The University of Massachusetts Amherst
Libraries Ask Us

Resources for Remote Learning and Instruction

Library staff are available to help you Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. via Ask Us, Chat, and email. Here are essential services and resources to support remote learning and instruction. 
  

Borrowing UMass Amherst Library Material and Interlibrary Loan Requests

  • Due to the need to reduce on-site staffing, we have discontinued lending physical books held in the W.E.B.Du Bois or Science & Engineering Library as of April 22nd.  We will mail materials for any requests submitted by the end of the day on April 22nd, and will continue to connect you to PDFs of articles, e-book options or chapter scans whenever possible. We can also assist in finding or purchasing e-books if available. Some requests may be delayed due to the closure of other libraries.
  • These services are available to current students, and current and retired faculty and staff.

       Interlibrary Loan/Library Express

Contact ill@umass.library.umass.edu with any questions.

Copyright

Refer to our up-to-date copyright guide as you shift your course from in-person to online. 

Course Research and Materials 

Librarian consultations
Library course instruction 

  • Librarians and curators can meet with classes via Zoom to help students create a plan for their course projects, find materials, and evaluate information for relevance.   

Library Equipment

We are unable to lend equipment at this time.

Online Help

Last minute citation help? Need help with research? Ask Us! You can send email or chat with us Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.  

Renew Materials

Loans of library materials have been extended through May 16, 2020.  You can renew your books online via the  online renewal form.  Recalls of books from all Five College materials are suspended for remainder of the spring 2020 semester. 

Reserves 

Information for Faculty

  • Please submit requests to scan material for course reserves into Blackboard or Moodle here.    

  • We will scan entire elections or entire books for items held in the UMass Amherst Libraries collections when needed for research or instruction (to support this emergency-related copyright exception). 

  • If we do not own the item requested, we will attempt to purchase a digital version.  If no digital version exists, we will purchase a physical copy, then digitize it for integration via Blackboard or Moodle. Please note that many of our vendors are delaying shipment of non-essential goods, so orders may not arrive until the end of April.

  • We will process requests in the order request was received.  We cannot promise timely fulfillment for this service if demand for it dramatically increases. 

Information for Students

Students: you can find online course materials requested by your instructor for your class through your course’s Blackboard and/or Moodle page. 

Return Materials 

  • Books, DVDs, and interlibrary loan materials can be returned to book drops located at the Du Bois Library, Robsham Center, or Lederle Lowrise.  If you are unable to come to campus to return an item, please keep it until you are able to safely do so.  We will waive all fines accrued during the time the Libraries were closed.  

  • Equipment (laptops, cameras, chargers, etc.): keep any equipment you borrowed until the Du Bois Library reopens. We will waive any fines for the period the Libraries were closed.  Please do not return equipment in any book drop or you will be liable for any damage

  • Drop off at UMass Amherst Mount Ida campus between April 22, 2020 and May 15, 2020. If you are located closer to the Boston area, you can drop off your items at the UMass-Amherst Mount Ida campus in Newton, MA at the Campus Security building between 9am – 5pm between April 22, 2020 and Friday, May 15, 2020.

  • Drop off your borrowed library materials at UMass Amherst between May 18 and May 22, 2020, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at one of nine Residential Service Desk locations when you drop off your dorm key. Residential Service Desk locations are at Prince, John Adams, Thoreau, CHCRC, Baker, Dickinson, Crabtree, Cashin, and Brett.

Special Collections and University Archives 

  • More information about SCUA’s online services can be found on their website.

Other Campus Resources 
Contact us 

Have other remote needs? New ideas for how the Libraries can help you off-campus?   Send your comments to us!