Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.—As Mississippi State continues taking steps to protect the university community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitchell Memorial Library is announcing limited hours and access.
Only MSU faculty, staff and students will be allowed to enter the building, and Custodial Services will remain vigilant in cleaning the facility. Along with this restricted access, the library will operate with limited services.
Dean of Libraries Frances Coleman announced that beginning Friday [March 20], the library’s only open areas will be Access Services, the MaxxSouth Digital Media Center and the Computer Commons. Hours will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Other facilities that are part of University Libraries are closed, including libraries at MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Architecture, Art and Design, and CAAD’s Fifth Year Library in Jackson, Meridian Campus libraries and the university’s Old Main Academic Center library.
Access to the library will be available through the Computer Commons door on the west side close to the Drill Field. Library leaders are working with MSU’s Information Technology Services to enable MSU faculty, staff and students to use their MSU ID cards to gain entry. Mitchell Memorial’s front and back doors will be locked with signage indicating the restricted access and directions for entry; however, these doors will remain operational for those exiting the building.
Students will not be allowed to work in groups and will be asked to leave if they attempt to do so. All group study and reading rooms, including Research Services and the Nicholson area, will be closed. Additionally, the first-floor reading room and fourth and fifth floors will be closed.
Associate Dean of Libraries Stephen Cunetto said Access Services will retrieve any materials patrons need from library collections.
“We encourage people to use the Place Hold option in the online catalog to request these materials. Access Services also will be able to mail books to students and faculty, as well as send materials via campus mail during this time,” Cunetto said. He noted that the library staff have worked out procedures to handle incoming and outgoing mail so that delivery of interlibrary loan materials will not be impacted.
Access to all online resources will continue. For more information on continuity plans for the library visit https://guides.library.msstate.edu/coronavirus/.
“Thank you for your patience during this ever-changing situation, and please let us know if you have questions or suggestions,” Cunetto added.
Mitchell Memorial Library is online at http://lib.msstate.edu/.
Mississippi State is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.