While the libraries of UTRGV continue to be open for students, many of their operations have had to adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic whose impact has been felt by educational institutions nationwide.
Dean of Libraries Paul Sharpe said they are encouraging the campus community to use the library’s virtual resources for students’ and staffs’ safety.
“While the libraries will be open, we are encouraging people as much as possible not to come to the library,” Sharpe said. “And I don’t say that because we don’t want to help you, but we would like to help you as much as possible in a virtual manner.”
Sharpe said the library offers about ninety percent of its regular resources through online and virtual tools.
Services that will continue to be available inside the library are printing, computers and tables for students, while the Special Collections & Archives area is through appointments only.
Students that plan on visiting the library, will encounter changes such as mandatory use of facial coverings, social distancing, and rearrangement of furniture and printing services moved to assigned service desks.
Nursing Sophomore Aglae Palomo said although she will go to the library less often she expects limited capacity of students in the building as well as daily cleaning.
“My expectations… is that they actually follow the safety precautions that they have to have,” Palomo said. “Like, limiting the people that can enter to the library, cleaning… if they reply really quick to our emails.”
Sharpe said student employees will clean tabletops and countertops multiple times a day, while other high occupancy areas such as bathrooms will continue to be cleaned daily by custodial staff.
According to the dean of libraries, to avoid crowding, the library has decided to keep its study rooms closed for the upcoming semester and assign staff members to limit the number of students inside the building.
As of last Thursday, according to an email sent to Vaquero Radio, Sharpe says the hours of operation will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday, and closed on weekends, but these hours may be subject to change.
For more updates, visit the library’s website at utrgv.edu/library.
THIS IS VICTOR RIVERO FOR VAQUERO NEWS.
