University Libraries: Open for Remote Teaching, Learning and Research

Dear University Community,

Along with University Libraries’ staff, I hope you and your loved ones are finding peace in the midst of this unprecedented global pandemic. I also hope to relay to you some positive news of the Libraries’ availability in these the final weeks of spring semester 2020. 

Although our physical facilities are currently closed, we very much are open for business. Our librarians, archivists, and staff and student employees are working remotely to support the University’s shift to remote and online teaching, learning and research. 

So, what does that mean for the OHIO community?

• The Libraries' subject librarians and archivists are available for consultation with students and instructors through email, chat or Microsoft Teams. Since March 20, the University Libraries staff have assisted with over 100 research requests and individual consultations. 
• Through Live Chat, email and by phone, the Libraries’ staff is available on demand to answer questions Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. Since our services went exclusively virtual, over 400 questions have been answered.
• Additionally, thousands of the Libraries’ electronic resources are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for all of our OHIO students, faculty and staff. We have already successfully filled 68 course and research content requests, and we will continue to purchase and/or provide e-content through our content request form.

The Libraries has continued to address concerns of overdue materials—so, no worries.

• We will not issue fines for overdue books, so please disregard any overdue notices you may receive—we will automatically renew until further notice. If you have returned materials to the Libraries, please note that it will take time for those items to clear from your account, since no one in the Libraries is currently working on site.  We do recommend waiting to return any outstanding materials until it is safe to return to campus.
• Also on your behalf, all OhioLINK books and interlibrary loan materials are being automatically renewed. Again, please disregard any overdue notices you may receive until further notice. 
• For more information, please follow the Libraries FAQ webpage.  

Finally, keep your eyes open for our Finals by Alden end-of-the-semester activities. As always, it is a good place for students to remotely get extra help and relieve stress.  

Here are other upcoming items of interest coming your way: 

• We are working with the Office of Information Technology and Student Affairs to develop virtual study rooms for students;
• And, we are working with faculty to support their summer semester remote teaching and learning opportunities. For more information, please reach out to the Libraries' subject librarians and archivists.

On behalf of all of us at the Libraries, I wish everyone health and happiness, and a successful completion of spring semester.

Best regards,

Neil Romanosky
Dean of University Libraries