Announcing Contactless Pickup for Physical Collections

""Effective June 8, 2020, UVA Library will institute a new process to allow patrons to check out physical materials. At that time, we will begin accepting online retrieval requests for contactless pickup at Clemons Library. The service will be available to current UVA faculty, staff, graduate, and undergraduate students only. At this time, we are unable to fulfill requests for materials from Health Sciences, Special Collections, and the Camp Library at Darden. Current periodicals, newspapers, and equipment are also unavailable through this service.

Read a basic step-by-step of the contactless pickup process or continue reading below for an introduction to the service. Details are subject to change as procedures and policies evolve in response to external developments.

Placing a Request

To make a request for contactless pickup, patrons should locate desired item(s) through the Virgo online catalog, and click the “Request LEO Delivery” button on the item’s catalog record. Library staff will retrieve the requested item and check it out to the patron’s account prior to pickup at Clemons Library. Patrons unable to retrieve items in person at Clemons will be able to indicate this on the request, and Library staff will contact the patron to make alternate arrangements.

Pickup hours will be Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between noon and 5 p.m. When an item is ready for pickup, patrons will receive an email notice that includes a link to schedule a one-hour pickup window. Patrons can come any time within their scheduled window to collect the material. Materials will be held for 10 days to allow for scheduling of the pickup appointment. Patrons who cannot make it to their scheduled appointment must email library@virginia.edu to reschedule.

Requests for multiple items can be packaged together, depending on the availability of desired items and the requested pickup time. Patrons may schedule a visit for each item requested, or wait to pick up multiple items at once in order to minimize exposure.

Pickup Process

Upon arrival at Clemons Library, patrons should go to the public entrance on the top floor. There, they will find instructions at the entrance to use the intercom next to the far-left door to request access to the vestibule. Patrons may also call the desk at 434-924-3684 using a mobile phone. Staff will then remotely unlock the door, allowing the patron to enter to collect their materials from the vestibule (the area between the two sets of doors at the entrance).

Items requested for pickup will be packed in a paper bag, labeled with the patron’s last name, and placed on shelves within the Clemons Library vestibule prior to the scheduled pickup appointment. When handling a patron’s paged materials, staff will wear face coverings and disposable gloves. By Virginia law, patrons picking up materials are required to wear a facial covering when entering the outer doors. Hand sanitizer will be available in the vestibule. At this time, Library staff are unable to permit patrons to enter the library beyond the vestibule.

A note about collections access and Interlibrary Loan

With limited access to borrowing materials from other libraries, we will be unable to send those in need of checked out materials to Interlibrary Loan for borrowing. Therefore, we request that borrowed items be returned when patrons are finished with them and particularly when they are recalled. All Library book return boxes are open across Grounds, including drive-up locations in the Central Grounds parking garage and at Ivy Stacks. Patrons may also return items by mail to:

Ivy Stacks
P.O. Box 400109
2450 Old Ivy Rd.
Charlottesville, VA 22903

Read a basic step-by-step of the contactless pickup process. Details are subject to change as the the situation evolves.  

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