We know there is a lot of disruption due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the University's responses aimed at creating a safe environment for all.  We want you to know that the University Libraries are here to support you and to continue to provide you with excellent resources and information services.  We have a robust set of resources and services that are available to the University community, whether you're working from home, from your dorm room, or somewhere else.  This guide will point you to those collections, services, and resources.  While this guide was created in response to the University's move to online teaching due to COVID-19, online resources are available any time.

Returning Checked out Materials

Book drop returns

If you would like to return a book, you can do so at one of our book drops at O'Shaughnessy-Frey library.  There are three book drops you can use:

• On the west wall between the O'Shaughnessy-Frey library entrance stairs and the OEC.
• On the south wall of the library on the side by the greenhouse.
• Please do not return DVDs or other media materials to the book drops as these can be damaged. You can return those items to the O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library circulation desk 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday.

If you have graduated and have library items that you can't return to the O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library's book drops, please contact circulation@stthomas.edu to discuss options for returning materials.

Ask a Librarian!

Connect with a Librarian via Chat (purple box at bottom right) and Text (651-504-1324) 

• Monday-Thursday 10:00am - 10:00pm
• Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm
• Sunday 1:00 - 5:00 pm
• During off-hours, you can still get chat reference help through AskMN, a cooperative service with other academic librarians.

Ask a Librarian and Email

• Email a librarian anytime or use our Ask a Librarian form and we'll answer as soon as we can.

Make an appointment for a Research Consultation

• Contact the subject librarian to schedule a one-on-one research consultation. Consultations can by done via Zoom, phone, or email: whatever works best for you!

Guide organization:

• Materials and Collections online: Many of our materials are available online. Learn about the best ways to find and use them.
• Print books and physical materials: More details on our print books and physical materials lending
• Research help: All the different ways to get research help from our librarians when you can't come into the library
• Library integrations for online courses: Ways that you can integrate library resources and instruction into your online course
• Open Resources during COVID-19: Many of our vendors, publishers, and databases want to support our faculty and students when so many are unable to go to a library and are taking classes online.They've made some or all of their resources available for free.
• Get Full-Text Faster:  We have a chrome extension called LibKey Nomad that will automatically link you to the library's full-text of an article if it's available.  This makes accessing articles online much faster when you're not on campus.