Virtual Service Desk

Today: 7:45 a.m. - 10 p.m.
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We are practicing safe distancing by offering virtual services and contactless pickup and returns of materials. Use this page for self service topics or to connect directly to library staff with your questions, during regular library hours.

The library building will open for current Macalester faculty, staff, and students on November 17th. Library Hours

Contactless Pickup: All Book, DVD, CD Checkouts

We are using Contactless Pickup for ALL physical library and interlibrary loan items for all of Fall 2020. The library continues to provide Contactless Pickup via online requests for all items. The library shelves are not available for browsing or self-service.

Students Living Away from Campus

Not living on or near campus? Not to worry! We are ready to  help you get the books and library resources that you need:

  • Electronic Resources: You can find a variety of academic ebooks, articles, and streaming videos
  • Interlibrary Loan is a also great resource for you:
    • As usual, you can request journal articles and book chapters for electronic delivery (no interlibrary loan delivery to off-campus locations for print/physical items)
    • Books that our library has in print: Students at a distance can request portions or chapters from a print book in the library. Create an interlibrary loan request for the chapter, add a note in the request that you are living at a distance from campus.
  • Research Consultations: Need books or other materials not owned by Mac? Set up an appointment with a research librarian.
  • Ask Us form: Send us your questions (or library@macalester.edu for students not able to access Google Apps)
  • Digital Commons downloads with Document Type: Honors Project On-Campus Access Only. If you are off campus, you will need to use the campus Virtual Private Network (VPN) in order to download these. Contact scholarpub@macalester.edu for questions about Honors Projects in Digital Commons.
    (Instructions for setting up VPN: Mac or Windows; Need help? helpdesk@macalester.edu)

Equipment checkout: TechCheckout

  • Equipment checkout has moved to the Digital Resource Center (DRC): dongles, microphones, speakers, cameras, etc. Browse and book equipment: TechCheckout.
  • No laptop checkout on campus. Students who do not have access to a laptop that meets their academic needs should reach out to financial aid via the Emergency Aid Program (EAP).
  • The bike share program is currently not operating.

Interlibrary Loan (borrowing/obtaining from other libraries)

  • Interlibrary Loan Guide: for more information about creating an account, electronic delivery, and more!
  • ILLiad: Login to your ILL account
  • Use the Contactless Pickup Instructions, after you receive notification that the item is ready.
  • Use interlibrary loan to request journal articles (electronic delivery) and print books (campus pickup) from other libraries. You can also use it to request:
    • a single chapter from a book at another library (electronic delivery)
    • an article from the library’s print journal collections, including popular magazine titles that the library has in print but not online, such as The Economist
  • If your account is “blocked” because you have recently returned another interlibrary loan item that is still in quarantine (5 days or longer), contact interlibraryloan@macalester.edu

Note: Interlibrary loan (ILL) is a service provided by a network of libraries. Service will be slowed due to Covid-19 safety measures such as brief item quarantine periods. In addition, other libraries may not be able to lend to us at the speed and capacity that they have in the past.

Questions: We’ve Gone Virtual

Technology and Printing/Scanning