The normal buzz of student activity at Lied Library has been silent since the coronavirus forced a shutdown in March. That’s when UNLV Libraries faculty and staff amped up remote access and services for students and faculty while making changes to ensure safety for the eventual return to campus.

“We have spent the past five months examining protocols and working with campus administrators and public health experts to mitigate virus transmission risks and welcome students and faculty back to the libraries this fall in a safe manner,” said Maggie Farrell, dean of libraries.

Libraries facilities will reopen starting next week to offer access to services for students on campus, but with an emphasis on social distancing. Here’s what to expect when you visit the Libraries. 

Student, faculty, and staff access: Upon reopening, facilities will be accessible mainly to UNLV students and faculty, emphasizing the libraries’ educational mission to support learning and research. Users will be required to show Nevada System of Higher Education-issued identification for admission, and masks must also be worn at all times. 

“We have heard from students how much they have missed the Libraries during the shutdown,” said Farrell. “We look forward to welcoming them back and appreciate everyone’s willingness to follow these new measures to protect the health of our staff and our community as we continue through the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Lied Library opening: Lied Library will reopen with limited capacity for UNLV students, faculty and staff on Monday. During the initial phase of reopening, only the first and second floors of the library will be open, with limited seating and 160 public computer terminals available to promote social distancing. No food or drink will be allowed in the building, except for the Book ‘n’ Bean coffee shop, which is scheduled to reopen Aug. 24.

Branch library openings: The Architecture Studies Library, Music Library, and Teacher Development & Resources Library will follow, with a reopening date scheduled for Aug. 24. At the Shadow Lane campus, the Health Sciences Library and InfoCommons remain open to students with an approved ID card, but with no in-person services. All libraries hours are available online.

Public access: UNLV alumni and community members will be able to access the libraries only for research purposes by scheduling an appointment in advance. Appointments may be requested online. Users wishing to access Special Collections and Archives should email to request an appointment. 

Virus risk mitigation: The libraries have implemented a number of additional steps to mitigate coronavirus transmission risks for staff and users. These temporary measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 include installing acrylic barriers at public service points, installing hand sanitizer dispensers, disinfecting or quarantining items for four days, and increased cleaning procedures. 

Enhanced remote services: Many libraries faculty and staff will continue to work remotely, in line with the university’s plans to reduce population density on campus. Librarians will be available for virtual appointments with students and faculty, and reference requests can be submitted via chat, email, and text messaging. Educational Initiatives faculty and liaison librarians will be providing remote instruction services, and are working with faculty to embed libraries materials into courses through WebCampus. 

New paging service: While the stacks are closed, and to assist users who want to minimize time spent indoors, the libraries will offer a paging service for books and other materials. Items can be requested using the Quick Search feature on the libraries website. Items will be available for pick up at the circulation desk in Lied Library after 9 a.m. the day after the request is made.

Additional service changes and availability are noted here:

• The Makerspace and Multimedia Production Studios will remain closed during the fall semester.
• The Graduate Student Commons will reopen Aug. 17. 
• The Academic Success Center will provide virtual tutoring through the fall semester. No in-person tutoring is currently scheduled.
• Study rooms will be open, but occupancy will be limited to two per room, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• In partnership with the Office of Information Technology, a limited technology checkout program is available for students for the fall semester. Technology requests can be submitted using this form. 
• Lied Library will have 160 available computer terminals during the initial opening period to promote social distancing. Before arriving at the library, you can check computer availability online. In addition, a limited supply of laptops will be available for use within the library. Please check at the Lied Library circulation desk.
• Wi-Fi, network printing, and photocopying services will be available.
• Interlibrary loan services will only be able to fill requests for digital documents.
• Most anatomical models will be in circulation, though checkout times may vary depending on cleaning needs. Additional web-based tools will be available for checkout. 
• Many course reserves, including textbook checkouts, will be available. Many course materials will be available within the WebCampus interface. More course reserves information.

“The Libraries are eager to return to normal operations, so please wear masks, wash hands frequently, and socially distance yourself from others. Your commitment to these strategies will enable us to mitigate virus transmission and allow you to focus on your academic priorities,” Farrell said.

Submit your questions, comments, or other feedback about the libraries reopening or visit the libraries reopening website.