Milner Library’s COVID-19 Response Information

Current ISU students, faculty, staff, and retirees can request an appointment to access the physical building through their subject librarian if there is a need to access collections, utilize resources only available in the building, etc. Appointments may last up to two hours.

Special Collection is closed; however, access is available by appointment and staff are available for virtual research assistance. Please contact MilnerSPC@IllinoisState.edu for additional information.

University Archives is closed; however, access is available by appointment and staff are available for virtual research assistance. Please contact Archives@IllinoisState.edu for more information.

Yes. Please contact Archives@IllinoisState.edu for more information on current protocols for donating historical items. University Archives is also collecting items related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 15 Redbird Study Rooms with wifi are available to students across campus in a variety of campus buildings. See a full list of available study rooms. For information on what buildings are open, see the current academic building hours.

Items can be requested for curbside pickup or on campus delivery via campus mail. Please see the above section for directions or this post on how to request items. If you need help finding items or would like to schedule an appointment to come into the library, please contact our librarians through our Virtual Reference Desk or contact your subject librarian.

Possibly. Many publishers have worked to allow expanded free e-book and e-textbook access for students, faculty, and staff of colleges and universities. Please see our COVID-19 Free e-Resource and e-Textbook Guide for more information. Please note that books from these sources will not show up when searching the Milner Library catalog. Individuals will need to go through each company to see if books they want to access are available.

Students, faculty, and staff are also encouraged to take advantage of Milner’s electronic resources that are available 24/7 such as Guides, electronic databases, the institutional repository ISU ReD, Kanopy streaming video service, digitized collections, and more. Additional resources from the University include Redbirds Keep Teaching, Redbirds Keep Learning, and Redbirds Keep Researching. Please see our COVID-19 Free e-Resource and e-Textbook Guide for more information on expanded e-book options due to COVID-19 available from various publishers.

Of course! Connect with Milner librarians for research help seven days a week via our Virtual Reference Desk. Help from the Virtual Reference Desk is available to anyone, regardless of University affiliation.

Electronic course reserve items can be accessed through your course’s ReggieNet site.

To request that physical reserve items be digitized, please fill out this Course Reserve Request Form. You can search current reserves in our library catalog. If you have any questions about course reserves, please contact our Virtual Reference Desk or contact Access Services at (309) 438-7321.

Yes. If you do not already have one, apply for a courtesy card online. Once received, you will be able to request items via our curbside pickup services.

Maybe. As more libraries resume services, Illinois Library Delivery Service, I-Share and Interlibrary Loan have resumed in limited capacity. Availability should be reflected in online catalog search. Patrons with any questions should contact our librarians for research assistance.

Physical Access to our Government Documents is limited at this time. To arrange an appointment to access the library (temporarily limited to current ISU students, faculty, staff, and retirees) or for other assistance, please contact Government Documents Librarian Angela Bonnell at abonne@IllinoisState.edu or call (309) 438-2354. Access to online Government information is available at all times to anyone regardless of University affiliation.

Yes. Any checked out items can be returned to our external book drops located outside of the main entrance and in the small lot behind the library, including I-Share items. Items can also be renewed online from the Library Accounts option under Quicklinks on Milner Library’s home page (video explanation available).

Items can be returned to external book drops anytime and/or renewed online from the Library Accounts option under Quicklinks on Milner Library’s home page (video explanation available). All Milner Library and I-Shre items that had a due date of October 1, 2020 have been renewed with a new due date of February 1, 2021. Milner items checked out or renewed after June 23, 2020 have the typical loan period (length varies by item), are eligible for renewals, and are subject to a replacement fee if they go into lost status. I-Share items checked out after October 1, 2020 will receive a new fixed due date of February 1, 2021.

To check an item's due date or status, log into your Library Account (video explanation available). For additional information or for assistance, please contact Access Services at (309) 438-7321.  

If you are unable to return your items to Milner Library, you can drop them off at any I-Share library that is currently accepting returns, or please contact Access Services at (309) 438-7321 for further assistance.

Even though the CDC states that the risk of COVID-19 transmission through porous surfaces like paper and cardboard is extremely low, to be extra cautious all items returned to the library go through a quarantine hold period before they are able to be lent out again. Ways to help us keep items safe for yourself and others include washing your hands before reading, do not handle items if you feel unwell, and please leave the book cleaning to our professionals.

The safety and wellbeing of our campus community is of utmost importance to Milner Library. Some of what we’re doing to help keep ourselves and all Redbirds healthy include limiting access to the building while providing services in other ways like curbside pickup and virtual reference, wearing face coverings at all times, quarantining items before lending out again, enhanced cleaning, and staying home if feeling sick.

Please share any feedback and report concerns via our feedback form.

Physical access to computers at the library is temporarily unavailable; however, virtual access to computer labs is available. Information on campus computer labs that are currently open for walk in use.

No. Certain non-book items such as laptops and calculators are temporarily unavailable. If you are student and in need of a laptop, please contact the Technology Support Center for assistance.

Yes, current ISU students, faculty, and staff can submit 3D printing requests. Once completed, items will be available for curbside pickup

Printing at the library is temporarily unavailable; however, many other places on campus remain available for printing.