Patrick Power Library
How Do I...?
Helpful tips on how to get the most out of your library. If you see an item which could be included on the list please let us know at library@smu.ca.
How Do I...?
get a library card/student ID?
login to the computers in the Library?
connect to the Internet from my laptop?
get copyright information for faculty & staff
locate reserve materials for my course?
search other library catalogues?
find resources related to my subject?
recognize scholarly journal articles?
find good information on the World Wide Web?
avoid plagiarism?cite my sources?
format my thesis?
How do I get a library card/student ID?
Your Saint Mary's University identification (ID) card is also your library card. ID cards are issued at the University ID Centre in the Patrick Power Library. The ID Centre is open:
M-Th 10:00-2:00, 6:00-8:00
F 10:00-2:00
Sat 1:00-5:00
Sun 2:30-6:30
Phone 496-8171 (during open hours)
For Students: A student applying for a University Identification Card must bring a photo ID (such as a Driver’s License or Passport) and your “A” number to the Library. Your initial card will be free. IDs are made at the ID Centre located on the main floor of the Library. ID Centre hours are posted at the Circulation Desk and on the ID Centre door. Your card will be needed when you borrow Library material, may be required when writing exams, is paired with a UPass card for Metro Transit, allows access to the Tower athletic facility, and may be requested when you attend University functions.
Saint Mary’s ID cards must be renewed annually in September but can be renewed earlier if you have registered. Lost cards must be reported to the Library. A replacement ID card will be produced for a $15.00 fee.
If you do not have one, or if you have any other questions, drop by the Circulation desk at the entrance to the Library or phone 420-5547.
For Faculty and Staff: To obtain your ID, you must have your Banner number (i.e., A number). You will also need to fill out the Faculty and Staff Library Registration form and then have your Department Head sign the form. Adjunct Faculty must complete the same process. Forms are available at the ID Office. Contact the Circulation desk at 420-5547 if you have any questions.
How do I use the library from home?
Saint Mary's students, faculty and staff can access the Novanet catalogue and most Saint Mary's library databases from off-campus. To access Novanet, click on the Novanet catalogue link on the Patrick Power Library homepage. To access databases, go to the Databases A-Z page from the library homepage and then click on a database. A log-in screen will appear. Login using your SMU Network username (e.g., s9876543) and password. Note: A few databases are accessible in the library or on campus only.
If you need assistance, call the Library's Information & Research desk at 420-5544.
To find a book, search the Novanet catalogue to find out which Novanet libraries own the book, as well as where the book is shelved in those libraries:
- Click on the Novanet catalogue link located on the library's homepage.
- To perform a search, type your search terms into the Search by keyword box or the Browse an alphabetical list search box.
- Look for the book title in the results list. If it appears, click on the title to see more information, including which libraries own the book. For holdings information, click on the individual library link(s). You may need to look at the holdings for more than one library to locate an available copy:
- If the book is available for loan from Saint Mary's, the item status will indicate "SMU General Loan." These books will be shelved on either the second or third floor of the library: books with call numbers A - PR 3999 are on the second floor; books with call numbers PR 4000 - Z are on the third floor; Oversized books are on the third floor; Reference books are shelved in the Reference Collection on the ground floor and are for "in library use only."
- If the book is available for loan from another Novanet library, you can either visit that library to obtain the book, or use Novanet Express to request that the book be delivered to Saint Mary's.
For more information on searching the Novanet catalogue, consult the Patrick Power Library's Novanet Basic Search online tutorial. For help in finding your way around the library, including location maps of where books are shelved, view the Virtual Tour of the Library.
How do I find a journal article?
The Library's step-by-step guide to Finding Journal Articles has tips to help you select an appropriate database for your subject, formulate your search, evaluate your results and locate the articles you want to read. The Library also has several online tutorials on how to search databases, available on the Online Tutorials page.
The Patrick Power Library's Information & Research desk staff can also help you to select a database and find articles for your research (visit; call: 420-5544; or email: research@smu.ca).
How do I login to the computers in the Library?
To login to the library computers, use your SMU Network username (e.g., s9876543). This account is used to access campus computers, network drives, and SMUport. To activate your computer account, go to http://activate.smu.ca. For more information, please refer to the Information Technology Systems & Support Computers and Network page (see Computer Accounts).
How do I print in the Library?
The laser printers in the Reference area operate on the same print credits system as the computer labs. Laser printing costs $0.08 per page plus tax. If you would like to purchase more print credits go to the Circulation desk at the library. Double-sided printing is available. Printing to the Reference area printers from laptops is also available. See Wireless printing in the Library.
Users on guest machines print to the laser printer located at the Circulation Desk. Laser printing costs $0.10 per page plus tax.
How do I connect to the Internet from my laptop?
Wireless network access is available throughout the library. For directions on how to configure your laptop for wireless access, please refer to the Information Technology Systems & Support page on Wireless Access on Campus.
The library has ten laptop computers available for use within the library. Please refer to the Laptop Lending page for information on how to sign one out.
How do I access my library account?
To check the status of your library account (e.g., check the due dates of books you have out on loan, renew books, etc.):
- Go to the Novanet catalogue.
- From the top menu, click "Login to your library account" and enter your University ID card's barcode number and your password - initially this is the last four digits of your phone number (if this doesn't work, contact the Circulation desk at 420-5547).
- You will now see a new link on the top menu: "My Library Account." Click on this link to see your information, including items on loan.
- Remember to logout of your account or close your browser window before leaving the computer.
Bring the library items you wish to borrow to the Circulation desk and sign them out using your University ID card. If you need library materials from another library, there are two ways to obtain the material (other than borrowing in person).
Novanet Express: You can request the delivery of material from one Novanet library to another via the Novanet catalogue. (Note: You may have to update your contact information with the Library before you can complete your request.) To learn more about the Novanet Express Service, see the Patrick Power Library's Novanet Express online tutorial.
Interlibrary Loan: The Interlibrary Loan Service helps users acquire research materials not available at Saint Mary's or any other Novanet library. The service is extended to students, faculty and staff of Saint Mary's University. Details about using Interlibrary Loan, as well as online request forms, are available on the Document Delivery Services page.
Off-campus borrowers: Students, staff and faculty from other Nova Scotia post-secondary libraries, some high school students, and adult members of the general public are eligible for borrowing privileges at the Patrick Power Library. Most of those associated with universities and colleges automatically have borrowing rights; other categories of borrowers must apply for them. In most cases, members of the public (Nova Scotia residents 18 or older) need only present an official photo ID that includes proof of Nova Scotia residence, such as a driver's license, for privileges to be granted right away.
How do I renew a book?
Books can be renewed online through the Novanet catalogue or in person at the Circulation Desk. To renew one or more books online:
- Go to the Novanet catalogue.
- From the top menu, click "Login to your library account" and enter your University ID card's barcode number and your password - initially this is the last four digits of your phone number (if this doesn't work, contact the Circulation desk at 420-5547).
- You will now see a new link on the top menu: "My Library Account." Click on this link to see your information, including items on loan.
- Click on the "Loans/Renewals" link.
- To renew items, click the "Renew All" link to renew all items, or click the check box next to the item(s) you wish to renew, and then click "Renew Selected."
- Remember to logout of your account or close your browser window before leaving the computer.
Note: If you have already received an overdue notice, your books must be renewed in person.
For further help, see the Patrick Power Library's Renewing Books Online tutorial.
How do I locate reserve materials for a course?
At the request of professors, course-related books are placed on reserve. Students may borrow material on a short-term loan from the Circulation desk, located near the Library's entrance.
To search for reserve materials, open Novanet from the library's homepage. Click on the "Reserves" tab at the top of the page. Type your search terms into the Search for box and then select a search type from the dropdown box (e.g., instructor, course name, department, title, author, etc.). Reserve materials are also listed in the Course Reserves binder located at the Circulation desk counter.
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How do I read call numbers?
A call number tells you exactly where to find a book in the library. Call numbers are shown in the Novanet catalogue record and printed on the spine or front cover of each book. To find a book on the shelf, read the call number one element at a time.
For example, to find a book with the call number PR 571 F79 1990, you would look for the first element (PR), then the second (571), then the third (F79)...until you find the exact spot on the shelf where the book belongs. For further help with call numbers, see the Patrick Power Library's guide or the Reading Call Numbers online tutorial.
Note: Books with call numbers A - PR 3999 are on the second floor; books with call numbers PR 4000 - Z are on the third floor; Oversized books are on the third floor; Reference books are shelved in the Reference Collection on the ground floor and are for "in library use only."
How do I search other library catalogues?
You can search SMU. WorldCat - a catalogue of books and articles from Novanet and other libraries. For help with searching, see the Library's online tutorials on SMU.WorldCat.
You can also search other libraries' catalogues separately. To search the catalogues of libraries outside of the Novanet system, use the Internet to locate the website of the library you want and click on the link to its catalogue. The Library maintains a selected list of links to the catalogues of local, regional, national, and world libraries. See Other Catalogues.
How do I find resources related to my subject?
To find reference sources, books, journal article indexes and databases, and suggested Internet resources related to a particular subject, see the Library's Subject Guides, or visit the Library's Information & Research desk.
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How do I recognize scholarly journal articles?
Many professors require that students use scholarly sources in their assignments. For key characteristics to help you identify scholarly publications, see the Library's Scholarly Journals vs Popular Magazines vs Trade Publications guide, or the Scholarly Journals online tutorial.
The Patrick Power Library's Information & Research desk staff can also help you to identify and locate scholarly sources for your research.
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How do I find good information on the World Wide Web?
Finding information on the World Wide Web is easy, but finding good information can often be a challenge. To help you with this, check out the following guides:
- Evaluating Internet Resources: Questions and Strategies: This guide will help you evaluate the quality of the information that you find on the web.
- Google: Learn how to use the Google search engine effectively to find information on the web.
- Google Scholar: Learn how to use Google Scholar to find scholarly materials on the web.
See the Library's A Student's Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism for information on plagiarism, including tips on avoiding it in your writing.
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How do I cite sources properly?
When conducting research and writing papers, you will sometimes use direct quotations from the work of others. You may also summarize the ideas of other writers or paraphrase (put in your own words) things that you have read. Any time you use someone else's work (words, ideas, graphics, programs, etc.) you must acknowledge the source by documenting it. Different academic disciplines (e.g., psychology, English, etc.) require different styles or formats for citation and documentation. Some of these styles are APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association) and Chicago Style. Your professor will tell you which style to use.
To learn how to use these different styles properly, see the print and online resources listed on the Patrick Power Library's Style Guides and Citations page. You can manage your citations and generate bibliographies in a range of citation styles using RefWorks. For more help, visit the Writing Centre.
How do I format my thesis?
Format requirements and downloadable forms for the Major Research Project and Honours, Masters and PhD theses are available on the Saint Mary's University Archives site, under Theses.
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How do I get help with writing for my assignments?
See the Library's guides for help with annotated bibliographies, literature reviews, avoiding plagiarism, and more. You can also make an appointment for help at the Writing Centre.
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How do I get a job at the Library?
The Access Services Department has a student staff of 15 to 20 members who assist full-time staff in providing patron service at our Circulation Desk. Student Assistants are responsible for the biggest part of shelving and maintenance of the Library's collection. Candidates must be full time Saint Mary's students.
Student Assistants are scheduled for day, evening, and weekend hours. The average schedule is 10 hours per week.
Some of the qualities we look for include:
- A positive and responsible attitude
- Promptness and dependability
- A strong aptitude for customer service
- Ability to perform detailed tasks with and without supervision
- Ability to perform repetitive, but essential tasks
If you are interested in applying for a position at the Library, please watch for our postings at the Student Employment Centre: http://www.smu.ca/administration/sec/current.html.
How do I donate books to the Library?
The Library is pleased to receive gifts that contribute to the growth and development of our collections. Information for potential donors is found in the Library's Policy for Acceptance of Gifts.
How do I find answers to questions not included here?
Librarians and staff at the Patrick Power Library's Information & Research desk are happy to help you. If you require assistance, please consult the Information & Research desk staff in person, by calling 420-5544, or by e-mailing research@smu.ca.
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