UPDATES: Library Response to coronavirus

Library services at the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Campus Libraries will continue despite the shift to online courses for most students. We will continue to update this page as delivery of services may shift over time. Follow the links below for more information on each resource or service:

• Library Hours: Both library locations are closed until at least Friday, April 10th. However staff is available online through chat or email.
• Library book renewals: All Kirkwood Library books currently checked out will be given an extended due date of May 13th, the last day of spring semester. You don't need to do anything to get this extension, it will be done automatically.
• Reference desk or Research help: Librarians will continue to be available to help students and faculty with their research and citation needs.
• Technology help: Students with technology needs may contact the Help Desk for assistance: 319-398-1264.
• Information resources: The library's online resources will continue to be available to all current students and faculty through the library homepage and Databases A to Z. 
• Laptops are not currently available for checkout. Check back on this page for any updates on plans to deliver laptops or otherwise make them available for student checkout.
• Interlibrary loan: The librarians will continue to request electronic/online articles from other libraries. However, please be aware that many libraries are closed and so access will take longer or may not be available at all. We will not request or process any print materials.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact a librarian!

The Kirkwood librarians will still be on duty to respond to student and faculty research needs. You have multiple options for getting help with searching and locating information sources, creating citations, and evaluating sources:

Online guides:

The library has a wide assortment of guides to help you with your research:

• Research Help
• Citations
• Evaluating web resources
• All guides

Instant messaging (chat):

Wherever you see the words "Ask a Librarian" on the library website, you can access the library's reference librarian chat function. This chat will be active even while the library is closed in the coming weeks. Just click on "Ask a Librarian" and a window will open where you can type in your question and get help in real time.

Email:

You can email questions to: library @ kirkwood.edu. However, we often find that emailing is not the best way to get help, since we often need to ask follow-up questions to be sure we're getting you the best help for your question or problem.

Phone:

Library phones will not be answered while the buildings are closed. However, if you don't have access to email or chat, you may leave a voicemail message and a librarian will get back to you.

Online conferencing (Zoom):

The library has online conferencing capability using Zoom software. This can be used to share computer screens, which can be very useful in helping with research and citation questions. Call, email, or use the chat function to schedule a time to consult with a librarian using this service.

Here are some key resources you may find helpful for yourself or to share with your students:

• Share the link to this page with students, so they can continue to have up to date information on library hours and services.
• Librarians will continue to be available for reference, research, and citation help. See this page for details on the different ways to get help from home.
• Most library information resources are already online, so of course that part won't change!
• Librarians can still provide instruction for your classes through Talon. Options include:
  • Students may schedule an individual research consultation using the library's Zoom meeting room. See "Reference Help" section on this page for details on scheduling a live web conference.
  • If your class is meeting synchronously using Zoom, a librarian could also join in that virtual meeting.
  • Request a demonstration video for searching a specific database, or looking for a specific type of information or topic. Contact a specific librarian or use the library @ kirkwood.edu email to request this service.
  • Incorporate librarian-created guides from the library website into your assignments by linking to them in your Talon course. Research Help, Citations, and Evaluating Web Resources are some of our most-used guides. Or see our complete list of guides for even more options.
  • Incorporate Credo Instruct tutorials into your Talon courses and assign to students. We like these tutorials as tools to introduce a research topic to students, before following up with a lecture, an activity, or a scheduled research meeting with a librarian.

Library Service has added additional online resources during the spring semester to try to make up for not having access to our print resources. Most of following resources are already integrated into the main library search (WorldCat Discover):

• EBSCOhost Academic Search Elite is being upgraded to Academic Search Ultimate, which means we will have access to many more full-text magazine and journal articles. 
• Internet Archive eBooks have been integrated into the WorldCat search, with over a million records added.
• Project MUSE has opened up additional eBook and journal article titles
• Books: We are not able to access our print collections at this time. Please email the library (library AT kirkwood.edu) or use the Ask a Librarian chat to request any book titles for eBook purchase. We will investigate the availability of any eBook formats available.