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Coronavirus/COVID-19 Response

Alliance Coronavirus/COVID-19 Response Information

As our member libraries grapple with the current global coronavirus pandemic, the Alliance will remain responsive and supportive as possible through any restrictions your library may face. At the same time, we are also working to be as conscientious as possible about not putting our staff or others at risk for disease transmission.

We are actively monitoring coronavirus/COVID-19 activity and response information from a variety of sources, locally, nationally via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in the libraries we serve. We will continue serving member libraries to the greatest extent possible during this situation. 

EDUCAUSE has a page that focuses on COVID-19 and its implications for higher education institutions.

If you have questions about this or other Alliance information, please continue to contact us through established means, and we will respond as quickly as possible.

We will update the information below as often as possible as the situation evolves.


Information by Topic


Reopening


REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM) is a research partnership between OCLC, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and Battelle to create and distribute science-based information and recommended practices designed to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to staff and visitors who are engaging in the delivery or use of museum, library, and archival services.

Visit oc.lc/realm-project for more information on this IMLS-funded project, research timeline, and committee members. Project updates and resources will be added to this information hub as they become available.



Safe Handling of Materials

The Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) has provided recommendations on disinfecting circulating books in library collections.

Mitigating COVID-19 When Managing Paper-Based, Circulating, and Other Types of Collections Webinar recording
Dr. David Berendes and Dr. Catherine Rasberry from the Centers for Disease Control presented an overview of the CDC’s guidance for community settings and environmental disinfection, and a discussion of how libraries, archives, and museums can help mitigate COVID-19 when working with paper-based, circulating, and other types of collections.  The presentation was followed by a question and answer period.  Please note you will need to register to watch the webinar.



Summit Resource Sharing

Orbis Cascade Alliance Council has voted to suspend Summit service Alliance-wide on March 23, 2020.

The Council also voted to support leniency for due dates and fines. 

Lori Hilterbrand will be working with the Resource Sharing & Fulfillment community to implement both decisions, and will send instructions to members on local steps for suspending Summit. Prior to March 23, we will shut down the rota and work with our courier vendor on temporary storage arrangements for materials.

The Resource Sharing & Fulfillment Team and the Alliance Board will be monitoring conditions closely to determine an appropriate plan for reinstating Summit service. At this time, we anticipate the suspension will last at least two weeks. 

Affiliate members will be making the decision to suspend/resume service at the local level. 


Additional Summit resources

Summit and library operations status spreadsheet - Please contact Lori Hilterbrand at lhilterbrand@orbiscascade.org or 541-246-2471 if you need to update information on this document. This will be our document of record. We are aware that other online locations are encouraging libraries to register their changes due to COVID-19. Members are welcome to use those registries, but should keep in mind that they are not managed or monitored by Alliance staff. Please continue to report changes to Lori for inclusion in the official Alliance registry.

Closures

As of March 20, the Summit rota has been suspended.  Courier service to Alliance members was also suspended as of March 27, but members are now able to reinstate courier service as desired.  With the Summit rota turned off, members may still find value in courier service for use with their other ILL programs and for sending and receiving Summit returns to those libraries that have opted back in for service.  If your library is interested in re-starting your pickup and delivery service with the courier, please have your Council Member (usually your Dean or Director) contact Kim Armstrong, Executive Director of the Alliance.  After the initial confirmation that your library is ready to receive service, Lori Hilterbrand, RSF Program Manager will work with your local RSF Representative to iron out the details.

A timeframe for reinstatement of the Summit rota has not yet been developed, but Board and Council members are meeting regularly and are aware of the major issues impacting that decision.  A crowdsourced document for reopening ideas is available here and is being updated regularly.   Ideas and questions are welcomed.


E-Resource Access

Alliance ER staff will work with consortial content providers (as needed; please contact us) where access has user limits or other restrictions, and ask them to increase or remove those limits when institutions have moved courses online due to COVID-19 concerns.

Additional information regarding Alliance e-resources can be found on the Shared Content page.

  • An overview of the Alliance shared ebook collection is here.
    • ER password required. Please contact us if you need credentials.
    • Publishers include:
      • NEW! Cambridge STM EBA (~10,000 titles now available; 1919-present!)
      • Oxford OSO (frontlist, 2016- )
      • PQ Academic Complete and University Presses (subscriptions)
      • PQ DDA (legacy 2014-17)
      • T&F EBA (pilot 2017-18)
      • Wiley UCBM (transitioning to frontlist for 2021)
        • Complete Wiley backlist access extended through June 30.
        • Beginning July 1, Alliance will have complete frontlist access and all backlist titles purchased under the UBCM plan. 
  • Open Access ebook collections that can be activated in the Alma Community Zone (CZ):
    • JSTOR Books Open Access
    • Project Muse Open Access Books
    • SpringerLink Open Access eBooks
    • DOAB Directory of Open Access Books
  • EBSCO and ProQuest are automatically upgrading ebook access to unlimited for titles from participating publishers that your library (or the Alliance) already owns. (No additional steps required for upgrade.)
    • Note: This expanded access does not include any unownedtitles.
    • ProQuest has provided a list of the temporarily upgraded titles that will be linked from our PQ ebook page for reference. (Added 04/01/20)
  • Trial access to the ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication has been extended for Alliance participants through June 30.
  • A crowd-sourced list of free resources compiled by consortia: Vendor Love in the Time of COVID-19.
    • Note: This content is not prepared or maintained by the Alliance.

Events

Events converted from in-person to virtual:

  • Archives & Manuscripts Service Annual Meeting - May 22
  • DUX/SYS Joint Program Meeting - Virtual Meeting July 27-31
  • Unique and Local Content program day - date TBD

Recorded events:

  • Electronic Resources in Libraries (ER&L) sessions from the March 7-10, 2020 conference are now available for free online. See the Online Conference Logistics page to access the content.

Canceled events:

  • SRU Workshop at WSU Pullman, March 17. (Workshop will be rescheduled for a date TBD.)

  • Portland Library Symposium on ER Accessibility (hosted by PSU and sponsored by PQ) originally scheduled for March 19 has been cancelled rescheduled for September 17.

  • OLA 2020 - Originally scheduled 4/29-5/2 has been cancelled.
  • ELUNA - Has been canceled. (ELUNA information page)
Events with uncertain status that Alliance staff are monitoring:

  • Summer program days and Council meetings.

  • Alliance OER symposium

Alliance Team and Group Meetings: Please communicate with your Team/Group chair if you cannot attend.

Remote Work Resources

The Remote Work Tips, Tricks, and Resources document is a shared space for remote work tips, tricks and resources from Alliance and member staff.  Please contact Lesley Lowery (llowery@orbiscascade.org) if you'd like to add resources to this document.


Council Resources

The COVID-19 Resources for Alliance Council page is password-protected; please contact Elizabeth Duell if you are a Council member and do not have the password.

https://www.chronicle.com/interactives/covid-closures-part-1 

CARES Act Information

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/04/10/listing-funds-each-college-can-expect-receive-under-federal-stimulus

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/allocationsforsection18004a1ofcaresact.pdf


Please contact Elizabeth Duell with questions. She can be contacted via email at eduell@orbiscascade.org.