With Taylor moving to an entirely online platform, many in-person resources have changed or ceased within the last month. However, the Zondervan Library and Academic Enrichment Center are still almost entirely operational for student use.
“With the current suspension of in-person classes and move to remote learning options, the Zondervan Library is committed to supporting students and faculty through online resources and services,” the library wrote on their website.
While campus is closed, the library is still looking to help both students and staff to the best of their ability, using all of their available resources.
Scott Gaier, director of the Academic Enrichment Center, stated that these services include peer tutoring, the campus writing center, accommodations for students with disabilities and helping students one-on-one.
Gaier ensured that resources would be available just as they would on campus.
Even as a satellite community, Taylor still looks to uphold its goal of helping students however possible.
“Our goal is to support students through the end of the semester and to help all students succeed academically,” Gaier said. “The Academic Enrichment Center continues to provide the same services as we did prior to the transition to virtual learning — our biggest challenge is the same thing facing everyone . . . how to deliver services and educational support when we can’t meet face-to-face.”
The library has also implemented a new chat system, hoping to improve communication between students and Zondervan resources.
This chat service can be found on the library website.
This chat will be staffed from noon to 5:00 p.m. beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. There will be additional evening hours between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. beginning March 30, 2020 until the end of the year.
As well as retaining these current resources, Zondervan is also looking to implement new resources for students and faculty.
One such resource is a new tutorial tool for users to more easily utilize the library website. These tutorials are listed in video format on the library website. In addition to these video tutorials, Zondervan Library has also created “Digital Librarian Dialogue” sessions for students and faculty.
Although the library is not allowing print books to be checked out, many new digital tools are being made available as well.
New articles are being obtained through interlibrary loan, in hopes to provide students with whatever texts they need for class. In addition, the library is providing eBooks to address various teaching and research needs per request. Book chapters and articles are also available to be scanned for library patrons.
For students and faculty with current print texts already checked out, due dates have been extended; furthermore, all library fines for the spring semester have been eliminated for the duration of the semester.
The Zondervan Library, and the Academic Enrichment Center, encourage any students or faculty to contact them with any questions or concerns.
“Let us know how we can help ― we’ll go the ‘extra mile’ to connect students and faculty with resources they need,” said Dan Bowell, university librarian.
