With the Fall 2021 semester opening on Monday, August 23, the University Libraries are ready to welcome students to campus. After nearly seventeen months of modified services, the Libraries are scheduled to open on the first day of classes with a more familiar look.
Planning for reopening began nearly a year ago. Changes for the Fall semester include:
• Removal of swipe-card access for building entry, so that community visitors are able to enter the library buildings again
• Curbside pickup service has been retired
• Small number of group-study rooms are available
• Book stacks are open for browsing
• In-person reference services are available
• Vending machines have been filled
• The IMC has been renamed the Lower Level Lab
Some precautions remain as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. Masks are still required inside all library buildings; hand sanitizing stations remain available on each level; plexiglass barriers also appear at each service point. Nonetheless, this semester marks a significant step towards a more typical library experience.
“It’s an exciting time to welcome students back,” said Dean of Libraries Rebecca Mugridge. “They bring an energy to the Libraries that you can’t replicate. When you come into the buildings after 5 p.m., you see spaces filled with creativity and passion for learning. That’s why I say there’s nothing quite like working in a library!”
For more information on Fall semester hours and modifications, visit our semester calendar page.