All posts by Mary T Moser

Healey Library Updates – Fall 2022

Please read on for updates on Library services for the Fall semester!

Permanent Dean of University Libraries

Dean Stephanie Walker headshotOn August 22, 2022, Dean Stephanie Walker joined the Healey Library and UMass Boston. Stephanie comes to us most recently from the University of North Dakota Libraries, where she led a multi-library system and also oversaw the University’s Art Collections. While at UND, she led the gut-renovation of the state’s largest research library (Chester Fritz Library), started and led an Open Educational Resources (OER) program that saved UND students $11 million over 6 years, led the creation of an Open Access publishing program, oversaw the creation of one of the largest and fastest-growing institutional repositories on the Digital Commons platform, and more. Prior to her time at UND, Stephanie was the Chief Librarian & Executive Director of Academic Information Technologies at the City University of New York’s Brooklyn College. She previously also served as the Manager of Collections, Technical Services, & Library IT at Harvard Medical School’s Countway Library, as Dean & University Librarian at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and as the head of two libraries at the University of Toronto. Stephanie is delighted to join UMass Boston, and looks forward to working with everyone here! Email her any time at stephanie.walker@umb.edu – she’d love to hear from you! 

Open Educational Resources (OERs) and Open Access (OA)

Last year, a number of UMass Boston faculty applied for small grants related to Open Textbooks and other Open Educational Resources. As part of this program, they could a) adopt existing OERs, b) adapt one or more existing OERs for use in their courses, or c) create OERs themselves. This year, we have begun early discussions on expanding our programs by offering some of these options again. We also hope to expand our marketing and promotion of OERs, with upcoming speakers and events. We are still very early in this process, but wanted to let you know that there is much more to come! Dean Stephanie Walker had previously represented her former institution in the National Academy of Sciences’ HELIOS project (Higher Education Leadership In Open Source), which is a multi-institutional program to grow and enhance uptake and usage of OERs in Higher Education. With the support of Provost Joseph Berger, Dean Walker is now representing UMass Boston on this initiative – stay tuned!  

Curbside Pickup Available Monday – Saturday

Curbside pickup for physical Healey Library and interlibrary loan (ILL) materials is available BY APPOINTMENT, Monday – Saturday in the ISC turn-around. To request a book or DVD from Healey Library’s collection for curbside pickup, please sign into UMBrella directly, search for a title, open the item’s record, and click ‘REQUEST OPTIONS: Place Hold for Pickup’ link. When an item is ready for pickup, patrons will receive an email including the details for booking curbside appointments. 

This same request function can be used to pick up items directly from the 2nd floor Circulation Desk as well.

Library Requests Form – Including Reserves Requests!

Use the Healey Library Requests Form to request items for purchase, course reserves, or digitization. Using this form allows library staff to route requests to the appropriate departments and make sure nothing falls through the cracks! 

Library Website Update – Coming Soon!

In addition to the campus-wide website update, Healey Library is in the process of making significant updates to its website based on the user feedback and data we have collected from the community in the past fall and spring. Thank you to all of you who have participated in the library’s website assessment efforts, and stay tuned to see how your feedback will be incorporated into the new Healey Library website!

Mass. Memories Road Show and RoPA

The trailblazing Mass. Memories Road Show (MMRS) program that so many of us know and love has been on a path of growth and expansion over the last few years. Supported in part by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the University Archives and Special Collections at UMass Boston launched the Roadmap for Participatory Archiving (RoPA). This project makes the MMRS model accessible to libraries and cultural institutions across the globe who are interested in collecting, documenting, and preserving their communities’ history, traditions, and collective memories. Browse the more than 12,000 Massachusetts memories that have already been collected and preserved through MMRS events, and check out RoPA for guidance on initiating similar efforts within your own communities!

There is a great deal happening at Healey Library, and we are thrilled to be fully back on campus and open to all. We also expect to have more news in multiple areas shortly – stay tuned! And we would welcome any suggestions and feedback – like all campus units, Healey Library will be undergoing a strategic planning process over the next several months, and we will be seeking your input! Thank you all for your time and attention – and drop by and visit us anytime!

Healey Library Updates – Fall 2021

We are pleased to share with you the following exciting updates related to Healey Library’s staffing and services. Please let us know how we can support you as we wrap up this momentous semester.  

Staffing Changes

Please join us in welcoming the following new staff members to Healey Library as we move forward with the process of expanding our team both by filling vacancies and hiring several newly-approved positions.  

Acquisitions and Access Coordinator

In August 2021, Francis Alix, a proud UMass Boston alum, joined us as our new Acquisitions and Access Coordinator. Francis will be the primary contact for Library reserves, so send an email to Library.Reserves@umb.edu and Francis will most likely be the person responding to you. Welcome, Francis!

Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance

In September 2021 we bid a reluctant farewell to Paula Ayers, who is enjoying a well-deserved retirement after many years of invaluable service to UMass Boston in both Healey Library and the Division of Athletics and Recreation. Our new Assistant Dean is Samantha Regan, who comes to Healey Library from the UMass Boston English Department. Welcome, Samantha! 

Library Desks Service Manager

In November 2021, Ann Marie Shafer joined the Library team to fill our long-vacant Library Desks Service Manager position. Do say hello as you pass the Circulation Desk!  Welcome, Ann Marie!

Additional Hires

While the campus was in remote operations, the following new staff began work from a distance and now have joined us on campus:

  • Christine Elliott, Reference and Instruction Librarian
  • Eunkyung “E.K.” Lee, Discovery and Systems Development Librarian
  • Heidi Moesinger, Assistant Business Manager
  • Lauren Movlai, Reference and Instruction Librarian
  • Steve Smith, Collection Analysis and Development Librarian

Curbside Pick-Up and Drop-Off

Image of Healey Library student worker standing next to the new outdoor book drop and the wind sign directing curbside patrons to text their last name to (857) 524-3953 when arriving to pick up itemsImage of Healey Library student worker placing curbside pickup items into the trunk of a patron's car

Fall 2021 Curbside Hours 

By popular demand, this semester we added evening hours into our curbside pickup offerings. Curbside pickup (in the ISC circle) is now available:

  • Thursdays 5:30-8:30pm
  • Fridays 10:00am-1:30pm
  • Saturdays 10:00am-1:30pm
  • (Please note that curbside pickup will not be available during any times that the campus is closed or operating remotely.) 

Look for the bright blue wind sign that will direct you to text your last name to (857) 524-3953 when you arrive, and a library staff member will bring your item(s) out to your car.

Outdoor Book Drop Available 24/7

Picture of Healey Library's outdoor bookdrop featuring two slots for returning books and mediaPicture of Healey Library's new outdoor book drop outside the ISC, located next to the bike rackAlso new this Fall: a new outdoor book drop available at our curbside location! Returns (of Healey Library/interlibrary loan materials only, please) may be dropped off at any time that’s convenient for you. Please note that these returns will be processed the next day that staff are working on campus, based on the campus schedule for holidays and remote operations. NOTE: Please do NOT return Chromebooks via the drop box; these should continue to be returned in person to the Circulation Desk in Healey Library.

NEW: Healey Library Self-Checkout Machine!

Image of the Healey Library self-checkout machine featuring a book being checked out and the confirmation screen Healey Library’s new, contactless self-checkout station in the 2nd floor lobby allows you to check out books, renew loaned items, or check your account summary! It’s quick, efficient, and sends receipts directly to your UMass Boston email address. The self-checkout station’s accessibility features include text-to-speech that may be paused, a choice of 60 world languages, and the option to enlarge text and customize button placement. Stop by Healey Library with your BeaconCard and give it a try!

Check out the coverage of our ribbon-cutting for the new self-checkout machine in the Mass Media: Healey Library Celebrates Grand Opening of Self-Checkout Station

Healey Library “Zoom Zone”

Image of the large sign featuring Bobby Beacon, welcoming students to the 6th floor "Zoom Zone" in Healey LibraryOverhead image of the study carrels available on the 6th floor of Healey Library for students to use as quiet spaces to attend classes via ZoomIf your students ask you about a place to attend a class via Zoom, you can direct them to the “quiet side” of the 6th floor. Follow the signs to the left as you exit the elevators; individual carrels are available for students, and headsets are required to keep the space as peaceful as possible.

Reminders 

Submit Your Course Reserves and ILL Requests

Help Healey Library staff plan ahead by submitting your Spring 2022 course reserve requests, and interlibrary loan requests for items you might need over the winter break, as early as possible! Planning ahead will help Healey Library staff work around both shipping delays and any possible periods of campus remote operations.

Lean Library Browser Extension

We’re getting a lot of great feedback from people using the Lean Library browser extension. This browser extension offers a seamless way to access articles that live behind a paywall through Healey Library’s subscriptions. Check out our recent blog post: Want to Make Finding Full Text Articles Easier? Download the Lean Library Browser Extension

Healey Library Requests Form

Thank you for your support and flexibility as we transitioned to a unified system for submitting library requests! Please continue to use this form for library purchase suggestions, course reserve requests, requests for digitization of library/archival materials, and other library-related requests that might pop up. Using this unified requests form allows Healey Library staff to keep track of all requests, route them to the correct departments, monitor their progress, and maintain business continuity in library operations.  

New Library Reserves Pilot for Spring 2022

For Spring 2022, Healey Library will be introducing a new Reserves lending program that serves students both on and off campus called Controlled Digital Lending (CDL). The goals are to better serve remote students who need access to course reserves material while also maintaining compliance with copyright law. 

Under this new program, at the request of faculty members, Healey Library may digitize a book that we physically own (and is not available as an e-book) and lend out a secured digital version to one user at a time. If you choose to use this pilot program, the physical copy of the Reserves item will be unavailable for checkout. These electronic check-outs cannot be downloaded or printed, and are available for up to 3 hours per lending period. 

You can preview pilot CDL texts here: https://digitalreserves.umb.edu/ 

If you are working with the Ross Center for Disability Services and need an accessible version of a secure electronic reserves item, please have the Ross Center contact us at library.cdl@umb.edu. 

We Want Your Feedback!

Scan the code below, or go to: https://forms.gle/pnDnwUVeiTGtqdZt5 to submit any feedback, comments, and suggestions for Healey Library!

QR Code linking to Healey Library Feedback Form: https://forms.gle/pnDnwUVeiTGtqdZt5

Ask Us for Help!

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with your needs. The fabulous Healey Library staff is always ready, willing, and able to help!

Teaching Information Literacy: A New Tool for Faculty and Students

Introducing Credo Instruct

Healey Library is excited to introduce a platform called Credo Instruct, a set of standalone, interactive information literacy modules.  These modules are used in the Library’s in-person instructional program and are also available for independent faculty use.  

Information literacy addresses critical thinking and research skills by teaching students:

  • How to identify an information need
  • Where to locate the information they need
  • How to evaluate the quality and reliability of the information they find
  • How to use the information they find ethically

These interactive Credo Instruct modules include text tutorials, videos, and interactive exercises, and they allow students to test their learning with graded quizzes. The interactive modules include:

How Can Faculty Use Credo Instruct?

Faculty can choose individual videos and activities to incorporate into their classes as needed, or they can assign students to review entire modules. Faculty may select and assign the lessons independently, or they may assign specific modules or lessons to their students to review before a library instruction session. When students view the modules before a session with a librarian, students have more opportunities during that session to engage with library and information resources and expand on larger conversations about research and critical thinking. 

For more information, please review the Faculty Guide to Credo Instruct, which contains the full menu of Credo Instruct learning objects. 

Contact the reference department at library.reference@umb.edu if you have questions or need help with the links.

Evaluating Information Module Menu of Lessons
Each video, tutorial, and quiz in Credo Instruct can be used individually or as part of a larger module. Faculty can pick and choose from the Credo Instruct “menu” which lessons they want to incorporate into their course content.

Screenshot of Credo Instruct Plagiarism Video with Transcript
All the videos in Credo Instruct are fully captioned, and video transcripts can be downloaded as separate files. Playback speed can also be adjusted up or down.

 

Feedback from Faculty and Students

Since the introduction of Credo Instruct this year, faculty feedback has been incredibly positive.  

Faculty have told us:

  • “Tell me how I get your wonderful Credo segments into my class’s Blackboard page, so I can have them well prepared before they come to visit the library.” (Nursing) 
  • “This is great!” (English)
  • “In advance of your visit, I had the students review Credo Instruct, choose a module that would be helpful for them, and then write a short paragraph explaining why the info was helpful.” (Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures)

Students have told us:

  • They like the content, pacing, and activities, especially the Test Your Knowledge segments. 
  • The citation activities give them a better understanding of what a citation is and its different parts.
  • Viewing the module Presenting Research and Data gives them an understanding of how to synthesize information for a research paper. One student said, “In high school, I never even thought about where information was coming from. My teacher would give me an article and tell me to write about it. I didn’t have to do research; in high school everything was given to me. Until I viewed the module, I didn’t realize how complicated information is.”
  • “I watched the Evaluating Information module. My main takeaway was how ineffective Google is when evaluating for quality.”

Review the Faculty Guide to Credo Instruct, and contact Library.Reference@umb.edu for more information about using these modules in your classes!

Healey Library: We’ve Got You Covered

Umbrella picture with the text: Welcome to Healey Library! We've Got You Covered
Welcome to Healey Library: We’ve Got You Covered

We want to begin the new school year by reaffirming our mission to support our users. “We’ve Got You Covered” is our commitment to the campus and our community partners. If you need something, we will do everything we can to try to get it for you, whether it’s a specific research resource, research or classroom support, or any of the services offered by Healey Library staff. We’re here to help you and your students succeed, so please let us know what we can do for you.

New Resources at Healey Library!

Healey Library is pleased to share some new resources with you, including a trial resource on which we are seeking feedback!

Flipster

Enjoy the print magazine experience on your computer or phone screen. Flipster digitally recreates print magazines, page for page, complete with high-quality, full-color images (and cartoons!). Healey Library’s subscription provides access to issues from the last 3 years for these 10 popular magazines:

You can search for these magazines in UMBrella or find Flipster on our Databases A-Z list. Be sure to also check out the Flipster app for Android and iOS.

Skillsoft (formerly Books 24×7)

Access e-books and audiobooks covering business analysis, business skills, engineering, information technology, productivity tools, and personal well-being via Healey Library’s subscription to Skillsoft. You can also search for these books in UMBrella. Skillsoft’s new and improved platform is mobile-compatible, offers enhanced accessibility, and gives users the ability to take notes, save items to their personal bookshelf, and download PDF chapters of books. Here are a few of the latest releases available via Skillsoft:   

ATTENTION FACULTY! If you have previously used Books 24×7 books in your classes as assigned or suggested readings, please update the links to direct to the new Skillsoft platform. Contact Library.Reserves@umb.edu for any help with updating your links to course materials.

AccessMedicine (trial resource ending April 25)

Healey Library is currently offering trial access to AccessMedicine, a McGraw Hill collection of professional resources for nursing and health science students and faculty. These resources are a mixture of medical textbooks, such as Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, and online teaching tools, such as animated anatomy modules and procedural videos. This collection was designed to help residents, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants facilitate decision-making at the point-of-care.

The library welcomes and encourages feedback on this trial resource from all of our users. In particular, we’re interested in the response from faculty in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Would faculty consider using the textbooks in this collection as the primary text for their courses? Let us know!

Welcome Back: Spring 2019 Healey Library News

Hello to Healey Library patrons near and far!

Welcome back to campus after what we hope was a restful and rejuvenating break. To kick off the spring semester, we wanted to bring your attention to a few hot Healey Library news items about library email reminders, lowering textbook costs for students, and upcoming OER orientations for faculty:

UMBrella Email Notifications

Library patrons will begin receiving email reminders about their Library items.

As of February 1, all Healey Library patrons will receive courtesy notices about what you’ve borrowed, reminders when things are coming due or overdue, and reminders of your current borrowing status. Items that are long overdue could be subject to lost book charges, so check your bookshelves and couch cushions for lurking library materials! Please contact Library.Circulation@umb.edu with any questions, concerns, or corrections.

Lowering Textbook Costs for Students

Here are five pathways you can pursue in partnership with Healey Library and IT to offer no-cost or low-cost textbook alternatives to your students:

 

  • Use licensed e-books that are already available through UMBrella
  • Link to licensed journal and newspaper articles from Healey Library databases in password-protected Blackboard course pages
  • Submit a digitization request for scanned chapters of library books and e-books (note that these requests may be subject to copyright and fair use guidelines)

Open Education Info for Faculty

To learn more about the growing Open Education movement, please consider attending a FREE regional training event about the Massachusetts Open Education – Achieving Access for All project.

These events are funded by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and will provide an introduction to teaching and learning with free and open educational resources and will also offer faculty the opportunity to receive a $200 stipend for reviewing an existing open textbook for the benefit of colleagues. Training workshops take place 10am-2pm at the following locations:

  • February 8, 2019: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • March 12, 2019: Bridgewater State University
  • March 14, 2019: Worcester State University
  • March 20, 2019: Roxbury Community College

For questions about any of these resources, please reach out to Library.Reserves@umb.edu or Open@umb.edu.

As always, we look forward to partnering with you to serve UMass Boston’s students, faculty, researchers, and community partners.

With all best wishes for a wonderful start to the semester,
Joanne Riley, Interim Dean, and the Healey Library Staff