First, sign into your StMU Library account. The login for this will always be your STMU student email and password. If you would like for your search to return a mixture of books, eBooks, journals, and articles you can simply enter your search terms in the main search bar and hit enter. However, if you would like to limit your results to exclude any open access or index-only records, select ‘catalogue’ before searching.

Next, tweak your results. There are two options for limiting your results to show what physical materials are available to request for pickup. If you select the “available in the library” option, the results will only show those items that are on the shelf and available for immediate processing. It does not, however, include any items that are currently on loan, awaiting cataloging, or have been returned to the Library but are currently undergoing quarantine. We would recommend using this option if you need to pick up these materials in fewer than seven days. If you select the “St. Mary’s University Library” option, this option will include all physical items owned by the STMU Library including those materials that are available on the shelf for immediate pickup, items currently on loan on which a recall would be placed (these could take 2-14 days to be returned), all items currently in quarantine, and any items currently awaiting cataloging (a request would place a ‘Rush’ on processing with items typically available in 7-10 days).

Next, once you have found an item that you would like to request, click on the record and then select the ‘Request’ option in the ‘Get It’ section of the record. If you are requesting an item that is currently checked out, please keep in mind that it may take up to 21 days to become available. We encourage you to make these requests anyway! If you know that you will not need an item after a certain date, please indicate this date on the confirmation page. Otherwise, simply hit ‘Request’.

When your request has been processed you will receive an automatic notification for circulation@stmu.ca to your student email account that your requested items are ready for pickup. Please be sure to check that the circulation email is not being sent to your junk mailbox.

Once you have received notification, you may visit the library for pick-up during open hours.

All student library users must have a current and valid StMU ID card to access library services as well as print and online resources. Your StMU ID card is your Library Card. If you do not have one, please make an appointment at the main office of the Administration Building to get one.

If you are visiting the StMU campus, you can acquire a Community Borrower Card at the circulation desk for $10/year. Alternatively, you can use a TAL Card, available at any participating TAL library and free to Calgary Public Library members at any CPL location.

As the majority of the Library’s resources are available online, e.g. electronic journals, e-books and databases, they will require external authentication when accessed from off campus. OpenAthens is an access management system for controlling and simplifying access to online resources. Authenticating via  OpenAthens enables you to access the majority of the Library’s online databases, electronic journals and e-books seamlessly and without the frequent entry of usernames and passwords. Off-campus access to the Library’s online resources via OpenAthens is restricted to students, staff and faculty of STMU.

When accessing an OpenAthens resource for the first time, you may be faced with a generic OpenAthens login screen.  If so, you must search using the ‘Find your organisation’ box on the right in order to navigate to the correct login page. A search for St Mary’s University will present a list that includes a St Mary’s University Calgary link.

Clicking the link will take you to an STMU sign-in page that will accept your institutional email address and network password to log in (the same password as the Student Self-Service and IT workstations). Logging in successfully here will take you to the desired e-resource. Once logged in, you will remain authenticated throughout your browser session and links from the Library search page will pre-identify you as an STMU user and will pass you directly to the desired resource.

OpenAthens access is directly tied to your university IT credentials, if you are unable to sign in to OpenAthens, your STMU email or STMU library account you can reset your password here

Most students will get an ID card during orientation, however if you missed the orientation, you can make an appointment at the St Mary’s Main Office (Administration Building) to get your ID Card.

As the majority of the Library’s resources are available online, they will require external authentication when accessed from off campus. OpenAthens is an access management system for controlling and simplifying access to online resources. Authenticating via OpenAthens enables you to access the majority of the Library’s online databases, electronic journals and e-books seamlessly and without the frequent entry of usernames and passwords.

Off-campus access to the Library’s online resources via OpenAthens is restricted to students, staff and faculty of STMU. Community and TAL borrowers will have access to STMU’s online resources through our on-campus computer terminals.

When accessing an OpenAthens resource for the first time, you may be faced with a generic OpenAthens login screen (see below).  If so, you must search using the ‘Find your organisation’ box on the right in order to navigate to the correct login page.  A search for St Mary’s University will present a list that includes a St Mary’s University Calgary link.

Clicking the link will take you to an STMU sign-in page that will accept your institutional email address and network password to login (the same password as the Student Self-Service and IT workstations).  Logging in successfully here will take you to the desired e-resource.  Once logged in, you will remain authenticated throughout your browser session and links from the Library search page will pre-identify you as an STMU user and will pass you directly to the desired resource.

If you’re still having issues accessing your account, try updating your password or contact the IT Help Desk for support.

IT Help Desk

You can renew your materials in person at our Information Desk, by email or by phone, or sign in online and view “My Library Card” and select the resources you would like to renew. Reminder notices are sent to your email address three days prior to your items being due — this allows you time to renew your items before they are past the due date.

Fine charges for items not returned by the due date will be assessed:

  • $1.00/ day for most items
  • $1.00/ hour for 2 Hour Loans

Please note that, if the total sum of fines on your account reaches $10.00 or more, you will need to return the overdue items and you will not be able to renew them.

Once you have selected the title you want in the catalogue that has the message “no copies currently available”, sign in to your library account using your STMU and password, and then select “Place Hold”. The person who has the material that you need will have a minimum of two weeks with the material before they have to return the items placed on hold. After the two week time period, the item can be recalled from the person and they will not be able to renew the item on hold. The Library will notify you by email when your holds are ready for you to sign out.

StMU students, faculty and staff can also borrow materials from other libraries such as:

SAIL Libraries

StMU students, faculty and staff can also borrow books from other libraries in the SAIL consortium. This includes: Ambrose University, Bow Valley College (BVC) and the University of Calgary. Before going to another SAIL library, please check at the Library’s Information Desk to make sure that your StMU Card is valid and current to ensure you have borrowing access.

University of Calgary Library Collection

To access University of Calgary books located in the main collection or the High Density Library (HDL),log in to your StMU library account and switch your search to “U of C, Ambrose, and BVC”.  A hold will be placed on the item and you will receive an email notification when your item is available. 

Please note that you MUST check out your materials from the information desks at U of C, as STMU ID cards will not work on the self checkout locations..

Public computers at the University of Calgary

Public computers within the TFDL do not allow open public access to University of Calgary computing resources. Due to IT restrictions, anyone who wishes to use a public computer in the TFDL will require an IT username and password to log on to the machines and use the resources on them. IT passwords can be obtained from the information desk on the ground floor of the TFDL. Please note, however, that this desk is not staffed for the entirety of the Library’s open hours. Please confirm desk hours prior to visiting the U of C campus. 

Libraries in Alberta

Other libraries across Alberta lend materials to any person with a TAL Card. In Calgary these libraries include: Mount Royal University (MRU), SAIT, and Calgary Public Library.



The TAL Card allows people to borrow materials from participating libraries across Alberta. You may have up to 5 books on loan at any time from each library and may be able to renew the books.

TAL Cards are available free to StMU students and faculty, but anyone can obtain one. As a guest, you can obtain a TAL card for a $10 processing fee at the Library’s information desk. TAL Cards can also be obtained from any participating library across Alberta.

You can access the library’s electronic resources during library hours in the library. When you try to access all toll access resources you will be prompted to enter your STMU email and password into an external authentication system called OpenAthens. If you are not prompted to log in through OpenAthens, you may need to search for, or select OpenAthens as your access method and search for and select St. Mary’s University.

The StMU Library has:

  • Library workstations

The library has 8 research computers and one QuickRef laptop with access to the library catalogue, electronic databases, and the internet. You may use these workstations for research and coursework.

  • Library computer labs

The computer labs in the library (B104 and B105) contain a total of 56 workstations. During the Library’s open hours and when not booked for classes, the computer labs are available to students for drop-in use.

  • Audio-visual station

Inside the Special Collections area, the library maintains one audiovisual viewing station.

Printing in the Library is 10¢ a page. All new students have a $1.00 balance to start. additional funds may be added in-person at the Library service desk or online through print.stmu.ca.

Printing is also available from your personal laptop or mobile device. To do so you will need to login to your print.stmu.ca account.

The Library is fully equipped with WiFi access. You can connect to the library’s website & resources using your own laptop, mobile phone or tablet via these networks:

  • StMU-Guest does not require a username/ID or password (PW); or
  • stmu-connect requires an ID & PW. Use your StMU network account ID & PW.

St. Mary’s University Library can place library-owned (physical & digital), as well as personally-owned (physical) materials on course reserve.

Monday – Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

You can bring food and beverages into the Library. Please ensure table surfaces and your hands are clean of food debris when handling library materials. Drinks must have a lid and spill proof containers must be used around computer stations in the library. Please clean up after yourself. If any surfaces require cleaning, please notify library staff.

Need more information?

Reach out to a member of the StMU Library team for help.