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University Libraries

Colleagues Commended for Effective, Innovative Solutions

By Kathleen Webb

Almost two weeks have passed since the University Libraries began our remote work in the COVID-19 pandemic response. Looking back, I think about what it took to be able to reach our goal of providing seamless and reliable service, materials and instruction to students and faculty as they made the transition to 100 percent distance education in the middle of the academic term.

I am happy to say we have reached that goal, and I am so proud of my colleagues. Every faculty and staff member has stepped up to advance the teaching, learning and research mission of the University at the same level of quality as when we were all on campus. We have adjusted as quickly as possible to provide students with what they need to succeed in their classes and faculty with what they need to continue their teaching and research in this fully online environment.

Information resources

Our collections and public services staff have been acquiring electronic resources; adding content that vendors have made freely available during the COVID-19 pandemic; scanning materials for electronic reserves; and even providing a process for patrons to pick up physical items from our local collections once a week during our building closure.

Supporting teaching and learning

Our research and instruction librarians and other public service staff are developing and enhancing tools for faculty and students. One research guide about remote services contains links to videos, research databases, electronic journals and digital collections; another provides STEM and health science lab resources. On our website, we provide a summary of remote library services and ways to access online collections.

Documenting UD’s response to the pandemic

The University Archives is working to capture the perspectives and experiences of our community during this historic period. As University archivist Kristina Schulz says, “The dearth of commentary on the 1918 flu pandemic leaves a gap of silence in the cultural history of the University and St. Mary’s College. Let’s not repeat this silence. What type of story will we write about the pandemic of 2020 and how it affected the University of Dayton?” We are inviting faculty, staff and students to share their stories. How has the pandemic changed the ways you work, teach, learn and engage with our community? Please share your journal and diary entries, emails, photographs, videos, voice memos, audio recordings and other digital evidence of the ongoing situation around COVID-19. For information and instructions, read the piece on the University Libraries blog.

Devotion to Mary in troubled times

During this unprecedented time in history with the COVID-19 pandemic, many Catholics across the world are turning to the Blessed Virgin Mary in prayer. The Marian Library documents the diverse expressions of popular devotion to Mary and is interested in how individuals across the world are seeking refuge with Mary during this time. Are you practicing social distancing by praying in a Mary garden in your yard? Are you participating in a novena with others across the world? Are you learning the chant for the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary? We are interested in your personal experiences documenting devotion to Mary. Information and instructions are available the Marian Library blog.

New times, new methods

While we may not be together on campus, the University Libraries community is still working together to ensure student and scholarly success. To quote Lisa Hinchcliffe, a colleague at the University of Illinois, “Libraries have had this digital infrastructure in development over the last two decades. They have been running simultaneously a digital and an in-person library. We need to pivot to the digital library as the exclusive mode.” I am happy to report that the UD Libraries have fully adopted this mindset and that we are actively creating new tools and adding new resources to support our students, faculty and staff.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me.

— Kathleen Webb is dean of the University Libraries.

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