Library Services During COVID-19
As of right now, the library building will remain OPEN.
We are reducing our in-person hours to the following:
However, we will continue to respond virtually via the reference@pvcc.edu email during these times:
- Monday-Thursday: 5:00 PM-9:30 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
We strongly encourage everyone to work from home as much as possible.
In order to comply with the CDC's guidelines regarding social distancing, ONLY 10 PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED IN THE LIBRARY AT ONE TIME. Please sign-in at the front desk.
Group study rooms will be limited to 1 person at a time on a first-come, first-served basis. We have disabled the ability to make reservations from March 18-April 4.
CONTACT US
During this time, we are committed to being available for you. Please do not hesitate to contact us:
- IN-PERSON: No appointment required. The library is in the Main Building near the Bookstore.
- BY EMAIL: reference@pvcc.edu We respond within 48 hours except on weekends and holidays.
- BY PHONE: 434-961-5309
- CHAT 24/7: Get help now with non-PVCC, professional librarians.
COMPUTER USE
- We have 9 desktop computers, as well as in-library use laptops, available in the library. We are disinfecting computers and mice after each use, and have wipes available at the front desk.
- If you would like to borrow a laptop for the remainder, we still have some available through the GOAL program. We are waiving the financial and credit requirements during this semester. Please fill out an application, and we will be in touch.
- Comcast has opened up their Xfinity WiFi for free during this time. Even if you are not a subscriber, you can simply go to a hotspot around town to connect to the internet.
ACCESSING LIBRARY MATERIALS
Online Materials
- All ebooks and article databases remain available 24/7. Go to the library's hompage to search our databases, or access our databases directly using our Database List.
Print Materials
- During this time, we will mail our books directly to your home address (not a PO Box). Simply sign in to our catalog and search for the book you want. Click the Request button and in the Comments field, enter your home address. If no address is listed, we will assume that you are coming to campus to pick up the book.
- Due dates for books have been extended to the end of the semester. All books will be due back on May 5.
INTERLIBRARY LOAN
Article Requests
- Regardless of whether the library remains physically open, we will continue to borrow articles from other libraries for you. Libraries around the world are committed to continue lending electronic articles to each other. Fill out the Interlibrary Loan Request Form to borrow an article that we do not have access to.
Book Requests
- Effective immediately, the library will stop borrowing and lending Interlibrary Loan books due to concerns about multiple people handling physical materials. This decision was made by the ASERL Board of Directors and supported by VIVA Libraries.
- We will request book chapters through Interlibrary Loan. Please fill out the Interlibrary Loan Request Form to request a single chapter from a book.
- If you have already borrowed a book through Interlibrary Loan, we have requested an extension from the school who loaned it to us. You have (or will be) contacted via email with your new due date. Libraries around the country are also committed to being generous with overdue Interlibrary Loan books during this time.
Please stay healthy and positive during this time! Remember that our staff is here for you, and we can't wait to see you all again soon!
