Get prepared for the fall semester with these free services at the Mearns Centre for Learning – McPherson Library
Photo via the University of Victoria.
The Mearns Centre for Learning – McPherson Library is a hub on campus for UVic students, but there is a lot more the library offers beyond the books and online databases students use for research.
Whether you need a place to study, support with your citations, or to borrow a charger in a pinch, take advantage of these free services available at the UVic McPherson and Priestly libraries.
Library Workshops
Looking to improve your writing, media literacy, or design skills? The McPherson Library offers year-round workshops on a wide variety of topics. There are a number of free, hands-on opportunities for students to “practice creative scholarship,” including 3D printing, laser cutting, and podcasting. They also offer workshops on navigating technology and achieving academic success. Some of these workshops cover citations and citation management, design and layout for posters and documents, data analysis, and introductions to websites like Canva or Zotero.
Subject Librarians
Every library has librarians, but did you know UVic has subject librarians who support students from different faculties and departments? Subject librarians can help students develop their research topics, find reliable sources, manage their citations, and more. In-person and Zoom appointments with librarians can be booked online.
Study Rooms and Computer Workstations
Whether you’re looking to study alone, print a paper, or work on a group project, the library has a number of study spaces available for students. You can book a study room or Tek Booth online through the library’s website. The study rooms are available for groups of more than two, while the Tek Booths are designed for one to two people. You can book the spaces up to a week in advance with a maximum of one booking per day and two hours at a time. If rooms aren’t reserved, they’re available on a first-come, first-served basis, so you have to snap them up quickly!
There are also computer workstations throughout the library that don’t require a booking, the majority of which are on the main floor of the McPherson Library. These computers are connected to printers in the library, which makes printing easy.
Borrowing Technology and Equipment
UVic students have the option to borrow laptops and other equipment from the library, such as keyboards, headphones, chargers, and bike locks. Whether your computer suddenly dies in the middle of working on a group project, or your screen is cracked and has to be sent away for a week, laptops are available for free short- or long-term loans, though there are overdue fines if they are returned late. Short-term loans are up to three hours and can only be used in the library or BiblioCafé, while long-term loans are up to two weeks and can be taken home.
If you’re looking to borrow tech, visit the Ask Us Desk at the McPherson Library or the front desk of the Priestly Law Library.
Academic Skills Centre (ASC)
The ASC, located on the main floor of the McPherson Library, offers online and in-person services and resources to both undergraduate and graduate students. Their services are completely free, and appointments can be booked online through their booking system. They support students across a variety of skills, including time management, exam preparation, oral presentations, critical reading, and more.
