All Library Services
Research and Instructional Services
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Contact a Librarian or Data Specialist
- Partner with faculty to develop and teach class sessions that support student learning goals around research skills, information literacy, and digital literacy. Continue engagement with classes throughout the semester, supporting students in their coursework both inside and outside of the classroom.
- Create instructional materials, such as online course guides, tutorials, instructional videos, academic technology workshops and Moodle modules, tailored to the research needs of different courses.
- Work with faculty to identify reading materials, appropriate technologies, and other relevant materials during course development. We also assist in making the resources accessible to all students as needed.
- Collaborate with faculty on the design of assignments which involve research, information literacy, and digital literacy skills.
- Offer workshops and sessions on citation management, research strategies, data analysis and management, GIS, quantitative and qualitative software, academic technologies, accessible course content, and discipline/subject-specific resources.
- Partner with faculty to develop and teach class sessions that support student learning goals around research skills, information literacy and digital literacy.
- Work with faculty as individuals and departments to update and diversify their syllabi, including walk-throughs of search strategies to find new voices in the discipline and purchases of titles, journals, and other materials to support this initiative.
- Support faculty in their search and interview process for new talent, including working with search committee members on how to determine the credibility of journals listed on CVs and aiding in the compilation of a list of outside reviewers for tenure materials.
Research Help
- Provide one-on-one and small group consultations that help students articulate and focus their research topics, choose the right search tools, use technology effectively, and develop effective search strategies.
- Help students develop skills around evaluation and contextualization of information sources, as well as ethical use of sources (including citation practice) in their own work.
- Schedule and conduct consultations in person, over the phone, or via video conferencing software.
- Offer drop-in help at the Research Help desk in Goldfarb; students can also get in touch via online chat, phone, email, or help ticket.
Research Help
- Develop knowledge of key resources and methodologies for academic disciplines in order to provide effective research support to faculty and researchers, and to develop library collections that support teaching and research at Brandeis.
- Help researchers select appropriate databases and construct effective search strings for literature or systematic reviews.
- Assist in tracking down information sources that may not be readily available, such as datasets and primary source materials, and work with researchers who are interested in acquiring such materials for the library collection.
- Consult with research teams and research assistants, as well as with individual faculty members or researchers.
- Provide training and consultation on citation management software (Zotero and EndNote) and other technologies used in the research process.
- Lead workshops and orientation events to connect students, faculty, and university staff to library staff and resources.
- Conduct office hours in buildings around campus to engage with students, faculty, and university staff in the settings where they work.
- Host special events, such as voter registration, to engage the campus community.
- Showcase student scholarship through Library Research Excellence Prizes.
Learning Design and Instructional Technology
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Learning Design and Instructional Technology
- Collaborate with faculty to design online courses.
- Provide consultation for faculty teaching online.
- Provide consultation for faculty using our Learning Management System and other instructional technologies (VoiceThread, Perusall, etc.).
- Provide self-paced professional development in teaching online and online course design.
Notary Services
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Notary services are available in-person at the Brandeis Library. You can make an appointment with a notary by emailing researchhelp@brandeis.edu. Once scheduled, please bring the following to your appointment:
- a state- or federally-issued ID that has your picture and signature (for this purpose, a Brandeis ID won't work)
- the unsigned document(s) that need to be notarized
There is no charge for this service through the Library.
Public Services
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Assist faculty with making course materials available for student use through the Course Reserve program.
- Physical reserves (books, DVDs, CDs) are kept behind the Information and Borrowing desk in the Goldfarb Library and have restricted borrowing rules.
- Electronic course materials (readings, ebooks, videos and other media) can be made available through Moodle.
- Provide a variety of in-person, phone, and email informational services on topics including but not limited to:
- Accessing library collections
- Library accounts and privileges
- Circulation policies and procedures
- Navigating library software and systems
- Library equipment assistance
- Course reserves materials
- Interlibrary loan and document delivery assistance
- Basic reference assistance
- Referral to tools and staff expertise
- Library policies
- Campus information
- Create and display digital signs for library programs and display digital signs for campus partner activities.
Provide a variety of equipment for public use, including:
- Provide space for a variety of study and research needs. Spaces include:
- Monitors building safety and liaises with Public Safety to ensure the library is a safe, welcoming space which fosters belonging for all members of the community.
- Promote resources, services, and events to campus through email newsletters
- Produce physical signs, flyers, postcards and other print materials to promote programs, events, and collections
Data Services
Guide to Data Services
To contact Data Services, email dataservices@brandeis.edu.
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- Creating a data management plan and using the DMPTool.
- Identify public data repositories/archives/etc. that meet grant mandated deposit requirements.
- File and folder organization, file naming conventions, and version control.
- Identify the best file formats for long-term access.
- Basic-level support and referrals for data backup and storage solutions.
- Find geospatial and non-spatial datasets/statistics housed in our Library’s collections or online.
- Provide basic instruction in use of licensed tools such as ArcGIS.
- Cite datasets and statistics.
- Delivery via course-integrated instruction sessions or workshops, one-on-one or small group consultation, email, or phone consultation.
GIS Services at the Brandeis Library
- Quantitative and qualitative data analysis (including text analysis), mixed-methods.
- Research strategies.
- Identification of the best tool for your quantitative or qualitative research. Support with the following tools: Atlas.ti, Stata, R, Excel, Python.
- Data cleaning.
- Survey research.
- Questionnaire design
- Qualtrics
- Survey analysis
- Delivery via workshops and training sessions for students, faculty and staff, one-on-one consultation, email, or phone.
- Assist in making data visualizations.
- Web scraping.
- Give guidance on the use of free and subscription sources for demographic datasets like those from the federal, state, or municipal governments, international governments, supranational organizations and NGOs.
- Provide data literacy instruction.
- Acquire and catalog datasets from third parties for use by members of the Brandeis community.
- Citing data sets and statistics.
- Delivery via workshops, one-on-one sessions, phone, email, chat, or research help drop-ins.
Sound and Image Media Studios (SIMS)
SIMS Website
To contact SIMS, email sims@brandeis.edu.
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- Project planning, workflow support and coaching for documentary filmmaking, narrative fiction filmmaking, video art, video skits, video essays, promotional/marketing videos, portrait photography, street photography, scene photography, product photography, and related topics.
- Entry-level camcorders and DSLR cameras available for booking and loan to the entire campus community, with training provided on a walk-in basis.
- In-depth training sessions available upon request for community members interested in booking our higher-end cameras, lenses, lights, stabilization systems, monitoring systems, and other accessories.
- Approximately 35 workstations available for post-production via Adobe Premiere, Lightroom, Photoshop, and After Effects.
- All workstations networked to high-bandwidth, high-capacity EditShare server for offloading of video and image files from loaner memory cards, with provision of group and class workspaces available upon request.
- Limited technology available for self-service digitization of linear videotape, analog film, photos, and slides.
- Staff available for workflow support and troubleshooting on a walk-in basis, or in-depth one-on-one consultation & training by appointment.
- Video and photo studio available for booking, with overhead lighting grid, teleprompter, green and black velour backdrop curtains. Additional pull-up backdrops and equipment available upon request.
- Videography support in studio available upon request; videography and post-production services for outside events and activities may be arranged on for-hire basis as staff capacity permits.
- Project planning, workflow support, and coaching for podcasting, music recording, audio mixing, sound design for video, and related topics.
- Entry-level audio recorders and microphones available for booking and loan to the entire campus community, with training provided on a walk-in basis.
- Acoustic and electric guitars, ukuleles, electric basses, MIDI keyboards, drum controllers, and miscellaneous musical instruments available for loan to the entire campus community on a walk-in basis.
- In-depth training sessions available upon request for community members interested in booking our higher-end audio recorders, microphones, and related sound devices.
- Sound Studio isolation booth with external mixing station and internal capacity for two to three guests, outfitted with two Shure SM7B dynamic microphones, Yamaha HS8 studio monitors, Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 audio interface. Available for booking by entire campus community with training provided on demand.
- Flex Studio Audio Recording Suite available for special recording projects and advanced users who attend our certification workshops. Includes multi-tracking live room and solo tracking live rooms connected via Dante-enabled interfaces that can support 16-channels of input and 8-channels of headphone output. Audio gear includes DI boxes for guitar and bass, small and large diaphragm condenser microphones, electronic drum kit, 88-key MIDI keyboard.
- Staff available to engineer audio recording sessions for music groups by arrangement.
- Logic Pro, Adobe Audition, and Ableton Live available as digital audio workstations (DAWs) in our two audio studios as well as across approximately 35 lab computers; staff experts available to offer in-depth training on DAW techniques by arrangement.
- Project planning, workflow support, and coaching for logo design, figure drawing, photo collage, poster design, brochure and magazine design, text and slide animation, 3-D scene animation, and related topics.
- Wacom drawing tablets available for booking and loan.
- Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects, Animate, and Blender available for use on approximately 35 lab workstations.
- Staff available for workflow support and troubleshooting on a walk-in basis, or in-depth one-on-one consultation and training by appointment.
- Rotating workshop series designed and led by staff experts in a variety of topics drawn from the areas outlined above. Offerings fluctuate based on staff interests and community needs; suggestions are always welcome.
- Consultation for faculty about approaches to crafting media assignments and integrating media resources into course syllabi.
- Ability to offer instructional sessions as part of a class to support the development of student media projects throughout the semester.
- Guides, handouts, and tutorial videos authored by staff around specific workflows.
Brandeis Design and Innovation (BDI)
BDI Website
To contact BDI, email makerlab@brandeis.edu.
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- Design and fabrication: Support of CAD and CAM workflows for prototyping.
- 3D printing: Creating prototypes and models with diverse additive manufacturing workflows.
- Laser cutting: Precisely cutting and etching acrylic, plywood, leather, and cloth.
- CNC milling/routing: Shaping materials using CNC machines for stronger prototypes.
- 3D scanning: Support of digitization with structured light, photogrammetry, and LIDAR.
- Operating drones: Engaging in drone design, building, and US and EU licensing.
- Programming embedded systems: Creating projects with Raspberry Pi and Arduino and sensors / actuators.
- Soldering and electronics prototyping: Assembling electronic components.
- Prototyping robotics: Designing and prototyping robotics systems in maker spaces, from drones to rovers to battlebots.
- Data visualization and mapping: Developing new ways to structure and explore data in the Digital Scholarship Lab, from GIS and mapping projects to metadata schema.
- Developing XR: Creating immersive experiences with Unity and Unreal development.
- Understanding machine learning: Exploring data and algorithms that drive machine learning applications and implications.
- Building and understanding policy: Analyzing policy and political implications of emerging technologies.
- Structured ideation: Systematic brainstorming, idea making, and applied design thinking methods
- Startup support: “How to create something from nothing." From the initial brainstorm, through prototyping and feedback loops, to understanding the market/customer and developing a pitch and use of funds.
- Collaborating, experimenting, advising and educating: “What do you do when you don’t know what to do?” Offering workshops and guidance on digital/prototyping tools. Assisting with the implementation and application of emerging technologies
Facilitating Access to Information
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- Ensure the strategic and responsible stewardship of the library's collection budget
- Provide analytical and assessment support for evaluating library collections
- Acquire physical and electronic scholarly resources that support teaching, learning, and research at Brandeis
- Books and e-books, streaming video and audio, databases, e-journals, data sets
- Work with vendors to negotiate favorable license terms for scholarly resources
- Create, enrich, and maintain metadata for scholarly resources to enhance their discoverability
- Descriptive, administrative, and technical metadata
- MARC and non-MARC metadata schemas
- Physical, electronic, digital, and special formats
- Multiple languages, including Hebrew and Yiddish
- Maintain and enhance Brandeis Library OneSearch platform
- Set up and maintain access to library-supported online scholarly resources (databases, e-journals, e-books, etc.)
- Provide e-resource support and troubleshooting services to patrons
- Digitize select print materials to support resource sharing and controlled digital lending
- Contribute digitized materials to HathiTrust
- Borrow resources from other libraries to support Brandeis research and learning
- Lend Brandeis collections to patrons in other libraries to collaboratively support their success
- Maintain and enhance resource sharing platforms and systems
Support with Sharing Scholarly and Creative Work
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Resources for Sharing Scholarly and Creative Work
- Engage with researchers about their scholarly identity and profile.
- Promote the use of persistent identifiers in scholarship (e.g., ORCiD).
- Collaborate with researchers to identify the best repository home for their research data according to funding mandates, when applicable.
Resources for Sharing Scholarly and Creative Work
- Support and promote open access publishing to make Brandeis research more visible to the world.
- Manage the library's Open Access Fund which provides funding for Brandeis researchers to publish their work on an Open Access platform.
- Promote journal publishing agreements that allow Brandeis researchers to publish their work Open Access at no additional cost.
- Support members of the community in the creation of new, open access scholarly journals.
- Maintain and enhance Brandeis ScholarWorks and Brandeis Library Open Access Journals platforms.
University Archives and Special Collections
Archives Website
To contact University Archives and Special Collections, email archives@brandeis.edu.
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- Acquire and make available rare and unique primary-source materials on numerous topics, including books, manuscripts, visual materials, and digital collections in support of the Library’s mission to serve the teaching and research interests at Brandeis and beyond.
- Acquire and make available materials by, for, and about Brandeis University in multiple formats, including photographs, publications, theses and dissertations, audiovisual materials, and more.
- Advise staff, faculty, students, alumni, and other donors on the disposition of their archival records and assist them with the transfer and donation process.
- Connect with prospective donors to acquire collections, including securing gift agreements and transferring special collections materials to the department.
- Maintain several thousand collections and items and make them accessible to students and researchers through arrangement and description.
- Digitize rare material and curate digital collections, working in conjunction with other departments to make digital collections available through DeisGallery, the Internet Archive, Digital Commonwealth, and other platforms.
- Provide individually tailored reference services and assistance to members of the Brandeis community (staff, faculty, and students), as well as around the globe, both in-person and virtually, for Archives and Special Collections materials.
- Work in conjunction with faculty to provide instruction using primary source materials; instruction can be tailored to any class and active learning exercises can be created based on class content or learning goals.
- Work with foundations and individual donors to secure grants for special projects, such as symposia, digitization and preservation, or collaborative digital efforts.
- Share information about our materials through events, partnerships, blogs, social media, and other avenues.
- Employ undergraduate and graduate students and interns and provide experience in working with primary-source material.
Contact the Judaica Librarian
- Build the Library’s collection (both paper and electronic) in all areas of Judaica, including:
- The Bible
- Rabbinics
- Jewish thought and literature
- Jewish history
- Israel
- American Jewry
- The Holocaust
- Maintain a reference collection in the Judaica Reading Room.
- Give research consultation for individual students (including guidance in analyzing the research topic, skills for searching for information, and direction to appropriate resources and databases).
- Provide bibliographic instruction for classes.
- Maintain ongoing interaction with faculty about resources and services.
- Create and maintain an online research guide directing students to basic resources in all areas of Judaica.
University Records Management (URM)
University Records Management
To contact University Records Management, email urm@brandeis.edu.
The URM program assists in the management of official Brandeis records, regardless of format or location, to meet legal and contractual requirements. These requirements include satisfying the operational needs and efficiency of the university, guiding university employees in proper records stewardship, and supporting the documentation of university history.
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- URM offers consultation services and guidance for records retention and best practices for records and knowledge management. URM can arrange to meet at your office and schedule one-on-one meetings to review your records. To schedule an appointment email records@brandeis.edu or call 781-736-8759.
- URM also maintains the Official Brandeis Records Retention Schedule, which consists of record categories, how long each category needs to be retained, and the recommended final disposition of the material. The length of retention is based on external laws and regulations, best practices, and legitimate business needs. The purpose of the schedule is to serve as a published policy and a guide for the Brandeis community's consistent record retention and destruction practices.
- URM’s off-site storage service allows you to clear out infrequently accessed official Brandeis records from your office space with the ability to recall these records from our vendor on demand. Off-site storage also eliminates the need for your staff to physically retrieve boxes from basements or other campus locations. This service is funded by the Brandeis Library.
- URM’s secure document shredding service can provide your office area with a locked receptacle that is regularly emptied by our vendor. This reduces the risk of personal, sensitive, or confidential information being exposed. The Brandeis Library can also arrange for secure individual small batch electronic media destruction. This service is funded by the Brandeis Library.
- Special, one-time, batch pickups of boxed collections or receptacle loans for departmental shredding projects can also be arranged.
Brandeis University Press
Brandeis University Press Website
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- Consult with faculty and graduate students on writing book proposals and manuscript development and editing, for both print and electronic publishing, to disseminate research and scholarship produced on the Brandeis campus.
- Mount public book events in cooperation with Brandeis Library, centers, institutes, and departments.
- Publish backlist titles as Open Access on ScholarWorks, available worldwide.
- Publish books in scholarly and general interest series, including:
Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
Center for Teaching and Learning Website
The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides pedagogical support, learning communities, and 1:1 consultations for all faculty, teaching assistants, and other instructors. Whether you’re looking for help interpreting your student feedback, designing a new course or assignment, or managing your teaching team, the CTL would like to hear from you.
The CTL also partners with academic leadership on large-scale projects that aim to enhance the quality and assessment of teaching and learning across campus.
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The CTL leads programming for faculty, including:
The CTL is also always available for 1:1 consultations about redesigning course materials, interpreting student feedback, incorporating new teaching techniques, applying for educational grants, etc.
We maintain a library of Online Guides on topics ranging from active learning to creating equitable and resilient classroom environments to teaching effective reading and study skills.
We also support instructors engaging in peer observation of teaching and/or interested in collecting early feedback in their classrooms.