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  3. Library Services during COVID-19

Library Services during COVID-19

 

Colour image of an open laptop with an open book sitting inside it

During the Coronavirus pandemic, Library Services will continue to support learning and research by providing access to digital resources and virtual enquiry services.

In addition, our libraries and library-managed spaces are open, though this is subject to change.  For information, see the Libraries and Study Spaces section below.

 

Your primary, and quickest means of contacting us for the time being will be email.

For general enquiries: library@qmul.ac.uk or web chat. 

If you need help finding resources for learning and research:

For e-resources help: ejournals@qmul.ac.uk

Academic Skills Enhancement offers support on the skills you need to succeed at university, including workshops, self-access resources and one-to-one tutorials.

For research reporting and REF: scholarlycommunications@qmul.ac.uk

For Archives and Special Collections: archives@qmul.ac.uk

 

Loans

You can browse items at Mile End, Whitechapel, and West Smithfield libraries, and then use the self-service kiosks to loan items.  There are some sections of the library that are still closed (such as the Teaching Collection). Items in these areas will be available via a 'fetching service' from eth Welcome Desk during the hours of 10am - 4pm. 

Renewals

A flexible borrowing policy applies to 7 Day Loans, which will be automatically renewed for up to 51 weeks or until the end of the library membership, unless another Reader has reserved them. After that period, items should be returned. This policy applies throughout the academic year, with no separate vacation borrowing policy. For further information please visit our Borrowing Basics page.

All fines have been waived as of 16th March 2020, and no further fines will be incurred for the time being.

Holds (reservations)

The reservation service has recently resumed. Please note reservations can only be applied when all copies of the item are on loan at your home site. For more information on how to reserve library materials please visit our Borrowing Basics page. 

Returns

Items can be returned at any Queen Mary Library site via the Self-Service Kiosks during opening times. 

 

The best way to access online resources is via Queen Mary Library Services' Library Search regardless of geographic location.

You can find more information on how to access e-resources, including journals, books and databases off-campus from E-resources news and help

A detailed list of e-resources made freely available by the publishers can be found on the COVID-19 Resources made available by publishers page

Check out the Library’s Subject Guides for subject-based selections of online resources such as databases, useful websites and more

For information on how to find, use and reference information well, have a look at the ‘Library’s Find it, Use it, Reference it’ module on QMPlus: https://qmplus.qmul.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6819

Books

  1. Check to see if we have an electronic copy available (many text books and research texts are available in both print and electronic versions)
  2. If there is no electronic copy at the moment, complete a More Books Request form and we will endeavour to obtain access to a copy electronically
  3. From 20th July, for Mile End Library only, you can request items from our print collections via the new Click and Collect Service, see the next section for more information and how to request

Inter-library loans and Document Supply

We will not be processing any new inter-lending requests for physical items from the 18th March 2020, requests for digitised items (such as articles and chapters) will be processed as usual

  • All the lending institutions have agreed to extend due dates on items already on loan
  • If you have an Inter-Library Loan item, please take care of it until Queen Mary Libraries reopen and then you can return it

Endnote Desktop/Web

For those who usually use the Endnote desktop application, in order to access your Endnote desktop library remotely, you may need to sync your Endnote desktop library with Endnote Web if you have not done this already.  Unfortunately, syncing can only be done from a QMUL networked computer.  For help with reference management software (such as Endnote), get in contact with the Library’s Teaching & Learning Support Team.  Contact details can be found via the Library’s Subject Guides

Library Research Support will continue to operate on a business as usual basis with a few adjustments; this includes:

  • Moving to online tutorials for new members of staff in using Elements to manage research reporting
  • Reviewing and responding to queries in relation to open access publishing
  • Reviewing and approving open access publishing expenditure from UKRI and other funder block grants
  • Advising on the self-deposit of research datasets, doctoral theses, and other original research outputs

 

Researchers released to clinical support roles

Where researchers have been released from academic research to support clinical roles, Library Services staff will deposit manuscripts on your behalf, if you email them to scholarlycommunications@qmul.ac.uk.  We will also be noting exceptions for the purposes of REF where this cannot be done on the usual deposit deadline.

We will continue to operate an enquiry service to answer questions about our holdings; where records have been digitised already, we will provide these free of the usual reprographic charges. We will be able to book in appointments, but we will need a minimum of three working days’ notice and may not be able to accommodate you on your preferred date. We will attempt to fulfil reprographics requests for undigitised material and answer any enquiries that need checking of physical records but this will take longer than usual and may not be possible until lockdown restrictions are lifted.  All outstanding enquiries will be answered within 10 working days of our return to normal services.

In the mean time you can use our online services https://www.library.qmul.ac.uk/archives/ to access some of our digitised images as well as a catalogue of our holdings. You can also continue to enjoy our Archives and Special Collections through Instagram which will continue to be updated during the closure https://www.instagram.com/qmarchives/.

 

Our libraries and library-managed spaces are partially open for individual silent study. All PCs and Study Spaces must be pre-booked via our booking system. 

To ensure that study space is available to book for everyone who needs it, we have a Flexible Booking system. This means if space remains unbooked we will increase the slots you can book during the week, then if demand increases we will reduce the number of slots per person to make bookings available to more people.

For detailed instructions please download our How to Book a Study Space Guide [PDF 957KB].

Please note that face coverings are mandatory in the Library, including when seated.

Please also note, spaces are monitored by security staff and you may be asked to provide your booking reference.

If you require any further assistance, please contact us at library@qmul.ac.uk.

 

 

 

Senate House Library is offering University of London Students (including Queen Mary students) remote electronic registration whilst Senate House Library is physically closed due to Covid-19.

This means Queen Mary students can register with Senate House Library and gain access to their e-resources without the usual requirement to visit the library to complete registration. Details here:

https://senatehouselibrary.libguides.com/remote-registration