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Remote library services and resources offered during the COVID-19 closure

Despite the closure of the physical campus buildings, the UCR Library staff remain ready to support UC Riverside students, faculty, and researchers during our first-ever all virtual quarter.

What does this mean for you?

The majority of  library services such as Interlibrary Loan (ILL), course reserves, teaching and research support,, workshops, consultations, and other public services are now functioning under a remote operating model.

Here is a list of patron services available:

Accessing resources: Books, Journals, and Databases

  • Answering patron questions. Email Access Services questions to Library_circulation@ucr.edu.
  • Text a librarian is another way to reach out, but is best reserved for brief questions. Text 66746 and start message with "ucrlib".
  • Assisting Faculty with iLearn requests for Course Reserves.
  • Electronic delivery of Interlibrary Loan (ILL) materials, though some requests are taking longer than usual.
  • Uploading existing digitized film resources to the library’s streaming media site.
  • Working to find alternate online versions of requested films not currently on our streaming media site.
  • Renewing / extending due dates for all materials currently on loan until campus reopens (except ILL, but library staff is requesting renewals).
  • Book drops are monitored daily, but materials will not be checked back in until campus reopens.
  • Unless your library card is expiring soon, patrons need not worry about late notices for overdue materials.
  • Recalls are postponed until the physical library facilities reopen.
  • Paging requests are not available until campus reopens.
  • Scholarly resources purchasing, with an emphasis on online resources and e-books with unlimited simultaneous user licenses (when available), to support remote instruction and learning.​
  • Assistance with finding streaming media options for film screenings and instruction.
  • Support finding alternative books to support instruction and research needs.
  • Electronic database and journal access support.
  • For assistance contact your Collection Strategist.

Remote Instructional Support

  • Creating a series of brief video tutorials for library patrons.
  • Providing asynchronous or synchronous library sessions for courses.
  • Virtual office hours for courses that have research assignments.
  • Conducting reference via Zoom, email, or 24/7 chat.
  • Developing stand-alone modules that can connect to iLearn.
  • Collaboratively on designing assignments and assessments for remote learners.
  • Consulting on resources for classes.
  • Working individually with course instructors on designing a specific support method for their class.

Faculty interested in any Teaching and Learning services should fill out this instruction request form.

Remote Research Support

  • Librarians continue to hold consultations. To request one, visit our Ask a Librarian page.
  • Spring quarter workshops will be hosted online.
  • Available to provide support for iLearn, in conjunction with Teaching and Learning staff and XCITE.
  • Virtual Special Collections office hours on Tuesdays, 2 - 3 p.m. and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Collaborations with faculty on remote instruction using digitized resources.
  • Online workshops on digital archival resources for students.
  • Processing and delivering reproduction requests for existing tiffs.
  • Archiving the University's response to COVID19.
  • Creating informational guides supporting needs for University Archives and historic information.

While not all user-facing, the remaining library departments are hard at work behind-the-scenes to support the remote patron service model.

Now more than ever, philanthropic support is critical as UC Riverside transitions to online-only instruction and research platforms. The UCR Library deeply appreciates the gifts we have received so far in University Advancement’s Support Students Impacted by COVID-19 campaign. If you are able to make a gift of any amount to the Library Student Success Fund, our staff and the students of UCR would be most grateful.