FAQs Browse

Does the Library loan out headphones?

Yes!

Several pairs of headphones are available to borrow at all three SFU libraries.

Who can borrow headphones?

Currently enrolled students, faculty, staff, and alumni can borrow headphones.

Where do I go to borrow headphones?

To borrow headphones at the Belzberg Library (SFU Vancouver) or Fraser Library (SFU Surrey), simply ask at the Loans/Checkout desk. At the WAC Bennett Library (SFU Burnaby), there are 20 pairs of headphones available from the Checkout counter on the 3rd (main) floor of the Library. There are also two sets of headphones with microphones.

How long can I borrow headphones?

Headphones can be borrowed for a 4-hour loan period which can be extended online, but not past the Library's closing time. Headphones returned after they are due are subject to fines. See Fines and penalties: Borrowing Library materials for further information.

Headphones must be returned 1 hour before Library closing.

How do I find out if headphones are available?

To see what the Library owns,  search Laptops & equipment borrowing for headphones at the different SFU Library locations. 

For more information, including which headphones are available to borrow, contact Loans staff by phone, by email at loans-mgmt@sfu.ca, or in person at the Loans desk at any Library.

Does the Library offer publishing support services?

Yes, the Library offers Scholary publishing services for faculty, staff, and students.

 

Does the Library offer workshops for faculty?

Yes. See Upcoming workshops for scheduled workshops, courses, and classes for faculty.

Does the Library provide wireless internet (Wi-Fi)?

Yes.

Where can I connect?

All three SFU campuses have wireless Internet networks.

Who can connect?

SFU Students, faculty and staff

Students, faculty, and staff who have a valid SFU computing ID may access the wireless network.

SFU alumni

SFU alumni have full access to the SFU campus wireless network. Note, however, that accessing SFU Library online books, journals, and other web-based resources via the wireless network is considered as off campus access and alumni are restricted via wireless to a subset of the library's electronic resources. For a list of web-based resources available to alumni via the SFU wireless network, see Electronic resources available to SFU Alumni off-campus or via SFU campus wireless.

Your name and SFU library barcode are not sufficient for wireless access.

Non-SFU faculty, staff, and students

While at SFU, if you make use of the Eduroam wireless service you will be considered as being off campus and will NOT be able to access SFU library electronic resources which require an SFU computing ID and password for access.

Note that people without valid SFU computing accounts or Eduroam privileges cannot be signed on to the wireless network with an SFU Library Guest ID.

How can I connect?

To access the SFU campus wireless network you need a laptop computer or WiFi-enabled mobile device (tablet, smartphone). Some laptops may require a wireless network card (NIC). Visit the various locations at SFU Burnaby, SFU Surrey or SFU Vancouver for in-person assistance with connecting to the wireless Internet.

More information

Does the SFU Surrey (Fraser) Library have any information on emergency housing?

Community Resources in North Surrey
From the City of Surrey, a list of housing and supports in North Surrey. Find more information in the City of Surrey's Master plan for housing the homeless.

Community Services - Housing
From Surrey Libraries, a list of housing options from emergency shelters to affordable housing. Includes a printable PDF version.

The Lookout Society (Gateway shelter & front room drop in)
The closest shelter to the SFU Surrey (Fraser) Library, at 10667 135 A Street, Surrey, BC, V3T 4E3. Telephone number for general inquiries: 604-589-8678

BC 211 Shelter and Street help line
Provides a shelter list with available beds that is updated twice daily: 11:30am & 7:30pm. Follow the link to download the most up-to-date version of the shelter list.

Homelessness Services Association of BC
Another excellent resource. Links include a shelter directory and Extreme Weather Response community plans.

Getting books and articles delivered from other SFU campus libraries

Book / video

  1. Sign into the Catalogue
  2. Search for and find the Catalogue record for the item you seek
  3. In the "Get It" area of the item's Catalogue record, select "Request item" to request the book or video (or other material).

The item will be sent to the Circulation/Loans desk if you choose to pick up at the Belzberg Library (SFU Vancouver), at the Holds Shelf at the Fraser Library (SFU Surrey), or on the Holds shelf in the Reserves area if you choose W.A.C. Bennett Library (SFU Burnaby), usually within 2 days.

You will be notified by email when your item is ready for pick up. For more information, please see How do I know when a book I've requested is ready to pick up?

Article in a journal

Follow these instructions to request a copy of an article in a paper journal only held at a library branch you normally don't use. 

  1. Sign into the Catalogue
  2. Go to Citation Finder
  3. Choose Article option, leave all fields blank, and scroll to the bottom of the form and click Submit
  4. At the next screen you'll be given the option of requesting the item using Interlibrary Loans. Click on the Interlibrary Loans link on this screen.
  5. At the subsequent InterLibrary Loan request form fill in all the necessary information. Make sure to choose a need by date and submit the form.

The article will be sent to you electronically using the Library's secure Post-to-Web service, usually within 2 days.

You can also request Microlog fiche from Bennett Library. From the catalogue, place a request as you would for an article. Title of the publication and fiche number are all that's needed.

Graduate individual study rooms at Bennett Library (SFU Burnaby)

I'm a grad student at SFU. Can I get private study space in the library?

Bookable graduate individual study rooms for short-term use (self-serve booking) are available for graduate students. 

SFU Graduate students may book one of 14 small private study rooms on a daily basis at the W.A.C. Bennett Library (SFU Burnaby), during W.A.C. Bennett Library's open hours.  To book a room see How can I book a room?.

Each office includes a desk and chair, and has wifi access.  They are suitable for one to two students.

Who is eligible?

Currently enrolled SFU graduate students can use this service.

Where are the study rooms?

14 study rooms are available on the south side of the 5th floor at the Bennett Library (rooms 5055 - 5085). 

How can I book a room?

To book a study room:

  1. Go to the booking site: Graduate Individual Study Rooms (Bennett Library).
  2. Choose the room you’d like to book.
  3. Each graduate student may make a maximum of two bookings per week. Each booking can be for the full day (subject to the Library’s open hours).
  4. Review the date and start time of your booking.
  5. Click on Submit Times.

Please be considerate of your colleagues: only book a room for the time you need and cancel your booking if no longer required.

How long can I book a room?

Each graduate student may make a maximum of two bookings per week. Each booking can be for the full day (subject to the Library open hours).

Rooms are only available for booking during the current semester.

How do I access the room?

You will need a key.

Go to the W.A.C. Bennett Library Service Desk on the main floor to borrow the key to the room you have booked. You will need to present your SFU ID/Library card to borrow the key as well as the booking confirmation or reminder email in order to check out the key. 

Loans staff will sign a key out to you for the duration of your booking. Please lock the door when you have finished using the room. Keys must be returned before the Service Desk closes that day or fines will be incurred.

Questions?

Please contact library@sfu.ca if you have questions about Individual Graduate Room bookings.

 

How and where do I print, scan, and photocopy in the library?

 Where are the printers/scanners/copiers?

 W.A.C. Bennett Library at SFU Burnaby

Printers/scanners/photocopiers are on the 3rd and 6th floors, and in the Research Commons.


Choose colour or black and white by selecting the correct printing queue [new-lab-mono (default printer) or new-lab-colour].


Additionally, flatbed standalone scanners are located on the North side of the 3rd floor (main floor) of the Bennett Library.

 

 Belzberg Library at SFU Vancouver

There are two printer/copier/scanning machines in the Library,


Choose colour or black and white by selecting the correct printing queue (NewVanMono or NewVanColour).


Other printers on campus:

  • Room 1300 (IT Services lab): colour and black & white
  • Room 2960 (Publishing lab): black & white only   

Fraser Library at SFU Surrey

There are two printer/copier/scanning machines in the Media/Reserves area, 3620.


Choose colour or black and white by selecting the correct printing queue (NewSurreyMono or NewSurreyColour).


Other printers on campus:

  • Room 2300 (Firefighter’s Lab): black & white -- near the Security desk in the mezzanine.
  • Room 3064: colour and black & white
  • Room 3355: colour and black & white

 How do I print or copy?

Printers/copiers/scanners use the printing account system Papercut. 

At the computer:

  1. Check your Papercut account: Before printing your document(s), check to see if you have enough printing credit for the pages you want to print:
    1. To add money to your Papercut account How to pay for printing and copying
  2. Choose the right queue: Select either black and white (mono) or colour printing/copying.

At the printer/copier/scanner:

  1. At the printer/copier/scanner log in to Papercut using SFU Computing ID and password
    1. Select jobs to print or copy (PRINT ALL to release all print jobs or PRINT RELEASE to release individual print jobs or opt to photocopy).
  2. Log out of printer.

 How do I scan a document?

You may scan to email at any SFU library or scan to a USB device at the Bennett or Belzberg Libraries. Scan to USB is not available at the Fraser Library.

To scan to a USB device:

  1. Select PRINT/SCAN (MEMORY STORAGE DEVICE)
  2. Select SCAN TO STORAGE DEVICE
  3. Select SCAN SETTINGS to change settings
  4. Select FINISH SCAN when done, or continue scanning by selecting START after each page
  5. Select USB icon to eject device
  6. Logout

 General questions

Can I use the same printing account at all SFU libraries?

Yes. You can also use the same printing account in IT Services' labs.

How much does printing cost, how do I pay, and how do I get a refund?

For payment options, and how to get a refund, see How to pay for printing and copying.

For prices, see How much does it cost to print or make copies at the SFU Library

How can I print in colour, or different document sizes? 

See Can I print or copy special document sizes and types at the Library?

How long will my print job stay in the printer?

After you send something to the printer from a library workstation, your print job stays in the queue for one hour.

If you do not complete or print off your print or copy job within this one hour limit, you will have to re-send your document to the printer/copier/scanner.

Can I use my own paper?

No. If you need to use your own paper for special purposes, you will need to go to a photocopy shop.

Where can I make copies from microfiche or microfilm?

Copiers are included in most of the microfiche and microfilm readers. You use the same Printing/Photocopy card you use for photocopying and printing.

For more information, please see What are microforms and how do I access them?


 Troubleshooting

Sometimes when I try to print something too many pages get charged to my printing card, some pages are printed blank, some are just not printed at all.

Sometimes there are errors when trying to print a PDF or PPT (PowerPoint) file from WITHIN the web browser. This is a common problem when you are printing out material such as lecture notes and slides from within Canvas or printing full-text articles within research databases such as PsycInfo or ERIC (EBSCO interfaces).

IT Services suggest the following solution:

  • Go "Back" to the original page with the LINK to the file that you want to open and print.
  • Right-click on the link, and then choose "Save Target As..."
  • A new window will open giving the choice of where to save the file. (Technicians recommend choosing the "Desktop" as the article will be easier to find).
  • Once the file is saved on the desktop, double-click on the file, and it SHOULD open in its NATIVE program (PDF will open in Adobe Reader, PPT will open in PowerPoint).
  • Choose the print option within this program, and the print job should come out without errors.

Sometimes in article indexes and databases, the link still forces you to open the file within a browser. Try choosing to save the article using the Adobe Reader menu buttons, and continue the above process.

When I try to print PDF document, the printer outputs blank pages.

When looking at the .pdf document in Adobe Acrobat Reader, click on the print option or the printer icon.

From within the printing options box, try changing the "Page Scaling" box so that it reads "None".

Ensure that the "Auto-Rotate and Center" option is NOT checked.

Try printing again.


 Printing at SFU (outside the Library)

For SFU IT Services' information on printing services at all three SFU campuses, see Student Printing Services.

How can I access the Excel add-in for S&P Capital IQ?

S&P Capital IQ is available for current SFU students, faculty, and staff. If you haven't done so already, first register with a valid SFU email address for an S&P account. 

   This FAQ applies only to the Excel add-in for S&P Capital IQ. The main web interface for S&P Capital IQ is available both on campus and remotely for all current SFU researchers.

The S&P Capital IQ database offers an Excel add-in feature that provides an alternative method to retrieve most Capital IQ data. The add-in allows you to create formulas within Excel, including ones that incorporate searches and lists you've saved in the main web interface, or you can use the pre-built template spreadsheets covering a wide range of business topics.

Screen capture from S&P Capital IQ showing the location of the My Capital IQ and Downloads links.
Downloading the Excel add-in

 The Excel add-in feature is only available for computers using the Windows operating system.

You can download the add-in from within your S&P Capital IQ account. Go to My Capital IQ (top left corner of the screen) and select Downloads. Then select the option to "Download Office Plug-in" and follow the instructions to install the plug-in.

Accessing the Excel add-in

On campus 

All current SFU researchers: The Excel add-in feature is available for all current SFU researchers with S&P accounts while you are at any SFU campus and logged into the SFU network.

Off campus 

SFU faculty & staff should be able to log into the Excel add-in from off campus without any extra steps. If you encounter issues, contact S&P to confirm that your S&P Capital IQ account is properly coded as a faculty/staff account. Call them at +1 888 806 5541, or email them at support.CIQ@spglobal.com.

SFU graduate students must first connect to SFU's Virtual Private Network (VPN) before logging into the Excel add-in. For instructions on how to download and install the Forticlient VPN app, see Get Started with SFU VPN

SFU undergraduate students are unable to access the Excel add-in from off campus. 

Current members of the Beedie Endowment Asset Management (BEAM) team should contact the Business Librarian, Mark Bodnar, to discuss options: mbodnar@sfu.ca.

If you have further questions, please contact Mark Bodnar: mbodnar@sfu.ca.

How can I book a defence or a defence rehearsal in the Thesis Defence Room?

Bookings are made by the graduate assistant in a student's home department/school/faculty/program. Contact this member of your department staff. They are responsible for the booking.  Any questions can be directed to library@sfu.ca.