About the Library

Distance Students, eCampusAlberta Students, Students with Disabilities & Cape Breton University (CBU) MBA Students

Distance Students

The Library offers the same type of services to distance students as to on-campus students. Many resources are available via our website.  You can access services via our website, by phone, or in-person.  Use the Ask Us section on every page of our website, call us toll-free at 1.877.222.1722, or visit us in McNally Library.  We are happy to help you find information, conduct research, and borrow materials.

Doing Research
Our website has several tools to help you locate information:

  • The library search tool.
  • Subject-specific databases in which you can find articles and other information to read online. (Note: Some databases must be used in McNally Library.)
  • Subject Guides on everything from job search to statistics; web-based dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, and more.
  • Program Resource Guides which highlight some of the most useful resources for your program of study, many of which are available via the internet.

Borrowing Library Books                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Your NAIT ID card serves as your library card. When you borrow books, you’re responsible for their care, return, and any charges incurred.  You will have a loan period of 4 weeks, including shipping time, with two renewals for 3 weeks.  A one week grace period for return shipping will be added.  Material requested by other users, or needed for reserve, will not be renewed.

Delivery of Library Books

  • Use the search box on the library website to find books you want delivered.  If the status is Available, click Request, then click on Delivery.
  • If the status is Checked out, click Request, then click on Hold.  If there are existing Holds on the item, your request will be added to the end of the queue.
  • You will receive an e-mail notification when your item is available.  When you receive this notification, reply to the e-mail indicating the address to which you want the book sent.

Receiving & Returning Library Books                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                You will be able to receive/return requested books via Canada Post at no charge.  Remember to keep the container the material arrived in as well as the Return Label.

Return material to the Library by the due date.  Place the material in the container, seal it, and place the Return Label on the container.  Take the container to a Canada Post outlet.  The number on the lower portion of the Return Label will allow the item to be tracked by you and the Library via the Canada Post website.

E-mail Notifications
It is important to provide an up-to-date e-mail address so the Library can send you notices.  The e-mail address you provide at student registration will be used to notify you about::

  • Cancellation Notice - sent because the item was not available by the "not needed after" date you specified in your original request.
  • Item Available - sent when material that you have placed on hold is available for pick up. When you receive this notification, reply to the e-mail indicating the address to which you want the book sent.
  • Overdue - sent when material is overdue.
  • Overdue Recall - sent if a hold has been placed on material that has not been returned by the due date.  If this material is not returned within 7 days, you will be charged $15.00 in addition to regular overdue fines.
  • Reminder - sent 2 days before material is due. 

Renewals
A book can be renewed twice, provided it has not been requested by other users (i.e. on hold).

Renewal Procedures
At the library website  www.nait.ca/library click the My Account & Renew Books link located below the search box. Login with your last name and NAIT ID number.Click the My Account link at the top right and then click Renew beside each item you want to renew.

If you have questions, please send an email to liblending@nait.ca or call 1.877.222.1722.  

Fines for overdue library books

  • Overdue material must either be returned or renewed before any additional requests for material will be filled. The library charges $1.00 per day for each overdue item.
  • Borrowing privileges will be suspended once fines reach $20.00.  Pay in full or to any amount less than $20.00. 
  • The Library accepts payment by cash or cheque only.  Credit Card payment can be made at the Project Factory. 
  • If you have any outstanding fines or Library material after completion of each year of your program, you’ll be placed on Financial Hold with the NAIT Registrar and the Cash Office.

Borrowing from Other Libraries

TAL                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Library is a member of The Alberta Library consortium.  As a NAIT student, you can request a TAL card by contacting the Library.  Use this free card to borrow material from over 290 participating libraries in Alberta.

Interlibrary Loans
At your request, we will bring in books and photocopied periodical articles from other libraries. Delivery times will vary. You will be notified in advance of any possible charges and kept informed about the status of your request.

Interlibrary Loan material must be picked up in the library.  Students living more than 50 kilometres from Edmonton may request delivery by regular mail.

You can request an interlibrary loan in 3 ways:

  • Use the online forms on the website. Click on the Contact Us tab to find these forms.
  • E-mail illo@nait.ca and provide:
    - Your name and student ID number
    - Where you saw the item
    - The title (and title of publication if it is an article in a periodical)
    - Author, editor, publisher, publication date, and edition
    - The date by which you need the item
  • Call the Library's Lending Services Desk 1.877.222.1722 

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding library delivery to Distance Education students, please send us an email: liblending@nait.ca or call us toll-free at 1.877.222.1722.

 > Read or print our brochure on:  Services for Distance Students (PDF) 

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eCampusAlberta Students

Welcome eCampusAlberta Students

As an eCampusAlberta student who has chosen to take a course offered by NAIT, you have full access to services available from NAIT Library. Come in or use our services from a distance. If you are at a distance, please check the services we offer Distance Students.

If you have chosen NAIT as your partner institution, you are welcome to come in and use the Library. For distance services, please use the library at the institution providing your course.

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Students with Disabilities

NAIT Library coordinates services with the Services for Students with Disabilities office with the goal of providing a rewarding library experience to users with disabilities.

Current or future NAIT students with a disability or who suspect they have a disability should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities office. Staff work with each student to develop a support plan to meet individual learning and participation needs. Staff provide information and resources to make your NAIT experience positive and successful.

Accessibility

The Library is located on the 3rd floor of the Learning Resources Centre building at the north end of Main Campus on the southwest corner of the intersection of 106 Street and 118 Avenue.

  • Library doors are open during operational hours.
  • Elevator access.
  • Wheelchair-accessible washroom stalls.
  • Wireless network access throughout the Library.
  • Network ports available at the back of the Library.
  • Wheelchair access to tables and carrels varies; please ask for directions or assistance removing barriers such as chairs.

Where the library building or facilities restrict access, please ask for assistance at the Library Help Desk or contact us in advance via Ask Us! from any page on the Library website.

Assistive Technology

  • One "assistive technology" computer with: 
    • large monitor
    • large trackball mouse
    • large print keyboard
    • JAWS text-to-speech software
  • Scanners are available in the Project Factory.
  • A handheld video magnifier is available for use in the Library. The loan period is 4 hours. Request at the Lending Services Desk. 
  • Headphones are available for use in the Library. Request at the Lending Services Desk.

Library Material Retrieval

The book shelves in the library may not be accessible to all users. If you have difficulty reaching or lifting materials or seeing the call numbers, please ask for assistance at the Help Desk.

Library staff will retrieve books and periodicals in advance. Request this service by contacting us at:

McNally Library - Lending Services Desk
Call: 780.471.8777
Or Call toll free: 877.222.1722
liblending@nait.ca 

You can also request that books or periodicals be delivered to one of our delivery points on campus.

Steps to Request items:

Use the search box on the library website to find books you want delivered.  If the status is Available, click Request (you will have to sign in first), then click on Delivery.

If the status is “Checked out”, click Request (you will have to sign in first), then click Delivery. You will receive an e-mail notification when your item is available for pick up. 

Library staff members check for incoming requests throughout the day. Requests are filled and sent the same day as they are received. Most items should reach on-campus locations by the next day or, at the latest, 2 days after you submit a request. Material that needs to travel a longer distance could take a week.

Audiovisual Materials

Students must view audiovisual material in the Library. Audiovisual viewing carrels are wheelchair accessible.

Audio description, closed captioning, and open captioning are indicated on the container and in the item record for library AV material. Please let us know if this information is missing.

To find videos with audio or captioned titles, use the search tool and enter one of the following search terms: "audio described," "closed captioned," or "open captioned."

Many videos/DVDs offer these features as options that must be chosen from the menu. Please ask at the Audiovisual desk if you require the remote control.

Additional Services

Please ask us about services such as:

  • One-on-one orientations to the Library or research consultations.
  • Assistance with photocopying.
  • Extended loan periods.

Evacuation Procedure for Mobility Impaired Person(s). The procedure is:

Ambulatory Individuals

Ambulatory individuals are those with disabilities that require special assistance during an evacuation. Examples include the blind, the deaf, or those whose mobility is restricted by the use of walkers or crutches. Assigned Aides should help these individuals by:

1. Guiding them to the stairwell of the building and waiting near the stairwell until it is clear.

2. Helping them walk down the stairwell and outside to the pre-planned assembly area.

Non-Ambulatory Individuals

Non-ambulatory individuals are those with disabilities that require the use of wheelchairs. You should assist these individuals by:

1. Moving the impaired individual near the stairwell and awaiting assistance.

2. Notify area Fire Wardens so that they can notify emergency responders of the exact location. In the event this is not possible, one of the aides would go ahead and notify the emergency responders. One aide should remain with the person.

3. If the hazard becomes life-threatening (i.e., the fire is getting close, or the smoke becomes choking), move the individual into a room and close the door. Vacate the building and immediately tell the emergency responders (Chief Warden, NAIT Security, NAIT OHS, or Fire Department) where the individual is located.

(From: Department of Occupational Health and Safety Evacuation of Mobility Impaired Evacuation of Mobility Impaired-2.doc Revision Date: February, 2008)

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Cape Breton University (CBU) MBA students

The Cape Breton University MBA in Community Economic Development is hosted by NAIT, and library resources and services are available to CBU students.

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