FAQ 

Answers about our retail, loan and online services

For help navigating our website, please check our Help page

For additional help, please contact us.

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Customers

My Account

A personal account is required to buy or borrow an item(s). You do not need an account to access online resources.

Consult your account to view your:

• loan history
• retail order history
• newsletter subscription status
• affiliation.  See the Borrow section for more information.
• or, to renew current loans

Click the “heart” icon to view your saved favourites list.

Canadian customers

Canadian customers have full access to all our web services (buy, borrow, access online).

American customers

American customers have full access to our retail and online resources.  Borrowing privileges are not available outside of Canada.

International customers

International customers have access to our online resources.  We also ship select retail items outside of Canada and the United States. Please contact us with your retail order and we will reply with the shipping options and costs. Once confirmed, we'll send you a PayPal invoice.  Please note you are responsible for any local taxes or customs charges.  Borrowing privileges are not available outside of Canada.

We welcome everyone to come visit us in Winnipeg and experience a unique in-store shopping venue!

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Buy

Retail Product Selection

Select from hundreds of carefully curated retail items.

Our online and in-store retail product selections overlap but are also quite different. It is worth visiting us in both locations!

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Methods of Payment

Online

Online customers will be directed to PayPal for payment. You may pay by credit card or with a PayPal account. 

In-Store

We accept Mastercard, Visa, Debit, cash, or cheque in-store.  Congregations and organizations can choose to be invoiced (we do not invoice individuals).  CMU students may not charge purchases to their student accounts unless they set up a credit balance.

By Phone

We accept Mastercard and Visa over the phone. Congregations and organizations can choose to be invoiced (we do not invoice individuals).

Special Orders

We are glad to special order any title that is available from our suppliers.  Please contact us in-person or by email/phone. 

Many online titles, if not available to buy directly, have a “Request Price Quote” option. Select this and we’ll reply in 1-2 business days with a price and expected time of delivery. You may then confirm your order with us - and we will special order it.

A pre-payment may be required for certain titles, but normally we accept payment once the item(s) has arrived and is ready to ship or be picked up. 

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Borrow

Everyone located in Canada is welcome to borrow loan items!

All borrowers receive free shipping of loan resources, both ways, anywhere in Canada.

Free Shipping

Borrowed items ship free - both ways - anywhere in Canada.

• A prepaid return-label is included in each package.  We are not able to provide a prepaid return-label for items that were picked up.
• Once shipped, the package’s tracking number will be emailed to you. 

Loan Product Selection

Borrow from a carefully curated collection of Anabaptist and related books, partner titles and congregational resources. 

Length of Loan

The online checkout process will default to a 4-week loan period.  For any of the other options, please notify us via the "Comments" section of the checkout process and we will adjust the loan period accordingly. 

All loan periods include the time in transit (both ways) between Winnipeg and your address.

Multiple Loan Periods

Items with a "Borrow" button are available immediately.  Items with a "Borrow Later" button are available at a later date.  You may choose both types, if required, and they will be deliniated into multiple orders in your shopping cart.  You will be prompted to checkout the items separately.  Alternatively you may combine multiple orders into one shipment by adjusting the loan periods in your shopping cart to the latest common date.

Reservations

You may reserve a loan item(s) in advance, subject to availability, by adjusting the date(s) in your shopping cart. Remember that the selected date(s) is the day the item(s) will be shipped from Winnipeg. Please allow enough time for shipping. See Shipping Page for more information.

Holds

You may place a hold on a loan item(s) that is currently in circulation by clicking the "Borrow Later" option and selecting the default date (the earliest date available). We will send the item(s) as soon as it becomes available.

Loan Returns

In-Store Returns

Borrowed items returned in person (2299 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg) can be dropped off at our front desk.

During off-hours, please deposit your borrowed item(s) in the outside return drop-box.

Shipped Returns

Borrowed items shipped to you will include a free prepaid return label. Simply apply the label to the original (or new) package, and bring to your post office for mailing. (Or, if it's a small package, place it in the mailslot of a neighbourhood Canada Post box.) 

Although not typical, borrowers have occasionally experienced issues at the post office if clerks are unfamiliar with the library label. Simply indicate that it was paid by credit card (not by meter or account). If the clerk has difficulty scanning the label, ask that it be entered manually. Please contact us if there are any problems.

Borrowed items received at an off-site display must be returned to CommonWord at the borrower's expense.

Please return to our mailing address:

CommonWord
600 Shaftesbury Blvd
Winnipeg, MB
R3P 0M4

Renewals

All items may be renewed for one additional two-week period, subject to demand. Contact us or renew your items electronically by accessing My Account.

Overdues

We do not charge for an overdue item(s) but expect that it will be returned to Winnipeg by its due date (an automated email is sent 4 days in advance as a reminder). If an item(s) is not returned (or renewed), the borrower, after a short “grace period,” will be billed the cost of its replacement. Failure to comply will result in the suspension of borrowing privileges.

Buying Loan Copies

We are not able to sell a loan copy that has been borrowed. Loan copies were specially purchased for loan-use only. We are also not permitted to use the Canada Post library shipping rates to deliver retail items.  However, we would be happy to sell you a retail copy!  And we will special order any title we do not currently have it in stock.

Damage

Any damage to an item(s) should be reported immediately. Please do not try to mend the resource. If a replacement is required, the borrower, if at fault, will be billed for its replacement. 

Please do not write or highlight inside any of our materials. 

Please return resources with appropriately padded mailers and with other protective measures, as needed.

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Access Online

Online Product Selection

Select from thousands of carefully curated online items to download, view, read, listen to, or watch.  All free. 

We also link to hundreds of recommended websites. 

In addition, we partner with Together in Worship to provide hundreds of Anabaptist worship materials.  

Donations

CommonWord is grateful for all donations. Extra financial support helps us extend our "free" services to a greater audience.

For a charitable tax-receipt, please

• make your donation online
• or send a cheque (with CommonWord in the memo line) made out to either

Mennonite Church Canada

600 Shaftesbury Blvd

Winnipeg, MB

R3P 0M4

Or,

Canadian Mennonite University

500 Shaftesbury Blvd

Winnipeg, MB

R3P 2N2

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