U of T Libraries expands services as Toronto enters Stage 2 of reopening

sungjimi — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 14:25:32 +0000

U of T Libraries expands services as Toronto enters Stage 2 of reopening sungjimi Wed, 07/08/2020 - 10:25

Robarts Library is now offering curbside pickup and the Gerstein Science Information Centre has opened a study space for students who need access to a computer or Wi-Fi – welcome news for library users and for U of T’s library staff.

“Providing a safe and welcoming space to learn and do research is a huge priority for us as library staff,” says Larry Alford, U of T’s chief librarian. “And making available the vast record of research that we house here and to be able to reopen safely – that is a great feeling.”

Launched on June 22, the curbside pickup service is already in high demand. The hope is to expand the pickup service to other campus libraries, once safety protocols allow, Alford says.

“When we had to close our buildings, it was very clear that it was a huge loss in terms of access to print collections that weren’t online and frankly, a loss of access to technology for many students.”

Since early May, the HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service has ensured U of T Libraries users have access to digitized versions of more than 2.5 million of the library’s in-copyright print books, as well as more than 6.7 million public domain and Creative Commons-licensed works. While this was a boon for U of T Libraries and its users, the Trust only has around one-quarter of the university’s entire collection already deposited and available online. The curbside pickup service will provide access to print books from Robarts Library that are not available through the Trust.

Robarts Library was one of the last buildings on the St. George campus to close its doors in March, after the provincial government announced that all non-essential businesses were to shut down to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Alford recalls that on the last day that the library was open, there were still more than 300 people using the library’s limited services.

“The stacks were already closed and only a few of our floors were open, but we still had 300 people on our last day. It goes to show how badly our library users needed the access to hardware, technology, space and services we have.”

On June 18, the Gerstein Science Information Centre’s Wallace Room, which normally seats more than 150 people, opened with five desktop computers available for students to book for three hours at a time, in addition to five bring-your-own device spaces. Alford says the reception for that service has been positive and demand is expected to grow throughout the summer.

“Everything will be done incrementally as we look at taking small steps to do everything safely,” says Alford. “Our priority will always be the health and safety of our community.

“Library staff do this work because we care about our users, we care about supporting research and learning, and making important scholarly resources as accessible as possible.”

Update: As of July 8, the U of T Mississauga Library began to offer curbside pickup service. The U of T Scarborough Library began offering curbside pickup as of July 13.

U of T Libraries expands services as Toronto enters Stage 2 of reopening

Photo by Diana Tyszko

Jenny Rodrigues

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New research support for faculty on the way

sungjimi — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 18:16:15 +0000

New research support for faculty on the way sungjimi Tue, 03/19/2019 - 14:16

When it comes to supporting research and innovation at the University of Toronto, all roads will soon lead to CRIS, a new gateway to help faculty access the university’s rich array of resources while boosting the potential impact of their discoveries.

By creating a one-stop resource hub, including a website and physical location at the Gerstein Library, the Centre for Research and Innovation Support (CRIS) will help support successful and competitive research that attracts funding and garners public recognition.

“Supporting the success of researchers is critical to garnering research funding in an increasingly competitive landscape and ensuring this research has the impact it deserves,” said Vivek Goel, vice-president of research and innovation.

“CRIS will serve as a visible hub where faculty can learn about, and easily access, the many existing services, training, research tools and expertise offered across the university.”

Even seasoned faculty members can find it challenging to navigate the current ecosystem spread across multiple university offices and academic divisions, with more than 140 information sessions, online resources and one-on-one services at U of T supporting the work of scholars.

A joint endeavour by the Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI), U of T Libraries (UTL) and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the centre will increase the visibility of research supports to the tri-campus community, while providing a common online registration process. CRIS will be integrated with existing services, creating a lean operational structure.

“A physical location is critical, so that CRIS can serve as a visible hub for in-person and virtual workshops and sessions,” said Chief Librarian Larry Alford.

“U of T Libraries will provide existing space in the Gerstein Library for the centre. This location will include collaborative meeting spaces, and CRIS staff will also work with the research offices at U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough so that in-person programming is available on all campuses.”

The centre will assist with navigating and co-ordinating support for faculty and divisional research offices, serve as a bridge to existing services, and connect the university with national organizations that promote excellence in research and innovation.

CRIS will also create a “researcher’s toolbox” by consolidating research and innovation tools, databases, and catalogues that U of T Libraries, VPRI and the CIO subscribe to, as well as instructions on their use.

Consultations with principals and deans have also indicated the importance of support for mentorship and leadership of research initiatives, including how to build and navigate cross-disciplinary and cross-divisional collaborations.

CRIS will collaborate with central units and academic divisions to identify gaps and develop services and resources for emerging needs, including workshops on equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as impactful research publishing, data management and high-performance computing.

The centre is slated to be up and running within the year.

New research support for faculty on the way

An exterior view of the Gerstein Science Information Centre

Peter Boisseau

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