Library services and resources for remote teaching, learning, and research

This page contains information about Libraries services and resources to support on-line instruction and research through the summer. For information about Libraries services beginning August 24, please see What to Expect: Fall 2020. [Updated July 16, 2020]

KU Libraries Facilities

All KU Libraries locations are currently closed to the public. For more information, please call 785-864-8983 or submit a question online.

Library Materials

KU Libraries continues to provide access to many online resources, which can be found through Quick Search, Articles and Databases, e-Journals, Digital Collections, and other starting points. In addition, some publishers and vendors are providing expanded access to online resources on a temporary basis. See a list of available resources at COVID-19 Temporary Access to Resources.

While instruction is being offered only remotely, due dates for library materials will be extended and overdue fines will not be assessed. Please see our updated Circulation Policies and Procedures.

KU students, faculty, and staff may gain access to items from KU Libraries collection through the following methods:

• Online access to many books is now temporarily available to KU students, faculty, and staff through the HathiTrust Digital Library's Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS). Through their KU Online IDs, users will have digital access to works in HathiTrust that are held in KU's print collections. You will find links to HathiTrust in Quick Search and the catalog, or by searching HathiTrust directly (be sure to Log In). For details, please see our HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access information.
• For print materials that are not available through HathiTrust ETAS, KU students, faculty, and staff may Retrieve From Shelf to request items for contact-free pickup at Watson Library, Anschutz Library, Art & Architecture Library, and the Music & Dance Library. KU students, faculty, and staff who reside outside Lawrence and Douglas County may use Home Loan Delivery to request physical materials be mailed to them. Home Loan delivery is not available for items available through HathiTrust ETAS.
• The Document Delivery service may be used to request digital copies of journal articles and individual book chapters.
• For materials in Spencer Research Library, please contact ksrlref@ku.edu for research support and reproduction requests.

Course Instruction

As instructors prepare for the fall semester, we look forward to working with you to integrate research skills and information literacy outcomes into your courses and assignments. KU Libraries will collaborate with fall 2020 instructors to meet a majority of library instruction objectives through various online methods. Instructors who anticipate learning objectives for library instruction that may require an in-person component should contact us to explore options. Any in-person library instruction that does take place will follow KU protocols that prioritize the health and safety of students, instructors, and library faculty and staff, accounting for limited capacity in library instruction classrooms.

Please reach out to request a consultation with a library instructor to discuss your needs and potential approaches.

We offer a number of Video Tutorials and Subject and Course Guides to support research and assignments for courses.

Our Copyright and Online Instruction guide provides support for questions about copyright and the shift to remote teaching. Please contact copyright@ku.edu for more on copyright, fair use, and online instruction.

Research Support

KU Libraries' Ask a Librarian service continue to offer research help via chat and email while library facilities are closed to the public.

KU Librarians are available for research consultations via Zoom or other virtual methods. Please contact us to arrange a consultation with our experts in digital, print, and archival collections; scholarly communication; citation management; digital scholarship; and more.

Technology Access

To our students: KU is committed to supporting your educational goals during this time of change. It is ideal for you to participate in distance learning and access library resources from your residence.

• You are allowed to access university Wi-Fi if you are in a personal vehicle parked on campus, provided you still meet social distancing requirements.
• Students who need access to Internet service or computer hardware should reach out to KU Information Technology on the Lawrence campus and kuecservices@ku.edu on the KU Edwards Campus for guidance and assistance.
• Several internet service providers are also offering service at no-cost, low-cost or with waived fees.

As a last resort, students who need computer access will be allowed access to the Watson Library computer lab, which has been reconfigured to support appropriate physical distancing and frequent cleanings. Please note that while KU Libraries locations are closed to the public, these few select computer workstations will be available for KU student use in support of online course work at Watson Library, during limited hours, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Computer workstations may be reserved using our calendar reservation system.

Community Resources

Please see our Community Resources Guide for links to additional library, cultural, and wellness resources.