When you are working remotely or when the Libraries are closed, there are many ways the Libraries can provide you with expert help and services.
Online Materials and Tools
We have thousands of digital materials available for you that can be accessed remotely. Learn more about off-campus access.
- eBooks and Online Collections
- A-Z Database List*
- eJournals | Browzine Guide (tool to read, save, monitor eJournals)
- Research Guides
- Special Collections Digital Projects & Collections
- Software in the Research Studio
- Open Scholarship
- Expanded Content Access during COVID-19: A Roundup
*Having trouble accessing databases? Open a proxied session first, and then login to VPN.
Get Online Help
Last-minute citation question? Want help with research? Need to reach us from off-campus? Ask us! You can email us or chat with a librarian from the convenience of your home! This service is staffed by subject librarians who are happy to help you with your research needs.
Librarian Consultations
Subject librarians with expertise in specific areas are available for remote consultations with faculty and students via phone, email, or online (e.g. Zoom).
Data Services
Help Desk
Data Services staff are available to assist you directly during the times listed below. Please visit their online help desk hours via Zoom by clicking on the links below:
- Mondays from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- Tuesdays from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Thursdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
They are also available by appointment. Please reach out to them via the Data Services Appointment Request form. The GIS Research Guide contains additional helpful details.
Research Studio
The Research Studio provides appointment-based access to specialized software relating to geographic information systems (GIS), data management, data visualization, qualitative data analysis, and quantitative data analysis. See our full list of software available and learn more about remote access.
Class Resources
Students
- Access class reserves by logging into ARES.
Faculty and instructors
Course reserves:
- Only electronic reserves are available at this time.
- All Ares eReserves requests need to be submitted through the Ares website.
- For adding course reserves to your online course, we recommend directly linking to Library resources. You can link directly to articles from WashU-subscribed databases from your Canvas site via the permalink for a source. For more information on how to do this or to get assistance from a librarian, please see our guide Integrating the Library into Canvas.
Library instruction: Librarians will continue to support courses through asynchronous instruction. We can work with faculty and students via email, on Canvas, and on meetings in Zoom. See our Library Instruction page for additional details.
Copyright considerations: For more information on copyright and online courses, see Rights Issues for Rapidly Shifting Courses Online.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and MOBIUS
- Patrons can request physical materials (to be distributed via curbside pickup) along with electronic book chapters and articles through Interlibrary Loan and MOBIUS.
- We will supply PDFs from the Libraries’ electronic and print collections. We may be able to obtain PDFs from other libraries, but the scans will be slow to arrive and have a higher rate of cancellation.
- ILL is only available to current WashU students, faculty, and staff.
- Also please note that Becker Medical Library and the Law Library operate separate ILL services.
Special Collections
Curators in the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections are available to assist Washington University faculty, staff, and students with obtaining virtual access to materials for research and instruction. We also encourage our users to take advantage of our extensive Digital Projects & Collections resources.
