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In light of the most recent Smith COVID-19 news, the Libraries have transitioned to offering services online and remotely. Please send your questions through Ask Us.

Libraries & Hours

Library buildings are closed. Smith and Five College books, DVDs, and other physical items in our collections are not available. See below for online and remotely offered library services.

Access to eResources

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.

Social Work Resources: See our guide for SSW faculty and students.

Books

 Smith and Five College books, DVDs, and other physical items in our collections are not available while library buildings are closed. This includes materials at the Annex and the Five College Repository. Everyone, including Non-Smith borrowers, can return library items by using the book drop outside of the Young Library (outside the entrance to Bass Hall).

Senior Book Return:

• Seniors’ student library accounts will become inactive after May 31, 2020 - please return materials before this date. Due to current events, we are waiving fees for overdue library materials.
• Students who are still close to campus may return any Smith, Five College or interlibrary loan items to the book drop outside Young Library/Bass Hall.
• To return items by mail, please fill out this form and choose how to receive a shipping label. All shipping options are free.

Smith Books:

• All students can bring books borrowed from Smith College home with them for the term. (These books have Smith labels).
• Faculty, staff, first year students, sophomores, and juniors, loan periods are extended through mid-September.
• Library items that are returned late by Smith community members will not be charged any fees.
• Recalls of books from all Five Colleges will be discontinued.
• Many different eBook collections are available. Read more on the Find Books LibGuide.

Books From the Other Four Colleges:

• Students can take books with them that are borrowed from the four colleges (Mt. Holyoke, Amherst, Hampshire, and UMass).
• Please either renew these online or return them through the mail to Smith Libraries by the due date.

Interlibrary Loan:

• Libraries staff are working remotely and will try to fulfill all requests for materials that can be delivered electronically. Unfortunately, we cannot process any requests for physical material at this time.
• We encourage you to contact us with the sources you are looking for and we will attempt to either find them online for you or suggest alternate sources.
• Interlibrary Loan books (they have a colored paper band around the cover) can be returned in the book drop outside the Young Library/Bass Hall.

Research Help

Ask questions and get help from a research librarian:

• Ask Us - Submit a question at any time. Library staff members monitor and reply to messages Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 12-4 p.m.
• Meet With Us - Schedule a virtual meeting with a research librarian.
• SSW Students - Join our live group drop-in hours Wednesdays 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. via Zoom at bit.ly/sswhelp
• Special Collections - Submit all questions and requests to specialcollections@smith.edu. Reference inquiries that require materials investigation will be held in order of when they were received and responded to once the campus is opened. Digitization services are not available at this time.

Course Reserves

• E-Reserves are available via Moodle. If you’re unfamiliar with how reserves work on Moodle, get it touch through Ask Us and we’ll walk you through it.
• Print Reserves, including scanning, are suspended until library services resume on campus. See Course Reserves.
• Faculty - Library staff are working with faculty to purchase eBook versions of Course Reserves. Faculty may request that online resources be added to Moodle using our new online Reserves Request form. See Course Reserves Information for Faculty.

Special Collections

• Find Online Sources: Special Collections: See our guide for finding Special Collections materials online.
• Special Collections is offering services online and remotely. Minimal reference services will be managed remotely by staff. Smith course support is the primary responsibility at this time; all other services will be limited and delayed.
• Reference inquiries that require materials investigation will be held in order of when they were received and responded to once the campus is opened.
• Digitization services are not available at this time.
• Please submit all questions and requests to specialcollections@smith.edu.

For Faculty

Course Materials

• Purchases: ​Use the Book Request 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. Many eBook titles are available with unlimited simultaneous users, meaning multiple students can read them at the same time.
• Reserves: The print reserves program, including scanning, is suspended until library services resume on campus. E-Reserves are available on Moodle. Use the new Course Reserves request form to request links be added to your reserves pages. 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.
• Support: Librarians are available to support Faculty with selecting alternative course materials. Please be in touch with your departmental library liaison or use Ask Us.

Online Teaching Help & Workshops

• We have created a new guide to help you Find Online Sources.
• ITS is providing workshops and COVID-19 Digital Support for faculty.
• Research librarians, special collections curators and archivists, and Spatial Analysis Lab staff are available to provide subject-specific workshops remotely for your courses. Submit inquiries through Ask Us.

Research Librarian Consultations

• Schedule an appointment to meet via Zoom or by phone with research librarians.
• Use Ask Us to submit questions, or send email to libraryhelp@smith.edu.
• Find your Library Liaison 

Special Collections Research and Course Support

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 Callahan, mcallahan@smith.edu 

Smith student and faculty digitization needs will be prioritized over other reference requests. Please submit all research inquiries to specialcollections@smith.edu.