Williams Libraries are committed to the continued support of the research and teaching of faculty and students. Our top priority is to ensure that as many resources and services as possible are accessible remotely. In-person services will be adjusted as needed in compliance with campus guidelines. Visit this page often to check on changes to services, hours and access
Last updated: 4/1/2020 – 5pm
In light of Governor Baker’s 3/23/2020 and 3/31/2020 orders to “minimize all unnecessary activities outside of the home during the state of emergency”, in order to mitigate the spread of the virus and for the safety of our staff:
- library facilities are closed
- there is no access to the tangible collections (no paging, nor scanning)
- faculty can still borrow A/V equipment through appointment (with a 24H advance notice and a maximum loan period of three-days non-renewable). Contact Nadine Nance, Head of Access Services with equipment requests.
We will review these access protocols by May 4, 2020 (ending date of the Governor’s order) to decide how to best support the second half of the spring semester.
The library’s online resources (e-books, e-journals, streaming databases) remain available. Nearly 50% of the circulating print collection is available online through the HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS). We’ve enabled access e-book collections made temporarily freely accessible by EBSCO, Project Muse and Cambridge University Press.
For questions about access to materials in Archives or Chapin Library, please contact the Special Collections team.
As access to resources continues to fluctuate, you may need to rethink the type of materials you wish to use. Librarians are available to discuss alternative digital sources (through and beyond the library) and to brainstorm ways of integrating those in newly revised syllabi and/or restructured research projects. To speak with a librarian, use the Ask A Librarian service or contact your liaison librarian.
Faculty might also find it helpful to join in the ongoing discussions on the Glow Remote Instruction Faculty Forum, an excellent place to connect with colleagues also in the process of adjusting syllabi and assignments.
Summary of Online resources and services
- The online library: databases, e-books, e-journals, streaming services, and online finding aids is available. Access these resources through the library catalog, the A-Z list of databases, and ArchivesSpace.
- 50% of the print collection. is available through the HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Accesss Service
- Purchase requests for new books are accepted but we are only acquiring e-book editions. Use the Suggest a Purchase to place requests.
- We are offering limited interlibrary loan request services delivering only electronic documents that that we are able to obtain from libraries still open.
- Digitization of library-owned DVDs to Glow is not available. Please consider using films from the library’s streaming services instead. For questions about previously digitized DVDs, contact Mary Dzbensky.
For a description of all available remote services, visit the Study Away page. The Off-Campus Access page provides step by step instructions to connect to library subscription services.
Librarians are available to assist with questions of access to resources and/or conducting research. You may reach librarians through the Ask A Librarian service or by contacting your liaison librarian.
Access to the libraries and collections:
Access to library facilities and the tangible collections is closed to all users until further notice and deliveries to faculty offices are suspended.
- 50% of the print collection. is available through the HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Accesss Service
- Check-out of laptops and AV equipment is available to faculty through appointment. Contact Nadine Nance for access.
- If you need access to materials from Archives or the Chapin Library collections, contact the Special Collections team.
For questions and/or request assistance: you may use the online Ask A Librarian service or reach out to your library liaison or to Special Collections librarians.
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