Library collections
McGill Library includes over 8.8 million items in its collections including books and journals, video and sound recordings, maps and more. The number of electronic resources in our collection has grown rapidly over the past decade and, in fact, we currently have more electronic resources than we do physical resources.
Accessing electronic resources
We subscribe to electronic resources from many different vendors and publishers, each with their own platform. Journal articles can usually be accessed either in HTML or as a PDF. The accessibility of electronic books depends largely on the platform used to access it.
Please use the OSD’s Electronic Text Request form if you require an electronic version of a text.
Please andrea.miller-nesbitt [at] mcgill.ca (contact us) if you are experiencing barriers to accessing electronic resources and we will do our best to help you.
Requesting items for pick up
You can request any regular loan print item to be delivered from any branch Library or storage location to another branch library. To do so, find the item in the library catalogue and select the 'Place hold' link and complete the form.
Article / chapter scan
Request scanned copies of journal articles or book chapters for the print collection. The scanned PDFs will be sent to your McGill email address. You’ll find the steps for submitting a request detailed on the website. Please note that delivery time is usually 2 to 4 business days.
Distance borrowing
McGill students and faculty living at least 100km away from campus whose address during term is registered with the University as within Canada or the Continental US can borrow books without coming to the Library qualify for distance borrowing. You must sign into the website to submit your request for this service.
Proxy borrowers
Faculty may authorize a proxy to borrow print materials on their behalf. You must sign into the website to submit your request for this service. Please note, this service is only available to McGill Faculty.
Classes, workshops and tours
The Library offers a variety of workshops and classes. You can view the schedule and register for the workshops that interest you.
