NOTE: New information is available about Library & Gallery services for the fall. See the latest post: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/library/posts/94348

In accordance with the campus holiday closure, the Library's virtual services will be closed on Friday, July 3.

For the health and safety of the UMBC community, the Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery building, including the atrium and Retriever Learning Center, will be closed until further notice. For updates on reopening, please consult UMBC’s website: https://covid19.umbc.edu/ or the Library website, https://library.umbc.edu/.

Overdue fines WILL NOT accrue during this period while the physical campus is closed.

Curbside Returns: You may drop off materials on campus without physical contact. Click here for a campus map with drop off locations. To avoid damage, please DO NOT put equipment or laptops in these bins. Do not leave items outside of the library.

We are available to assist you with your research during this time! You may schedule an online appointment with a reference librarian on our website: https://library.umbc.edu/makearesearchappt.

Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., click “Ask a Librarian” to chat with a reference librarian online at https://library.umbc.edu/researchhelp.

If a librarian is not available to chat, send us a message and we will respond by email as soon as we can. You may email a reference librarian directly by visiting https://library.umbc.edu/email.php.

Special Collections staff are available to assist researchers by email at speccoll@umbc.edu.

Our electronic resources are always available at https://library.umbc.edu/finddatabases.

Looking for media? Check out this guide to help you locate streaming versions for your class: https//lib.guides,umbc.edu/streaming.

Many library vendors are making select online licensed content available for free or modified terms during the COVID-19 outbreak: https://tinyurl.com/vendorsupportedaccess and https://bit.ly/vendor_access.

The Internet Archive has also made available the National Emergency Library, "a collection of books that supports emergency remote teaching, research activities, independent scholarship, and intellectual stimulation while universities, schools, training centers, and libraries are closed."

Interlibrary Loan is operating at a reduced level, but may be able to provide article or chapter scans from our databases and e-journals, as well as from databases and e-journals from our resource sharing partners. Although we are not able to scan items from UMBC's print collections, we may be able to locate them for you online or from a vendor. Complete a request form on our website, https://umbc.illiad.oclc.org/illiad/logon.html, or contact us at illcm@umbc.edu.

At this time, we are not able to provide access to physical course reserve items or book or media items on hold. Please monitor the Library's web page for updates on these services.

If you have other questions, please contact us at aok@umbc.edu.

Dear UMBC Faculty and Staff, 

During this rapidly changing situation, UMBC is committed to ensuring the safety of our faculty, staff, and students. UMBC is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak in coordination with the University System of Maryland (USM) and the State of Maryland. The USM recently released additional guidance on implementing remote work and advice for those in at-risk groups.   

As our business operations resume on Thursday, March 19, the following guidance applies:

• No staff member who is immuno-compromised or otherwise considered by CDC guidance to be high-risk regarding COVID-19 will be required to work on campus. Faculty and staff over the age of 60, or those with underlying conditions, can contact human resources on a confidential basis to arrange telework or leave.  

• Supervisors will notify employees who are needed to work on campus. Compensatory time or additional compensation will be given to non-exempt employees whose work is to be performed on campus.

• Buildings on campus will remain secured. If you must access your building, please call the UMBC Police Department at 410-455-5555. 

• All other staff, faculty, and students should remain off-campus, with employees working remotely as instructed by their supervisor. Remote work during COVID-19 related events does not require a telework agreement. The restriction on teleworking from home when caring for children or other dependents will be waived if the employee believes they can safely and productively telework while providing any necessary care. We urge supervisors to practice flexibility with their employees.   

• UMBC will follow state and federal health protocols for the safety of persons on campus, including cleaning and sanitizing of campus facilities as well as practicing safe community mitigation practices such as social distancing.

• UMBC has made provisions for all faculty, staff, and students to remain in a paid status at the present time. Additional updates will be provided as guidance from the USM, State, and federal government evolves. 

• Timekeeping instructions for all employees can be found here.

This is an evolving situation, please continue to monitor the UMBC COVID-19 websitefor updates and guidance/FAQ’s for faculty and staff. Employee questions can be sent to covid19hrresponseteam@umbc.edu. We sincerely thank you for your service to UMBC and your endurance during these difficult times. UMBC’s community is made up of members with grit and resolve, and we will get through this together!  

UMBC's Incident Management Team