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Rentschler Library Services during COVID-19: Faculty

Please Note

Content is subject to change at any point due to the ever-changing nature of the pandemic. Please check this guide regularly.

Remote Instruction

In the fall of 2021, library instruction sessions will be delivered via any of the web conferencing technologies available to you as a faculty member, or face-to-face when physical distancing can be ensured. We tailor each session to your course, assignment(s) and possible topics. This could include how to find books and ebooks, scholarly journal articles, and how to evaluate web information. Please fill out our instruction request form.

Embedded Librarian

Our Embedded Librarian Program involves placing a custom library resources page (with links to databases, tutorials, and other course-specific resources along with contact information for a librarian) in your Canvas course to assist your students at their point of need. All resources included in these guides are selected based on the guidelines for research based assignments in the course. We work with both on-campus and online courses and can provide this service as a supplement to an instruction session. View these recent guides to see what the embedded librarian can do for your students: DST/SPA 312 and KNH 242

To request embedded librarian services for your class, please fill out our request form.

Departmental Delivery of Library Materials

Miami University faculty and staff can have library materials delivered to your campus mailing address beginning in Fall of 2020.

Faculty and staff who would like to have library materials sent to your campus mailing address should*:

  • Fill out this form** with your email address and complete campus mail delivery information.
  • In the Miami University Library catalog, select "Department/Dorm Delivery," from the Pickup Location drop-down menu when requesting an item. 
  • When requesting materials in the OhioLINK library catalog, select "Hamilton Department Delivery" from the Pickup Location drop-down menu.

*Please note that on the Hamilton Campus, materials will be available for pickup at whatever location you currently receive your intercampus mail.

**The form for intercampus mail delivery needs to be filled out only once, the first time you utilize the service.

Information Literacy Modules

Credo Instruct (formerly Credo InfoLit Modules) includes 80 digital resources to develop students' information literacy skills ranging from evaluating information to using appropriate sources to citations and academic integrity. Resources include tutorials, videos, interactive exercises to practice concepts, and quizzes. Any or all of these items can be added to your Canvas course site either as module elements or as assignments for the students to complete. Please contact a librarian for assistance with adding these items to your Canvas course site. 

Research Consultation Appointments

The librarians will provide online research consultation appointments via any of the web conferencing technologies available to Miami affiliated users. This may include Google Meet, Zoom, or WebEx. These appointments are available to both students working on class assignments and faculty conducting their own research. For students, we can help with refining their topic, selecting keywords, creating a research strategy, and choosing appropriate databases and resources in which to search. If you or your students could benefit from one-on-one help from a librarian, please contact a librarian or fill out the Research Appointment Request form. 

Course Reserves and LOLA

For spring semester of 2021 the library will be unable to provide traditional print reserves services. This decision is based on the guidelines and suggestions from the American Library Association (ALA); the Center for Disease Control (CDC); and a recent study conducted by Battelle, OCLC, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

With the health and safety of our staff and patrons being a top priority, and in support of Miami University’s (MU) efforts to address concerns about physical distancing on campus during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Miami University Libraries (MUL) will be offering Limited Online Library Access (LOLA) in the spring 2021 semester. Through this short-term lending service, MU scholars will be able to digitally access works held in the MUL physical collection remotely via Canvas.

LOLA requests can be placed using this online form. Most LOLA requests will be fulfilled within 3-5 business days, though more time may be needed depending on the nature of the work and the timing of the request.

Generally, items will be made available via LOLA for circulation periods comparable to that of the physical item held in the MUL collection.

Questions about LOLA should be directed to Carla Myers, MU’s copyright librarian at myersc2@miamioh.edu.