As departments across Brock University respond to the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation with the Omicron variant, the Brock Library has made some changes to its resources and services for the start of Winter Term.

Access to physical library spaces will be limited, while online and remote services will continue to be available.

Beginning Thursday, Jan. 6, the Matheson Learning Commons in the James A. Gibson Library will be open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be closed Saturdays and Sundays. Students, staff, faculty and members of the public requiring in-person access to the Learning Commons will be required to book one of 45 individual study spaces in advance. Classrooms A and B will not be available for drop-in use. The bookable spaces web page will be updated in early January with more information.

The Matheson Learning Commons will be closed to in-person use on Tuesday, Jan. 4 and Wednesday, Jan. 5 to allow the Access Services team to implement new physical space changes. No bookings will be available on these days. The Library will do its best to accommodate users’ needs while they prepare the space.

Brock Library’s Digital Scholarship Lab, Makerspace, Map, Data and GIS Library and Makerspace will be closed for the start of Winter Term, as well as the upper floors of the James A. Gibson Library (Schmon Tower floors 5 to 10), including access to the print collection.

Archives and Special Collections on the 10th floor of the Schmon Tower will be open by appointment.

The Library’s Request a Scan service, departmental and intercampus delivery, course readings service, and interlibrary loan service will be available beginning Tuesday, Jan. 4.

The HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service, which provides Brock community members access to about 30 per cent of the print collection in a digital format, will be activated Wednesday, Jan. 5.

The Ask a Librarian chat service is currently closed and will re-open Monday, Jan. 10.

Library visitors are asked to complete the self-screen survey for COVID-19 risk before arriving on campus. It can be completed via web form or through the Brock Safety mobile app.

Masks must be worn at all times. Food is not permitted; however, drinks with a lid are allowed.

The Brock Library will be closed from Friday, Dec. 24 at noon to Tuesday, Jan. 4 during Brock University’s holiday closure.

Questions can be directed to the libhelp@brocku.ca email. It will not be monitored during the holiday closure. Emails sent during this time will be responded to after Tuesday, Jan. 4.

Visit the Brock University Library COVID-19 page for up-to-date information regarding Library resources and services available.