Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The McMaster Library Digitization Centre is responsible for most digitization projects in the library, focusing on digitizing collections from McMaster Libraries' collections. The Digitization Centre does not offer digitization services for privately held research materials or digitize collection materials on demand.

For digital copies of book chapters or journal articles available in print at the library, you can request a scan (article or chapter) through Omni by following these steps: Sign in to Omni > locate the item of interest > click on the title to view the full record > go to the Get it section in the full record > select Digitization (if available/eligible) > complete and send the request form.

If requesting digital items the library does not own, please use our Interlibrary Loan service that allows current students, staff, and faculty to borrow materials from other institutions.

Requests for materials that can be purchased digitally can be submitted through the library's Recommend a book, film or journal form. 

To request digitization for Library held material, please contact library@mcmaster.ca. Please provide details about the subject area or materials, and any details about teaching or research timelines related to having digital access to materials. All digitization requests will be assessed based on item copyright status, physical condition, privacy concerns (for archival materials only), and current digitization timelines.