• Who can request: At this time, we can only honor requests from Smith and Five College students, faculty, and staff. Students, faculty, and staff in the campus COVID-19 screening program may pick up items in the Neilson Library. Those not in the campus COVID-19 screening program may use our mailing program (details further below). Local borrowers of Smith College Libraries cannot borrow materials at this time, but will receive complimentary extended service to their accounts once privileges resume.
• What is available: Most Smith books, print collections and DVDs, as well as many Five College books, print collections, and DVDs. Please contact libraryhelp@smith.edu with questions about specific items.
• How to request: Submit requests as you normally would through the library catalog. Thank you in advance for your patience, as it may take a number of days for us to safely process your hold request.
• Due dates: Special due dates apply, see Loan Periods.
• Mailing program for students: Students who are not in the campus COVID-19 screening program can request books by mail. This service is available within the United States and applies to some books that are only available in print; unfortunately, we are unable to mail books internationally. If you only need a book chapter, you can request the chapter to be scanned and emailed through Interlibrary Loan. If a whole print book is needed, please use the request button in the library catalog. Returning books is easy: use the prepaid return label included in the package when we mail your book. This service is open to all students living in the United States who are not in the coronavirus screening program.
• Mailing program for faculty/staff: Faculty, emeriti, and staff who are not in the campus COVID-19 screening program can request books by mail. Fill out this form to request that items be delivered by mail. Returning books is easy: use the prepaid return label included in the package when we mail your book.
• Mail delivery time: Please note that it could take 2-3 weeks to receive books through the mail due to the mailing process. Please plan ahead to request books so you will receive them in time to be used.

• Neilson Library item pickup: Students, faculty and staff who are in the campus COVID-19 screening program may pick up library items in the Neilson Library and the Central Service Point. This location is open Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Please note that lanyards must be worn and displayed at all times, and entry will be controlled by card access via the Seelye lawn entrance.
• Notification: You will receive a notification email from the libraries letting you know when your items are ready to pick up. Be sure to bring your OneCard and face covering.
• Hours & Location: Item pickup at the Central Service Point is open daily from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. You will have 7 business days to pick up your material. If you cannot make it to campus in this timeframe, please contact us to arrange a different pickup date.
• Cleaning books: Please don’t clean or disinfect library materials. It may damage the materials, and it’s not necessary given the precautions our staff will be taking.

• Book and media drop: Anyone can return library items by using the book drop outside of the Neilson Library at the Seelye lawn entrance. For those approved to enter Neilson Library, there are also book drops at service points on floors 1 and G.
• Mailing program: If you borrowed a book through the mailing program you should have received a prepaid return label with your package. If you lose the label, use this form to request a new one.
• Return by mail: If you picked up library materials but are unable to return your items in person, fill out this form to receive a shipping label. All shipping options are free.
• Outstanding student loans: If you borrowed library items in a previous semester and still have them, please return prior to the due date or as soon as possible. You may use the on-campus book drop, or you may request a free shipping label. International students and others who need to extend their loans should get in touch through Ask Us. 
• Books from the other four colleges: Please either renew these online, return them through the mail, or deposit in the drop box outside the Neilson Library by the due date.

• New guidelines: The safety of library staff and users is our highest priority. Library staff will follow all state and college public health guidelines, including wearing masks, frequent handwashing, sanitizing and disinfecting of workspaces and machinery, and self-monitoring for symptoms.
• Alternative pickup options: If you require any kind of alternative pickup options, please contact us at libraryhelp@smith.edu.

Find Online Sources: See our guide to finding online resources such as ebooks, articles, journals, media, class guides, and more.

• All library eResources are available from off-campus.
• Use the links on the Libraries website and enter your Smith username and password when prompted.
• If you have trouble accessing resources remotely, check out our FAQs or report the issue to Ask Us so we can help.

Interlibrary Loan is open for borrowing. We will attempt to fill requests digitally when we can. Borrowing from libraries outside the Five Colleges is slowly resuming. Please place your request and we will try to find a lender.  

• Digital borrowing: Staff will try to fulfill all requests for materials that can be delivered electronically. We encourage you to submit ILL requests for the sources you are looking for, no matter the original format, and we will attempt to either find them online for you, ask other libraries to scan requested materials, or suggest alternate sources. We also provide chapter scans of Smith owned materials!
• Physical borrowing: Borrowing from libraries outside the Five Colleges is starting up slowly due to restricted availability right now. Please place your request and we will try to find a lender.
• Submit a request: Request materials (such as scans of book chapters and articles in the Smith collection, online resources, and materials from beyond Smith) by logging in to Interlibrary Loan and submitting a New Request using the left hand menu.
• Returning ILL materials: Interlibrary Loan books (they have a colored paper band around the cover) can be returned using the book drop outside the Neilson Library, at the Seelye lawn entrance.

• Course materials and E-Reserves are available on the E-Reserves list and via the "Library Course Reserves - Required Materials" link on the top of your Moodle course page. If you’re unfamiliar with how reserves work on Moodle, get in touch through Ask Us and we’ll walk you through it.
• Faculty may request that online resources be added to Moodle using our new online request form. We are actively scanning and converting physical materials from the collection. See Course Reserves Information for Faculty or schedule a time to meet with us for assistance preparing materials.
• Print Reserves are anticipated to be available this Fall. See Course Reserves.

Ask Us: Ask questions and get help from a research librarian:

• Ask Us - Submit a question at any time. Library staff members monitor and regularly reply to messages.
• Meet With Us - Schedule a virtual meeting with a research librarian.

Research Subject Guides: Librarians have created custom online research guides for every subject taught at Smith.

Special Collections - Special Collections is closed June through August 2021 while the collection is moved into the New Neilson Library. All services, including reference, are on pause. Staff are not keeping a queue of outstanding requests, so please contact the department after the summer.

• Special Collections is closed June through August 2021 while the collection is moved into the New Neilson Library. All services, including reference, are on pause. Staff are not keeping a queue of outstanding requests, so please contact the department after the summer. See renovation transition for more details. 
• The Special Collections Reading Room is closed.
• Find Online Sources: Special Collections: See our guide for finding Special Collections materials online.

• Purchasing Digital Materials: Use the Faculty Book & Media Order Form to request the purchase of online materials, including eBook copies of print materials you currently use with students. The Libraries will prioritize eBooks and other digital materials. Some eBook titles are available with unlimited simultaneous users, meaning multiple students can read them at the same time. 
• Purchasing Print Materials: Requests for books and other print material are currently being accepted. Use the Faculty Book & Media Order Form to request the purchase of print materials.
• E-Reserves, scanning, and streaming: Use the Reserves Request Form to request that library resources be added to a Moodle course page. Library staff will digitize material from the collection and acquire new resources for your teaching, including scans of book chapters, DVDs and will provide stable links to online resources. Working with the Libraries’ staff ensures that materials meet copyright and accessibility guidelines. Please submit your syllabus with the request and we will prioritize materials to be ready by the date they are needed.
• Moodle: If you’re unfamiliar with how reserves work on Moodle, get in touch via Ask Us and we’ll walk you through it. For more information, see Course Reserves Information for Faculty.
• Accessibility: If you scan book pages, articles, or other materials to post for your class on Moodle, be sure to follow the College’s guide for Accessible Instructional Materials.
• Support: Librarians are available to support faculty with preparing resources and selecting alternative course materials. Please be in touch with your departmental library liaison or use Ask Us.

• Synchronous Course Instruction: Librarians are working on planning course-related instruction delivered remotely for the Fall semester. If you would like to plan a Zoom research instruction session for your students on the research process, working through a specific research assignment or how to use library resources, complete the Request Library Instruction Form or contact your department’s library liaison directly.
• Asynchronous Course Instruction: Librarians can pre-record video instruction sessions or create short instructional videos on library research for your course. Contact your department’s library liaison to learn more.
• Find Online Sources: We have created a new guide to help you Get Started With Online Resources.
• Workshops: Librarians are offering online workshops on accessing and using digital resources effectively in your courses, as well as teaching with Special Collections. Get full details and register. ITS is also providing workshops and COVID-19 Digital Support for faculty.
• Recordings and slides: Recordings and slides of recent “Finding online materials for your course with the Libraries” workshops have been made available below:
  • Division I: Slides and recording
  • Division II: Slides (recording not available)
  • Division III: Slides and recording

• Research Librarians will continue to work remotely, and can meet with you and your students via Zoom video or audio. They offer consultation on fall curricular planning, eBooks and course materials, research needs and citation management.
• Schedule an appointment: Use Meet With Us to schedule an appointment with research librarians via Zoom or by phone.
• Send us your questions: Use Ask Us to submit questions, or send email to libraryhelp@smith.edu.
• Library Liaisons: Contact your departmental library liaison.

• Faculty and Special Collections access: Special Collections will work with you to discuss and identify your needs and work out remote service whenever possible. If there is a specific request that is related to a course and it cannot be done remotely, staff will determine whether it can be handled in a way that is safe for everyone involved.
• Teaching: Special Collections staff will continue to support teaching with primary materials via remote instruction. While staff cannot host classes in person at this time, curators and archivists can employ the following options to support teaching and learning:
  • Pre-recorded lectures
  • Remote synchronous live sessions (e.g., curator with hovercam sharing materials remotely, live)  
  • Remote consultations with students and faculty
  • Generation of guides and resource lists
  • Creating and sharing special collections digital resources held by other institutions, synchronously or asynchronously.

Special Collections course support requests should be directed to the relevant collection steward:

• College Archives: Nanci Young, nyoung@smith.edu
• Mortimer Rare Book Collection: Shannon Supple, ssupple@smith.edu
• Sophia Smith Collection of Women’s History: Maureen Cresci Callahan, mcallahan@smith.edu