For the Duration: Library Update for Environment and Sustainability
Library's Response to COVID-19
March 19, 2020
Dear Students, Staff, and Faculty,
Please be advised that the library has suspended all print-based services until further notice. These are services that require staff to be on-site, and as the need for social distancing and limiting travel and movement becomes more extreme in Massachusetts, protecting the health and safety of library staff is a priority.
This may have a significant impact on you, even if you are off-site, because it includes our Scan & Deliver service as well as all borrowing and returning of physical items.
The good news is that there is a lot more now available online, either open access or via HarvardKey, than was available just last week. Many of the publishers and vendors that provide our online resources are stepping up and offering free or expanded access during this time. I’m still waiting to find out more information about how you will see this access, but my guess is that while many resources will become visible in HOLLIS, it’ll be a good idea to get in the habit of doing a three-point check for any one item or topic: 1) HOLLIS, 2) the likeliest database, and 3) Google/Google Scholar or your web search of choice. You can always send specific citations or topic-based requests my way ( enviro@fas.harvard.edu ) and take advantage of my nose for guessing which place is likeliest to have something.
I remain available (at slightly irregular hours) for questions and troubleshooting. We can set up times to talk by phone or zoom. Please do not hesitate to email me ( enviro@fas.harvard.edu ). You’re not bothering me--helping you problem-solve is one of the best parts of my job in normal times, and it is satisfying to help you continue your work under these extraordinary circumstances.
The situation is evolving rapidly. The best place to find updates and check in on the current status of library services is via the FAQs on the landing page at https://ask.library.harvard.edu, and the banner alerts at the top of library.harvard.edu (which currently has a direct link to library-during-coronavirus info: https://library.harvard.edu/coronavirus ).
As always, find links to basic environment and sustainability resources at my library guide, Environment at a Glance.
Take care,