Research

We’re here to help you navigate our collections and resources. Please ask us for help in finding a book, help with your research, or assistance in locating a piece of information.

You will find our Reference desk on the lower level of the Library, or feel free to call us at
(514) 345-2627 ext. 3001 or send us an e-mail by filling out the form below.

Reference service is available to anyone, although priority response is given to JPL members.

Interlibrary Loans (ILL)

It is often possible to borrow books from other libraries from within Canada, if the book you’re searching for is not held in our collections.

In most cases this service is free but in some cases (mostly universities), the lending library will charge the JPL and this charge must be covered by you and prepaid before the book is requested.

In order to qualify for this service, you must be a JPL member in good standing and with a clear borrowing record over the previous 6 months. If the book you request is available at another Montreal library that is open to all residents, we will ask you to borrow it directly. We will be happy to provide you with the location(s) as they apply to your request.

Please submit your request using the Reference Email form. The reference staff will respond within 1 working day.

Books: Please provide author, full title, and other relevant information (publisher, year) where possible. If charges apply, we will inform you before making the request, and you will need to prepay.

Loan period: This is determined by the lending institution and is usually 2 weeks. You’ll be advised of the full ILL return policies when we contact you to pick up your book.

Journal articles: If the article has already been scanned by an external source, we will email it to you without charge.

If JPL staff need to scan the article or make photocopies, charges will apply. We will inform you before we process the request, and you will need to prepay the charges.