Distance & StFX Online Students

Searching for Print and Online Sources:

• Visit the library website: library.stfx.ca
• Searching for books: Use our Novanet discovery platform or Google Scholar from the Library's main search box. Remember to check our E-Books for content that may be relevant to your research interests.
• Searching for articles: From the Databases list select your database of choice; e.g. ProQuest
  • If unsure of which database to select go to the list of Subject Guides and select your subject. The subject guide will provide a list of relevant databases to start with.
  • If you don't have your webFX credentials or your password has expired, visit the IT Services website:  or contact them at @email.

• Create/Update Your Library Account: 
  • Your StFX ID card also serves as your library card. This card identifies you as a student at StFX and provides you with borrowing privileges within Nova Scotia in the event that you need to use Interlibary Lending Services for an item which you cannot directly access. 
  • If you are a distance student who cannot come to StFX to get an official StFX ID, please follow the instructions on how to obtain one from a distance on our Registration page. Once you have the barcode (Novanet number) from your StFX ID card, you can begin your research as you would have already been registered in our library system.

Borrowing from a Distance: Request & Retrieve, Novanet Express & Interlibrary Lending:

• For physical items owned by StFX that are listed as available in our catalogue, under the Availability and Request section of the record, use our Request & Retrieve service by selecting the "Request" link.   For these items, distance students have an option to select their home address for delivery by scrolling the list of choices in the "Pickup Location" field of the request form.
• When a physical item owned by StFX is not available, or to request physical items owned by other Novanet libraries, use our Novanet Express service by selecting the "Request from other libraries" link from  the Availability and Request section of the catalogue record.  Home delivery is not a listed pickup location for this service, however, choose StFX Macdonald Library as your pickup location and add a note in the comment field of the request form to say that you would like home delivery.  Please note that if you are registered for an in-person program at StFX, or your home address is in Antigonish, we will not mail locally and you will have to make arrangements to pick up your material at the library. 
• Use the Interlibrary Lending Form if:
  • An article you want:
    • Is owned by StFX in print only.
    • Is an article to which StFX does not subscribe .
    • Is an abstract and where StFX does not subscribe to the full text version.
  • You wish to borrow a physical book that is not available in the Novanet catalogue.
    • Please note that you cannot request a full e-book via Interlibrary lending.  You may request only one chapter of an e-book at a time.  Please do not submit multiple requests for different chapters from the same book.  Copyright legislation forbids this and only your first request will be filled.
  • You only need one chapter of a book (physical or e-book). 
• To request home delivery via this method, select "Mail" as the delivery method in the corresponding field of the form. Please note that delivery times vary depending on the location of the owning library and format chosen. 
• To successfully log in to our Interlibrary Lending Form, you will need to use the 14-digit number at the bottom of your picture id which starts with 2199300 (that number is your library ID barcode or Novanet number), and use your last name exactly as it is spelled on your library account as your password.

Studying/Working Internationally

• Distance students, faculty and staff studying or working outside of Canada should be aware that we do not ship physical items internationally.  If you need an entire physical work, please use your local library as your first resource as this will be the fastest and cheapest option to get the material you need. 
• You can access our online collection from anywhere in the world with your StFX credentials, and you may request scans of book chapters or articles within copyright parameters via our ILL service.

CAAL Card:

• Should you wish to borrow books or other printed resources in-person from university libraries outside Nova Scotia, you will need a CAAL card. Contact @email for more information.

BARA: Borrow Anywhere Return Anywhere:

• In Nova Scotia, you can borrow or return books from or to any public, academic or community college library. If you are in NS, please make use of this service as often as you can to locate and return your items in a timely manner.

Research Help

For assistance with your research project, citations, etc.

E-mail: @email
Call: 902-867-2242

Outside of regular Research Help Desk hours, you can also speak with a Librarian through our Live Help Chat Service

More Information On Research Help Services
Contact your Liaison Librarian

Main Service Desk

For general inquiries, issues with your library account

E-mail: @email

Call: 902-867-2228

Interlibrary Loan

For information on the status of your requests, renewals, etc.

E-mail: @email

More information on Interlibrary Lending

IT Services

For assistance with your webFX credentials or any other technology-related issue, visit the IT Services website for assistance options.

E-mail: @email