News

This spring, UMD Libraries along with the 17 libraries across the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions (USMAI) will be implementing a new integrated library system (ILS) and searching/discovery service that will go live on May 23, 2024. UMD Libraries will migrate to the Alma and Primo systems, after having been on the Aleph system for over 20 years. Both of these systems are created by Ex Libris®, part of Clarivate.

The 1856 Project held its First Annual Research Update event at McKeldin Library on February 7 to discuss the project’s first research report, Reconstructing the Truth. Researchers shared findings based on historical information from UMD Libraries’ special collections and archives,  uncovered by members of The 1856 Project, Summer Research Initiative participants, Fall 2023 semester undergraduate student interns, and community historians.

James Spring, Library Services Unit Manager in McKeldin Library, has been named a recipient of UMD’s inaugural MVP Impact Award alongside 17 staff members from units and departments across campus. The MVP Impact Award recognizes staff members who, over the past year, have demonstrated a Fearlessly Forward attitude of excellence, outstanding service to the university and their colleagues, and a commitment to improving their workplace. Spring and fellow recipients were honored at a reception hosted by university leadership and each received a $1,000 cash award.

Thirteen student teams from the Gemstone Honors Program have begun to meet with Faculty Librarians to develop research projects on subjects ranging across the academic spectrum. Projects this year include  research on how to track and mitigate the Lionfish Invasion of the North Atlantic, how to improve systems to generalize the production of medicines targeting cancer and how socioeconomic status impacts the early diagnosis of children with autism.

University of Maryland faculty and instructors can now incorporate asynchronous information literacy lessons right into their courses with UMD Libraries' new Information Literacy Toolkit. Each year, UMD Libraries’ Teaching and Learning Services provides nearly 200 in-person information literacy instruction sessions to students taking English 101. Now even more students can benefit from this instruction even if faculty can’t fit an in-person library session into their course schedule.

The University of Maryland Libraries has been named a recipient of the Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine. The LEAD Award honors academic libraries that encourage and support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across their campuses in areas including research, technology, accessibility, exhibitions and community outreach.    

Each year, the University of Maryland Libraries grants up to four $1,000 awards to undergraduates who make impressive use of library materials in their research. The Undergraduate Research Awards were created to promote the value and use of library services and information resources in original research projects.

The front (east) wing of the 2nd floor of McKeldin Library will be closed during winter term, beginning Tuesday, January 2, through Tuesday, January 23, to allow the space to be repainted. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. 

UMD students, faculty, and staff can say goodbye to monthly article limits on New York Times digital content. UMD Libraries now offers access to the New York Times to all current students, faculty, and staff, with the New York Times Academic Pass. The Academic Pass provides digital access to all New York Times online content including news from NYTimes.com, The New York Times in Higher Education, NYT Cooking and Games (including the NYT Crossword and Wordle), The Athletic, and Wirecutter.  

The University of Maryland Libraries is pleased to announce the generous commitment of the McKeldin and Wayner families to establish the McKeldin-Wayner Family Student Success Fund for the Libraries.This endowed fund will bolster the work done by the Libraries to provide outreach and instruction in information literacy, using strategies that reach all students.