The library is excited to welcome students back this semester. Knowing flexibility is key, we continue to serve students, faculty, and staff both on campus and online. In accordance with UM's Culture of Safety, we ask that you follow our guidelines when visiting the library. While these are historic and challenging times, we strive to use both traditional and creative means to serve the UM community.

• Physical access during posted hours with limited capacity to allow for social distancing.
• Access to physical library collection, study space, the Digital Media Lab, and Archives.
• Curbside pick-up and circulation desk retrieval upon request for library materials
• 24/7 access online library website, databases, eBooks, journals, and streaming videos.
• Scan and deliver service for chapters or articles in our collection (requested and delivered online).
• Research assistance at the reference desk or via chat, email, or phone.
• Instruction in person with social-distance capacity limits and online via zoom.
• Embedded librarians as instructional partners within Canvas to meet students and faculty needs as they arise.
• Instructional videos and tutorials for 24/7 access to help.

Fall 2020 is a semester like no other at the University of Montevallo! Here in the library, everyone is doing their best to observe UM's Culture of Safety guidelines. Students, faculty, and staff are wearing masks and observing safe social distance, UM's custodial service is working hard to keep the library building extra clean, and our library student workers are doing an outstanding job of helping to disinfect surfaces in-between cleanings. Even the books are being quarantined for several days between check-outs!

As we navigate this most unusual moment, there are exciting things happening in the library. The surge of online courses has led to a boom in the number of Zoom sessions with classes and online chats with students, and librarians have begun developing a series of online tutorials that students can access on- or off-campus. The Digital Media Librarian recently received an Institute for Museum & Library Studies grant to provide technology and support to students working remotely; and, the library is providing access to additional e-books and streaming videos this year. And Milner Archives is on the move, relocating from the ground floor of the library to a new space on the very top floor!

Carmichael Library faculty and staff are ready to support the UM community in their research and creative endeavors, wherever they may be located. Give us a call, chat with us, send us an email, or just drop in and visit! We're here for you.

Ms. Kathy Lowe, Associate Professor and Head of Reference, retired on August 1, 2020 after 28 years of service to the University of Montevallo. Her professional journey at UM began in 1992 when she became a library staff member. After earning her MLS degree, she was appointed to a faculty position as Assistant Professor and Head of Cataloging in 1996. She transitioned to a Reference and Instruction position in 2000, and served as Associate Professor and Director of Carmichael Library from 2010-2016. From 2016-2020, she has served as Head of Reference and User Engagement.

Some of the many accomplishments of her career include:

• managing the conversion from a card-based print library catalog to an online system
• building a dynamic information literacy program in the library
• overseeing the transformation of the library ground floor to a learning commons
• creating a collaborative learning room on the first floor
• fostering the development a Digital Media Lab in the library

In August, Ms. Lowe was awarded Emeritus Faculty status. However, she still is very much a part of Carmichael Library. This year, she has transitioned to an Adjunct Instructor position where she continues to provide instruction and reference consultation at UM. We congratulate Kathy Lowe on a wonderful career and salute her many contributions to the Library and the University.

To support web-enhanced, hybrid, and online classes, the following databases are featured below. The library has subscribed to some of these databases for years. However, due to the unique circumstances of this school year, some additional streaming video and eBook content was purchased (enabled through use of end-of-year and foundation dollars). And, both Academic Video Online (Alexander Street) and Films on Demand videos are embeddable in Canvas. For each database shown below, click the links and instructions for more information. Or, check out this complete guide.

The library has more than 300 books on the way, here are just a few to add to your reading list.

1. Transcendent Kingdom: A Novel by Yaa Gyasi

2. Rage by Bob Woodward

3. COVID-19: The Pandemic that Never Should Have Happened and How to Stop the Next One

by Debora MacKenzie

4. Florine Stettheimer: Painting Poetry by Stephen Brown

5. A Seat at the Table: Congresswomen's Perspectives on Why Their Presence Matters by Kelly Dittmar

6. They Can't Kill Us All: The Story of the Struggle for Black Lives by Wesley Lowery

7. Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for

Conversations that Work by Tania Israel

8. Protest! A History of Social and Political Protest Graphics

Did you know you can check out DVDs from the Library? Feature Films, Foreign Language Films, Criterion Films, Documentaries, Television Series, you name it, we've got it.

1. Just Mercy directed by Destin Daniel Cretton

2. Toyko Drifter (Criterion Collection) directed by Seijun Suzuki

3. Uncut Gems directed by Josh and Benny Safdie

4. 1917 directed by Sam Mendes

5. Jojo Rabbit directed by Taika Waititi

6. Parasite directed by Bong Joon-ho

7. The Fifth Element directed by Luc Besson

8. Little Women directed by Greta Gerwig

Exciting news! The Anna Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections facility is moving to a new location. Archives is leaving the ground floor of Carmichael Library and moving to the second floor, adjacent to the Pat Scales Special Collections Room. The new facility features an additional 500 square feet of floor space, dehumidifiers, a small reading room for researchers, and solar shades. New windows are scheduled to be installed soon. These upgrades will make climate control more efficient and easier. The added storage space allows us to increase shelving units by almost double. After spending a decade managing student workers, interns, and graduate assistants from afar, the new layout allows the student office area to reside in close proximity to the archivist’s office while simultaneously doubling as the Milner Archives welcome desk. Also, being near the Pat Scales Room is a huge benefit as holdings continue to grow and the space sees increased use by researchers, lecturers, and guest speakers.

As the move is happening throughout Fall 2020, the archives crew is still offering research help via email, phone, social media, and other virtual means. Other projects continue as well, such as updating the Montage holdings from 2011-2019, adding local and campus histories to our digital holdings, and working with the community to provide access to items of local interest.

Click the thumbnail pictures below for a closer look at the old and new archives facilities.

We are excited to announce that the Digital Media Librarian and Carmichael Library Director applied for $48,928 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Studies (IMLS) to make library and digital media lab resources and support available for remote users. Specifically, the aim of the project is to acquire more laptops, wifi hotspots, and battery packs for check-out to support remote learning. The grant was funded in September 2020, and a brief description can be found here.

Also, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the library building closed, the Digital Media Librarian initiated a program (in conjunction with other faculty members) to print and assemble face shields for frontline medical care workers and faculty and staff at UM. President Stewart and the SGA funded to support the endeavor, allowing the library to acquire two new 3D printers and a filament extruder. The DML produced and distributed 2538 face shields and personal protective equipment from March through August 2020. See the news report from WBRC below to learn more.

Watch this short video to see the Culture of Safety in action at Carmichael Library. Masks, social distancing, signage, and cleaning are all a part of the effort to keep the library a safer space.

Email: library@montevallo.edu
Website: libguides.montevallo.edu
Location: 75 College Drive, Montevallo, AL, USA
Phone: 2056656100
Facebook: facebook.com/umlibrary
Twitter: @umlibrary