This guide will be updated regularly with the most current information about library services for the spring semester. Please review the What to Expect page for information about changes to library spaces and practices for safety and social distancing. Current Vassar students, faculty, staff, and administrators will be able to enter library buildings with their Vassar ID. Hours for the spring semester are posted and updated on our Hours page. 

Don't hesitate to contact us! If you don't find the answer to your question in this guide, if you have an in-depth question about a particular service, or if your specific circumstances aren't covered here, please let us know and we will be happy to help. 

In order to equitably meet the needs of students learning both on- and off-campus, library course reserves will be a digital-only collection this year. Upon faculty request, library staff locate, identify and purchase course materials available electronically to the fullest extent possible through purchasing e-books, scanning, and purchasing digital site licenses (DSL). The forms for reserves requests are below. For more information about submitting requests, copyright and fair use considerations, and other recommendations and caveats, please see our Course Reserves guide.

Instructions for faculty

• If you want only a portion of a work scanned, use the Electronic Reserves form
• If you would like the entire electronic book available, use the Library Acquisition Request form
• For streaming video, use the Streaming Video Request form if the library already owns the DVD (check the catalog). If the library does not already own a DVD of the title, please use the Video Acquisition Request form instead and note that the title is required for reserve. If you have questions about streaming video or would like suggestions for videos available on a topic, please contact Gretchen Lieb, Film and Video Librarian.
• For digital copies of scores and recordings, please contact Sarah Canino, Music Librarian.

In spring 2021, librarians will continue to support Vassar’s in-person, online, and hybrid courses through a variety of online methods. Although we will not be able to offer traditional workshops in library or campus classrooms, we are eager to consult with faculty about the many options that are available for synchronous and asynchronous library instruction.

Visit Library Instruction in Spring 2021 for more details, and contact your liaison librarian to discuss instruction possibilities for your course. 

• Current Vassar students, faculty, and staff can access library buildings using their Vassar ID cards, and may browse the stacks and check out materials at our circulation desks. 
• Please return your materials to the book drop outside the Main Library, on the side of the building closest to Chicago Hall.
• Faculty may request books from Vassar's collection by emailing circulation@vassar.edu with titles and call numbers.
  • Books will be retrieved Monday through Friday and placed in bags labeled with your name. The bags will be left on carts just inside the entrance on the north side of the Main Library, near Chicago Hall. Faculty have access to swipe in and pick up these materials. 
  • If you would prefer to pick up your items at the Main Library circulation desk, just specify this in your email to circulation@vassar.edu.
• Interlibrary loan (ILL) and Connect NY (CNY) services have resumed.
  • Please be advised that we cannot ship ILL or CNY materials off-campus for Vassar researchers. 
• Digital interlibrary loan (for articles and book chapters) is available as well. Login to ILLiad to request digital copies of articles or book chapters.
  • If you're new to requesting articles: view instructions for setting up an account.
  • Your ILLiad user name is the same as your Vassar user name (do not include @vassar.edu) but the password is not your network password.
  • If you have an ILLiad account and do not recall your password, click "Forgot password?" to reset.

• Vassar's librarians are available by email and Zoom. 
• Email your subject librarian or researchhelp@vassar.edu.
• Schedule a Zoom (online) meeting with a librarian using the Ask a Librarian form.
• For quick questions, you can now chat online with a librarian! We are available Monday-Friday, 1-5 PM. You can access the chat window from the homepage or the Ask a Librarian page. 
• Looking for databases and other resources in your subject area? Check out our research guides.