Libraries

Besides the King’s Library, King’s students also have easy access to the Dalhousie Libraries. The Dalhousie University Libraries provide access to scholarly resources and information services to support learning and teaching, and research. The Dal Libraries welcome all Dalhousie & King’s students, faculty, staff, and members of the community.

The Dalhousie Libraries include the Killam Memorial Library – Humanities, Social Sciences, Management, Computer Science, and Science; the Sir James Dunn Law Library – Law; the W. K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library – Medicine, Dentistry, and Health; the MacRae Library – Agriculture; and the Sexton Design & Technology Library – Architecture & Planning, and Engineering. The University Archives, Copyright Office, and the GIS & Data Centre are also part of the Dal Libraries and are located in the Killam Memorial Library. We have a satellite hub of the National Centre for Truth & Reconciliation located in the MacRae Library.

Additionally, the libraries have two standalone learning commons: the Wallace McCain Learning Commons and the Kellogg Library Learning Commons, located in the Collaborative Health Education Building. These learning commons provide study spaces for both silent study and vibrant collaborative engagement, access to computers, information resources, and research assistance. All of the Libraries’ spaces have public access computers and WiFi. Most of the Libraries’ spaces have bookable study rooms for groups as well as individual carrels for private study. Staff in all five libraries provide reference and research services.

The website, dal.ca/libraries, is our virtual branch, providing access to collections, databases, subject guides, and other services. We have thousands of eBooks, eJournals, and streaming video titles. LiveHelp, assistance for basic library and reference questions is available through a live chat function on our website.

The Libraries manage DalSpace, an institutional repository where many Dalhousie researchers’ publications can be found. The Libraries provide assistance with research data management planning and implementation, and manage an installation of DataVerse for sharing research data. The Libraries also manage UNIWeb, an academic research network. The Dal Libraries use Open Journal Systems (OJS) software and provide digital publishing services to the university community.

The Dalhousie Libraries’ Copyright Office provides guidance to students, faculty, and staff on copyright issues. The Records Management Office provides the university with tools and advice on how to manage administrative records.

The Dalhousie Libraries’ Academic Technology Services (ATS) unit supports Dalhousie’s learning management system, Brightspace by providing technical assistance to faculty. The Classroom Technologies team maintains and supports technology in the classrooms.

There are IT Help Desks in the Killam and Sexton Libraries and the Wallace McCain Learning Commons to provide computer and software support. 3D printing is available at the Killam, MacRae, and Sexton Libraries. Assistance for Brightspace use is also provided through the IT Help Desks and via support@dal.ca.

The Dalhousie Libraries is a member of Novanet, a network of university and college libraries in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, sharing an online catalogue of the holdings of the member libraries. Users can borrow from any Novanet library upon presentation of their DalCard.

Access to materials outside of the Dalhousie Libraries is available through the Document Delivery service, available online and at Dal Libraries service desks. We are also a member of the Nova Scotian library initiative Borrow Anywhere, Return Anywhere. Anyone with a card from a library in Nova Scotia can register (for free) to borrow at the Dalhousie Libraries, and library materials borrowed from any library in Nova Scotia can be returned at any one of the Dalhousie Libraries.