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Circulation, Services

Physical Course Reserves COVID-19 Policy

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes which affect our physical course reserves services as on campus classes resume. To keep library patrons and staff safe, the Libraries’ policy is to quarantine all materials that have been used for 72 hours, as recommended by the CDC and IMLS, who are performing studies determining how long the virus is detectable on various library materials. We will still offer a physical reserves option, but the quick turnaround of one copy for multiple users will no longer be possible, and therefore reduce the benefit of using physical Course Reserves.

All physical Course Reserves materials will be quarantined after each use for 72 hours with no exceptions.

Some strategies faculty and the Libraries should use to mitigate the need for physical Course Reserves during the pandemic are included below. For help with any of these services, find contact info for course materials staff at our different libraries.

  1. Choose an alternative reading or video from our electronic and streaming collections. Your subject liaison librarian can help.
  2. If we can buy an electronic version of the title requested, we will and will offer that instead of the physical version.
  3. For books, if only a fair use portion of the work would suffice, we will digitize that portion instead of checking out the material. This will not apply to videos or audio. Contact the Head of the Music & Media Collections for help cbadillame@sthomas.edu with questions about media.
  4. If the material is in print and available for purchase, students should be encouraged to purchase their own copy.
  5. Instructor personal copies can be added as additional copies available for checkout.
  6. Our Course Materials staff are available to work with you to create a Resource List with electronic materials and make it available in your Canvas course.
A library staff member wearing a mask gives a patron a book via a cart during COVID-19
Circulation, CLICsearch

Circulation Procedures During Library Building Closure

The library buildings are closed due to COVID-19 safety precautions, but we can still loan you physical materials if you are able to come to the library to pick them up. Here is what you need to know:

  1. Place hold request(s) for St. Thomas items in CLICsearch. If the item has no request option, it cannot be requested. Call if you’d like assistance: (651) 962-5494. Sorry, no walk-up requests can be accepted. Only library staff may be in the library buildings at this time.
  2. Wait to receive an email in your St. Thomas email inbox letting you know your request is ready to be scheduled for pickup. The email will include instructions about the pickup location and how to arrange a pickup time. * Note that we currently have no courier service to deliver books between the different libraries, so you will have to pick up items from their home library location.
  3. Call to schedule a pickup time between 10 AM and 2 PM Monday through Friday. It may take up to 2 business days to process your request. Same-day service is unlikely.
  4. Come to the library location to pickup materials, and follow the instructions you’ve been provided via email to let staff know you are here to pickup your materials. Procedures may vary depending on pickup location.
  5. Follow instructions to return materials. Books can be deposited in the book drops at the OSF and Ireland Libraries. Keffer Library items can be returned where they were picked up. Do not deposit media items like DVDs and CDs in the book drops as they can be damaged or destroyed. To return media items, come to the library between 10-2 Monday through Friday and call the number listed on the front door to return items. We will open the door for you to drop them off.

Please note:

  • We are following CDC guidelines on quarantining and disinfecting materials, but the ultimate responsibility for your personal safety lies with you. Books and media cases can be wiped down with disinfectant wipes. However, do not use disinfectant wipes on CDs and DVDs.
  • It is recommended to quarantine your items for 24 hours before using.
  • CLIC items are not available for request.
  • Circulation is currently only available for current St. Thomas Faculty, Staff, and Students.
Circulation, Libraries

Time Limits Shortened for E-book “Checkouts”

ebookUST Libraries has thousands of books online that you can read from anywhere! While you can read each of them right from your internet browser, there may be times when you want to download one or more to your phone, computer, or other mobile device.

When you download an online book, this is considered a “checkout,” just like when you check out a print book from your favorite library desk. Just like a print book, it will have a due date, but unlike your print book, it will return itself!

Starting this semester,  many of our online books will “return themselves” after one day, though some will stay on your device for up to seven days. The reason is that many of our online books restrict the number of people who can use it simultaneously, and we want to make our high demand, online books as easily accessible to everyone as possible. The great news is, if you want to use the book again after it’s returned itself, you can just check it out again if no one was waiting for it.

Find out more about e-books at UST here, or Ask a Librarian!

Circulation, News & Events, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library, Services

New Service: Staff Book Delivery!

IMG_1424During the Fall 2015 semester the OSF Library began delivering books to St. Paul campus faculty. Over the last 4 months 77 faculty have registered for the service and the library has delivered approximately 450 books to faculty offices.

The OSF Library is now expanding this service to include St. Paul campus staff.

UST staff members on the St. Paul campus can now opt to have books requested from CLICnet or Interlibrary Loan delivered to their department mailbox.

To participate, fill out this form first, then select OSF as your “pickup location” when making requests.

 

Delivery Service Policies:

  • This service is only available on the St. Paul Campus.
  • When requesting items via CLICnet and ILLiad you must specify OSF as your pickup location.
  • Upon arrival, CLICnet and ILLiad items will be checked out to your library account and delivered to your on-campus mailbox.
  • Once the items have been delivered to your mailbox you assume all responsibility for them.
  • DVDs and VHS are excluded from this delivery service.

Questions? Send an email to circulation@stthomas.edu or call 651-962-5494.

Circulation, Faculty News, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library, Services

New Service: Faculty Book Delivery!

Faculty members on the St. Paul campus can now opt to have books requested from CLICnet or Interlibrary Loan delivered to their on-campus mailbox.

To participate, fill out this form first, then select OSF as your “pickup location” when making requests.

Delivery Service Policies:delivery

  • This service is only available on the St. Paul Campus.
  • When requesting items via CLICnet and ILLiad you must specify OSF as your pickup location.
  • Upon arrival, CLICnet and ILLiad items will be checked out to your library account and delivered to your on-campus mailbox.
  • Once the items have been delivered to your mailbox you assume all responsibility for them.
  • DVDs and VHS are excluded from this delivery service.

 

 

Questions? Send an email to circulation@stthomas.edu or call 651-962-5494.

Circulation, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library, Services

UPDATE: O’Shaughnessy-Frey Rearranging its Books and Periodicals Collections

It has been a little over a year since the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library started shifting its book collection up out of the Sub Level.

The purpose of this project is so that we can move ALL bound journals to the Sub Level of the library and start the book collection on the Lower Level, extending up to Level 4.

As the Fall semester begins the following book call number ranges will be on these new floors:

Level 4: PQ – Z ll

Level 3: HX – PN

Level 2: E – HV

Lower Level: A – D, this will be an ongoing shift throughout the fall semester

Note that Periodicals with titles that begin S – Z have been shifted from Level 4 to Sub Level. 

If you have questions or comments about this project, please let us know.

See the Library’s March 12th, 2014 blog post for more details on the project

Archbishop Ireland Library, Circulation

‘Tis the season to return books!

Greetings, Ireland Library users!  Congratulations on finishing another term strong! OSFBookdropMap1

After the semester ends you’ll be catching up on lots of mundane but important tasks, like sleep, laundry, paying bills, and returning library books! 

Ireland Library will be closed for the majority of Christmas Break, so please plan to return library items to the book returns outside of O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library.  There are two of them.  The easiest one to get to is located on the south side of the building in the loading dock area off of Cleveland Ave.  The other book drop is located off the quad on the northwest corner of the building. 

Of course, you can return library items and chat with staff when Ireland is open as well. 

  • Fri, Dec 19:  8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Mon, Dec 22:  8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Tue, Dec 23:  8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • J-term hours begin at 8 a.m. Mon, Jan 5, 2015.  For more details see http://tinyurl.com/IrelandLibHours

You can also return items by mail.  Please see details on the library’s Returning Books page

Blessings on your holiday preparations and celebrations with family and friends.

Your friends at Ireland Library, Curt, Betsy & Conie

Archbishop Ireland Library, Charles J. Keffer Library, Circulation, Libraries, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library, Services

Bookdrop Locations during Christmas Break!

book drop

Just a brief reminder that if you need to drop off library materials that are due after regular library hours or over holidays, you can use one of our various bookdrop locations:

  • Outside O’Shaughnessy-Frey:  north of the front door at the bottom of the steps
  • Outside O’Shaughnessy-Frey:  south side of the library
  • Outside Keffer: in skyway near old front entrance & elevator

For more info, see our Returning Books page.

Circulation, News & Events, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library, Services

Need storage while studying in the Library?

lockers1The OSF Library now has 14 lockers available for patrons to use!

The lockers will offer patrons a place to store personal belongings such as laptops, small backpacks, and purses when they leave the library for dinner or class instead of leaving these items unprotected at tables, study carrels, and in study rooms.

So stop by the Circulation Desk to check-out a locker for a 4 hour period, today.