Listed below are essential library services and resources to help faculty, students, and staff as we continue to work and take classes remotely, including answers to frequently asked questions about services such as returning books, accessing the physical collection, and using our online collections. For information about building access, hours, and services, please see Summer 2021 Hours and Services. 

If you have any additional questions, contact us here.

On this page:

Resources for Faculty Resources for Students Frequently Asked Questions

Resources for Faculty

Research

• How to:
  • Access Randall Library databases off campus
  • Find:
    • eBooks
    • Databases by subject
  • Borrow materials from other libraries: Requests are being accepted for hardcopy books and other physical items from other libraries. Many U.S. interlibrary loan offices are still not lending from their physical collections, however, so requests may take longer to fill or we may be unable to borrow certain items. You may also request a specific chapter or section of a book using the Article/Book Chapter request form. Note that conditions at other institutions may delay delivery time of requested electronic documents as well.

 

Teaching

• Schedule virtual information literacy instruction
• Contact your liaison librarian for assistance in finding library e-resources that can be used for coursework.
• Find:
  • Streaming videos
  • eBooks
  • Articles
  • Open educational resources
• Request a new ebook or streaming video by contacting your liaison librarian
  • More information about requesting streaming video
• How to link to library e-resources (video)

 

Support

• Contact your liaison librarian 
• Get help by email, phone, or chat
• Online library tutorials

 

Resources for Students

Research

• Find ebooks
• Find databases by subject
• Access to Randall Library e-resources off campus

 

Support

• Get help by email, phone, or chat
• Online library tutorials

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I return my books and other materials? 

• You may return materials to the remote bookdrop near the Circulation desk while the library is open, the book return slot to the left of the library's main entrance, or the book drop located in Parking Lot D.
• If you have items that were due in Spring 2020, please contact rlcirculation [at] uncw.edu.

Can I return items to the book drop when the library is closed? Where is the book drop?

• You may return materials to the book return slot to the left of the library's main entrance or the book drop located in Parking Lot D.

I am not sure the article I need is available online. How do I find it? 

• The library website has step-by-step directions for finding articles from a citation. You may also find this video useful: How to find the full text of an article.  
• If you use Google Scholar to find the full text of articles, watch this video on how to configure Google Scholar to show library e-resources when you are off-campus.  
• When in doubt, ask the library for help.  

Can I check out a book (or other item) from the collection?

• Yes, you can access the collection while the library is open. You can also use the self-checkout machine on the first floor, by the Circulation desk.
• Your liaison librarian can help you identify alternative electronically accessible resources if you cannot visit the library in-person.

Can the library scan part of a book for me, such as a single chapter?

• Yes, ILL staff will be working limited hours in the building. Please allow ample time for requests to process. 
• To request a specific chapter or section of a book, please use the Article/Book Chapter request form.

Can books (or other items) be mailed to me off campus?

• Distance Education students who live outside the Wilmington area (>40 minutes away from campus) may resume requesting library materials to be mailed to their home addresses.  Learn more. 
• We can also send received Interlibrary Loan items to academic and other departments for faculty and staff who are working on campus. Learn more. 

Can I scan a chapter from a book I have?

• “Yes, You Can Scan That Textbook” from ASERL.
• TEACH act evaluation form (made in collaboration with University Council) - to be completed by faculty and saved in case the use is ever challenged.  
• Fair Use evaluation form (made in collaboration with University Council) - to be completed by faculty and saved in case the use is ever challenged. 

Can I still request print items for purchase to be added to the collection? 

• Yes, however selecting the ebook version of a title is still highly encouraged in order to faciliate greater access at this time.

Can I still request DVDs and Blu rays for purchase to be added to the collection?

• Yes, but streaming video allows for far greater accessibility, so streaming video selections are encouraged over DVDs and BlurRys at this time.

Can I get a book from another library using Interlibrary Loan?

• Yes, we are accepting requests for print materials and physical media. Many U.S. interlibrary loan offices are still not lending from their physical collections, so requests may take longer to fill or we may be unable to borrow certain items
• To request a specific chapter or section of a book, please use the Article/Book Chapter request form. Note that conditions at other institutions may delay delivery time of requested electronic documents. 

I normally show a DVD to my whole class on a specific day. What should I do? 

• First, check the library catalog to see if the same video is already available in streaming form.
• If it is not, reach out to your liaison librarian to see if they can help you
  • a) identify similar streaming content that the library already provides access to, or, if not,
  • b) see if there is an available and affordable streaming version of the DVD you typically use.

Will the library buy an ebook version of a print book that we already own? Or a streaming video of a DVD we own? 

• Yes, depending on availability and affordability. Normally the library does not duplicate content in different formats but during these exigent circumstances we will make every effort to do so.

How can I find a streaming video for my students to watch? 

• You can search Randall Library's collection of streaming videos on the library website.  

Where can I find online materials for my courses?

• Search for streaming videos
• Search for ebooks 
• Newspaper collections 
• eAudio collections  
• Data & statistics collections  
• Other databases & eresources  

Can I still request electronic items for purchase? 

• Yes, please contact your liaison librarian for help in submitting requests for ebooks or streaming videos. You may also request electronic items through the Suggest a Purchase page. 

How quickly will students have access to the ebook/streaming video that I requested?

• Library staff are working remotely and will order and process electronic requests as quickly as possible.
• eBook requests typically take 24 to 48 hours for access due to purchasing and processing time. Note that conditions at vendor institutions may delay delivery time of requested items. 
• Streaming video requests take more time due to the more complex process of identifying educational streaming vendors and making selections from a wide variety of licensing, delivery, and hosting models.
• Please note that not all films are available streaming and not all hosting models are feasible while the library is closed, but every effort will be made. Note that conditions at vendor institutions may delay delivery time of requested items.

How do I add a library eresource to Canvas? 

• When linking to library eresources, it is important to use stable permanent links. This video demonstrates how to find such links in our catalog and databases. 
• If you are trying to import a library training module from Canvas, please watch this video. 

Is there someone available to help me find alternative online resources for my classes or my research?

• Yes! Please contact your liaison librarian to help you.  

Will we (and our students) have the capability to receive electronic material from other libraries?

• eBooks and streaming videos cannot be borrowed via ILL as these are resources licensed by other institutions.  
• To request a scanned chapter or section of a book, please use the Article/Book Chapter request form.
• Note that conditions at other institutions may impact availability and delay delivery time of requested electronic documents.