The Gregg-Graniteville Library is here to support the UofSC Aiken community both online and on-campus. To ensure the safety of everyone, the Library has adapted some of its services and policies. Below you will find answers to a number of frequently asked questions. Please note that the below information is subject to change.
When is the library open?
The Gregg-Graniteville Library Building is opening on a reduced schedule. While building hours are limited, our library eresources are always available online and our Ask a Librarian chat is available 24 hours M-F and 8-midnight S-S.
Summer II
Monday-Friday 10:00 am-3:00 pm
Fall
Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-10:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Sunday 6:00 pm-10:00 pm
Thanksgiving-Winter Break
(November 25 - January 11)-Closed
Visitors (those not currently enrolled or employed by UofSC Aiken) must obtain a pass from one of the front desks and will be required to complete a health assessment and attestation form acknowledging understanding of library visitor policies.
Who do I contact if I have a question?
Ask a librarian is available 24 hours a day Monday through Friday, and 8am to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.
Librarians are also available for virtual research consultations by appointment.
Login issues? Please email us via this link or visit our off-campus login guide.
When did the Library building reopen?
The Gregg-Graniteville Library building reopened to UofSC Aiken students, faculty, and staff on July 6, 2020 on a reduced schedule. The library building will be open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday until the end of Summer Session II.
Are masks required?
Yes! The University of South Carolina Aiken requires all people on campus wear masks in public and shared spaces. The library will enforce this policy for all library personnel and patrons. Library faculty and staff are NOT required to wear masks in personal offices.
-Students in individual study rooms are encouraged to keep their masks on as well, both for their health and safety as well as those who come before and after them.
-Masks are kept at the Circulation desk and the Center for Student Achievement desk.
Anyone who refuses to wear a mask in public spaces will be asked to leave.
What safety measures are in place at the library?
- One half of the library seating has been removed to encourage social distancing. Please keep your university identification (Carolina Card) on you when in the library. To ensure there is enough seating for UofSC Aiken students, you may be asked to show your Carolina Card. Once the library reaches capacity, visitors (those not currently enrolled or employed by UofSC Aiken) may be asked to leave
- Plexiglass barriers have been placed at service desks, and all library staff and faculty wear face masks.
- Cleaning supplies will be readily available, and everyone is encouraged to clean their work areas before and after use.
What are the Library’s guidelines for visitors (those not currently enrolled or employed by UofSC Aiken)?
Visitors (those not currently enrolled or employed by UofSC Aiken) must obtain a pass from one of the Library’s front desks and will be required to complete a health assessment and attestation form acknowledging understanding of library visitor policies.
What are U of SC Aiken's Covid-19 health and safety protocols for campus visitors (those not currently enrolled or employed by UofSC Aiken)?
Until further notice, please follow the guidance, developed by UofSC Aiken, outlined in this document when visiting the UofSC Aiken. In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, UofSC Aiken is asking everyone to take personal responsibility to protect the health and safety of UofSC Aiken faculty, staff, students, and visitors. Starting Monday, June 15, 2020, all suppliers and visitors are required to wear cloth face coverings in all hallways, elevators, public spaces and common areas, and when entering any UofSC Aiken buildings.
How do I obtain physical library books while the building is open on a reduced schedule?
Physical library materials (books, DVDs, media) are available for checkout. For everyone’s safety, the library staff prefers that no one retrieve their own materials for checkout. Instead, everyone is invited to use the new library catalog “Find It” to request item(s) from the stacks. You can then either pick up the material(s) from the circulation desk or schedule a curbside pick up.
Please note that Items requested by 8:00 am will be available at 10:00 am for pick up. Items requested by 12:00 pm, will be available at 3:00 pm for pick up.
Faculty & staff can also request items be delivered via campus mail.
The stacks are open and you can locate books on your own when the library building is physically open. Please note that there is a limit of one person in an aisle at a time.
For more information on the new library material request service or curbside pick up, please check out this resource. We have also created a video showing step-by-step how to request and schedule a pick up. You can view the video here.
How do I return books?
To aid in contactless transactions of library resources, patrons are encouraged to return print materials to either the internal book return bin or one of the external book return bins.
We recognize that many students, staff, and faculty are away from campus for the summer, so you may wait until you return to campus (by September 1, 2020) to return your books. We will waive any overdue fines accrued through September 1, 2020. For more information about overdue materials, please see below.
Overdue library materials?
Materials due after March 16 have automatically had their due date extended until the beginning of fall semester (September 1, 2020).
• You are welcome to return materials to one of the two Library book drops.
• You can also wait to return the books when you return to campus (before September 1)
How do I access resources from off-campus?
To learn more about accessing resources from off-campus, please check out this site: https://library.usca.edu/offcampus. If you continue to have problems with your login, please email us via this link.
Are study rooms available?
Individual study rooms will continue to be available; however, group study rooms have been decommissioned at this time. Beginning fall semester 2020, study rooms will be available for three-hour periods, three times per day. Students may book one three-hour session per day.
Study room times will be:
8:00 am – 11:00 am
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
-Only one student may book the study room during the time period. Study rooms are single occupancy.
-Library personnel will clean the rooms at 11:00 am, 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm.
-Students in individual study rooms are encouraged to keep their masks on as well, both for their health and safety as well as those who come before and after them.
-Students will have access to cleaning supplies and will be encouraged to clean their work area.
- Study rooms must be booked in advance via Book a Room.
Has the library’s food and drink policy changed?
The food and drink policy remains the same (no greasy, smelly, messy food and drinks must have lids); however, no one should go prolonged periods without wearing their masks.
Library resources and support for faculty in a distance environment.
If you are a faculty member and need help including library resources in an online environment, we have listed a few helpful resources below. As always, feel free to contact us with specific questions.
- Library Resources & Support for Online Learning guide - https://library.usca.edu/onlinelearning
- Faculty portal: https://library.usca.edu/faculty-services
- Library liaisons: https://library.usca.edu/ld.php?content_id=52473301
I am a faculty member teaching primarily online. Can I still request an information literacy instruction session?
Our librarians are available to teach library instruction sessions online. We will work with faculty to determine the best online delivery method (synchronous, asynchronous, or a hybrid) for the session. Please email Brandy Horne (brandyh@usca.edu) for more information or request instruction here.
What library materials can I access online?
Ebooks
Databases
- Journal articles
- Streaming videos
The library catalog looks different. Did it change?
On July 1, the Gregg-Graniteville Library welcomed a new library catalog called Find it. Our new next generation catalog allows you to find books, journals and more through a single intuitive search. Learn more in our new library catalog video tour here.
How do I locate books online?
Search the Library catalog, then on the left-hand menu select “available online” and limit to “books” under “resource type.” Learn more about our new catalog here.
How do I access tutoring, and academic coaching/counseling online?
Center for Student Achievement (CSA): https://usca.edu/center-for-student-achievement
Tutoring: https://usca.edu/center-for-student-achievement/programs/tutoring
To request and academic consultation:
https://usca.edu/center-for-student-achievement/student-resources/request-academic-consultation
Collection Development Questions (i.e. book, journal, or database ordering)
Contact Natalia Bowdoin at nataliab@usca.edu or 803-641-3492.
Computer access
Library computers are available to UofSC Aiken students, faculty & staff between the hours of 10am - 3pm, Monday - Friday. Additionally, access to computers and printing are available via the labs in B&E 238 will be available 24 hours with the swipe of a Student / Faculty / Staff ID.
Updated 7/28/20