Library Updates for Faculty and Staff
- 05/06/2020
As you consider course materials for summer and fall courses, please consider using online resources through the library, as well as Open Educational Resources and Open Textbooks (OER). Using existing electronic library resources or OER will ensure that your students have access to the course materials no matter what the delivery format of our classes. In addition, these resources require no cost for students, a critical savings during a time when family incomes are already reduced or at risk.
The University Libraries provide access to more than 1 million electronic books and more than 113,000 streaming video titles. More than 230,000 electronic journals are available from which you could link articles through your Blackboard course. These resources can be located through the library's search box on the library website and through the library databases. Consult the library's guide on Permalinks for help with identifying the persistent URL to a specific library resource.
Please reach out to your liaison librarian for help identifying course materials as you prepare for summer and fall courses.
- 05/01/2020
To clearup any confusion with previouly announced dates, the current due date for all materials is June 30, 2020. This applies to all materials for Boatwright as well as Parsons Music Library. If you have questions about Boatwright materials, please contact Cassandra Taylor-Anderson at ctaylora@richmond.edu. If you have questions about materials from Parsons Music Library, please contact Linda Fairtile at lfairtil@richmond.edu.
- 04/15/2020
Starting on April 15, due to changes in campus logistics, all requests for physical library materials will be available for pick-up on a book truck at the front entrance of Boatwright Library between 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. We regret that delivery to departmental mailrooms is temporarily unavailable. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Cassandra Taylor-Anderson at ctaylora@richmond.edu.
All liaison librarians are available by email and Zoom for individual appointments as students need research help. A quick link to request an appointment is here: https://library.richmond.edu/help/ask/appointments.html
Thank you for your continued support of the University Libraries!
- 03/25/2020
COVID-19 information guide – the tab for Textbooks and Resources contains a curated list of information/resources offered at no cost from publishers for a limited time. Please see :http://libguides.richmond.edu/spring2020
Scanning of course materials continues. The Boatwright Memorial Library and Parsons Music Library have staff members working daily to scan and upload course materials. To have your course materials scanned for Blackboard, please complete the form at: https://library.richmond.edu/services/course-reserves/course-reserves-form.html or contact Alissa Potter, User Support Specialist, at apotter@richmond.edu.
Print Books and Media Materials. Faculty and staff can still request books and other materials that are not online through Document Delivery and items will be sent to your departmental mailroom via campus mail. As another option, faculty, staff and students who need books or other physical items from Boatwright may also send requests to Cassandra Taylor Anderson at ctaylora@richmond.edu. Materials will be ready for pickup at 11 a.m. each day at the Boatwright Library lakeside front entrance door. Students who are not in Richmond and need print books/media should contact their liaison librarian who will check on e-book options or make suggestions for alternative online material. If there no viable options, a book/DVD can be mailed to a student.
While Parsons Music Library is closed until further notice, library users may request physical materials by emailing Linda Fairtile (lfairtil@richmond.edu). Due dates for all items will be set to May 2. Users will be able to pick up requested materials at our Modlin door at a mutually agreeable time.
Newspapers available. The libraries have acquired access to the web version of the Washington Post and the Financial Times. See our News Resources guide at http://libguides.richmond.edu/newssources
for more information. We are negotiating for similar campus access to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. We will post information at this link when they are available.
Streaming Media Resources. The library has access to thousands of streaming Hollywood and independent feature films, documentaries, TV series, music, theater, e-audio books through a variety of online platforms which can be accessed on and off campus. See: https://library.richmond.edu/information/streaming.html
FAQ page for Library Support: https://library.richmond.edu/help/covid19-faq.html
Link to Library Updates as they are sent out: https://library.richmond.edu/updates.html
Thank you for your continued support of the University Libraries!
- 03/17/2020
Boatwright Memorial Library and Parsons Music Library will close effective March 17. User Services staff will be on site each weekday in order to maintain operations (collecting returned items, scanning, and material requests).
Licensed eBooks and electronic resources: Libraries across the country are working with vendors and consortia to raise or eliminate user limits for databases during this period. Many publishers have made expanded or free content available, check our Online Teaching Resources LibGuide for updated information.
VitalSource and RedShelf, two major textbook vendors, have opened up portions of their contents for free limited access, so please check for titles there if you use textbooks. If you find that you are unable to locate your textbook, check with a liaison to see if we can purchase an unlimited e-copy. For all questions about connecting, contact a liaison librarian for assistance.
Scanning of course materials continues. The library has staff members working daily to scan and upload course materials. To have your course materials scanned for Blackboard, please complete the form at: https://library.richmond.edu/services/course-reserves/course-reserves-form.html or contact Alissa Potter, User Support Specialist, at apotter@richmond.edu.
Checking Out Books and Media. Faculty, staff and students who need books or other physical items from Boatwright should send requests to Cassandra Taylor Anderson at ctaylora@richmond.edu. Cassandra will direct staff to retrieve the items and check them out to you. Material will be ready for pickup at 11 a.m. each day at the Boatwright Library lakeside front entrance door.
While Parson Music Library’s doors will remain locked until further notice, library users may request physical materials by emailing or calling Linda Fairtile (lfairtil@richmond.edu or 804 287-6849). Due dates for all items will be set to May 2. Most users will be able to pick up requested materials at our Modlin door at a mutually agreeable time. Faculty with offices in Booker Hall may also elect to pick up at our Booker door.
We recognize that faculty, students and staff with child or elder care concerns may not be able to come to campus to retrieve materials. The libraries will ship materials to your home via UPS upon request. The Libraries will cover the costs.
Liaison Librarians continue to support research and instruction for the campus Our priority for the current week: providing access information, locating books, media, online resources to prepare for the start of online classes March 23rd. As the weeks progress, their work will include:
- Planning for and providing instructional sessions for the remainder of term for classes.
- Ordering/accessing and providing information to faculty and students for any class resources/research needed.
- Keeping guides and information up to date for all guides and relevant information shared with campus.
Thank you for your continued support of the University Libraries.
- 03/16/2020
Interlibrary Loan (ILL): Due to health concerns and the changing operating status of member campuses, the VIVA Resource Sharing Committee is asking members to immediately cease shipments of all physical materials between libraries. Boatwright Library will prioritize requests to scan/e-deliver ILL materials, including scanning multiple book chapters for items that had previously been requested for physical delivery. We expect delivery of materials from other libraries to the University of Richmond to slow as campus closures increase.
Building Hours: Boatwright Memorial Library will maintain our current hours (8:00am – 5:00pm M-F, Closed Sat & Sun) through March 23.
This week in Boatwright we will be limiting access to levels B1 and B2 (stacks/basement levels) to staff only. Only faculty, staff and students with a valid UR ID are allowed entry into the building. These area restrictions will aid us in monitoring the building and will help custodial services by limiting the number of surfaces that need wiping down regularly during the crisis.
Parsons Music Library is closed until further notice, but our staff will make collection materials available by request. Contact Linda Fairtile at lfairtil@richmond.edu or 804 287-6849 to request materials.
ACCESS TO RESOURCES
Scanning of Course Materials: The Libraries will provide scanning services for course materials through our current request channels. Information on how to make requests is available on the Library Services page of our website. For detailed/complicated request, please contact Alissa Potter via email at apotter@richmond.edu for assistance.
Borrowing Periods for Circulating Materials: Boatwright Library and Parsons Music Library will extend due dates for materials currently in circulation to May 2, 2020.
Licensed eBooks and electronic resources: We are available to assist you in gaining access to materials in our stacks and have many online resources available from off-campus, including eBooks, databases, and streaming video and audio. It may be possible for the Libraries to acquire multi-user licenses for eBook versions of course materials, subject to availability. Please contact a liaison librarian to request these items for you and your students.
We are working with our vendors and consortia to raise or eliminate user limits for databases during this period. If you find that you are unable to connect to library resources, please contact a liaison librarian for assistance.
Reciprocal Borrowing Arrangements: Many students will return home, but they may still need library materials. The University of Richmond is a member of the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) Cooperative Borrowing program. UR students, faculty and staff may show their UR IDs at participating Virginia academic libraries to borrow materials on-site.
We are available to answer your questions by
Email: https://library.richmond.edu/about/staff.html
Telephone: 804.289.8876
Please let us know if we have overlooked an area of concern for you, your classes or your department. Thank you for your continued support of the University Libraries.