We know, we know, you hear this over and over again, but we have to say it here: the pandemic has changed everything. Whether you’re studying, teaching or working from home, we have all been forced to learn new ways of getting tasks done within the confines of the digital world. And with UBC’s recent announcement that most courses will probably remain remote this Summer, it looks like we are going to be working in our PJs for a bit longer. Unfortunately, quiet study sessions amongst the bookstacks remain just out of reach…
But wait! Hope is not lost! If you haven’t already discovered us yourself, Woodward Library is still up and running online, meeting your library needs virtually as best as we can. What are these incredible services, you might ask? Well here are some examples:
Great Reads
Longing for the adventure of browsing library stacks for that new book you didn’t even know you were looking for? Well UBC Library’s Great Reads Collection brings you a sprawling list of hand-selected books right to your computer screen! Whether you’re looking for enticing fiction or enlightening non-fiction, the Great Reads Collection has thousands of books for you to virtually browse from. All books are specifically recommended by a librarian, so you know they have to be great! Many are available as eBooks, so those of us stuck somewhere outside of Vancouver can still enjoy the list with ease. Still in Vancouver? Use the Library’s Materials Pick-Up service to grab your new favorite book from campus!
Online Workshops
The library has a lot of research tools to offer you, and not all of them are completely intuitive. Starting a new research project can be quite daunting, and accessing a new database is often overwhelming. If you aren’t sick of Zoom yet, our online workshops may be the perfect place for you to get started on your research journey! Whether you’re conducting a scoping review, systematic review, or literature review, our multi-part online workshops led by librarians will walk you step-by step through the process of conducting research on one of our multiple databases. Science research isn’t the only thing these workshops cover: UBC Library offers a wide range of workshop topics, from building a website, designing data visualizations on Tableau, to learning how to use R! Spots are limited, so register for a workshop here today!
Zoom Reference Drop-In
Miss the ease of walking up to the reference desk and getting face-to-face help on a pesky question? Need a second pair of eyes to make sure you used Boolean operators correctly? Well our good-ol’-friend Zoom is here to make library eyes available for you again, virtually! Drop-in to any of our Zoom reference sessions, Monday-Saturday from 11am-2pm, to meet with a library staff member for assistance with easy- to intermediate-level questions regarding using databases, managing citations, or just how to use the library online.
Do you have a more advanced question? Could you benefit from a longer meeting with a librarian specifically related to your research topic? Consult our list of subject librarians to set up a meeting!
We know virtual services will never be the same as in-person. As long as we are stuck online, we at Woodward hope to make your use of the virtual library as easy as possible. Check out our Website for further information, and feel free to email us or drop-in on Zoom with any comments, questions, or concerns. We miss our patrons, and we can’t wait to be back amongst each other on campus!