The following continuity plan addresses the changes to three critical library service areas to consider as you migrate your ground classes online : instruction, research services, and resource access. These types of situations are often fluid; the library’s ability to provide all the herein services is subject to change. This webpage will be updated as additional service changes become necessary.

DiMenna-Nyselius Librarians are prepared to work with faculty to provide online information literacy instruction using appropriate educational technology. If you are interested in online information literacy instruction for a course please contact Matt Schirano at mschirano@fairfield.edu. We have experience with a number of educational technologies --both synchronous and asynchronous--and can work with you to create online content that meets your student needs.

For those who already have scheduled an instruction session, please contact the Librarian you are working with to determine the best steps for moving forward.

In addition to Librarian-led student instruction, we are able to provide online instruction support in other ways:

• Research and course guides
  • Research guides are a collection of relevant library resources based on a particular discipline/field that are always available on our website. Many times, linking to a relevant research guide is sufficient support for students.
  • Course guides are similar to research guides but are tailored to specific courses and assignments. For example, they are useful for assignments involving the use of specialized databases, or those with less user-friendly interfaces. We can also embed course and other materials like syllabi, images, and streaming video.
  • Links to these guides are easily shared via Blackboard, Quip, e-mail, and more.
• Research assignment consultations
  • Share any research assignment with your Faculty Partnership Program partner and we can help adapt it to an online environment.
  • While we may not be familiar with every educational technology, we are willing to learn! If you have an idea of how to integrate the library and/or research to your online course, or are already doing something interesting, please do not hesitate to reach out and let us know.

For more information on instruction for online courses, please contact Matt Schirano at mschirano@fairfield.edu.

Research services will continue to be available in several ways:

• Research Appointments: Delivered via Zoom
• Zoom Room: Drop-in research help via Zoom available during staffed hours
• E-Mail:  Research requests will be responded to within 2 business days
• 24/7 Chat
• Telephone: Call the Library Services & Information Desk at (203) 254-4000 ext. 2188 during staffed hours.
• Text Message: Text a question to (203) 295-7542 during staffed hours
• Research Guides: Research guides provide a list of library resources relevant to specific fields and disciplines. They are an excellent way to steer students toward the library resources most relevant to their information needs.
• Citation Guides: We have citation guides for APA, MLA, Chicago (Notes-Bibliography), Chicago (Author-Date), and IEEE. When available, links to online manuals are provided.

Borrowing Physical Items: Students, faculty, and staff can borrow items with a StagCard. View borrowing periods here. If items are requested online for office delivery, library staff will deliver items to staff and faculty on-campus offices. When classes start on 9/1, Contact-Free pickup service will no longer be available.

Returning and Renewing Physical Items: Library materials can be renewed online. Items can be returned to the Library Services & Information Desk or one of the two book drops, located on the exterior side of the Library facing Bannow or the book drop inside the Library lobby. Due dates ranging from March 12- April 27, 2020 have been changed for all patrons. The new due date for these materials will be the weekend of September 20, 2020*. They do not need to be renewed until that date. All fines for items due between January 1, 2020 and September 20, 2020 will be waived. Please contact us at circdesk@fairfield.edu with any questions about your account. If you have any materials borrowed through Interlibrary Loan prior to Spring Break, those materials are now due on September 18, 2020.

The Library provides a wealth of online material, and there should be no interruption of access to these resources. For additional information about accessing these resources (including troubleshooting) please see our guide for connecting from off-campus.

If there are ebooks you would like to use for your courses, contact Curtis Ferree at cferree@fairfield.edu for assistance. 

Please contact your librarian partner or research@fairfield.edu for assistance in finding suitable online alternatives to print resources.