Library Services for Visiting Scholars

Your KPU Card is your library and KPU identification card. You will also need your KPU Card to:

• Borrow library materials and equipment.
• Tap access for printing and photocopying. To add funds to your printing (Papercut) account, please visit one of our Library Service Counters.

How to get a KPU Card

Prior to applying for a KPU Card, the department arranging your visit must submit an External User Account Request which is processed by KPU Human Resources.  After the External User Account is set up, you can apply for a KPU Card.

If you are a Canadian scholar who is visiting KPU without prior arrangement of an External User Account, you are likely eligible for a Community Borrower card under reciprocal lending agreements.  

1. Visit any of KPU Library's four locations in-person and identify yourself as a Visiting Scholar at the Library Service Counter and ask for a COPPUL or CPSLD Card.
2. Show government-issued photo identification.
3. Your card will be active for the duration of your agreement between your academic institution and KPU. 

As a Visiting Scholar, your privileges include the same borrowing privileges as KPU Employees. This includes the ability to order and borrow physical library resources, which includes books and equipment. Here are a few links that may be useful for the duration of your stay:

• Learn about Loans, Renewals & Returns for Employees.
• Place Holds or request an item that is on loan to another person. Library Holds can be transferred from one KPU campus library to another.
• View a list of items you have on loan, renew items, check on the status of holds through My Library Account.
  • Please note: items will be automatically renewed for you if another person has not requested the item, and you have not exceeded the maximum number of renewals. 
  • All library notices are sent to the email you provided when you were issued a KPU Card. 
• Learn about equipment available for loan.

Most of the library's online resources are restricted to current students and employees. As a Visiting Scholar, you are provided online access to the same resources. You will be prompted to login using your KPU credentials before you can access the resources.

How to login:

• off-campus: use your "short name" user ID (e.g. cburns) and your PIN
• on-campus using a library workstation: login to any computer station using your "short name" user ID (e.g. cburns) and your PIN
• on-campus using your own laptop:
  • connect to the KPUSecureEmployee wifi network using your short name (e.g. cburns) and your PIN 
  • login steps depend on your device; please see instructions on the IT website
  • once you are logged into wifi network, you will be able to access online resources without logging in again

Need help?

• Is it a problem with your username or PIN?
  • please see the IT Department's Password Management webpage or contact the IT Department's Help Desk.
• Is it a problem accessing specific online resources?
  • Please see the Troubleshooting Tips on the library's Remote Access webpage.
  • Still stuck? Please contact the library's technical support staff using the email form on the AskUs webpage.

Facilities

• There are libraries at KPU's Langley, Richmond, Surrey and Tech campuses. Check our Hours & Locations.
• In addition to the collection materials and service desks, you will find computer workstations, study tables, printers and other equipment at each library for you to use.
• Certain areas of each library are designated as quiet study zones. The 3rd floor of the Surrey campus library is a silent study space.

Printing, copying and scanning

• There are Multi-Function Printers (MFPs) at each library for printing, scanning, faxing and photocopying
• There is no cost to scan materials (to USB or email), but you will have to pay for printing and photocopying
• You pay for printing and copying tapping your KPU Card on the MFP. You will need to pre-load funds to your PaperCut account (which is connected to your KPU card) before printing
• Please visit any Library Service Counter to add funds to your PaperCut account. See this webpage for details on costs. 
• Step-by-step procedures for how to print/scan/copy are posted on each MFP, and are also available on the IT department's Printing webpage; see "Using MFP's (Multi-Function Printers) at KPU".

If you need something that is not at KPU Library

If an item you need is not available in the KPU Library's collection, we will be happy to try to locate a copy for you from another library through our Inter-Library Loan (ILL) service.

Journal articles and online resources

If you are searching in a KPU library database:

• You will often see a link directly to the full-text of the article; look for a PDF icon, or a link that says "full-text"
• If you do not see this, click on the link that says "Where can I get this?". This will often link you to the full article in another database available through KPU Library.
• If KPU Library does not subscribe to this journal, you will be given the option to request the article AT NO CHARGE through the interlibrary loan request link. This will automatically enter all of the citation details for the item after you login. We do the searching and can deliver most articles to you via email within 2 business days.

If you know the citation for the item you need:

• Fill out an interlibrary loan form with all the details.  We do the searching and can deliver most articles to you via email within 2 business days at no cost to you.

Getting books from other libraries

If KPU Library does not have a book that would like to borrow, you have two options:

Option 1: Let us borrow the book for you with our Interlibrary Loan service using our interlibrary loan (ILL) request form

Option 2: Borrow it from another library yourself 

• From a public library:
  • Public libraries in the Metro Vancouver area will issue free library cards to residents of the region. If you live within British Columbia, bring your local library card with you; you may be eligible for B.C.'s OneCard program. If you live outside of BC, you may be able to obtain a visitor's card for a fee.  
• From a postsecondary library:
  • As a KPU student, employee or faculty member, you can also get a free card for most other Canadian university and college libraries so that you can borrow books for yourself.
  • Before you go: See our guide on Borrowing Material from Other Academic Institutions for more details. You will need to get a special pass from the KPU Library in order to register for a free card at another postsecondary library.