Media Desk

The University of Georgia Libraries are pleased to announce the naming of three new leaders who join University Librarian and Associate Provost Toby Graham in providing direction-setting and oversight for the libraries.

Newest to UGA is Sara Wright who started her role as Associate University Librarian for Learning Services and Academic Engagement in January. Wright formerly served as director of Cornell University’s Mann & Science Cluster Libraries, and her career at Cornell included stints as Academic Technology Librarian; Head of User Services and Engagement; and Head of Learning, Spaces, and Technology.

The UGA Libraries’ course reserves services help faculty to provide students with easy, no-cost access to readings and supplementary research materials personalized to class curricular needs. Materials planning and support services are currently open for summer and fall semester courses, including an electronic reserve option that can be integrated into eLC. Requests submitted by July 21 are guaranteed to be available by the first day of fall semester classes.

A number of UGA Libraries will operate under limited hours during the intersession period between the fall and spring semesters, with all locations closed for winter break beginning Dec. 24, reopening Jan. 3.

Intersession hours will be in place at the Main Library, McBay Science Library, and Miller Learning Center beginning Wednesday, Dec. 14, which means that the locations will not be open for the usual night hours. The MLC will be closed during weekends, and all locations will be closed on Sundays until classes resume on Jan. 9.

UGA Libraries’ full course reserve services and support are available to faculty planning fall 2021 courses. Requests submitted by July 16 are guaranteed to be completed and accessible by the first day of fall semester classes.

UGA Libraries will be open and ready to serve the campus community throughout the summer. Librarians, archivists and staff will be available for help, research consultations and other activities — both in person and online — for students, faculty, and others, whether they are taking summer classes, preparing for the fall semester, working on independent projects, or have other needs.

Students will soon be able to hit the books into the early morning hours at three key University of Georgia study spots. Extended hours at the Main Library, Science Library and the Miller Learning Center will begin April 5 and continue through spring semester finals.

The Miller Learning Center, the busiest academic building on campus, will close two hours later Sundays through Thursdays, closing at 2 a.m. from April 5 through May 10. The Main and Science Libraries will transition to a closing time of 1 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays April 5 through April 25, and the hours will extend to a 2 a.m. closing time April 26 through May 10.

As part of the UGA Libraries’ commitment to affordable access to learning materials, the Libraries recently ceased the collection of late fees from students who return overdue books.

“Overdue book fines are educational materials costs borne directly by our students. Those with the least ability to pay feel the effect of fines most keenly, as do graduate students who are particularly heavy users of the Libraries’ print collections,” said Toby Graham, associate provost and university librarian. “This step will save students about $25,000 per year.”

All of the tools that students need to write dynamic papers and create innovative projects will be on display in a series of workshops from the University of Georgia Libraries.

In the Spring into Research workshop series, librarians and staff will lead virtual discussions on navigating library resources, from the latest online journals to historical material held in digital archives, as well as using citation management software and technologies available for data visualization, map-making, virtual reality, and more.

At UGA Libraries, we ask that students and patrons remain curious and courteous, as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

All staff and visitors are required to wear masks, in accordance with the University System of Georgia policy in place since the buildings reopened in summer 2020. This includes all open study areas and group studying at the Main Library, Science Library, Miller Learning Center, Carnegie Library, Special Collections Libraries, and branch locations for art, music, and curriculum materials.

UGA Libraries will continue to provide course reserve services for faculty planning their courses for spring semester, with some changes due to the continuing COVID-19 situation. Requests submitted by December 11 are guaranteed to be completed and accessible by the first day of Spring Semester classes, January 13.