About

Current Operations Information

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About
Current Operations Information
Decker Library is closed to the public. Beginning August 31 we will provide contactless pick up for Faculty only.

See also: MICA and COVID-19 - MICA's latest set of campus actions, policies, and advice in response to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.

Update: Decker Library will be closed December 18 through January 19

Two-tone graphic, colors separated by a wave line. Top is deep blue with white text that reads, "We will close 12/19, 4:30pm ET," with white outline icon of a half moon and two stars. Right side is bright pink with white text that reads, "We will reopen 01/19, 8:30am ET," with white outline of rising sun icon.

Update posted October 12, 2020.

Decker Library will be closed from Friday, December 18th, at 4:30pm through Tuesday, January 19, at 8:30am. Due to furloughs, library staff will be unable to check emails or voicemail messages during this time.

If you require Research Instruction, purchasing, Scanning from the Collection (DocDel), Interlibrary Loan, or anything else for the first three weeks of Spring '21 semester, you must send your requests by December 4th. 

Information for the Fall 2020 Semester

Keeping people from congregating will slow down the spread of COVID-19 and make it easier for the medical community to keep up with cases. The library will engage in the following practices for Fall Semester AY21 (we are currently in Phase 3 of our Full Plan, beginning on page 12):

What is not happening? 

  • Book checkout to students. 
  • In-person Research Instruction and Research Help.
  • Cash transactions.

What is happening? Virtual Services: 

What is happening for Faculty only: 

  • Contactless pick up of circulating materials (books, Film and Video Collection items), by appointment only. 
    • Requests are done directly through our Library Catalog. Take a look at this video tutorial, breaking this service down step-by-step. 
    • Pick up location is inside Bunting Center. 

Contact Information 

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to reach out to us.

For research help, contact the Decker Librarians: 

  • refer@mica.edu

For everything else, including information about Holds, borrowing, your account, and more, contact Access Services: 

  • circ@mica.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are in the Baltimore area: You can return books using the drop box adjacent to the Library entrance (inside Bunting) to return materials, Monday through Friday 7am-3pm. Please see MICA communication about entering campus buildings before making a trip. 

 

If you are in classes this Fall: Your due dates will be extended until the beginning of the Spring semester. 

 

If you are planning to return to the area for Spring '21: Your due dates will be extended until the beginning of the Spring semester. 

 

If you already plan to take a full gap year or are not returning to MICA: Please contact circ@mica.edu to coordinate shipping materials back at the Library's expense both for domestic and international students. 

 

If you have any other non-MICA material still out (for example Interlibrary Loan material), please contact circ@mica.edu for help in returning the material. 

 

Faculty  and staff that still have material out can use our drop box adjacent to the Library entrance inside Bunting Center to return materials. Please see MICA communication about entering campus buildings before making a trip. 

Databases are available online for MICA students, faculty and staff.

 

Most of our database content is found by searching our online catalog. A list of all of our databases can be found here. 

 

In both cases, login with your MICA username and password when prompted.

 

If you have any difficulty accessing a database or an article, please forward your questions to refer@mica.edu 

 

Yes, if you have internet connection and there are no restrictions to your internet access, you should be able to access all of the Library's online resources.

Access to the Library Catalog and databases from countries that restrict internet access may require the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) software. Use of VPN may also speed up access to the MICA website (including the Decker Library homepage).

If you have restricted internet and cannot have a VPN please contact your faculty and your librarian or refer@mica.edu . We will do our best to assist you in completing your research. 

Note: The image database Artstor requires a login on campus every 120 days. If you've never created a login on campus, or haven't logged in on campus in over 120 days, please email us at refer@mica.edu.

We can currently support streaming either through Alexander Street Press or Kanopy.

 

Please note anyone with a current MICA username and password have access to our streaming services. However, only Faculty can request we purchase new items through Kanopy. 

 

You will want to check if any titles you have interest in are there or if there are titles that could be replaced with something similar. Note that for Kanopy we’re paying $150 for streaming rights for one year, so this is only for faculty to use for a film for their entire class to watch. 

 

We do not have the ability to put DVDs up online, as it is against copyright law. 

Anyone with a MICA username and password can view films we already have licenses to stream on Kanopy. However, only MICA faculty can request that we purchase films we don't already have licenses for (more information about that is located on our website under Teaching Support). 

Faculty must make requests directly through Kanopy, as this is the only way we can fulfill the request. If we have access to a film, it will appear on screen with a play button. If we don't have access to a film, when you click on the film, you will be brought to a request form.

We fulfill requests as soon as we can, but it does take Kanopy a bit of time to process.  Please keep in mind that licenses are typically for one year, so if you keep a film on your syllabus, just double-check we still have access to it. 

What's the difference between Pratt's Kanopy and MICA's Kanopy?  Pratt might have licenses to different films, so if you're searching for a film on Kanopy, we suggest checking both theirs and MICA's to see if the film you want your students to watch is available.

eBooks are available online 24/7 without any special requirements for viewing. If you want to search and read eBooks online, you can search for the book in our Library Catalog, narrow your search to Books, then using Filter Results By, click "Available Online" under Availability. 

You can also go directly to our eBooks Collection database on our Find Articles & Media page. 

Here is a video tutorial on how to find material available online through our Catalog. 

eBooks are available online 24/7 without any special requirements for viewing. If you wish to download an ebook for offline viewing using a desktop computer or smartphone, follow the instructions for a “full download” here. 

Yes, if you don't already have an Enoch Pratt Free Library card, you can register for an Online eCard. "Maryland residents [which includes those who attend school in MD] can now apply online for an eCard that allows access to all of Enoch Pratt Library’s digital resources including eBooks, streaming media, and databases."

If you have any issues with applying for an eCard, please contact us at circ@mica.edu. 

Fall 2020 Survey

How are you working and how can we help?

In an effort to understand our community better and to provide the best possible support during these challenging times, it would be incredibly helpful to hear directly from you. So we developed this survey hoping our community will share thoughts with us.

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