Library

Currently, the Library building is closed to the public. We will continue to operate online portions of our services. Library staff are available to help you access online materials, pursue your research, prepare for teaching, and more. See FAQs below for more information.

For the time being, the University Archives & Special Collections Reading Room will be closed to in-person researchers. We would be happy to help you remotely; please email ascdepartment@brandeis.edu with any questions. You may experience delays with regard to your reference requests. We appreciate your patience during this time period and look forward to working with you.  

The MakerLab, Automation Lab, and Digital Scholarship Lab are physically closed, but virtual consultations are available. We are not loaning any equipment or handing out 3D Prints or Lasercuts.

Research Technology & Innovation is offering the following by request (email makerlab@brandeis.edu): 

• Consultations available via zoom.
• Workshops or lectures available via Zoom.
• Limited design as a service and fabrication as a service.
• Remote 3D scanning as a service (send digital files).
• Limited remote desktop seats in DS Lab (8). Provisioned on a case by case basis.
• Meeting with research & entrepreneurial teams to support projects virtually/online as much as is possible

Our facilities are currently closed, but students and faculty can temporarily install much of our multimedia software on their personal computers through Adobe Creative Cloud. Additionally, we can provide limited remote access to project files stored on our EditShare server. Please e-mail sims@brandeis.edu for more information. Remote consultations and instructional sessions on certain topics (via Zoom) are possible. We can also recommend specific online tutorials via LinkedIn Learning so that students can continue learning about media production.

The Writing Center will hold all consultations for the remainder of Spring 2020 online. There are two consultation formats to choose from:

• Synchronous face-to-face consultations, which take place via Zoom 
• Asynchronous e-Tutoring document drop, which does not require a face-to-face meeting

More information

Yes. Please log in to Library resources with your Brandeis Account before you start searching to ensure that you have access to online content available through Brandeis Library subscriptions.

• OneSearch: Use the filters on the left side of the screen to focus on digital materials, including ebooks, streaming audio or video.
• Databases A-Z: Our databases provide access to digital articles, ebooks, video, and more. If a database is only available on campus, this information will be noted in the database description on our A-Z list.

Due dates for most materials have been extended automatically. Please check your OneSearch account for current due dates. If your due dates have not been extended, please reach out to borrowing@brandeis.edu for more information.  Overdue fines have been suspended until further notice.

If we have a physical book in our collection and you need a small portion of the book (chapter or section), please make your request through OneSearch by clicking the “Request Chapter or Pages” link. In your request, please write a note indicating the chapter or section that you need. If you want to see a scan of the table of contents first, you can also note that. We will get you the table of contents first so you can make a decision as to what you may need. If you need more than a chapter or section, please use the purchase request form and we will buy the ebook, if available.

If you need a book that we don’t have in the collection, you shouldn’t hesitate to use Interlibrary Loan for chapter or section requests, since those can often be turned around very quickly. In your ILL request, please write a note indicating the chapter or section that you need. If you want to see a scan of the table of contents first, you can also note that and we will work with lending libraries to get that to you. If you determine that you need more than a chapter or section, please use the purchase request form and we will buy the ebook, if available.

If you are local, you can return materials in-person through the book drop at the Usdan facing entrance of the Goldfarb Library. We ask that you do not return equipment through the book drop. If you need to return equipment, please reach out to us at borrowing@brandeis.edu. You can also ship materials back to the Library at the address below. 

Information & Borrowing
Brandeis Library, MS 045 
Brandeis University
415 South Street
Waltham MA 02453-2728

Yes, if you need financial assistance with shipping materials, please contact us at borrowing@brandeis.edu. The Library will be sending UPS shipping labels to those in need weekly.

Since students are not able to take advantage of the Library’s alternative payment methods, like Food for Fines, the Library will be waiving all overdue fines for students graduating in May 2020. These adjustments will be posted to users’ Library accounts in early June. Students are still responsible for fines related to lost or unreturned materials. Materials not returned or replaced by June 15 will be billed to your Sage account.

Students will be billed in Sage for any library materials that are not returned or replaced before they leave the University. For lost books, CDs, or DVDs, you may opt to purchase a replacement copy from any seller of your choice and have it shipped to us, and we will waive the Lost Item Fee. Any book replacement should be an identical edition, hardcover if possible, in “very good” condition or better. The replacement cannot be a previous library book. Before purchasing a replacement item, contact the Information and Borrowing Desk at borrowing@brandeis.edu to ensure you purchase the correct item. For lost Interlibrary Loan materials, please contact us about replacement options as some libraries will not accept replacements. Replacement items should be shipped to the address above. Materials not returned or replaced by June 15 will be billed to your Sage account.

Yes! Our research help librarians are still working and will be happy to speak with you.

• Subject librarians and specialists can be emailed directly or questions can be sent to researchhelp@brandeis.edu
• Research consultations can be conducted via Zoom Web Conference. Please contact your subject librarian or a specialist to schedule an appointment.
• Research help is available during service hours via the online chat. More information on research help.
• For information about Archives and Special Collections research help, please email ascdepartment@brandeis.edu.

Book and book chapter requests can be submitted via email to reserve@brandeis.edu or the online request form.

Video requests can be submitted via the Video Block in LATTE. View instructions.

We are working to license and digitize materials as quickly as possible, but requests could take up to two weeks to complete during peak times. Materials are digitized in the order requests are received. Please submit your requests as soon as possible to ensure materials are ready for the start of your course.

We are currently planning to digitize course materials during the following time periods in advance of each semester. 

• Summer 1: May 25 - June 8 
• Summer 2: June 29 - July 13 
• Fall: Aug. 15 - Sept. 15

If you need materials digitized after the digitization period, we will try our best to license digital materials for you. If unavailable, we encourage you to work with your liaison librarian to try to find alternative materials. If you only need specific sections of a text, please include the page numbers that you need when submitting your request.

Yes, our primary sources for getting videos through a streaming service are Swank, Kanopy, and Alexander Street Press. Feel free to browse these sources to see what is easily available for streaming. After finding a film that you are interested in using in your course, please fill out the request form through the LATTE Video Block so that we can purchase the film.

Yes, videos produced and distributed by Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu cannot be licensed for institutional use. 

Yes! Please reach out to your subject librarian, who can assist you in gaining online access to books, films, journals, etc.

Yes! Please reach out to your subject librarian to discuss what you are looking for.