Borrow from Brock Library

Anyone with a valid Brock Card, Alumni Card, Special Borrowers’ Card, or valid ID Card from a Canadian university is welcome to borrow our materials.

Present your items and ID card to staff at the Ask Us desk or use the self-checkout station.

Watch this short video for help finding items in the library.

Borrow from Other Libraries
(interlibrary loan)

Learn more about borrowing services from other libraries.

Borrowing Information

Type of MaterialLoan Period
BooksFaculty, staff, students: 120 days (unless recalled for use as a course reading ("on reserve")
Badger Books4 weeks
Reserve items3, 24, or 48 hours
Equipment4, 24, or 72 hours
Board games3 days
Map, Data & GIS Library materials3 days or 1 week or in Library Use only
CDs, DVDs or VHS tapes2 weeks
Archives & Special CollectionsLibrary Use only
Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University items2 weeks
Instructional Resource Centre (IRC)see IRC homepage
Patron TypeLoan Period# of renewalsMaximum # of items checked out
Undergraduate students120 daysunlimited500
Faculty, Staff, Graduate students120 daysunlimited500
Brock Retirees120 daysunlimited500
Alumni and Special Borrowers2 weeks420
Type of EquipmentLoan Period
Bloomberg laptop (financial software)4 hours
Calculators (scientific)4 hours
Colouring pencils24 hours
Computer mice4 hours
DVD drive (portable - usb)4 hours
Happy Light (broad spectrum light therapy lamp)3 days
Headphones4 hours
Mac to HDMI adaptor4 hours
Mac to VGA adaptor4 hours
Mac video adaptor4 hours
Magnifying glass4 hours
USB foot pedal for transcription48 hours
Whiteboard marker/dry erase kits4 hours
Wireless laser remote control4 hours

We love getting suggestions for new games and activities! Share your favorites with us at libhelp@brocku.ca

Board Games

GameLocationLoan Period
BoggleAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Ambassador ChessAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
ChessMap, Data & GIS Library, MC C3063 days
ClueAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Code NamesAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
CraniumAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
DominoesAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Draughts & Flying ChessAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Dutch BlissAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
GoAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
JengaAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
LifeAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
LudoAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
MahjongAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
MonopolyAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
PandemicMap, Data & GIS Library, MC C3063 days
Playing Cards (3 decks)Ask Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Playing Cards (2 decks)Map, Data & GIS Library, MC C3063 days
RiskAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
ScattergoriesAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
ScrabbleAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
SequenceAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Skip BoAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Snakes and LaddersAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
SudokuAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Sushi Go!Ask Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Ticket to Ride-EuropeMap, Data & GIS Library, MC C3063 days
Trivial PursuitAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
UnoAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days

Crafts & Art Supplies

ItemLocationLoan Period
Busy Box (ages 3-6)Ask Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library24 hours
Busy Box (ages 6-10)Ask Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library24 hours
Colouring PencilsAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library24 hours
Melissa & Doug Sticker PadsAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library24 hours

Puzzles

ItemLocationLoan Period
Canada (60 pieces)Ask Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Canadian Hockey (100 pieces)Ask Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Ludicrous Library (500 pieces)Ask Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days
Tree of Life (100 pieces)Ask Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library3 days

Sports & Exercise Equipment

ItemLocationLoan Period
Flying discs (2)Ask Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library24 hours
FootballAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library24 hours
Skipping ropes (2)Ask Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library24 hours
Soccer ballAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library24 hours
Yoga kitAsk Us Desk - James A. Gibson Library24 hours

Brock University Library has partnered with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority to lend out 2022 NaturePlus Membership Passes.

  • Passes are valid at Ball’s Falls, Binbrook, Chippawa Creek and Long Beach Conservation Areas for day use.
  • Four passes are available for loan at the Ask Us desk for 7 days (no renewals).
  • By signing in to Omni, borrowers can request a pass in advance.
  • Overdue fines: $5 per day, with a maximum fine of $50 for lost passes.
  • Learn more about access to the NPCA sites.

The James A. Gibson Library is pleased to partner in the Brock University Seed Library initiative. Visit the Ask Us desk to choose from fruit and vegetable, flower and herb seed packets. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Place a request on print materials with a “Loanable” status to have books retrieved from the shelves for you.

To make your request:

  1. Search Omni for your item.
  2. Click on Request for pickup and click on Send Request.
    Image of the Request for pickup form in Omni.
  3. Your book should be available for you the next day. Staff retrieve requested books from the shelves each morning.
  4. Library staff will notify you by email when the book is ready for pickup from the Ask Us desk.
    You can also check the status of your request via your Library Account in Omni.

Limitations

Borrowers can place requests on up to ten (10) items at a time.
This service is available for most library material but, there are some items which cannot be requested. They include:

  • Course readings on three-hour loan
  • IRC (St. Catharines and Burlington campus) materials
  • Archives & Special Collections
  • Map, Data & GIS Library
  • McMaster Medical Collection materials
  • CPI (Center for Pedagogical Innovation)

Students, faculty and staff can access book chapters and journal articles from print-only sources by requesting a scan for delivery right to your email. There is no charge for this service.

In order to comply with Brock’s Fair Dealing Policy, we can only provide scans of ‘short excerpts’: typically one chapter, one article, or 10% of a copyright-protected work.

To make your request:

  1. Search Omni for your item.
  2. Click on Request a Scan (ensure you are signed in).
    Screen capture of request a scan function in Omni
  3. Enter the details about the excerpt needed: which chapter OR which volume/ issue/ article.
  4. Library staff will notify you by email when the scan is ready and include the download link. You can expect your scan within 3-4 business days.
  5. The link allows for 5 downloads, and expires after 30 days.

LIMITATIONS

The following print materials are not available to scan:

  • Course Readings on short-term loan (Reserve Collection)
  • Items held in Archives and Special Collections or in the Instructional Resource Centre.
  • Maps and atlases.
  • Review the items and due dates for items you have checked out.
  • Renew eligible checked out items.
  • Log into your library account prior to searching Omni to request books and request scans of book chapters/journal articles.
  • Save your search queries for future use and receive email notifications when additional new items are received pertaining to your search strategy.
  • Renew by signing in to Omni with your campus id and password.
  • Open the ‘My Loans’ menu item. Select specific items for renewal or renew all.
  • Loans from Brock will appear by default. Select specific items for renewal or renew all.
  • To renew items you’ve borrowed from other Omni libraries, select the appropriate University under the ‘My Institutions’ drop-down menu on the left-hand side.
    Select specific items for renewal or renew all.
  • Contact libhelp@brocku.ca if you require assistance.
  • Please note: some items may not be renewable if:
    • they are recalled for use a course reading (“on reserve”) or,
    • you have outstanding fines over $20.00

View our ‘How to Renew’ graphic.

At Brock:

Please return all Library materials to the Ask Us Desk when the Library is open. An after-hours book return slot is located at the east entrance to the Library.

At an Omni partner library:

  • Algoma University
  • Carleton University
  • Lakehead University
  • Laurentian University
  • Wilfrid Laurier University
  • McMaster University
  • Nipissing University / Canadore College
  • OCAD University
  • Ontario Tech University / Durham College
  • Queen’s University
  • Trent University
  • University of Guelph
  • University of Ottawa
  • University of Waterloo
  • University of Windsor
  • Western University
  • York University

By mail:

Ship your returns to us at:

James A. Gibson Library
Brock University
1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way,
St. Catharines, ON
Canada
L2S 3A1

Alumni are entitled to library borrowing privileges at no charge.  Please present your alumni card to staff at the Ask Us desk to register. For information on obtaining an alumni card, please contact Office of Alumni Relations. Additional library services are available to Alumni.

Brock retirees may borrow from the Library. The Alumni and Community. page has full details on access and privileges.

Undergraduate and graduate students may borrow books in person from other Ontario university libraries (Direct Borrowing), with the exception of the University of Toronto. A valid Brock University Identification Card is required, and users may be required to show additional picture identification. Books may be returned to the lending library or to the Ask Us Desk at the James A. Gibson Library.

For graduate students, arrangements also exist for borrowing from out-of-province universities (Atlantic, Quebec, Prairie and Pacific). See Canadian Universities Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement for more information.

Overdue Fines

Avoid incurring fines by signing-in to Omni to view the list of items you have borrowed and their due dates. There are no overdue fines for stack (non-Reserve) books (unless recalled for use as course readings), Badger Books or board games.

ItemFine
Overdue maps, CDs, DVDs, Interlibrary Loan materials$ .50 per day per item
Overdue Reserves / equipment$1.50 per hour per item.
3 hour loan items will be billed for replacement after 48 hours. 24 hour loan items will be billed for replacement after 5 days. 48 hour items will be billed for replacement after 7 days. 7 day loan items will be billed after 15 days.
Overdue items recalled for use as course readings$2.00 per day
Overdue board gamesno overdue fines, but will be billed for replacement after 21 days
Lost / damaged book$125 default replacement charge.
Lost / damaged /maps/CD/DVDCost of item plus a $15.00 non-refundable processing fee
Lost whiteboard cleaning kit$6.00 replacement charge
Lost whiteboard cleaning cloth$2.00 replacement charge
Lost whiteboard spray bottle$2.00 replacement charge
Lost Locker Key$25.00 replacement charge.
Lost / damaged miscellaneous cables $25.00 per item
Lost / damaged video camera $550.00
Lost Interlibrary Loan itemFlat rate replacement cost of $75.00, plus a $50.00 non-refundable processing fee
Lost equipment storage bag$5.00
IRCsee IRC Homepage

Borrowing privileges for Brock University students, faculty and staff are suspended when fines are $20.00 or more or, when one (1) recalled item is overdue. Privileges will be reinstated for all users when overdue and recalled materials are returned and outstanding fines are paid. Sign-in to Omni to view currently checked out items and fines owing.

Borrowing privileges for Brock University undergraduate and graduate students are suspended when fines are $20.00 or more. On a monthly basis, these fines will be automatically transferred to the student’s financial account. The Library will notify the student before this transfer is made.

Log in to your Library Account to view details about fines on your record.

Fines can then be paid using a variety of methods. More information: https://brocku.ca/safa/tuition-and-fees/making-a-payment/

Privileges will be reinstated for all users when outstanding fines are paid.

Please note: charges transferred to your Brock student account cannot be directly refunded and may take up to 3 weeks to process.

Pay your library fines:

  • in person by debit card, credit card, or cheque at the Ask Us Desk in the James A. Gibson Library or,
  • by sending a cheque payable to Brock University to the address below.  Please be sure to note your student ID# on the cheque.

Access Services
James A. Gibson Library
Brock University
1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way
St Catharines, ON L2S 3A1

Please Note: The Library cannot accept payment for fines transferred to Student Accounts & Financial Aid.

If you want to appeal a library fine, please complete this form. The request will be reviewed, and an email response will be sent within five (5) working days.

  • Under the James A. Gibson Library loan policies, borrowers may appeal fines and charges.
    Please note that the following are NOT acceptable reasons for appealing library fines.
    • Failing to receive reminder notices, either electronically or by mail
    • Failing to note due dates
    • Failing to renew on time
    • Due dates which fall while the user is on vacation, or out of the local area
    • Lack of knowledge of library policies.

    To appeal on other grounds, please provide specific details which will substantiate your case. When providing justification for an appeal, it is important to provide detailed information, i.e. book title(s), dates and reasons. Without this detail, it could be difficult to adjudicate your appeal.

    You will normally receive a response within five (5) working days.

    Information gathered is in accordance with the James A. Gibson Library's Privacy and Protection of Information Policy.

  • Please provide details outlining your reason for appealing library fees.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Questions?

Contact us via email at libhelp@brocku.ca