Welcome Back from the Vice Provost and Director
August 26, 2021
Welcome back! Yes, we are open and excited to see you at the University of Texas Libraries! I especially welcome those who are new to UT.
The beginning of Fall 2021 marks a new beginning for all of us. It’s my favorite season and as I look out over the campus my hope is that in this new school year we will all find moments of joy and gratitude to rekindle our spirit for a new academic year filled with promises of a brighter tomorrow.
UT Libraries serves the faculty, students and staff of the University of Texas across 19 schools and colleges as well as alumni, visiting researchers and members of the public. Our highest priorities are the health and safety of all our users and our staff in our library spaces and we strongly recommend getting vaccinated and wearing a mask. We have masks and hand sanitizer available in all our spaces.
With the fall semester, library locations across campus have reopened with the notable exceptions of the Benson Latin American Collection and the Architecture and Planning Library, both of which are undergoing extensive renovation projects. The doors of the Perry-Castañeda Library have swung wide, and now with new hours – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – as well as with all the services and resources you’ve come to count on, including expert research help from library staff (virtually and in person) and writing assistance at the University Writing Center (which will offer virtual services, as well). Check the hours page for complete location and service schedules.
The stacks are open for browsing, so our physical collections are again available for in-person research. With access to the books, our emergency temporary access agreement with HathiTrust has necessarily ended per copyright requirements; still a large selection of resources is available through our partnership with HathiTrust, so continue to explore those valuable online resources. The special collections at the Benson and Alexander Architectural Archive will also be accessible, though only by appointment at the current time.
And for faculty and staff not yet comfortable visiting in person – or just prefer the convenience of not having to do so – you can use our proxy borrower program to appoint a proxy to check out materials on your behalf.
From the beginning of the pandemic we took bold steps to reposition ourselves as an agile organization to respond to new needs and expectations in an online environment. Work that took place almost entirely in person in the past – like consultations and instruction – now have virtual options for ease of access. We have made software normally available only at computer workstations accessible via remote connection. And as always, we continue to provide research support and information help at https://www.lib.utexas.edu/research-help-support.
We look forward to the new academic year with a spirit of hope and resilience as we begin this fall. On behalf of UT Libraries, and from me personally, I wish you a safe and productive year filled with hope for new beginnings, together.
Warm regards and best wishes.
lorraine j haricombe
Vice Provost and Director of the University of Texas Libraries
Aug. 26, 2021
© The University of Texas at Austin 2023
