(DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)
The John T. Richardson and the Loop libraries will remain physically closed to students, faculty and staff for the remainder of the summer for the safety and well-being of our community. While our buildings are closed, we will continue to provide virtual support. We want to share a few ways we can help you with your summer research needs and your preparation for summer and autumn quarter courses. Learn more about current library updates here.
Information Literacy, Special Collections and Archives Instruction Services
The DePaul University Library is committed to helping DePaul faculty and students succeed in both online and in-person courses this summer and fall. We are prepared to share our skills and expertise with students conducting research for their assignments and we can help students navigate the Library's online databases and resources.
We are in communication with faculty and staff in support of all WRD 104/WRD 104X/HON 100 classes. We plan to embed rsources in those courses as we did in spring quarter. This includes a library assignment with feedback from a librarian and a synchronous Zoom library instruction workshop. Please consider the following ideas as you prepare for summer and fall courses:
- Contact the Library Liaison for your academic unit if you are interested in an online library workshop. Zoom meetings are available as an alternative for in-person library instruction.
- Request a video or other asynchronous tutorial that may be posted to your D2L.
- Recommend your students schedule a research appointment online through our Ask a Librarian service (consultation will take place via online chat, phone or Zoom).
- We can create customized guides for your specific course. For a full list of our research guides, click here.
Special Collection and Archives librarians will continue to offer a variety of instruction options to support teaching and learning in summer and fall quarters, depending on the nature of the course and resources used. Library staff will partner with faculty to develop course-specific online instruction using digital surrogates from our collections. Three weeks' advance notice is necessary to accommodate the planning and preparation required for online courses with Special Collection and Archives materials.
Course Reserves
Course Reserves and services will continue to provide support for online classes. Please submit all requests in the Course Reserves system.
- Visit our guide for more info: https://libguides.depaul.edu/ares
- For reserve books not already owned by the library, we will prioritize purchasing e-books whenever possible.
- We will not be able to provide digitization services during the remote work period. Please reach out to your liaison to explore alternative streaming video options.
Ask a Librarian service will be available during the following hours. During this time, students can chat live or call a librarian for immediate service. They can also schedule 30 minute research consultations via Zoom for in-depth support.
Monday - Thursday
9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday
9 a.m. -5 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday
12 - 6 p.m.
Special Collections and Archives
reference service is available online and will be monitored and answered Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some questions may be deferred until we have access to unique materials on-site.
Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery
The library will continue to support interlibrary loan services. Students, faculty and staff can submit ILL requests for book chapters, articles and any other electronic materials. Electronic delivery will continue for the local community and at our partnering libraries to ensure continued reciprocal borrowing. However, we cannot currently support print/physical ILL or IShare as state-wide shipping for this service has been suspended for all academic libraries.
Library Reboot
Our Library Reboot is still underway. On June 24, the Library will update its public-facing and internal library systems to provide a better user experience and a more seamless discovery of our various print materials, electronic journal articles, e-books and more in a single easy-to-use search interface. To learn more, visit our Migration Guide. If you have questions or need additional information, you can get in touch with us at library-migration@depaul.libanswers.com. Post-migration, many links to library resources may change. The Library will work to update links across platforms as well as in D2L and Course Reserves, but please help us by checking your links as you prepare for classes.
Digital Services
Digitization of images and video for course reserves will resume when staff are allowed back on campus, currently set for mid-July. The library does not have to be open to the public for this service to resume, but the process may be slowed down due to the backlog of requests left unfulfilled when the university first closed. This applies to items already owned by the Library; requests for purchases to digitize will be delayed as physical materials cannot be received and processed while the library is closed.
Other services such as website updates, technology support, repository maintenance and planning for the software migration have continued without interruption.
Cataloging and Acquisition (aka Technical Services)
The back office functions of cataloging items, and purchasing/configuration/support of electronic items have continued while the university is closed. Purchasing, receiving and processing of electronic items has continued, and was given priority over other operations in the early portion of the spring quarter.
New physical items cannot be received by the Library while staff are working remotely. Once the university reopens and staff are allowed back on campus, these processes will continue. There will be a backlog of items to process from the closure. Delays in digitization requests for newly-purchased items may be expected.