Remote Resources & Services for UCSB Library Users

There are many ways the Library can provide you with expert help and services if you are studying or working remotely.

Online Resources

Datasets

Datasets and other resources that usually require in-person visits to the Interdisciplinary Research Collaboratory will be uploaded to Box when possible. Email library-collaboratory@ucsb.edu. 

Digital Collections

Access digitized primary source materials from UCSB Library’s Special Research Collections.

Electronic Books & Full-Text Articles

You can find electronic books and articles through UCSB Library Search,  including tens of thousands of ebooks that publishers have made temporarily accessible to support remote instruction during the Covid-19 crisis. 
 
Millions of electronic books are also now available to UCSB users in the HathiTrust Digital Library, thanks to their Emergency Temporary Access Services (ETAS) for member institutions. These include both in-copyright and public domain books held in the UC libraries' physical collections. You will need to login using your NetID and Password. More details here.

Remote Access to Library Databases 

You can access our many subscription research databases from off campus using either the proxy server or the Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Streaming Audio & Video

UCSB Library provides access to audio streaming databases as well as several streaming video collections.

Technical Support

The Interdisciplinary Research Collaboratory staff are available to troubleshoot standard campus technologies remotely. Email library-collaboratory@ucsb.edu for assistance. 

 

Print Materials Access & Returns

Book Returns

For people currently affiliated with UCSB, most due dates have been extended until September 21, 2021, or later. Please consult your Library account for the exact date. The book return at the Paseo West entrance (for Main Library books) and the book return at the Music Library (for Music materials only) are open. Returned books may remain on your library account longer than usual as we have limited staff in the buildings to process them. Please email library-circ@ucsb.edu if you have questions.

Returning Materials by Mail

If you are out of town and cannot return your Library materials to the book returns on campus, you can mail them back or send them via a courier such as UPS or Federal Express, to the following address:

Services Desk / UCSB Library
525 University Center Rd.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010

Be sure to include a prominent note with the books (or on the ILL book straps, if ILL material): "Please check in."

As with other return methods, returned books may remain on your library account longer than usual as we have limited staff in the buildings to process them.

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is now borrowing books from other libraries. Requests for physical loans submitted by all ILL user affiliations (faculty, staff, graduate, and undergraduate students) are being processed by ILL staff. The Library is operating with limited on-site staff, so ILL patrons are asked to only request books that are needed for their research. The books will be delivered via the current pickup and mailing service. For help, email library-ill@ucsb.edu. New faculty and staff must activate their Library accounts before being able to use ILL services.

Pick Up & Mail Delivery Service

UCSB Library now offers pickup and mail delivery services for UCSB students, faculty, and staff to access circulating Library research materials. Read the details about this new service. New faculty and staff must activate their Library accounts before being able to use the pickup and mailing services.

Special Research Collections Appointments

UCSB Library Special Research Collections (SRC) offers limited research appointments in SRC’s Reading Room for UC Santa Barbara faculty and graduate students to access on-site SRC materials that are not available online and to access non-circulating materials from the Main Library and Music Library that are not available via the pickup and mailing service. UCSB Library remains closed for general walk-in use.

For instructions on how to request an appointment, please see this page.

 

Research Support

Ask a Librarian

Use the “Ask a Librarian” chat window to submit questions at any time for 24/7 immediate assistance. This is a cooperative service, so you may be chatting with a librarian from another academic library. You can also submit your questions via our email reference service and UCSB librarians will respond to you within one business day. 

Subject Guides 

View our collection of subject guides - they’re a great place to get started with research. Our librarians have developed guides that focus on a specific subject area and include links for databases, websites, recommended books, and other resources relevant to that subject area.

Virtual Research Consultations

UCSB students, faculty, and staff may schedule a virtual research consultation with a subject librarian for assistance with their research needs. A librarian will contact you by email to set up a session using Zoom. 

 

Teaching & Course Support

Course Reserves

We are currently accepting electronic course reserves only. 

Faculty can:

  1. Upload your own electronic files to the Library’s Course Reserves system
  2. Request that the Library scan and upload materials from our collections
  3. Request that the Library purchase ebooks for Reserves (if not available, the Library can purchase print books for scanning) 
  4. Drop off your own text(s) for scanning on Tuesdays between 1-4 p.m. or Fridays between 9 a.m.-noon 

All requests should be submitted via the online Course Reserves system. For help, email cres@library.ucsb.edu.

Although online textbooks for purchase by libraries are limited by publishers, your subject librarian may be able to help you locate a title you're looking for. 

Kanopy streaming licenses for individual films are available for all courses at this time. Faculty/instructors should submit requests via the Library's Course Reserves System. Follow these instructions. There is a limit of 9 films per instructor per quarter.

For questions about Music Library Electronic Reserves materials, please email music@library.ucsb.edu.

Instruction

Librarians can provide faculty with online instructional assistance with Library resources and services, such as:

  • Synchronous Zoom presentations
  • Recorded lectures using GauchoCast
  • Monitored discussion forums in GauchoSpace / Nectir
  • Research guides for your course
  • Online office hours 
  • Information literacy activities and resources

To request online instructional support from a librarian, please use the Instruction Request Form a minimum of two weeks before your desired date of integration. A librarian will promptly contact you to review what can be made available to your class. 

Existing online instructional resources from UCSB Library: 

Online Library Resources for Teaching During the COVID-19 Crisis

Librarians have compiled this guide with links to library resources that are available for teaching and research during the COVID-19 crisis. Some of these are temporary, but should be available to you through the end of Spring Quarter, and perhaps longer. 

Streaming Audio & Video for Courses

UCSB Library provides access to audio streaming databases as well as several streaming video collections. 

Films in the Library's collection can be made available for course viewing in GauchoSpace. Faculty should contact Instructional Development to place requests: fvo@id.ucsb.edu. 

For films that the Library does not own, Kanopy streaming licenses are available for all courses at this time. Faculty/instructors should submit requests via the Library's Course Reserves System. Follow these instructions. There is a limit of 9 films per instructor per quarter.

Questions & Contact 

Additional questions? Email ask@library.ucsb.edu.

Do you have other needs or ideas for how the Library can help you remotely? Send us your suggestions. 

 
This page last updated 6/21/2021
Posted on: 03/17/2020 - 08:09
Topics: Services