Author: Jean Lenville

Yes, the Library will be open by swipe over Fall Break. However, on Saturday Oct. 9 the grand staircase and adjoining lobby areas will be re-carpeted. If you plan to use the library on Saturday Oct. 9, please plan to access the building through the door to the Reilly Learning Commons.

The library experienced extensive flooding earlier this week, partially in the area where book sale items are stored. Staff must focus on mitigation efforts right now, so we are not able to accept any book sale donations at this time. We will alert the campus community when this changes. Thank you for your continued support and  understanding.

“Happy graduation!” to all of our newest graduates.

We are very proud of your accomplishments, and have enjoyed working with you.

Best of luck as you start the next chapter of your lives!

You may know that April is National Poetry Month, but did you know that 2021 is the twenty-fifth anniversary of this annual celebration?

Today, Thursday April 29, is “Poem in Your Pocket” Day. The Academy of American Poets encourages poetry lovers to share a poem virtually this year. Select a poem and share it on social media using the hashtag #PocketPoem.

I am choosing to share here the poem “Allow” by Danna Faulds

Allow

There is no controlling life.
Try corralling a lightning bolt
containing a tornado.  Dam a
stream and it will create a new
channel.  Resist, and the tide
will sweep you off your feet.
Allow, and grace will carry
you to higher ground.  The only
safety lies in letting it all in –
the wild and the weak; fear
fantasies, failures and success.
When loss rips off the doors of
the heart, or sadness veils your
vision with despair, practice
becomes simply bearing the truth.
In the choice to let go of your
known way of being, the whole
world is revealed to your new eyes.

Please consider sharing a poem you love or that inspires you with a friend today, either directly or via social media.

To satisfy student need for additional late night and early morning study space, the first and second floors of the library building will be open by swipe 8 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. daily starting Sunday 10/11, and will run until the end of the semester. We ask that students move to the first and second floors whenever closing is announced, and also ask that students vacate the first and second floors by 2 a.m. to facilitate deep cleaning. Hours of staffing the library building are currently in flux, but virtual assistance is available 24/7 via Ask a Librarian chat.

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

 

You may know that April is National Poetry Month, but did you know that Thursday April 30 is “Poem in Your Pocket” Day? The Academy of American Poets encourages poetry lovers to share a poem virtually this year.

• Select a poem and share it on social media using the hashtag #pocketpoem.
• Simultaneously participate in the Shelter in Poems initiative, and select a poem that brings you solace during this time of distance and solitude. Share what it means to you and use the hashtags #pocketpoem and #ShelterInPoems.

I am choosing to share here the poem “When I Rise Up” by Georgia Douglas Johnson

When I rise up above the earth,

And look down on the things that fetter me,

I beat my wings upon the air,

Or tranquil lie,

Surge after surge of potent strength

Like incense comes to me

When I rise up above the earth

And look down upon the things that fetter me.

Please consider sharing a poem you love or that inspires you with a friend today, either directly or via social media. Today I wish you all “surge after surge of potent strength”.

 

 

The library building is currently closed, but the library continues to offer services and resources remotely.

• 24/7 assistance is available through the Ask a Librarian chat box. The chat is staffed by University of Scranton Librarians during the following hours: Remote Services Schedule. Outside of those hours, coverage is provided by Librarians not affiliated with the University of Scranton. You can also call 570-941-4000 to talk with a University of Scranton Librarian during our Remote Service Hours, or email askalibrarian@scranton.eduat any time.
• Research consultations are still being offered and can be scheduled by using the Ask a Librarian chat box or by contacting your library liaison directly by email.
• ILLiad (InterLibrary Loan) service is available for requesting articles, but some requests may not be filled due to our lending partners operating with limited staffing and resources. For Illiad questions/concerns please email interlibrary-loan@scranton.edu.
• The lending of physical materials, including from the library’s collection, remote storage, and PALCI EZ-Borrow is suspended and unavailable until further notice.
• The library has a large collection of e-books, e-journals, and streaming media. Please see our Guide to Online Library Resources. To access the library’s online content, you must first authenticate through my.scranton.edu.
• If you need assistance or are encountering any issues, please use the Ask a Librarian chat box for immediate assistance.

For additional information please see Library Services Spring 2020.

Due to the University’s decision to extend Spring break to two weeks, the library will be following the following schedule:

Friday (March 13), 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday (March 14-15), closed

Monday-Friday (March 16-March 20), 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saturday (March 21), closed

Sunday (March 22), Noon – 10:00 p.m.

Monday-Thursday (March 23-26), 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Friday (March 27), 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saturday (March 28), Noon – 6:00 p.m.

Hours after March 28 will be posted at a later date.

Please be advised that the Library will move to card swipe access only (24/7) on Sunday March 15. Please check your ID now to make sure it has not expired, and plan to bring your ID whenever you visit the building.

 

Over Intersession the Library made some new improvements in response to student feedback:

• 100 of the hardwood chairs on the 2^nd floor were upgraded to have cushioned seats.
• The large group study room on the third floor was split into two, adding an additional “non-reserve” study room.
• The third floor will be open 24/7 for quiet study all semester starting Friday Feb.7.

We always appreciate student feedback, and hope these changes improve your study experience!