PSA from a former librarian to #AcademicTwitter (esp. #PhD students dissertating, like me!)...

If you need a book for your work, but your budget's tight and you're social distancing LIKE A RESPONSIBLE HUMAN BEING, you have options from your library! (thread)

First, your library has likely devised a system--b/c libraries are magical--for shipping books to your residence. E.g., @msulibraries provides instructions for MSU borrowers here: https://mediaspace.msu.edu/media/Get+Books+at+Home+%28Spring+2020%29/1_wi4gag6a

(Plus, at least for MSU borrowers, the book will come with a PREPAID RETURN LABEL.)

Second, if your lib doesn't own the book YOU. MUST. HAVE. (e.g., for me, it's been recent-ish publications like Data Feminism by @kanarinka & @laurenfklein, Design Justice by @schock, Making it Personal by @TanyaKant1), find your lib's "Suggest a purchase" form...

Usually, these forms allow you to request an e-version accessible from home and to be notified when your requested book becomes available. And at least for @msulibraries, it's relatively quick. I had one turned around in ~4 days.

Third, there are always options for requesting a scan of a chapter you need (and articles not available through your library), though this one may be more widely known?? If not, look for your library's ILL (interlibrary loan) webpage.

Anyway, libraries are cool. The end.