books within the library are accessible through the catalogue in various ways including by author, title and subject. So too are all the special collections housed in the Archives as well as government documents . If you need help finding government information in print or online, consullt Mr. Desmond Maley, ext. 3323.
Periodical articles are found using online indexes and abstracts from the library’s home page from on- and off-campus. For recommended databases and other online and print resources by subject, click on the "Databases" link on the home page.
The library subscribes to over 50,000 periodicals in full-text electronic format. For those available only in print or in microformat, use the catalogue to see whether the J.N. Desmarais Library has the periodical title containing the article you want. Like books, periodicals In print are organized on the shelves by Library of Congress call number; periodicals in microformat are organized by title.
Archives
The archival fonds are all on or from Northern Ontario. These primary sources mostly pertain to (by alphabetical order) : Arts, culture and communications media; Clubs & social organizations; Economy; Education; Labour; Mining industries and related activities; Politics & Politicians; Population & socio-ethnic groups; Religious communities; and Sudbury.
Finding aids for Laurentian’s archival fonds are most easily accessed from the Archives website on the Library’s Home Page. Ask at the Library Information Desk for details or contact Ms. Marthe Brown, ext. 3339.
Paperbacks
A selection of popular paperbacks, most contributed by the SGA, is available on the south side of the second floor. In 2011, graphic novels were added to this collection.
Newspapers
Current issues of local and Toronto newspapers are available daily in a special rack at the entrance to the newspaper shelves.
DVD's and Interfilm
All DVD's formerly in the Instructional Media Centre have been moved to the Reserve Section and equipment is available on site to view such films. The IMC has retained all VHS tapes.
If you wish a DVD or VHS tape for class purposes, please search the Watmedia Catalogue to ensure it is available--and then email Laurentian Interfilm with the specifics of your request, including the date(s) you will need the item. Plan ahead a couple of weeks before submitting your request. For more information, contact Ashley Thomson, ext 3322.
Maps
Topographical maps for the country and base maps for Ontario are located in the centre of the second floor of the library.
Music
The library has a large collection of 33 1/3 rpm (long play) recordings comprised mostly of classical music from the baroque era through to the twentieth century.
There also is a selection of jazz and popular music recordings. The loan period is one week.
Collection Development
How Librarians Can Help You
Librarians are responsible for ensuring the balance and integrity of the collection by working in close collaboration with departments, schools and program leaders.
Responsibilities for collection development are outlined in the tables below:
| Unit | Subject Librarian |
|---|---|
| Anthropology | Ashley Thomson |
| Archives | Marthe Brown |
| Biology | Alain Lamothe |
| Chemistry & Biochemistry | Alain Lamothe |
| Commerce | Ashley Thomson |
| Computer Science | Dan Scott |
| Earth Sciences | Alain Lamothe |
| Economics | Desmond Maley* |
| Education (EN) | Ashley Thomson |
| Education (FR) | Leila Saadaoui |
| Engineering | Leila Wallenius |
| English | Ashley Thomson |
| Environmental Studies | Desmond Maley* |
| Forensic Science | Alain Lamothe |
| Français | Leïla Saadaoui |
| Geography | Desmond Maley* |
| Government Documents | Desmond Maley* |
| History | Ashley Thomson |
| Human Kinetics | Dan Scott |
| Law and Justice | Ashley Thomson |
| Mathematics | Dan Scott |
| Midwifery | Leïla Saadaoui |
| Modern Languages | Desmond Maley |
| Music | Desmond Maley |
| Native Social Work | Ashley Thomson |
| Nursing | Ashley Thomson |
| Philosophy | Ashley Thomson |
| Physics | Alain Lamothe |
| Political Science | Desmond Maley* |
| Psychology | Desmond Maley |
| Social Work | Ashley Thomson |
| Sociology | Desmond Maley |
| Sports Administration | Dan Scott |
| Special Programs | Subject Librarian |
|---|---|
| Arts d’expression | Leïla Saadaoui |
| Behavioural Neurosciences | Desmond Maley |
| Collection franco-ontarienne | Leïla Saadaoui |
| Human Development | Desmond Maley |
| Humanities MA | Ashley Thomson |
| Labour Studies | Desmond Maley |
| Orthophonie | Leïla Saadaoui |
| Radiation Therapy | Alain Lamothe |
| Science Communication | Leila Wallenius |
| Sport Psychology | Dan Scott |
| PhD Programs | Subject Librarian |
|---|---|
| Biomolecular Sciences | Alain Lamothe |
| Boreal Ecology | Alain Lamothe |
| Human Studies | Leila Wallenius* |
| Materials Science | Alain Lamothe |
| Mineral Deposits | Alain Lamothe |
| Natural Resources Engineering | Leila Wallenius |
| Rural and Northern Health | Leila Wallenius |
Library Representatives
Library representatives, selected by their colleagues, are the departmental/school/program contact persons. Library representatives are encouraged to assist librarians in developing a collection that will support the academic needs of students and the research needs of faculty.

Building the Collection
Collection Principles
Reading Lists
Gifts
Faculty Publications
Institutional Repository
Reserve Material
In nearly all cases, material is placed on Reserve for specific courses at the request of faculty. An Online Reserve Form is available from the Library’s home page. Most books are drawn from the stacks, although faculty may also put personal copies on reserve.
To ensure that the material you want is available when needed, please contact the Access Services Desk at least 1 week ahead of time. If any item must be ordered from a supplier, please allow at least 2 extra weeks for the order to be processed.
Because of a copyright agreement, you may also place more than 1 copy of an article on reserve provided that extra copies are added at the ratio of 1 per 15 students. For articles that will be heavily used, the Library encourages all faculty to make them available through the bookstore’s course package service.
Detailed guidelines for the Reserve collection are available from the Access Services Desk, ext. 4800. For further information, contact Lise Seguin, ext 3336.
Getting Material not held @ LU
Interlibrary Loans - RACER
For material not held in the J.N. Desmarais Library, use RACER, which is accessible from our home page.
Normally articles are emailed to your GroupWise account. Books must be picked up at the Access Services Desk.
Please note that you must register before launching your first request.
There is generally no charge to obtain either books or articles although small changes apply if ordered items are not picked up within three weeks.
A book may only be borrowed once. It may not be renewed or borrowed a second time. Books which are not returned on time also incur a charge of $1.00 per each day overdue.
For further information, please click here, or contact Ashley Thomson, ext. 3322.
Direct Borrowing
Faculty who visit other university libraries in Canada may borrow directly from these libraries with a valid ID card, and may return their books at Laurentian at no charge. For information, please contact Lise Séguin, ext. 3336.
Equipment
Cash Card Loader
Located on the second floor, the cash card loader will allow you to replenish your LU ID card. You can redeem money from your card throughout the campus at various photocopiers, printers, vending machines, coffee shops and the cafeteria.
Laptops, IPADS, and Netbooks
The library loans laptops, IPADS, and Netbooks at the Access Services Desk. For details, contact Ms. Lise Séguin, ext 3336.
Microform Readers
New equipment has been placed in the Microform section of the second floor, which gives you the option of converting pages on microform to .pdf documents.
Photocopiers
Photocopiers are available on the second floor. Your student photo ID card serves as your photocopy card. Visit the Access Services Desk to add money to your card, or do it yourself on the machine in the photocopy area. With a card, the cost per page is 8 cents.
Printers
Printers are located in the Learning Commons on the second floor. Printing is available in black & white or colour. Once the document is sent to the printer, login to the touch screen monitors next to the printers to retrieve your document using the same username and password you used to login to the computer.
Scanner
A scanner is available for public use opposite the Access Services Desk on the second floor. There is no charge for the use of this scanner, and it is capable of scanning in black & white, grey, or colour. For help using the scanner, please ask for help at the Access Services Desk.
Self-Checkout
A self-checkout machine has been installed opposite the Access Services Desk on the second floor.
Telephone
A public phone is available by the elevator outside the library opposite the entrance on the second floor. An in-house phone which reaches university numbers is available near the book bin on the first floor.
Vending Machine
You may buy various types of small equipment and supplies, such as memory sticks and pens from a machine placed just inside the library entrance, second floor.
Feedback
We are always interested in your opinion about our collections and services. If you have a suggestion you may complete our online form, or visit, phone or write:
Alain Lamothe
Chair, Department of Library and Archives
ext. 3304 or alamothe@laurentian.ca
or
Leila Wallenius
University Librarian
ext. 4841 or lwallenius@laurentian.ca
