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***Updates on Services in the Learning Commons during Covid-19***: Reopening Plans

Updates and changes to library services will be noted here.

Hours of Operation

Summer 2021

Monday through Thursday from 9:30am - 2:30pm.

Access to the Learning Commons outside of these hours may be arranged by appointment.

Fall 2021

Monday -- 9:00am-5:00pm

Tuesday -- 9:00am-9:00pm

Wednesday -- 9:00am-9:00pm

Thursday -- 9:00am-5:00pm

Friday -- 9:00am-5:00pm

Saturday and Sunday -- Closed

Access to the CTS building is only available to CTS students, faculty and staff. Entrance to the building is through key card entry (i.e. with a valid CTS ID card).

There will be some changes in how services are provided, so please consult the instructions below on how to access various services.

Future updates and changes to services will be noted here.

Update on Services

Checking-Out Materials

Starting Summer 2021, the library stacks reopened for students. Students can directly browse the physical book stacks and check-out materials. 

Curbside Pick-up

Curbside pick-up for physical materials will only be offered to members of the CTS community who are unable to access the CTS building.   Circulating material in the Learning Commons can be checked-out as follows:

  1. Please email your book requests to [email protected]. Library staff will pull the books off the shelf for you as we receive your request. 
  2. You will receive an email when your materials have been checked-out to you and ready for pick-up.
  3. Books will be placed in a sealed paper bag with your name on a table on the first floor by the South Reception desk.  This contactless system will allow you to pick-up your reading materials. 
  4. Please contact the main reception desk at CTS when you will be picking-up your books so that you can gain access to them. Please wear a mask and be mindful of social distancing rules.

All course readings are kept on reserve for students to use and will be again available for students to check out for up to three hours.

Where available, course reserves in ebook format will be purchased  as well.

Please consult our course reserve reading list to see if your course text is available as an ebook. The course reserve list is updated each semester.

The Learning Commons has a robust collection of online databases and ebook and ejournal subscriptions. You can find online materials by using our discovery search tool. For more information about how to use this tool and how to find online materials, please consult our Getting Started Guide.

To search individual databases, please consult our A-Z Database list. For help using individual databases, please refer to our Navigating Databases guide for help with searching the following: EBSCO Discovery Service, JSTOR, Project Muse, Atla, Oxford and Chicago Manual of Style.

Borrowing physical materials

Interlibrary loans of physical materials are slowly being reinstated as library staff return to work on campus. Keep in mind that you may not be able to borrow books from other libraries for course readings, so please plan accordingly.

Borrowing digital materials

We continue to place ILL requests for digital materials such as scanned articles and book chapters. These requests are usually processed in a timely manner.

How to place an ILL request

Please use this form for any ILL request.

Borrowing materials from the University of Chicago

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions currently in place, the University of Chicago Library is not extending access or borrowing privileges to non-U of C students at this time. The Library is still in the process of determining what Library services can be offered this fall and as the quarter progresses things may change. A temporarily hold has been placed on library fines so there is no need to worry about any items already checked out. Requests for materials from the University of Chicago Library can still be made via interlibrary loan. If you wish to return anything the book drop in the outer lobby of Regenstein is open during building hours.

Updates on services will be posted here.

 

The Learning Commons is open for CTS students, faculty and staff  and will be sanitized daily. Students are required to maintain social distance, and only one student may be seated at a table. Students are encouraged to wipe down their study areas both before and after use with the supplied germicidal wipes. Students in common spaces in the Learning Commons must wear a mask at all times.

 

Group Study Rooms

Study rooms are available for doctoral students to reserve for their exclusive use for the duration of the semester. Priority will be given to doctoral students currently working on their dissertation.  

Virtual Study Rooms

Students wishing to study together or simply meet-up can do so through our virtual study room. Simply email the Learning Commons and place a request for a virtual study room ([email protected]).  

Returns

All book returns must be placed in the book drop outside of the Learning Commons. Please do not bring your books to the circulation desk. The book drop is located outside of the Learning Commons, to the left before you enter the main entrance. 

Renewals

With the reopening of the Learning Commons, patrons can renew their own books by clicking on the CHECK MY ACCOUNT button on the Learning Commons homepage and logging into their library account.

If you are unable to log into your account, you can call or email the Learning Commons and request that your books be renewed for you.

The Language and Writing Center is available to help you with preparing and writing your assignments. Use the link below to schedule your appointment.

 

Research Help

Research help is available through the following:

  1. LiveChat - Reach out to library staff in real-time using the red LiveChat widget on the Learning Commons website and on this page. Library staff are available during the following hours: Monday-Friday from 10:00am to 5:00 pm. You can still submit your questions after-hours via the LiveChat widget.
  2. Email - Send your research request via email to [email protected].
  3. A 1:1 reference consultation can be arranged by appointment via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. You can schedule a Zoom or Microsoft Teams session with the librarian using the Calendly app.  A link to the appointment will be automatically emailed to you.
  4. Call the Learning Commons during our office hours at 773-896-2450.