Closing of libraries

[delsur]

Great suggestions! Thank you.

[AvidReader]

I've been an independent scholar for several years, and am also suffering from limited access, especially now.

Have you asked all your past institutions about access? My PhD institution cuts alums off shortly after graduation, but my MA institution has more generous policies. It might be worth going back further if you haven't.

A few wonderful universities I've known (I don't know the Chicago region) still have library resources available if you are on campus wifi, even as a guest. I haven't tried in the pandemic, but if you have a local library that usually gives on-campus access, could you sit in the parking lot and download a pile of materials all at once?

ILL is the worst. I don't know if there is any recourse with so many public libraries closed, but when I lived in a very rural part of the South, I was startled but delighted to learn that my public library had an ILL service through the big state university ~1.5 hours away. It required filling out a lot of forms (per book!), but was a real godsend.

AR.

[apl68]

ILL is the worst. I don't know if there is any recourse with so many public libraries closed, but when I lived in a very rural part of the South, I was startled but delighted to learn that my public library had an ILL service through the big state university ~1.5 hours away. It required filling out a lot of forms (per book!), but was a real godsend.

AR.

In our state the State Library provides ILL service for small-town libraries.  We've used it some, and found it to work well.  Haven't tried it since the COVID 19 mess started, though.

[mamselle]

Not sure where else to post this, but I thought it might be useful: it's more about re-opening than closing, but the two procedures share a degree of complementarity...

I get emails from several research libraries and public libraries whose archives I've used.

I'm now getting several notes about their re-opening plans and procedures.

I thought it might be useful, since there are librarians on this list, to post what these libraries are sending out, in case any of their strategies are of any help or spark any ideas for those dealing with similar situations.

And if not, you can ignore it!

I opened the emails in separate browser pages, so the links are direct, I believe:

1) The British Library is sending a survey to ask patrons about their needs and preferences in re-opening:

   https://britishlibraryemails.bl.uk/5JXV-1MTJ-E513LM508A/cr.aspx

the sign-up site for further info is at:

   http://pages.email.nypl.org/nyplconnect?utm_source=eNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=NYPLConnect_20200317&utm_campaign=NYPLConnect

2) The [url]New York Public Library has both a recent note about re-opening info:

   https://www.nypl.org/about/coronavirus

and (sorry for the long URL; I tried to use the link function but it wouldn't work):
   http://view.email.nypl.org/?qs=5b142e769d52dd0e53d7dcc7e1cfb419e5021e26e8ef94f96c080d954b882f4380298040bbb364cf5cab4f09c7a2c7d8f88a542d123f6e6a7ca2975c506dcca3c59813aaa03e7b76dd5576d52dba373c

as well as the racial issues facing the country and the library's part in supplying information to address the issues:

   http://view.email.nypl.org/?qs=d916e4f3f019ccd6f1a7a2d655f3406cc1c332a9dc5a222e98ce32c849f59e8bcdcae93bc90c769161e3b1e1f8a46a9181f01443c10847d461f1ecf7a9d473be5df5c9981e5dad84761bad58f629a88642d6351ba38ad4a7

3) The Boston Public Library has this information:

   https://www.bpl.org/news/covid-19-update/

4) A local library program has been consistently well-planned throughout (including making some databases that are usually only available on-site open to public use for the duration): this just came out:

   http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1101968623922&ca=bf262211-61bd-4d27-8da4-b93a122f53a5

5) The Bibliotheque Nationale/Richelieu (MSs) site:
   https://www.bnf.fr/fr/actualites/covid-19-coronavirus-fermeture-de-lensemble-des-sites-de-la-bnf
   (The English is a bit garbled, but it represents the French accurately enough...)
   
6) The KBR/Bruxelles:
   https://www.kbr.be/en/

There are <<bibliophiles>> who like/collect books, and I'll confess to that categorization; maybe I'm also a <<bibliotheque-o-phile>> (one who likes/collects libraries)?

Anyway, just if it's useful.

M.