Services

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Support for Teaching and Learning

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.
Collaborate with faculty to design and develop course activities, projects, and interactions that support impactful student learning experiences and help reach course outcomes.
Collaborate with faculty to design online or hybrid courses.
Support faculty in teaching in online or hybrid learning environments.
Assist faculty in instructional technology choices for assignments or learning activities.
Provide resources that support universal design for learning approaches in the classroom and enable greater accessibility of course materials to a variety of learners.
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.
Support grant recipients for their work in A/OER, TI, FACET, etc.
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 to aiding in the compilation of a list of outside reviewers for tenure materials.

Research Help for Students

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 Support for Faculty and Researchers

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.

Convene Campus Community

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, Pi Day, and the Edible Book Festival to engage the campus community.
Showcase student scholarship through Library Research Excellence Prizes

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Borrowing

Lend a variety of materials for academic, technological, and recreational needs. Materials include but not limited to:
- Monographs
- Audio and visual materials
- Recreational reading (Judges' Reads)
- Course reserve materials
- Interlibrary Loan items
- Laptops
- Peripheral technology equipment (chargers, headphones, computer accessories, calculators, wifi hotspots)
- Non-technology equipment (whiteboards, markers, office supplies, umbrellas, lamps)
- Picture books
- Graphic novels
- Board games
- Lockers and carrels
- Boston Library Consortium cards
Facilitate proxy borrowing for faculty and senior administrators.
Manages loans and returns for Interlibrary Loan materials.
Manage holds and requests.
Manage patron accounts and library privileges.
Oversee searching for missing, lost, and claimed returned items.

Course Reserves

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 & 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 LATTE.

Informational Services

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

Space

Provide space for a variety of study and research needs. Spaces include:
- Quiet and group study spaces
- Bookable study rooms
- Archives and Special Collections Reading Room
- Use of several classrooms with desktop computing access
  - Goldfarb 230
  - Farber 101
  - SIMS Classroom
- Faculty research rooms
- Faculty and PhD student study room
- Extended weekend hours during finals
Monitors building safety and liaises with Public Safety to ensure the library is a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all members of the community.

General Data Services

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.
Referrals for data analysis and data visualization support.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

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.

Data Analysis

Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis, Mixed-Methods
Research strategies
Identification of the best tool for your quantitative or qualitative research. Support with the following tools: Atlas.ti, SPSS, 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, phone, or LibAnswers.
Assist in making data visualizations.

Dataset Identification and Use Considerations

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/NGOs such as the UN, IMF, World Bank, ICPSR, etc.
Provide data literacy instruction.
Acquire and catalog datasets from third parties including Dave Leip, StatCAN, and ITERATE 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.

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Spaces and Technology for Learning and Creativity

Two computer labs with high-performance workstations running professional software for video editing, audio/music production, photo editing, graphic design, and animation.
Loans of entry-level and high-end equipment for photography, videography, and audio recording (cameras, lenses, lights, microphones, and many accessories to suit a variety of project needs).
Two professionally-outfitted studios for audio recording/mixing and video production.
Provision of individual and group workspaces on our high-bandwidth media server.

Instruction, Coaching and Support

One-on-one and small group consultations/tutorials on techniques, workflows, project planning strategies, and best practices related to digital media production.
Scaffolded skill development and tiered certification program for regular visitors.
Creation of handouts and tutorial videos for self-guided learning.
Instructional sessions and workshops custom-designed for classes upon request.
"Embedded" classroom instruction throughout the course of the semester
Instructional design consultation about approaches to crafting digital media assignments and integrating digital media resources into course syllabi.

MakerLab

Digital Fabrication
- Consultations and trainings on how to physicalize a virtual object
- Offer training on how to operate a variety of 3D printers, CAD and 3D model acquisition
- Available one on one, as a workshop for a class, or at table or speaking events
- Offer training on building and maintaining 3D printers: FDM and SLA and Binder Jet
- Consultations on post processing of 3D prints
- Can connect to outside vendors for different materials and geometries
- Can facilitate full color prints on Zcorp printer for proteins or complex chemicals
  - (anything rendered by a molecular visualizer: PyMol, Chimera, etc)
  - (also available to copy objects for archeology, preservation, etc)
Alternative machine inputs and interactions
- Support and consultations on touch and gesture inputs use and implementation
- Support of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) devices including OpenBCI and Muse
Virtual, mixed, and augmented reality
- Consultations and trainings on Virtual, Augmented or Mixed Reality implementation
- Support use of Head Mounted Displays, Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality devices
- Unity / Unreal dev and training
Custom Computer Hardware
- Consultations and trainings on custom PC hardware specs, builds, mods and upgrades
- Supports basic connectivity on Raspberry Pi Linux system builds
Drone support: pilots as a service
- We will provide FAA certified pilots for drone projects, file flight plans, add appropriate insurance, and operate the vehicle
- Also available to prototype custom flying robots for specific research or academic uses
Laser cutting as a service
- Will consult on designs and cut them using Adobe Illustrator
- Run cuts on Epilogue Mini 45W or Glowforge 40W
Training in CAD tools
- TinkerCad, OnShape, Fusion360, Solidworks, Blender
- Supported, no Training: OpenScan, Antimony, Rhino
Training in CAM tools
- Slimplify3D, Cura, Adobe Illustrator Lasercut workflow, Z-print

A place where faculty, students, staff, researchers, and other Brandeis community members can come to rapid-prototype electronic for sensor data collection and actuation systems with rentable gear, step-by-step guides, back-end equipment, and weekly trainings.

Embedded systems / IOT
- Microcontrollers - Arduino, Raspberry Pi, beaglebone, mbed
- Shields/Hats/Tops, sensors, actuators
- Protocols, electronics troubleshootings, circuit analysis, hardware hacking
Robotics
- Actuation, machine vision, indoor/outdoor localization
- Drones, ground vehicles, underwater, telepresence
Sensor data
- Distributed systems/cluster computing
  - Pi Cluster, commodity hardware cluster
    - Both processor and distributed storage with failover computer hardware, operating systems
- Data collection, data analysis, databases and data redundancy
- Data display
  - Multi-monitor display, visualization tools, data over time, alert notifications
  - Projection mapping
Simulation
- Materials testing, fluid dynamics, navigation / SLAM
Workshops and guides
- Public-facing web hosted getting-started guides for each sensor and actuator in our rental catalogue with links to parts and tools used as well as commented example code.
  - Electronics
  - Soldering training
  - Dozuki guides, GitHub code
Class support
- Autonomous robotics lab
- Digital fabrication with robotics
- Computational thinking, distributed computing, machine learning
Club hosting
- Robotics, Aviation, Bitmap

Digital Scholarship Lab

This lab is for projects that require more computational work: crunching data sets, rendering complex geometries, creating virtual experiences, or coding that requires larger displays - with tools such as matlab, GIS, 3D scanning and 3D rendering, unity, unreal engine, and other data analysis, coding, or simulation software.

Mapping projects
- GIS, photogrammetry, map data, word cloud, heat maps
Machine learning
- Google tensorflow
3D scanning
- Consultations and trainings on how to virtualize a physical object
  - Macro studio object photography
  - Offer training on how to operate photogrammetry software and handheld 3D scanners
  - Will support 3D scanning of objects small to large for research and academic applications, including digitizing real world objects, spaces, buildings, or whole environments
    - From a tiny-bug-scale to all of campus
Advanced sensing and analysis
XR world building (VR, AR, Displaced-R, Mixed-R): Unity and Unreal Engines

Hardware

Available for specialized hardware consultations
- What laptop, desktop, server, tablet, 3D printer, camera, or phone to buy
- Server (compute or storage) specification and vendor negotiation for a described need
- Desktop specification and configuration based on a described need
- Raspberry Pi or Arduino use based on a described need
- Custom cabling or specialized computer hardware based on a described need
Loaner equipment for researchers
- Most MakerLab equipment can be negotiated for a loan
- Floppy drives, usb DVD drives, USB wifi, USB ethernet, USB video cards
- Leap Motion, Oculus Rift, Kinects, Google Cardboard, Muse headband, 3D printers
- Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and other embedded systems cables, shields and accessories
- Molecular models

Software

Software configuration for instrument machines that require specialized software
- We will build out custom Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems
- Will troubleshoot problems with specialized software or instrument machines
- We can create documentation on how to install, and use a custom configuration
- We will contact the vendor directly and negotiate the solution
Specialized software needs
- Instrument machine troubleshooting and diagnosis
- Touch and Gesture inputs
- Multi-Screen environments
- Projection Mapping or CAVEs
- VMware installs for Windows software on a Mac
Bootcamp installs for more demanding windows software on a Mac
Best effort support of all Legacy software and environments

Design Work

We do not do design as a service; we train and consult with people on how to design
- Available for custom 3D design and printing everything from brackets to full prototypes
  - Useful, ready-to-go objects as needed by researchers
- Available for custom 2D design and branding consultations for web and print
- Available for Lasercut design training
- Consultations and brainstorms on branding and logo design
  - Will connect users to resources, but not do design as a service
  - Will help build design literacy

Outreach

Demos
Tabling for events
Hackathon planning
Workshops, talks and presentations
- The Art of the Pitch: from elevator to pitch deck
- MakerLab intro and overview: What tools we have, and how you can use them
- 3D Printing training
- 3D Printer training, specifically how one model works
- 3D Scanning Training
- Soldering Training
- How to build a Custom PC
- Intro to Troubleshooting Theory: Systematic Fault Isolation
- Intro to Unity3D world building
- Design Thinking Activity
- How Racing Drones work
- How to get your FAA 107 Pilot's License
- Maker Movement Applications in the Medical Field

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Interlibrary Loan

Borrowing From Other Libraries

Borrow physical materials (books, DVDs, CDs, microforms, and other material types) for our Library patrons from other libraries when Brandeis does not own, are checked out on loan, or otherwise unavailable. Nearby and cost-free libraries are given preference to provide the fastest shipping and most cost-effective delivery possible.
Obtain copies and scans for our Library patrons of articles, book chapters and other materials from other libraries or sources. Nearly always delivered electronically and unmediated by staff
Purchase articles (mediated), if the request is urgent or hard-to-get. Sometimes also to reduce copyright costs
Purchase for the Brandeis Library is also considered if an interlibrary loan request is hard-to-get, and the item falls within the acquisitions policy.
Reference help provided by email, phone or in-person. Correcting citations, and help identifying rare, old, foreign, and unusual items and finding sources for them.
Manage copyrights, for compliance and controlling costs.
Maintain Interlibrary Loan webpage for Library patrons.
Provide analytical support to collections management staff and other Library staff to help them make decisions about purchasing materials vs borrowing.
Provide analytical support to collections management staff and other Library staff to help analyze trends in Interlibrary Loan and related services.

Provide metadata in the form of copy and original cataloging to make resources discoverable to patrons.
Process a variety of materials—books, DVDs, CDs, games, 3D models, graphic novels, to name a few that support the research goals of the faculty, staff and students.
Work along with other departments such as Special Collections, RIS and Access Services to ensure that materials are easily discoverable and accessible to patrons.

Electronic Resources

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Collections

Acquire, preserve, house, 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, preserve, and create avenues of access to materials by, for, and about Brandeis University in multiple formats, including more than 100,000 photographic images, university and student publications, theses and dissertations, faculty papers, sound and moving image collections, university records, alumni publications and papers, artwork, posters, architectural plans, maps, and more.
Advise staff, faculty, students, alumni, and other donors on the disposition of their archival records and assists them with the transfer and donation process.
Connect with donors and 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, including the creation of accession records, guides, and single-level and multilevel finding aids.
Digitize rare material and curate digital collections, working in conjunction with other departments to make digital collections available through the Brandeis Institutional Repository, the Internet Archive, Digital Commonwealth, digital exhibits, and other platforms.

Reference, Instruction and Outreach Services

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 & 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.
Mount informative digital and physical exhibits in the library and online using materials from our collections.
Co-organize conferences, symposia, and special events related to our materials.
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.

Judaica

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.

Preservation Services for University Archives and Special Collections

Provide preservation awareness and training to A&SC students and volunteers through individualized handling and care information sessions.
Treat, repair, rehouse, and preserve special collections materials, including:
- Removal of rusty staples and other metal objects from paper.
- Removal of frames from paper documents.
- Construction of various types and sizes of protective enclosures.
- Rolling of architectural drawings for storage.
- Flattening of folded paper.
Research solutions for the storage of oversized materials, objects, and uncommon formats.
Carry out mold inspection.
Provide environmental monitoring.

General Library Collection Preservation Services

Routinely perform more than twenty treatment procedures, including:
- Repair/replace spines.
- Reattach text blocks.
- Reconstruct sewing structure.
- Treat damaged paper.
- Replace original covers with new boards and cloth.
- Sew pamphlet bindings.
- Construct various types of enclosures.
- Evaluate treatment options based on use, condition, cost, and organizational commitments for retaining specific books.

Preservation for Disaster Planning and Recovery

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Records Management Consultation

Provide customized consultation services regarding how office records should be retained or destroyed, based on regulations and best practices, and develops the university’s records retention schedules (under construction).
Survey campus buildings and basements for "orphaned" record collections stored before the URM program was established and, after reconciling with the office of record or the earest cognizant office, decide whether to store and manage them offsite or destroy/shred them.

Offsite Storage and Retrieval Services for Records

Secure storage and retrieval of physical Brandeis records. This service is currently funded by Brandeis Library and is provided only for official Brandeis records.
Only records that do not need to be accessed on a frequent basis (< 2x per year) are stored offsite.
Storage for electronic media containing Brandeis records is also available.

Shredding/Destruction Services for Personal and Sensitive Documents

Environmentally responsible, secure paper document removal and shredding via secure, locked consoles provided for office areas across campus. This service is currently funded by Brandeis Library.
The consoles provide a secure destruction receptacle for sensitive information – not suitable for open blue recycle bins.
Special, one-time, batch pickups of boxed collections or console loans for departmental shredding projects can also be arranged.

Digitization Services

Provide customized consultation services for document digitization projects and facilitate paper record digitization projects. Funded by the client office in need.
Help to set up and structure a Box environment to store and manage electronic records.
Collections of Brandeis records that are frequently used can be scanned. Infrequently used records are appropriate for offsite storage.
Paper content is scanned to PDF format, one PDF to one paper folder. File naming requirements must be provided to the vendor by the client.

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Press Services

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 the Brandeis Institutional Repository, available worldwide.
Publish books in scholarly and general interest series, including:
- Brandeis Series in American Jewish History, Culture, and Life
- The HBI Series on Jewish Women
- The Schusterman Series in Israel Studies
- The Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry Series
- The Brandeis Library of Modern Jewish Thought
- The Brandeis Series on Gender, Culture, Religion, and Law
- The Mandel Lectures in the Humanities
- The Menahem Stern Jerusalem Lectures

Services

Research and Instructional Services

Public Services

Data Services

Sound and Image Media Studios (SIMS)

Brandeis Design and Innovation

Resource Sharing

Collections Support

University Archives and Special Collections

University Records Management

Brandeis University Press