Academic Continuity: Library & Research Contingency Planning
In the event of an emergency situation caused by a natural disaster, man-made disaster, or pandemic crisis, it may be necessary for WPI faculty, staff and students to have alternative access to information resources and research support.
The table below provides potential technology solutions that would allow for flexibility in service delivery.
Research Services & Self Help
| Service | Description | Notes | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
Reference | Reference assistance and research consultations are provided to all students, faculty and staff. If possible, library staff will be available via chat, phone, email in the event of an emergency. Check Help & Instruction for more details. |
||
Research Consultation Services | Contact a librarian using the virtual learners research consultation request form and we can use Wimba or other web conferencing options to provide virtual consultations. | Users may need to download a plugin on their computer to access the web conference. | |
Research Workshops | In the event that workshops are canceled, other options may be available including the use of Wimba or other web conferencing options to meet virtually. Vendors also provide online webinars. | Users may need to download a plugin on their computer to access the web conferences or vendor-led webinars. | |
Online Renewals | Students, faculty and staff may connect online to renew library materials through "My Account" features within our Library Catalog. Staff will make every attempt to follow up on Interlibrary Loan renewal requests. For ILL items use the online ILL renewal form. | My Account renewal and other options. For ILL book or media renewal requests, use the online ILL renewal form. | |
How to ... Research | The Library provides many online tutorials on how to research and use our services. Information Skills Tutorials and other How to ... Videos. | ||
Distance Learning Services | The Library provides services to distance learners which may be extended in the event of a crisis and dependent upon the staff's ability to fulfill users' requests. |
Library Facility
| Description | Notes | Links | |
|---|---|---|---|
Building Use | Library staff have an emergency opening procedure in place and with the assistance of student employees will make every effort to remain open. In the event of an emergency where the library building would need to be closed, users may access our vast digital library using the WPI proxy server or remote desktop. | More information on use of the WPI proxy server or WPI's remote desktop. | |
Hours | Any changes in hours will be posted on the library web site and Facebook and/or Twitter news feeds and staff will also notify the campus via WPI email. |
Emergency Communications
| Description | Notes | Links | |
|---|---|---|---|
Announcements and Emergency Information | WPI has an emergency protocol which the library will follow in the event of a crisis. The library also has an emergency/disaster plan in place. Every attempt will be made to notify Library users of service interruptions or changes in hours or procedures through the use of the library's web site, Facebook and/or Twitter news feeds. | Connect to Library news, WPI_Library Twitter, and Gordon Library's facebook page. |
Planning Tips for Faculty
- Avoid research assignments where students rely solely on printed materials. Set up assignments so students can use a variety of sources, including ebooks, ejournals, and online sources.
- Avoid assignments where students rely heavily on print course reserve materials. Check with a librarian to help you find sources that can be linked from within myWPI and consider online equivalents or substitutes.
- Pick up Interlibrary Loan books as soon as you receive notice to ensure you have access to them.
- Obtain an Academic Research Collaborative card for the academic year now. This will allow you to borrow library materials from other regional college libraries.
Planning Tips for Students
- Do your research early and gather, copy or scan in-house materials that you may rely on for your coursework.
- Check out print books you will need early in the term or semester to ensure you have access to what you need.
- Pick up Interlibrary Loan books as soon as you receive notice to ensure you have access to them.
- Obtain an Academic Research Collaborative card for the academic year now. This will allow you to borrow library materials from other regional college libraries.
See Also:
- WPI Emergency Preparedness
- Academic Continuity: Technology Contingency Planning by Academic Technology Center
Last modified: Sep 09, 2009, 12:19 EDT
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