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HOW DO I...(& other questions)

GENERAL QUESTIONS

FACULTY QUESTIONS

How do I find books, magazines, DVDs, and games?

Finding library resources is easy and you can search the online library catalogue 24 x 7 from any computer that has access to the Internet. Just remember to click on "Ai Vancouver" in the Quick Limits so that you limit your search to only the Art Institute of Vancouver libraries.

You can search the catalogue by Keyword, Title, Subject, Author, Call Number, ISBN, and more. Simply select which of those options that you would like to search in the Find Results In: drop down and then type in the search bar what you would like to find.

The library catalogue will retrieve back a list of items that best match your search. Click on your item of interest to view the item record. The Library catalogue will provide you with the following information:

  • Author
  • Title
  • Publisher & Date
  • Location ( Art Institute of Vancouver General Stacks = Renfrew location)
  • Item call number
  • Library status: Not Charged = the item is available at the library / Charged = the item is currently on loan to another patrons
  • Bibliographic information: list of key words associated with the item, physical attributes of the item (# of pages, edition, etc)
  • Table of Contents

How do I borrow library materials?

It's easy to borrow library materials! Except for Reference materials, Digital Juice, newspapers, and the most current magazine editions, all library items can be loaned out to CURRENT staff, students, and faculty of the Art Institute of Vancouver. Please visit About the Library for more information on loan policies. Alumni students may also use library materials but can do so only in-house, and unfortunately can no longer borrow once graduated.

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Does the library charge fines or overdue charges?

The library does charge overdue fines to students who return or renew their items late - please visit About the Library to view the associated charges. When you borrow library materials, you should receive a due date receipt that shows the item's due date and how to renew items if you need them longer. The library also sends you due date reminder notifications via email - please make sure that you check your Ai email, or that mail in your Ai email inbox is forwarded to your main email account (i.e. hotmail, gmail, etc.). We try to make it easy for you to manage your loans so that you can avoid paying overdue charges.

The library's collection is a shared collection and we manage it so that everyone can have the chance to borrow materials. Overdue fines are charged as an incentive for students to return their items back on time.

Faculty and staff are not charged overdue fines, but the library STRONGLY urges you to also respect the due dates of your borrowed materials so that others can borrow the materials. Please communicate to the library if you think that you require materials for longer than the allotted borrowing periods.

If items are not returned after a number of notifications (usually it the item(s) are 3 or 4 weeks), staff, students, and faculty will be billed for the replacement cost of the item(s) and may face a suspension of their library borrowing privileges.

How do I place a hold/request on a library item?

To place a hold on a library item, please visit the library or contact the library via phone or email. Please tell us the title of the item(s) that you would like to put on reserve along with your full name and contact information and Library staff will be able to place a reserve on your item(s) of interest. Please ensure the library has your current contact information (phone and email) so that you can be properly notified about your hold.

Library staff will contact you via phone or email when your hold becomes available. The library will hold your item(s) for 5 working days. If your item(s) has/have not been picked up after the 5 days, then the item(s) will be reshelved for others to borrow.

How do I cancel my hold?

If you want to cancel your hold please contact the library so that the item can be put back into circulation or moved to the next person.

How do I renew my library items?

It's easy to renew. If you want to hold onto your items longer and wish to avoid overdue charges, you can renew your items, via phone, email, or by visiting the library. Please click here to email you renewal request and include your name and the titles that you wish to renew.

You will not be able to renew your items if:

  • the item(s) is/are on hold for someone else, or
  • you have renewed it the maximum number allowed. If you are a student, you cannot renew your items more than twice.

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How do I research my topic? Where do I start?

The Library's many Program & Academic Resource guides provide you with a collection of key book, DVD, periodical/magazine, internet website, and library databases that are related to your particular program. There will soon be a resource guide for every program offered at the Art Institute of Vancouver, and currently you can explore ones for Animation, Audio Music & Recording Arts, Culinary, Digital Film & Video, Event Management, Fashion, Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Web Design & Interactive Media.

In addition, the library also has a growing number of supplementary - or associated - resource guides such as Writing & Research, Business & Marketing, Photography & Digital Imagery, and more which provide additional, focused areas of study on related topics.

How do I suggest a title for the library to purchase?

We welcome any of your suggestions! Your suggestions help the library identify any resources needs and collection gaps and we encourage you to let us know what you want. To suggest new titles (books, DVDs, games, etc), please do so here and include your name and contact information so that we can contact you should the library obtain your recommendations.

Please note the library does its best to acquire resources that are requested by staff, students, and faculty. However, the library focuses its collection development and acquisitions of new materials on resources that support the programs taught at the Art Institute of Vancouver, and that aid in student study and professional success.

By also letting us know why you wish the library to purchase your suggested resources, you can also greatly aid the library in the selection process, as well as expedite your request for purchase.

I need help on my project. I don't know where to look for my information.

If confused about your project or assignments, first ask your instructor for clarification as he or she may be able to provide you with the needed information that can help you on your way.

The library is also there for you if you need additional help and are having trouble locating the resources needed to complete your assignments. If you require help, please contact the library! Email, the library with your questions and library staff will do their best to answer. If needed, they can also schedule an appointment so that they can go over your assignment and work out a research plan.

What are Course Reserves?

Course Reserves are located at both the Main and Culinary libraries and are marked with a yellow sticker. This collection consists of textbooks and suggested readings that are outlined in course syllabi and are resources that are anticipated to have popular use - items required for students to complete assignments and other activities outlined by instructors.

As such, Course Reserves may only be borrowed for a maximum time of 4hours and accumulate overdue charges of $0.25 /item / hour if returned late. No renewals are allowed. This shortened borrowing period is to ensure access to these resources by many people, and so that no single person can hold onto the resource for days or weeks at a time.

I'm having trouble using the library electronic databases. I can't get in!

Some of the library's databases (Getty Images, Groves, HW Wilson, I-Cook, Killer Tracks, Oxford Reference, Proquest, & Safari) require login ID's and passwords for you to access them. To obtain the access information, please contact the library via phone, email, or drop by for a visit. Access information is only distributed to Current students, staff, and faculty of the Art Institute of Vancouver.

What library resources do online students and alumnia have access to?
Alumni who have graduated within the last 6 months and online students are free to use resources in both the Main and Culinary libraries. They are not, however, allowed to check out materials from the library or use any of the subscription online electronic resources.
 

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FACULTY QUESTIONS

I need library materials to plan and teach my class. How do I get an extended loan?

If you need to borrow library materials for various classroom activities (for syllabus planning, classroom teaching, etc.), the library will gladly accommodate extended loans for faculty. Please let library staff know how long you need the materials for and we will personalize a new due date according to your needs.

How do I put materials into Course Reserve?

If you have a particular title - a required textbook or suggested reading - that you would like to place in library Course Reserve, please let library staff know and we will do so. We require the item title, your class (course name and number), and length of period that you wish the title to remain in the Course Reserve collection.

Putting items in the Course Reserve collection is a great way for students to access materials that they need to read and study for a particular class and classroom activity. It prevents a single student from borrowing the item(s) for the full borrowing period (anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks depending on material type). Rather, the item will have a temporary short loan of only 4 hours with no renewals. In this way, the item(s) can be more easily accessed by more students.

 
 
 
 
 
Last updated 3 November, 2010