The UBC Library will be a provincial, national and international leader in the development, provision and delivery of outstanding information resource and services that are essential to learning, research and the creation of knowledge at UBC and beyond.
- Furthering Learning and Research: Implementing the Library's Strategic Plan, 2004-2007
While the Library's first concern is to provide collections and services to UBC students, faculty, and staff, anyone who comes to the Library may use materials in any library branch.
Getting Started
UBC Library
UBC Library is the second largest research library in Canada and includes 21 branches and divisions on the UBC Point Grey campus, at three off-campus teaching hospitals, at UBC Robson Square, and at UBC Okanagan.
The Library's collections include more than 5 million items in print and electronic format, not including print and electronic journals and series subscriptions, microform, documents, maps, archived materials, media and other items.
UBC Library also has the largest biomedical collection in Western Canada and the largest collection of Asian language materials in the country. It is a depository library for publications of the governments of BC, Canada, Japan and the United Nations.
For more information, see our Facts & Figures
Showcase Collections
Library Cards & Borrowing
If you wish to borrow only a few items, it may be more convenient for you to place an interlibrary loan request at the public or academic library where you are a member.
People unaffiliated with UBC who wish to borrow UBC Library materials or use fee-based UBC Library services such as interlibrary loan may be eligible for one of the following UBC Library Cards.
Library CardsCommunity Borrower Cards for individual members of the public Institutional Borrower Cards for businesses, corporations, and government departments Visiting faculty and students (These cards do not provide remote access to online databases beyond this list.) Apply at the Library Cards Desk, Walter C. Koerner Library (604.822.3869), The UBC Library at Robson Square (604.822.3725), or at the Okanagan Library in Kelowna (250.807.9107). |
Borrower Services
If you have any Library card inquiries, please call 604.822.3869. |
Online Access
In the libraries
Most Library web-based databases, including the catalogue, article indexes, electronic journals and full text resources, are available to everyone from guest-access computers in UBC Library branches.
From home
The UBC catalogue, research guides and many other open access resources are available from home as well. However, remote access to most databases is restricted by license agreements with database providers to current UBC students, staff and faculty. The databases on this list and the UBC Library catalogue are available to all on and off campus.
The UBC Library site licence for a research tool called RefWorks (a web-based citation management program) does include access for alumni as well as current students, faculty and staff. Please see the RefWorks guide for more information.
Assistance
Reference assistance and attendance at the Library’s drop-in training sessions are available free of charge.
