Announcements, Library Services, Website Update

Update on the Library Website Project

In Fall 2021, Healey Library launched a usability study with the goal of improving the user experience of the library’s website. The users’ feedback and survey data will be used to inform the planning and development of the campus website redesign project and help align the library website’s complexity and unique function with the overall campus redesign project. 

Fall/Winter 2021 Activities

  • Reviewed the project scope of the library website usability study 
  • Learned about current usability and accessibility standards
  • Examined other academic library websites to understand the trends and common practices 
  • Evaluated the functionalities and contents of our own library website
  • Analyzed our patron usage data
  • Launched a campus-wide survey and received 150 responses
  • Conducted 12 key-informant interviews of patron-facing library staff members to gather user feedback to identify potential barriers for improvement 

After careful review and analysis of these data, we concluded that it was imperative to take the immediate steps to conduct an in-depth content review, initiate re-organization of the web content, and re-build the navigation menu in order to improve efficiency in helping users search information. 

Spring/Summer 2022 Activities

  • Reviewed and updated relevant web content 
  • Drafted a new web architecture with a new navigation menu
  • Created an online card-sorting task and invited the entire UMB community to submit their preferences for the re-construction of the navigation menu. We received hundreds of submissions reflecting a total of 453 participants from undergraduate/graduate students, faculty, staff, and other UMB affiliated members

The review and analysis of the card sorting data are currently underway. Healey Library wants to thank everyone who has participated in the usability testing and helped us improve our library services.

Currently, we are working on updating the web pages within a testing environment and designing the new navigation menu in preparation to begin the transition to the new website in late Spring/Summer 2023. We are working with the Division of Marketing & Engagement on the migration plan and timeline for launching the library’s new website. We will provide further updates as we finalize the rollout plan of the new library website. Stay tuned!

Announcements, Library Services, The Dean's Desk

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!

Research Tips, Resources, What's Cool

Want to Make Finding Full Text Articles Easier? Download the Lean Library Browser Extension

2 Comments

jstor.org page with the Get Access Lean Library Pop-up appearing on the top right. The pop-up has a Get Access button.
Lean Library is a browser extension that provides quick and simple access to Library-subscribed full-text content – whenever, wherever you need it. When you’re on a website that contains library-subscribed content, the browser extension will notify you with a pop-up alert in the bookmarks bar that library access exists. The pop-up will provide you with the Get Access button to prompt you to authenticate with your UMass Boston login. If we do not have full-text access, then the extension will provide a link to InterLibrary Loan.

You don’t have to interrupt your workflow to find Healey Library; Healey Library will find you! Download the extension, select University of Massachusetts Boston, and start browsing for articles!

Here are some other ways Lean Library can help:

Find alternative access to articles and ebooks. If there is no access to the article or book through the current site, Lean Library helps find alternative access in another Healey Library-licensed resource or through open access channels. For books, Lean Library will take the ISBN on a page and match it up to our library holdings. This also works with Amazon, Google, and Outlook (web)!

Improved Google Scholar experience
You will notice our Find It@UMBrella links appearing beside some full text. Run a search – engineering education for women- in Google Scholar to test it out. Without Lean Library, you will have to go through Google’s multi-step Library Links set-up.

Highlight & Search in UMBrella
With Lean Library, you can highlight any text on a webpage and search it in UMBrella. Do this by using the context menu of your browser, i.e. by right-clicking on a webpage. Select the Search UMBrella @ Healey Library option from the menu.

For even more information about Lean Library, including FAQs, please visit our Lean Library Guide.

Resources

Take a break and explore your recreational reading and streaming options!

Do you need some new recreational reading, watching, and listening to brighten your spring? Between Healey Library and the Boston Public Library, we’ve got you covered!

At Healey Library

Reading — We have some eBook and physical book options whether your recreational reading involves novels, biographies, or reading about any subject of interest to you. To find a book, type in the title of the book you’re looking for in Umbrella, and then, on the results page, select the filter for “book”. We also have quite a few eBooks. To search for those, type in the title of the book, and then, on the results page, select the filters for “book” and “Full Text Online”. You can also explore our Anti-Racism Guide, which has a few reading lists attached to give you ideas of something to read next. Whatever we don’t have, can most likely be found at the Boston Public Library. 

Watching — Kanopy Streaming Video has a ton of leisure viewing. You can click “browse” on the homepage to view groups of movies by genre. While Kanopy is definitely our most extensive source for streaming video, you can explore our database list of streaming video options for more. 

Listening — To search for online audiobooks and CDs in UMBrella, type in the title of the book or CD, and then, on the results page, select the filters for “Audio” Material Type and “Full Text Online” Availability. 

At Boston Public Library

The Boston Public Library is an excellent source of recreational reading, watching, and listening. Did you know that all Massachusetts residents, including students, are eligible to register for an eCard from the Boston Public Library, the Library for the Commonwealth?

eCard holders have access to most of BPL’s online resources — here’s a flyer describing them all, called What BPL Can Do for You, and here are a few more links to help you get started:

Reading — BPL’s eBooks page has booklists with eBooks and plenty of eBook titles to browse. For a wide selection of national and international newspapers and magazines, start at the BPL Stream & Download page and scroll down a bit until you see Press Reader (for newspapers) and RB Digital (for magazines). 

Watching — If you aren’t familiar with Kanopy yet, the Most Watched Kanopy Films of 2020 is a great list to start with. Also, visit BPL’s Movies and TV page for links to Kanopy and Hoopla and lists of new purchases. 

Listening — BPL’s audiobooks page includes audio booklists and titles to browse. BPL’s music page lists new purchases in many genres. 

Announcements, In the News, Library Services, Research Tips

New library guide: Meeting the Challenges of Community-Based and Human Subjects Research in the Remote Mode

In early October 2020, UMass Boston faculty and graduate students were invited to join the Remote Research Sub-Committee of the campus Research Committee for a deep dive into the practical and professional, personal and existential aspects of trying to do community-based and other human subjects research in the remote mode.  This “Remote Research Symposium” generated helpful conversations, networking, suggestions and resource recommendations, all of which inspired the creation of this guide.

With the guidance of the sub-committee and based on resources curated by Associate Professor Rosalyn Negrón,  Healey librarians Teresa Maceira, Lauren Movlai and Lucas Hall organized an extensive reference guide around the topics of the three breakout sessions at the October symposium, which were:

  1. Research Guidance and Scholarship
  2. Remote Research Resources
  3. Work-Life Balance

The new guide’s menu offers a link to each section; we hope you find the included resources to be useful as you navigate the challenges of managing community-based and human subjects research in the remote mode.

Updates from UMass Boston's Healey Library