We'll Get it for you!: Home

UM Libraries (UML) is committed to building student and faculty success. Although we are unable to open our physical libraries, you can access our collections in the following three ways:

Get it Digitally: Find full-text books and articles online using Library Search, including temporarily licensed content from HathiTrust Digital Library

Get it Curbside: Faculty, Graduate Students, and Post-Doctoral can request Curbside Pickup of print materials

Get it Scanned: Request a chapter from a print book to be emailed to you

Accessing Full Text Books and Articles Online.

1. Enter relevant keywords in the library search box to find desired material. Click Search.

2. On the search results page, make sure you Sign in to get a complete list of items, and to enable access to online resources.

3. Items that are available online will have a Full text available link located under the item's description.*

• To view more more information about the item, click on the title.
• To get full text access to the item, click on the Full text available link.

*Note: HathiTrust Digital Library's full text materials will have a link entitled "Full Text Available at HathiTrust" instead. The procedure for accessing these materials differs from most other electronic resources. Please see the section below for instructions.

4. If only one of our licensed databases has the item, you will be directed to the full text of the item automatically. However, if the item is available via multiple databases, a new window will appear where you can choose your preferred database.

• When choosing a database, ensure that it offers access to the volume/year you wish to view.
• Each database will have unique options for viewing and downloading its material. 
• Each book or journal will allow a different number of users to access the item at one time.

Items from the HathiTrust Digital Library

The HathiTrust Digital Library makes it possible for UM students, staff and faculty to obtain access to digitized versions of some of the physical books held in the UM Libraries. While HathiTrust's repository contains millions of titles, our access to licensed content is limited to items that are owned by the University of Manitoba. However, they offer a virtual treasure trove of open source content as well.

How to Access HathiTrust's Full Text Material

1. Click on the Full Text Available at HathiTrust link that is located in the catalogue record.

2. Once you are in HathiTrust, click on Log In

3. Select the University of Manitoba from the list of partner institutions. Click Continue.

4. A University of Manitoba window will pop up. Login with your UM email address and password.

5. Scroll to the bottom of the HathiTrust record and click the Temporary Access link.

6. A notice will appear indicating that the item is provided through the Emergency Temporary Access Service. Click Check Out to view the full text of the item.

7. Hooray!  You did it.  You will now have full text access to the item for one hour.

• Renewals: Your loan will be extended automatically, provided nobody else attempts to view the item while it is checked out to you. Once someone else tries to view the book, your access will be cut off at the end of the hour.  You may attempt to access the item at a later time.

Please Note:

• Until September 1, this service is available only to Faculty, Graduate Students, and Post-Doctoral Fellows
• Currently pickup is only available on select weekdays
• 10 items can be placed on hold at a time
• there will be a 7-10 day turn around time, which includes a 3-day quarantine for safe handling of materials

How to request your desired physical materials

1. Use Library Search to find items in our collections
2. Once you have the search results, make sure you Sign in to get complete results and to request items.
3. Click on the title of the desired item.
4. Scroll down to Get it.
5. Click Request
6. Curbside Pickup will appear under Pickup Location.  Click Send Request.

7. When your item(s) is/are ready, you will receive an email detailing how to book a pickup time. You cannot book a pickup time until your item(s) is/are available.

• If someone else is picking up your item(s), you will be able to add their name when selecting your pickup time slot.
• Only book one pickup time for all items requested. They will be gathered together for your pickup.

Please follow the pickup process provided over email.

Contactless pickup will be behind Elizabeth Dafoe Library, off Service Road 3N (near parking lot B) on Fort Garry Campus.  You (or the person you've designated to pickup your items) will need to provide photo ID.

If you need access to material in our physical collections, here’s how to make your request:

1. Use library search to find desired material.

2. Once you have the search results, make sure you Sign in to get complete results and to request items.

3. If the desired item does not indicate a digital copy is already available, library staff can scan a portion of the item, within copyright law (generally, no more than 10% of a work).

• Learn how to find the table of contents yourself.
• If you are not sure what portion of the book you would like, send an email to documentdelivery@umanitoba.ca to request Table of Contents, providing the title, author, year published, and the library call number, location, and permalink.
• If you would like to request specific content (eg., chapter), click on the item proceed to step 4.

4. Click Request from another library. The Book Request form is automatically populated with the item details.

5. What portion of the book do you need?

• To request specific chapters, select Book Chapter in the left menu.
• To request a specific page range (outside of a chapter), include your page range in the Chapter request and make a note in the comments field.
• Is it a journal article?  Select Article/Journal in the left menu.

6. Specify the chapter, page range, article, or section needed.

7. Check the box to accept conditions.

• Click Submit.

Scanned content and any related communications will be sent to your University of Manitoba email account only.

Consider Copyright

• Digitization is provided in compliance with copyright law. (Generally speaking, no more than 10% of a work can be scanned). 
• We are unable to scan an entire book; however, we will try to purchase an e-book version, if one is available.
• See UM Copyright Guidelines for copyright information.

Turn-Around Time

• 5-7 days for articles or book chapters
• 7-10 days for the purchase of an e-book (see above copyright note)

If you require something that falls outside of these parameters, please contact your subject librarian to see if there is a possible alternative.

As always, Ask Us or reach out to a subject librarian for assistance, and stay tuned to our update page for the most current libraries’ services information.