FAQs Browse

How can I get more information about copyright?

See the pages for Instructors, Staff, Students or Authors and other creators on the Copyright website for FAQs, links and resources.

How can I print an SFU thesis available online?

SFU thesis authors have authorized the SFU Library to digitize and provide a copy of their thesis through Summit - SFU's Digital Research Repository.

Currently many of the copies are read only and do not allow printing. In these cases the Library needs to contact the author to get permission to provide a "read and print only" copy.   Please contact summit-permissions@sfu.ca if you would like us to contact a particular author to ask permission for access to a "read and print only" copy.

Selected SFU theses may also be available within Dissertations and Theses Abstracts and Index.  Full text versions of theses or dissertations held within the database may be printed.

How can I save my work when I am using a computer in the Library?

The Cloud

Use SFU Microsoft OneDrive to store your files.

You may choose to use an external service like DropBox or Google Drive to save your work on a remote server. SFU has no control over the security of your documents, or the protection of your privacy when you use these external services. Please be informed about your online privacy before using these services.

USB drive

Use a personal USB drive (USB key, flash drive, thumb drive) to keep your saved work on physical media.

Email

Send an electronic copy as an attachment to an email to your own email address. Please check Storage Space and Quota for SFU Mail to ensure you have enough space in your SFU Mail account..

Keep a paper copy

Use library printers to create a paper copy of your document.

How do I book an appointment at the SLC?

You can book all your Student Learning Commons (SLC) appointments online by following the instructions on the Consultation Information page.

How do I borrow a book or other Library materials?

Finding books and other materials

Search the Library Catalogue for the book, video, DVD, or other Library materials. 

Find out how to locate and/or check out your books and other materials at Library Catalogue search guide.

Getting a library card

See How do a get a library card?

How do I cancel a request (or hold) that I've put on an item?

You can cancel any requests you have made in your library account by following these steps:

  1. Sign in to your library account.
  2. Locate your requests in your account.
  3. Press the red "cancel" button on the items you want to cancel.
  4. Confirm that you want to "cancel it".

You will then be notified that your request has been cancelled.

View instructions with images
Lib Account
1. Sign in to your library account
 
requests
2. Locate your requests in your account.
 
cancel
3. Press the red "cancel" button on the items you want to cancel
 
confirm cancel
4. Confirm that you want to "cancel it".
 

You will then be notified that your request has been cancelled.

 

You can also cancel your request (or hold) by calling the Circulation/Loans desk at any of the branches and asking the staff to cancel the request (or hold).

View contact  details
  •  WAC Bennett Library (SFU Burnaby) Loans Desk - 778.782.4345
  •  Belzberg Library (SFU Vancouver) Loans Desk - 778.782.5050
  •  Fraser Library (SFU Surrey) Loans Desk - 778.782.7411

You can also email libcirc@sfu.ca asking that the staff cancel your request (or hold).

    How do I cite information in a paper (or thesis) I am writing?

    See the Library's Writing & Style Guides for samples, for information on citation manuals in the library and for information on how to cite web sources.

    How do I cite material from Special Collections and Rare Books?

    Attribution for archival material should be provided as follows:

    Item [record/image number] courtesy of the [full fonds/collection name], Special Collections and Rare Books, Simon Fraser University Library. [website URL if applicable].

    For example:

    Item MsC-177-1-3-0-0-2 courtesy of the David and Mary Macaree fonds, Special Collections and Rare Books, Simon Fraser University Library. https://atom.archives.sfu.ca/msc-177-1-3-0-0-2.

    How do I cite World Wide Web pages in my essay / thesis?

    This varies depending on the publication style you're employing.  Please see the Library's Writing & Style guides for directions.

    How do I configure reference or citation management software to use the library OpenURL and proxy to find full text?

    Off-campus access to Library resources using the library's OpenURL link resolver and proxy 

    To permit off-campus access to licensed resources (including journals), the SFU Library uses proxy software called EZproxy to authenticate you as an SFU Authorized User (current student, faculty or staff).   

    You can also set up the library's OpenURL link resolver to find full text from citation management software. 

    Configuring Zotero, Mendeley, and other citation tools for SFU's proxy and OpenURL link resolver

    Setting up the proxy

    Researchers using reference or citation management tools such as  Zotero, or Mendeley may be asked to configure their software to allow access from off campus.

    SFU library's proxy address/prepend is: https://proxy.lib.sfu.ca/login?url=

    Please note that the library proxies those ejournals and other eresources that the library pays for. The library does not proxy resources that are freely available.

    Setting up the OpenURL link resolver

    Researchers using reference or citation management tools such as  Zotero, or Mendeley may be asked to configure their software for their library's OpenURL link resolver.

    SFU library's OpenURL link resolver address is: https://sfu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/openurl/01SFUL/SFUL?

    For some software, you may need to remove the ? at the end.  The library does not make use of an "authentication URL". 

    Please note that the library's OpenURL link resolver is not compatible with EndNote X9's Find Full Text feature.  EndNote X9 users may find the EndNote Click (formerly Kopernio) browser extension useful for adding PDFs to their EndNote Library in lieu of using the library's OpenURL link resolver.