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 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.
Get It For Me | Interlibrary Loan
Get It For Me will continue purchasing electronic articles and book chapters via document delivery when available.
We encourage users with borrowed Interlibrary Loan items to hold onto those until the Libraries reopen. We will waive fines for overdue materials.
Borrowing both physical and electronic items from lending libraries is not available since many libraries are closed or offer only limited services
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: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.
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
FAQs
Students: When available, UTSA Libraries will provide online versions of textbooks for reserves. Students should use Get it for Me to request access to necessary reading materials.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, multiple textbook publishers have temporarily opened access to e-textbooks on two digital learning platforms, Redshelf and VitalSource. You will need to create a free account using your abc123@my.utsa.edu email on each platform. To check if your e-textbook is available, search by title or ISBN. You may borrow up to 7 e-textbooks at a time.
Note: Temporary access to these resources will remain available until May 25, 2020.
To add a no-cost eBook to your My Shelf while logged into RedShelf:
1. Go to https://www.about.redshelf.com/redshelfresponds
2. Scroll down and click "Access Free eBooks."
3. Search for the book. If found, click "View Details."
4. Click "Add to My Shelf," and you will be redirected to your My Shelf.
5. Select "Start Reading!"
To get free access you MUST leave the home page and go to the “My Bookshelf” section of the site. You can then use their search box or their “Explore” feature to locate books from participating publishers. Do NOT use search from the home page as it will take you to a payment page.
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.
Because campus buildings are currently closed, access to physical reserves are limited and some requests may not be fulfilled.
For the remainder of the semester, the library will allow unlimited item renewals and waive associated fines. If you have items checked out, please hold onto them until further notice.
If you are able, renew your materials online through My Library Account.
If you encounter issues or have any questions about your library account, please don't hesitate to contact us at circulation@utsa.edu. We will be as flexible as possible when it comes to these items and will address book returns when campus libraries re-open.
For those who borrowed UTSA materials using a TexShare card, please hold on to those checked out items until further notice.
Click on the "cancel reservation" link in your confirmation email to cancel your reservation.
The UTSA Libraries are now closed due the City of San Antonio and Bexar County’s joint Stay Home, Work Safe orders. At this time we are not checking out laptops, however, students needing internet or computer access can reach out to the Tech Café at techcafe@utsa.edu.
Several media companies are offering free temporary service to students who do not currently have online access, including Comcast and Charter Spectrum. Wireless companies such as AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile are offering unlimited data on their wireless networks. Visit utsa.edu/coronavirus/techresources.html for more information.
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.