Support for virtual
teaching & learning
The UTSA Libraries provide 24X7 access to electronic resources, including journals, e-books, streaming media, statistics and data, and much more.
Due to the ongoing nature of the situation, these policies are subject to change.
UTSA Libraries are here to help during online instruction by providing access to a vast collection of digital resources and quality reference services via chat, email, and telephone. Librarians are also offering virtual consultations and instruction.
Chat with the Blue Crew!
Need help with resources? Have a citation question? Ask us! You can chat with a librarian from the convenience of your home. Our UTSA Libraries Blue Crew is here and ready to help. Use our chat service at the bottom of your screen.
Chat hours:
- Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
- Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.
UTSA Databases and Research Guides
The UTSA Libraries provide access to hundreds of online databases with journals containing peer-reviewed articles and research, often with full-text PDFs and instant download capabilities. Also find e-books, statistics and data, business information, standards, streaming media, and more. Use your abc123 to access from home. Also, check out our convenient research guides for the best resources and research strategies in a subject-specific area. And our online tutorials will help you get started on any project.
For more details, view our guide for off-campus access to electronic resources
Find your librarian and meet virtually
We are here to help during online instruction! Our friendly and resourceful librarians use their in-depth knowledge and expertise to assist with general and subject-specific research. Schedule a virtual meeting using our convenient scheduling tool. Simply click the calendar icon beside the subject librarian you are seeking and book a time.
Request online instruction
Attention faculty: Contact your librarian to schedule a synchronous or asynchronous library instruction for your online course via Zoom. An instruction session may be recorded and viewed at later date for your convenience.
Special Collections
Special Collections librarians and archivists can provide virtual consultations about our nationally recognized, unique research materials documenting the diverse histories and development of San Antonio and South Texas
Streaming Media
UTSA Libraries provide access to numerous streaming video and audio collections that can be used in class or linked to Blackboard, including educational videos, popular films, documentaries, tutorials, case studies, lab demonstrations, and expert interviews. Options include content from the humanities, social sciences, sciences, business, architecture, education, philosophy, and many more! For a full list of offerings, visit libguides.utsa.edu/streaming. For more on linking streaming content to Blackboard, view the UTSA Libraries tutorial. We encourage faculty to submit course reserves requests for streaming media using the course reserves request form.
FAQs
For the health and safety of the university community, we are unable to circulate print course reserves during the Fall 2020 semester.
Students: When available, we will purchase e-textbooks for reserves. Students should use Get it for Me to request access to necessary reading materials. Due to copyright law, we are unable to scan an entire textbook.
Faculty: All faculty are encouraged to submit requests using the Course Reserves request form.
UTSA Librarians can assist faculty in locating comparable Open Educational Resources. We can also identify potential ebook matches for current courses in the library's ebook collections. We strongly recommend our faculty work with subject librarians to provide necessary reading materials to our students.
The HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS) provides temporary access to in-copyright books available in the HathiTrust Digital Library that the library owns in print. This special online access will be available only until physical library collection access resumes.
Who can access the service?
It’s available to current UTSA students, faculty, and staff.
How do I access the service?
First, log in to the HathiTrust site. Find step-by-step instructions using the HathiTrust ETAS Research Guide.
How do checkouts work?
Books are checked out for on-screen reading for one hour and will automatically renew in an active browser session until another user requests the book.
Can I check out a print book that Is in the HathiTrust ETAS?
To comply with copyright law, we cannot lend print books that can be accessed through the HathiTrust ETAS.
Can I download books in the HathiTrust ETAS?
Books in the HathiTrust ETAS are available only for on-screen reading during one-hour checkout blocks. Other HathiTrust public domain or Creative Commons books can be downloaded if a user is logged in at the HathiTrust site.
More information is available at https://www.hathitrust.org/ETAS-User-Information.
Please contact circulation@utsa.edu for assistance with your library account.
The UTSA Libraries offer three outdoor book drops where you can return items 24-hours a day.
John Peace Library, Second-floor entrance
- Book drop is located to the left of the sliding-glass-door entryway.
Business Building, Drive-through book drop
- Book drop is located along the access road in front of the BB's ground-floor entryway.
Downtown Campus: Frio Street Building, Drop-off Area
- Book drop is located near the semi-circular passenger loading area off of South Frio Street.
Please allow at least one week from the date of return for the items to be removed from library accounts.
Please note, borrowed laptops should NOT be returned to the outdoor book drops. For questions about borrowed laptops, please email LibraryReservations@utsa.edu or call 210-458-4574.
If you are able, renew your materials online through My Library Account.
If you are outside of the San Antonio area and would like to return materials, please contact circulation@utsa.edu.
or you may mail your returns to:
UTSA Libraries Access Services
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX 78249
The U.S. Postal Service offers reduced postal rates when mailing books and other media. For more information, visit USPS.
For those who borrowed UTSA materials using a TexShare card, please hold on to those checked out items until further notice.
Unfortunately, access to UTSA electronic resources are only available to UTSA students, faculty and staff.
Members of the Alumni Association and the Community Borrowers Program cannot access the UTSA Libraries online databases from home due to the nature of our contractual agreements with our database providers.
There are several options, however, for accessing databases and digital collections through San Antonio Public Library, BilbioTech, and other organizations. View the LibGuide for UTSA Alumni, Retirees, and Visitors for more information.