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The Avila Library’s regular semester hours are:

• Sunday: 1 PM – 9 PM

• Monday–Thursday: 8 AM – 11 PM

• Friday: 8 AM – 5 PM

• Saturday: Closed

We stay open later during finals week and close early during breaks. The library is also closed on campus holidays, snow days, and other campus closures.

Tip: Our most up-to-date hours appear on the left side of every library web page, just below the chat box.

Most resources and services at the Avila Library are completely free, including:

• Reading and borrowing materials
• Using library databases and eBook collections
• Reserving and using study rooms and other spaces
• Getting help from circulation desk and library staff
• Requesting items through MOBIUS and Interlibrary Loan

The library charges fees for the following:

• Replacement fees for lost or damaged materials
• Late fees for technology items (laptops, calculators) and course reserves
• Per-page charges for copying documents
• Some Interlibrary Loan fees may apply if lending libraries charge; we will always consult you before accepting any fees

The Avila Library does not typically provide textbooks for courses. However, some instructors specific textbooks or related materials on Course Reserves for short-term use within the library.

Click here to view the library’s current Course Reserves.

To ensure availability for all students, Course Reserve materials usually have limited loan periods and are available for in-library use or brief checkout.

If a textbook isn’t currently on Course Reserve, please check with your professor to see if it can be added.

Yes, you’re welcome to bring food and drinks into the library. Please use covered containers for beverages and be considerate of others by keeping noise and odors to a minimum, especially in the Quiet Study Area.

In addition to food options elsewhere on campus, the library offers vending machines, two microwaves for patron use, and a water fountain.

The Avila Library is a place for teamwork and collaboration, so conversations are encouraged and moderate noise is allowed.

To avoid disturbing others, please silence your cell phone, use headphones when listening to audio, and speak at a normal volume.

Please remain quiet in the designated Quiet Study Area, and follow staff instructions if asked to lower your volume or move to a more appropriaqte space for conversation.

The Avila Library primarily serves Avila University students, faculty, and staff.

However, community members are welcome to use the library’s physical spaces for reading, studying, and on-site research during regular hours.

Borrowing privileges and some services are limited to staff, faculty, and currently enrolled students.

For information about guest access, please email library@avila.edu.

Several other departments have offices or desks in the library:

• IT Services maintains a help desk on the left as you enter past the circulation desk.
• The Ruth M. Willcox Writing & Tutoring Center is along the back wall of the library, near the Inspirational Learning Center.
• TRIO services are located between the history wall and the Quiet Study Area.

To ensure a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, all patrons must comply with university policies while using the Avila Library and comply with any verbal instructions from library staff or campus safety personnel.

Click here to access selected conduct policies.

Below are links to policies specific to the library:

• Collection Development Policy
• Faculty Resource Request Policy
• Group Study Room Policy

The library offers 16 Microsoft and 6 Mac desktop computers, free to use for Avila students, staff, faculty, and guests. Each desktop has Microsoft Office and other helpful programs installed.

To use a desktop computer, log in with your Avila username and password. Guests can request access at the circulation desk.

Laptops are also available for checkout to students, staff, and faculty. Most have a 6-hour checkout period with a possible 6-hour renewal. Longer-term loans may be arranged upon request.

Printing is available for Avila students, staff, and faculty using the Papercut system—the same one used campus-wide.

• Students receive $30 in print credits each semester and can add more credits at the circulation desk.

• Staff and faculty have unlimited printing and do not need to replenish credits.

To print from a library desktop computer:

1. Open the print menu in your program.

2. Select LIB-SLOAN as the printer.

3. Submit your print job.

4. Approve the print job when the pop-up appears.

To print from your personal laptop using Papercut’s print.avila.edu portal:

1. Sign in at print.avila.edu.

2. Click Web Print.

3. Click Submit a Job.

4. Select LIB-SLOAN as your printer.

5. Click Print Options and Account Selection.

6. Choose the number of copies.

7. Upload the files you want to print.

8. Click Upload & Complete.

Note: Print.avila.edu accepts only PDF and image files. You may need to convert other file types to PDF before printing. Contact the circulation desk or IT help desk for assistance.

The library’s LIB-SLOAN printer can both scan and copy documents.

Scanning to email is free:

• Place your documents on the flatbed or document feeder.

• Enter your email address, select your settings, and press Start.

Copying requires staff assistance and has a per-page charge. Often, it’s easier to scan documents to your email and then print as many copies as you need.

If you need help with scanning or copying, please visit the circulation desk.

You can reset your Avila password on the IT Services website. Click on the Forgot Your Password? Reset it link.

If you need help, staff at the IT help desk in the library can also reset passwords and assist with other technical issues. If no staff are available, Submit a Ticket to report your issue to IT.

Currently enrolled Avila students, staff, and faculty are welcome to borrow books, DVDs, and other materials from the Avila Library. Please bring your Avila ID or another valid photo ID whenever you check out materials.

If you find a book you want to borrow, simply bring it to the circulation desk. We’ll check it out for you right away.

Many of Avila’s books are stored in our auxiliary stacks in O’Reilly Hall. These books cannot be browsed, but they are available to borrow Use the Avila Library Catalog to search for these items. When you find a book you’d like, stop by the circulation desk and ask for it. Library staff will locate and retrieve the book for you and complete the checkout.

Note: Some materials, such as reference books, are for in-library use only.

Loan Periods for Students:

• Books: 28 days plus 2 renewals
• Reference Books: In-library use only
• Calculators: Until the end of the semester
• Camcorders: 30 days plus 1 renewal
• Course Reserves: Variable, usually in-library use only
• Faculty DVDs: In-library use only
• Student DVDs: 28 days plus 2 renewals
• Headphones: 6 hours plus 1 renewal
• Interlibrary Loan Items: Up to the lending library
• Laptops: 6 hours, 7 days, or 30 days plus 1 renewal
• Laptop Accessories: 6 hours, 7 days, or 30 days plus 1 renewal
• MOBIUS Items: 40 days with no renewals
• Periodicals (Journals, Magazines, Newspapers): In-library use only

Renewals are for the same amount of time as the original loan.

Note: Loan periods may be longer for staff and faculty.

Placing a hold is a great way to make sure you get access to the materials you need. You might want to place a hold to:

• Have an item set aside for you to pick up at your convenience
• Join the waitlist for a high-demand item
• Request books from other libraries through the MOBIUS Catalog

The circulation desk can place holds for you, but in most cases it’s easier to place holds yourself through the Avila Library Catalog or the MOBIUS Catalog:

1. Find the book or DVD you want to request
2. Click Access Options
3. Choose Place Hold
4. Choose Avila University as your library (MOBIUS Only)
5. Sign in using your Avila username and password, if you haven’t already
6. Select Avila University as your pickup location, and add any notes for staff if needed
7. Click Place Hold

Once your hold is submitted, library staff will receive a notification, retrieve the item, and place it on the hold shelf. You will receive an email when your hold is ready for pickup.

Hold availability details:

• Holds placed before 4 PM should be ready after 6 PM the same day
• Holds placed after 4 PM will be ready the next open day
• If other patrons requested the item before you, you will receive it once they return it
• Holds placed through MOBIUS typically take 3–10 days to arrive

Note: These are average timeframes; delivery may be sooner or later. Contact the library if you would like a status update on your request.

Yes, you can renew books and other loans online by visiting the Checkouts tab on the Holds & Checkouts page (also called My Bookshelf) in the Avila Library Catalog.

How to renew online:

1. Sign in to your account using your normal Avila username and password

2. Review your list of current loans.

3. Click Renew next to the item you want to extend.

If the renewal is successful, you’ll see a new due date for the item.

If the renewal is unsuccessful, it may be because:

• The loan is already overdue

• No renewals remain

• The item is not eligible for renewal

• Your account is out of date

If you are unable to renew online, contact the library. Staff can sometimes extend your loan manually.

To return borrowed items, stop by the circulation desk during library hours and hand them to a staff member.

Once we have received your items, you’re all set, no need to show an Avila ID.

If you’d like, you can ask the circulation desk staff to check the status of your account. We recommend doing this if you are returning an item that is overdue or marked as lost.

When the library is closed, you can return books, DVDs, and periodicals via the outdoor drop box, labeled Book Depository, located to the right of the front doors. Please do not place technology or fragile items in the drop box.

You can see your current holds, checkouts, and library fees by visiting Holds & Checkouts (also called My Bookshelf) in the Avila Library Catalog.

To access Holds & Checkouts, click the My Bookshelf link near the top of the Avila Library Catalog, or select any link labeled Holds & Checkouts or Renew My Materials on the library website.

You will need to sign in using your Avila username and password—the same credentials you use for Canvas, MyAU, or Navigate.

If you’re unable to sign in or notice something unusual, please contact the library for assistance.

The Avila Library’s overdue fees vary by material type:

• Books and DVDs: No late fees, but replacement charges apply if items are lost.

• Technology items (laptops, calculators, peripherals) and course reserves: Late fees apply because it’s especially important to return these on time. Fees may be charged on an hourly or daily basis. Replacement charges apply if items are lost

If an item becomes significantly overdue it will be considered lost. You will be restricted from checking out additional materials, and replacement charges will be added to your Business Office account.

You can view your current fees by visiting the Fees tab on the Holds & Checkouts page (also called My Bookshelf) in the Avila Library Catalog.

If any fees shown there don’t look correct, please contact the library. We can help identify them and remove any that are in error.

Paying fees

• Fees can be paid at the Avila circulation desk. We currently accept cash only.
• Before paying, please:

1. 1. Return all overdue materials. This gives us an accurate picture of your actual fees. Some late fees appear only after an item is returned, and replacement fees will be removed once the item is checked in.

   2. Ask about a waiver. If the amount is small or it’s your first late fee, library staff may be able to waive it.

If you can’t to pay your fees, please contact the Library Director. There may be options to work off some or all of the balance.

Note: If any of your fees have been transferred to the Avila business office, please let staff know when you return a lost item or pay a fee so they can request that the charge be removed from your business office account.

The Avila Library offers over 30 databases containing articles, eBooks, videos, and other resources on a variety of topics.

You can search across most of these databases at once using Search Everything, the default search option in the box on the library home page.

While Search Everything is a great place to start, you may want to search an individual database to take advantage of its unique features or more focused results. The Databases page on the library website lists all available databases and provides recommendations by subject area.

When you click on a link to a library database or run a search in Search Everything, one of three things can happen:

1. No Sign-In Required
   If you’re on the AU-Reserve Wi-Fi network or using a library desktop computer, the database will recognize you as being on campus and grant direct access.
   You may also skip sign-in if you’ve recently logged in on your personal device—your browser may remember your credentials.
   Note: The AvilaGuest Wi-Fi network does not provide sign-in-free access, so we recommend using AU-Reserve while on campus.

2. Sign-In Required
   If you’re off campus, or on campus using phone data or any Wi-Fi network other than AU-Reserve, you’ll need to sign in with your Avila username and password. Watch a short video tutorial on how to sign in.

3. Guest Mode
   When using Search Everything or Publication Finder from off campus, you may start in guest mode. You can browse results, but access to item details and full text will be limited. Clicking on a full-text link or the banner at the top of the page will prompt you to sign in.

Follow these steps if you are having trouble signing in to a database:

1. Verify your Avila username and password.
   Use the same credentials you use for Canvas, MyAU, or Navigate. Do not include “@avila.edu” in the username.
   Example:

   • Student: smith54321

   • Faculty/Staff: smithja

2. Test your Avila account.
   Try signing in to Canvas, MyAU, or Navigate. This will help you determine whether the issue is with your Avila account or with the library system.

3. Contact the right support team:

   • If you can’t sign in to any Avila services, contact IT Services for help resetting your password, unlocking your account, or resolving account issues.

   • If other Avila services work but databases still won’t let you in, contact the library at (816) 501-3621, email library@avila.edu, chat with us online, or visit the circulation desk.

Yes! You can access the library’s databases and eBook collections from anywhere in the United States—just make sure you have internet access.

When you click a database link from off campus, you’ll usually be prompted to sign in with your Avila username and password (the same credentials you use for Canvas, MyAU, and Navigate).

Click here to watch a short video tutorial on signing in to library databases.

Most library databases focus on scholarly articles, so they are often your primary search results. In some databases, scholarly articles are labeled as Academic Journal.

A key indicator that an article is scholarly is if it has been peer reviewed. This means that it was published in an academic journal and evaluated by experts in the same field as the topic.

When searching in a library database or in Search Everything, look for a checkbox or filter labeled Peer Reviewed. Selecting this will limit your results to scholarly and peer-reviewed articles.

Remember: even scholarly sources should be carefully considered. The library can help you find and evaluate high-quality sources.

For thorough academic research, library databases are the best place to start, but both have their benefits:

Library databases provide access to full-text articles and eBooks through Avila’s subscriptions. They offer reliable, peer-reviewed sources and advanced search tools and filters. However, they may not cover as many results as Google Scholar.

Google Scholar searches a wide range of scholarly materials across the web, but many results require payment (sometimes hundreds of dollars) to access the full text.

If you prefer using Google Scholar, we recommend installing LibKey Nomad on your browser. It’s easy to set up—just select Avila University when prompted.

Click here to get LibKey Nomad for your browser.

Click here for our LibKey Nomad tutorial.

Once enabled, LibKey Nomad helps you bypass paywalls by adding a convenient “Full Text” button whenever the library has access.

The library offers two ways to get help with your research: Quick Support and Research Consultations.

Quick Support
For quick questions, simply stop by the circulation desk, call us at (816) 501-3621, email library@avila.edu, or chat with us online. In-person help at the circulation desk is best because we can view your screen and provide real-time assistance. If you can’t come to campus, phone or chat support the best way to get help.

Research Consultations
For more in-depth help, schedule a one-on-one research consultation with a librarian. Appointments can be made through Navigate or by emailing the Library Director directly at thomas.pfeifer@avila.edu

If the Avila Library doesn’t have the resource you need, you can request it through one of two services: MOBIUS or Interlibrary Loan (ILL).

MOBIUS
MOBIUS is a consortium of over 70 libraries in Missouri and nearby Midwestern states. It’s the quickest and easiest way to borrow physical items like books and DVDs from other libraries, and requesting through MOBIUS is always free.

Click here to search the MOBIUS catalog.

To request an item via MOBIUS, follow the steps in the How do I place a hold? FAQ.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
If an item is not available through MOBIUS, you can try Interlibrary Loan (ILL), which covers a wider range of materials but usually takes longer.

Click here to start your ILL request.

There are two types of ILL requests:

• Book requests: For complete books, which will be shipped to the library for you to pick up

• Article requests: For specific journal articles or book chapters, which will be emailed to you as PDFs

To submit an ILL request:

1. Visit the library’s Interlibrary Loans webpage and select the ILL Article Request Form or ILL Book Request Form

2. Fill out your contact information and provide as much detail about the item as possible

3. Click Send Message to submit your request

ILL requests are free; however, some lending libraries may charge a fee. If this happens, we will contact you for approval before proceeding. You will never be charged without your permission.

Delivery Timeframes:

• MOBIUS items: 3–10 business days

• ILL articles: 1–5 business days

• ILL books: 7–14 business days

You will receive an email notification when your request is ready for pickup.

Note: These are average timeframes; delivery may be sooner or later. Contact the library if you would like a status update on your request.