The Fall 2020 semester has officially begun! The libraries have been open and serving patrons virtually since March, but now our doors have reopened for access to our library buildings. We welcome all of our new and returning students, faculty, and staff. Whether you are on-campus or learning from a distance, the libraries are committed to your academic success.

Keeping the Libraries Safe

This semester, our top priority is the health and safety of all members of the Fordham community. We’ve implemented new safety guidelines and modified our services to continue providing you with as much support as possible while keeping everyone safe.

Most importantly, we are requiring all individuals to wear a mask or facial covering while in the libraries at all times. For the protection of all library users, we cannot allow anyone without a mask to remain in the building.

In close collaboration with the Fordham Forward working group, we have launched the Fordham Forward Libraries website to share updates about how you can access library resources both on-site and remotely. Please visit this website to learn more about:

• Checking out books and other materials
• Accessing course reserves
• Reference and instruction services
• Requesting materials from Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery
• Using online resources
• Policies for using physical library spaces
• …and more!

This website will be updated as needed. Bookmark it and check back regularly for new information. As the semester unfolds, circumstances may change, and we will adapt as much as possible.

Contactless Service

To minimize interpersonal contact and make checkouts more convenient for you, we’ve implemented a new service called Books-To-Go.  You can place a hold through the library catalog, and the book(s) you request will be retrieved by library staff and made available for self-service pickup and checkout. This service varies at each campus library, so please view the site-specific pages on Fordham Libraries Forward for instructions on getting books at your campus.

Need help placing a hold on an item? See our step-by-step guide.

Another change you might notice right away when you visit the library is fewer staff members. Fear not! We are de-densifying our workspaces and staggering our work schedules, but our entire staff continues to work from home when they are not on-site. The best ways to contact us are included on the Fordham Forward Libraries website.

We’re looking forward to a great (albeit unusual) semester of working with you!