Category: News

The Library Faculty and Staff have been developing new policies and procedures that will allow us to continue to provide the services you expect for the Fall Semester, while keeping the health and well-being of the entire University Community our top priority. Below we outline our current Fall plans, but please understand that we may need to alter or revise these plans throughout the semester as circumstances change. We appreciate your patience as we work through these changes.

The most current study of library materials (https://www.webjunction.org/explore-topics/COVID-19-research-project.html) indicates that the virus can live several days on physical items if contact is made. Due to this data, the library will be quarantining all materials that are touched, which may result in a delay in availability.

Also because of this data, the Library will not be providing Print Reserves this semester. We will convert articles and chapters to Electronic Reserves where possible. Joel Krisanda will be in contact directly for those who already have items on reserve.

If you need assistance finding alternative/comparable resources available electronically within the Library’s eBook and online database collections, please reach out to your subject liaison librarian. https://www.scranton.edu/academics/wml/infolit/liaisons.shtml. We will also make an attempt to purchase eBooks when available.

The Library is currently offering curbside pick-up and we will continue to offer this through the fall semester. Please place a hold in our online catalog, wait until you receive an email confirmation that it is available for pickup, and then come to the Library’s lobby to find your item(s). This includes print and media items.

InterLibrary Loan is currently operating, and fulfilling article requests as much as possible. PALCI and book borrowing through ILL will resume on August 17^th, however many libraries will not be participating in PALCI or ILL. You may have trouble finding the number of titles you are used to finding through these services and fulfilling requests may take much longer due to the limited libraries participating. Please know that we will do our best to fulfill requests in a timely manner, but it will not be the level of availability and speed to which you have been accustomed.

Remote Access: If you are teaching remotely and are not coming to campus, or working from your office, you may submit ILL requests for print articles in our collection. We will scan and deliver these articles remotely, just like ILLiad requests sent and fulfilled from other schools. When submitting requests for articles you know that we own, please make a note on the request form.

We are continuing to provide Library acquisitions and processing services, such as the purchase of print books, eBooks, media and streaming media. There may be delays in availability that are beyond our control due to delivery services and customs protocols under COVID-19. We continue to provide service as quickly as possible under the current circumstances. If you need an eBook that we do not have, please contact Narda Tafuri via email: narda.tafuri@scranton.edu.

For Research Services, please use the “Ask a Librarian” chat box on our web page to talk to a librarian 24 hours a day. You can also call 570-941-4000 to talk to one of the librarians during regular library hours. If no one answers, please leave a voicemail and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Please use the other options first, but you can also email askalibrarian@scranton.edu.

Librarians will still offer consultations through various communication platforms (e.g., Zoom), but please reach out through virtual chat, phone, or email first to schedule a consultation time and determine which platform will work best for your individual needs.

Inquiries about information literacy instructional support can be made by completing the online request form found on the Requesting Information Literacy Instruction page or by emailing Donna Witek, Information Literacy Coordinator, at donna.witek@scranton.edu.

Archives/Special Collections will be open by appointment only. Please contact Michael Knies at 570-941-6341 or Michael.knies@scranton.edu

Media Resources and the Education Lab will be open by appointment only. For questions about or problems with Media and Streaming Resources please contact Sharon Finnerty at 570-941-6330 or Sharon.finnerty@scranton.edu.

For problems accessing any electronic resources please e-mail library-systems@scranton.edu.

Should you choose to visit the building, you will need your Royal ID to swipe in. You will also find reduced seating capacity and furniture placed to reflect 6’ distancing. All in-person services will be provided from behind plexi-glass at the Circulation Desk. Java City will be closed, and food will not be allowed in the building. Also, to promote added cleaning routines there will be no 24 hour access – the building will be open only when staffed.

While things may look significantly different, we will still be providing all of the core services you expect. We look forward to working with you on your latest teaching and research needs, and are striving to provide comprehensive services in the safest ways possible.

For the most up-to-date information about the library and our services please see:

https://guides.library.scranton.edu/remoteservices

Black Lives Matter

In solidarity with our students of color, the Weinberg Memorial Library affirms that Black Lives Matter and we are committed to fighting white supremacy and anti-Black racism on campus, in the Library, and within our community.

Library faculty, staff, and administration will continue to engage in anti-racist practices and show a strong commitment to initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as in-depth book discussions, workshops, and trainings. We support Father Pilarz’s message to the University Community to make diversity and inclusion a priority. To that end, we will continue to build our collections in race and ethnic studies and social justice areas.

Anti-racist work is truly lifelong learning, and it is clear that we need to recommit ourselves to the hard work of understanding and dismantling the racism that is etched deeply into our nation’s history.

We will continue to learn, grow, and educate ourselves on the realities of the world for our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students and colleagues.

Please feel free to reach out to Interim Dean of the Library, Jean Lenville, or Assistant Dean, Sheli Pratt-McHugh with your thoughts, questions, or suggestions.

Additional Resources and Statements:

In support of the demands made by students and alumni, and reiterated by faculty, for trainings and workshops on anti-racism, the Library has put together a list of resources available to the University community on Race, Racism, and Anti-Racism. This is not exhaustive and will continue to grow as we add resources to our collections.

American Library Association Statement: http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2020/06/ala-statement-condemning-police-violence-against-bipoc-protesters-and

Pennsylvania Library Association Statement: https://www.palibraries.org/blogpost/1652016/349256/Message-from-2020-President-Michele-Legate

Please note that the issue listed below has been corrected.

We are working to correct an issue created from a recent upgrade where almost any item in the catalog maybe placed on hold. Please note that your holds will through, and notification of pick up will be sent, but please be advised that certain items that are not holdable will not be placed on hold.

On Monday, June 29th we will be down for several hours as there will be three systems undergoing migrations. The process will begin at 11AM EST with the Sierra Production Environment, followed by Encore, and finishing with the Single Sign-On server. Thank you for your patience as we complete these necessary upgrades.

Please email any issues to library-systems@scranton.edu.

We do not want students to be stressed about returning Library materials. We have some general guidelines below. All due-dates have been extended to August 31, 2020. If you have specific questions about your account, please contact circulation@scranton.edu.

To return Library materials including ILL and PALCI books follow these guidelines.

For students in dorms: There will be bins in each dorm for you to drop your books off when you return to retrieve your belongings.

Off-campus students: Due dates will be extended for all items through August 31, 2020. Items can be returned when you return to campus in the fall.

Graduating students or anyone not returning: If you are not in a dorm or will not be returning to campus for any reason, we will send you a mailing label and you can ship items back to the library. This cannot happen until campus is reopened. We will provide more instructions when we reopen.

Please do not visit the library at this time, the main book drop is not accessible.

We will need to quarantine returned items for a week after staff return to the building. Returned items will remain on your account until we can process the returns safely.

We will continue to waive fines. Please don’t be frightened if you see a fine on your account, as it will take us time to waive fines once items are returned.

There will be no holds placed on accounts at this time. No diplomas will be held.