A Message from the University Librarian: Our Commitment to Digital Learning

Submitted by amywatts on

Dear faculty,

As we all learn to navigate a new virtual landscape at the University of Georgia, the UGA Libraries remain your gateway to knowledge through our digital resources, remote consultations and classes, and other online services.

Here are some ways that the Libraries can help, especially as you conduct your online classes.

Digital resources

The Libraries’ digital collection includes hundreds of research databases, over 48,000 electronic journals, and approximately 400,000 full-text e-books.

We continue to add new e-books and streaming media by faculty request to meet instructional and research needs and fill interlibrary loan requests for electronic/scanned articles from other institutions. The Libraries fulfill electronic course reserves for digital content, including helping instructors to build online reading lists in eLC.

In addition, we have expanded copyright/fair use assistance for faculty working to move course content online, and we provide free article, chapter, textbook scanning services for faculty and students and free emailed scans of archival material from Special Collections (email: sclib@uga.edu).

Libraries consultation and instruction

Our librarians, archivists, and staff have transitioned to telework and are available to you and your students. In particular, I  encourage you to reach out via email to the Research and Instruction librarian dedicated to your subject area. Our librarians are prepared to help you with the resources that you need for an online course or to join your class via Zoom or another web platform to provide research instruction.

In addition, our Special Collections archivists and staff are available to provide virtual instruction and digitized materials for archives-based classes. Email sclib@uga.edu to set a remote appointment.

We are committed to serving your students even though they aren’t on our campus and hope that you will encourage them to make use of our online chat or to reach out to librarians via email (ask@uga.libanswers.com).

Other resources

In an effort to assist instructors and students engaged in online teaching and learning during the current crisis, the publishing units within the Libraries are making some of their resources available at no or lesser cost.

The UGA Press is opening its current e-book content for 90 days via ProQuest, Project Muse, and JSTOR, as well as offering print books at deep discount.

The Georgia Review will make the digital copy of its new issue on the U.S. Census free to instructors who are reconceptualizing their courses for remote learning. 

Partners in Instruction and Research

A service continuity guide is available on our website. It includes a resource for facultypreparing for online instruction and guidance for students, as well as an FAQ and other information on resources and services during the COVID-19 crisis.   

Even as our physical locations are closed, the Libraries remain committed to supporting UGA’s faculty and students. We trust that our resources and assistance will be helpful in your work to advance the University’s teaching, research, and service mission in this challenging time.

Best wishes,

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P. Toby Graham, Ph.D.
University Librarian and Associate Provost