version française

Curbside Pickup at UofA Library

Step 1:

Find your items & place a hold

Place a hold in our library catalogue for items not available via HathiTrust. Select Rutherford Library as the pickup location.

Step 2:

When you get an email, book a time for pick up

Watch for a ‘holds available’ email prompting you to book a date and time for picking up your holds within 10 days.

Step 3:

Come to Rutherford Library & Call Us

When you get to Rutherford Library call 780-492-3795. A Library staff member will ask for your name and ONEcard barcode number.

Step 4:

Retrieve your holds

Your holds will be placed on a designated table at the east entrance of Rutherford Library. Items have been signed out to your library account.

If driving to campus, you can park for free in designated parking spots in N lot. Please vacate the spot in a timely manner.

Question? Check our FAQs or ask us.

While library stacks are closed due to health and safety concerns, UA researchers, students, and staff may request and borrow items from some UA Library collections. Thank you so much for your patience as we figured out how to safely share some of our collections.

Items will be made available for a non-contact pickup outside Rutherford Library.

Distance students, as well as Augustana researchers and students, may register for our Distance Service for access to print collections from North Campus and Campus Saint-Jean. The Augustana Library Collection is currently not available.

Please do not use this service if you are feeling unwell.

Curbside Pickup FAQs:

  1. What is available to request?

    Print and audio-visual materials from most library collections:

    • Books
    • Print journals
    • CDs
    • DVDs
    • Need micro materials? Please Ask Us to find out what arrangements can be made.

  2. What is not available to request?

    • Print Course Materials: short term loans are not possible during the pandemic.
    • Augustana print collections are not available to borrow.
    • Specialized items such as puppets and kits
    • Items that have always been Read on Site only (eg: Special Collections materials)
    • Hathi Trust Emergency Access Service (ETAS) links have been added to the library catalogue. We may not lend print copies of books that are available online through ETAS.

  3. What if I need to change my pick up time slot?

    If you need to reschedule your timeslot, please visit our curbside reservation system.

  4. My hold became available around the time the library closed due to the pandemic. Can I still get my hold?

    Please email hsscirc1@ualberta.ca with your name and 13-digit barcode number (located on your ONEcard), as well as the title of the item you requested. You will be sent a notification with a link to book a timeslot to pick up the item. If your hold has expired, please locate the item in our catalogue and place a hold again.

  5. What about Augustana faculty, staff and students?

    Distance students, as well as Augustana researchers and students, may register for our Distance Service for access to print collections from North Campus Libraries, RCRF, and Bibliothèque Saint-Jean. The Augustana Library Collection is currently not available.

  6. I’m disappointed that I can’t borrow course textbooks. What should I do?

    • Start by searching in the library catalogue to see if we have an e-version of the textbook. Many textbook publishers do not sell ebook versions of textbooks to libraries. Where possible, we are adding ebook versions of textbooks to the Library collection.
    • If we do not currently own an ebook version of a required textbook, we can investigate purchasing an ebook, or arranging other permitted forms of online access. Recommend a Purchase.
    • Questions? Need help? Ask Us

  7. What about borrowing items from other libraries such as Macewan and Concordia?

    At this time, University of Alberta Students, Faculty, and Staff may borrow items from some UAlberta Library collections only (see point one above for specifics).

    Students, Faculty, and Staff from other NEOS Institutions must contact their home library to find out about available services. Service is not available to visitors at this time.

  8. What about returning my items?

    At this time all items will have a September 30 due date and we encourage you to hold on to your borrowed items for as long as possible. Due dates of all borrowed items will change to January 31st in late summer/early fall. If you need to return items, you can do so at Rutherford Library, at the external book drop located on the east side of the library.

  9. What health and safety measures are in place for handling the books?

    Returned items will be quarantined for three days. Items retrieved for curbside pickup will be handled by staff trained in the proper handling of library materials, including the use of masks, gloves, and frequent handwashing.