Dear postgraduate students,

We understand that many postgraduate students are looking forward to accessing the library again for their research, to gather information from books in the Library and/or make use of the library services. Your Postgraduate Student Officers have been proactive in discussing this with the university and ensuring your concerns are put into consideration while observing health and safety measures.

Below is the email received from the director of the Glucksman Library. She and her staff have been working diligently to get the library open and the wonderful news has arrived.

We would like to thank Gobnait and the Library staff for their support in this difficulty time.

Dear colleagues,

I hope that this email finds you and your families well.

Since the 13^th March 2020, staff from the Glucksman Library have been working remotely to provide online library services and virtual training and supports to enable online teaching, learning and research to continue off campus.  We are delighted to announce that we will resume a limited physical library service from Thursday 16^th July with priority given to researchers, faculty and postgraduate students.

We are taking a three-phased approach to re-opening the library building withthe safety of library users and staff as the chief guiding principle. This plan was developed using HSA, HSE and University guidelines and is informed by reopening protocols of the Irish, German, French, UK and US Library Associations.  We will continually review and revise the plan in response to changes in government and University policy.

 

Phase I – Thursday 16^th July 2020

Phase I will focus on preparation for reopening. In this first phase there will be no public access to the library beyond the entrance foyer; however, the following services will be available:

• Click & Collect – this new service will allow you to order selected physical books online.  Pre-requested items will be available for collection between 12pm and 3pm from the library entrance.  Click here for further information
• Book Returns – You will be able to return your items to a designated area at the library entrance, between 12pm and 3pm, Monday to Friday.  Items will be quarantined for 72hrs, with items remaining on your account until after the quarantine period has passed.  If you are returning to UL in September, we recommend you hold on to your books until that time. No fines are accruing on library material during this time
• Scan & Deliver – Request a digital scan of physical articles or chapters, subject to copyright restrictions.  Click here to find out more and to avail of this service
• Digitising archives and unique resources for research and teaching.

Phase II – Monday 27th July 2020

Phase II will allow small numbers of faculty, researchers and postgraduate students access to the library by appointment only.  During this phase, practices will be constantly reviewed and procedures will be adjusted where required in order to ensure safe working conditions.

• Service – in addition to above, the library will be open for limited daytime study Monday to Friday for faculty, researchers and postgraduate students
• Consultation of Special Collections and Archives
• Access to historical source material
• Access to study spaces on the ground floor only
• Access to PCs on the Ground Floor only
• Access to printers
• Lending service provided but books will be quarantined on return
• Resume print based inter library loan service

Phase III – Date to be confirmed

Phase III will see a gradual expansion of access and services as required and based on demand and the success of phase II.

• Limit the total number of people in the library to comply with social distancing
• Upper floors open for study
• Library hours of operation would gradually increase
• One way system in operation throughout the building, and separate entrance and exit will be in operation
• Library classes and instruction would continue in some hybrid format

Online Library

Online Library – With students, researchers and staff continuing to work remotely, the library is very much open virtually.

The Library and Information Services Division will continue to develop, and operate a fully digital library service after the reopening of the library building and library staff will continue to work on these services.  Key tasks include:

• Prioritise access to e-resources for learning and research
• Expand rollout of a reading list for each module with a minimum of three e-resources where possible
• Extend the use of online support mechanisms for as many interactions with the library users as possible  
• Extend the provision of online instruction and LibGuides

The Library and Information Services Division is keen to ensure that user needs are facilitated where possible.  We welcome enquiries about these arrangements and will provide any updates to them on a regular basis. 

Contact Us 

During the summer, library staff are available to answer online queries from 9:00am to 5:15pm, Monday – Thursday and until 5:00pm on Friday.  All user queries should continue to be channelled through Ask Us or emailed to libinfo@ul.ie 

To keep up to date with news on library services in this changing environment, check this page regularly, follow us via social media and consult UL’s official advisory site on Covid-19.