The U of M Libraries' COVID-19 response

The Libraries and the SMART Learning Commons offer a wide variety of student services — including support for podcasting, video production, research papers, and tutoring services. Most services this fall will be online, although some media services will be available by appointment at Walter Library.

This week I am grateful for warm weather and safe, fulfilling ways to interact with family, friends, and the university community.

Libraries Student Journalist Annie Hoffman is looking forward to senior year, brainstorming topics for her Honors thesis while "getting more and more excited to learn, to challenge myself, and to work for positive change on campus and beyond."

Annie is a member of Equity, Accountability, Redistribution — a group of white, Minnesota-based writers committed to using our collective privilege and capital to resource and support writers of color and indigenous writers in our community.

During our buildings closure, the Libraries’ patrons cannot come in. Yet, the Libraries “are a very social place; they are the heart of the campus,” says Kate McCready, Interim Associate University Librarian for Content & Collections. “So to not have our users here? The next best thing is getting us out to them.”

For University of Minnesota Libraries’ staff, stresses resulting from working from home were compounded by witnessing the tragic death of George Floyd and the protests that followed. Sensing distress, member of the Resilience Champions network in the Libraries are reaching out to help.

After our buildings closed in mid-March, faculty and students benefited from the Libraries’ wealth of electronic resources, including those opened up by emergency access to Hathi Trust. Yet, as time went on, it became clear that many people needed print materials. On June 15, digital and mail access to print re-opened.

As we mourn George Floyd’s death and try to honor his life through opposing violent policing and systemic racism, it is essential that white people like me make meaningful commitments to antiracist work. If you are white and unsure of where to begin, these books are all a good place to start.

In the style of a jazz trio, Cecily Marcus, Maura Coonan, and Jessica Abbazio created an Archives Q & A conversation video for the MUS 5611 research methods class. From describing what an archive is, to offering tips and outlining search strategies, the trio welcomes students into a world with a different tempo and perhaps surprising expectations.

Post-Spring Semester, Annie Hoffman — the Libraries Student Journalist — has spent time drawing, watching episodes of "The West Wing," and reading "S," a book by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst.

Even though our buildings have been closed since March 18, 2020, in response to the health threat of COVID-19, we have remained open. Our librarians and staff, working from home, have been supporting the students, faculty, and staff of  the U community, as well as the public, with electronic resources, online reference, and more.

Hello! Annie Hoffman here, Student Journalist for the Libraries. As spring turns into summer, I am enjoying both the cozy rainy days and the...

Spring is a time of renewal and new growth, as Minnesotans emerge from a cold winter ready to get started planting, gardening, and enjoying nature. But spring 2020 has been a time for staying inside. Fortunately, the U’s Andersen Horticultural Library offers two engaging programs for community members.

As a Global Studies major with a regional focus in Europe, I gain knowledge and more tangible rewards in my job as Student Assistant for the Immigration History Research Center Archives. In the two years, I’ve gained invaluable exposure to thousands of archival materials documenting the personal experiences of 20th-century European immigrants, refugees, and displaced persons. Since spring break, however, I’ve had to learn how to do my job without this hands-on and face-to-face component.

Hello! Annie Hoffman here, Student Journalist for the libraries. I am officially done with spring semester! Even though I’m finished attending class on Zoom, there is still a lot of Zooming going on around here. I have jumped on video calls for game nights, to sing Happy Birthday, and even to attend a spelling bee.

Streams of teachers, media specialists, and everyday people around the state are finding helpful landings — and resources — through Minitex and other U of M Libraries’ resources, as they remain home to stem the spread of COVID-19.