Services for faculty and instructors

The U Libraries have a wide variety of tools and services. This page includes many but not all of the services, tools and Libraries expertise useful for faculty, instructors, adjuncts, staff, researchers, clinicians. These services and tools are not limited to only these groups. If you don't see something you are expecting to see, please contact us.

Doing research: collections

We have a millions of books, journals and databases to support your research needs. We work to acquire additional materials base on research needs of current and future of faculty and scholars.

• MNCAT Discovery is our premier interdisciplinary search tool. It searches our library catalog (physical collections, including our 7+ million books, maps, DVDs, ebooks, etc). It also searches millions of journal, magazine and newspaper articles. It does not search everything. You can go directly to your favorite database using our A-Z list or subject guides. You can go directly to your favorite journal using E-Journals A-Z.
• Want to get to full text articles from off campus? You should usually just need your U of M Internet ID and password. Remember to click the “Find it” button or link. We also have a proxy bookmarklet or you can download Virtual Private Network (VPN).
• We have one of the largest archives in the world with over 20 major Archives with special collections to support your scholarly research.
• Learn about citation and information management tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote to organize your PDFs, create in-text citations and easily create a bibliography.
• Set up feeds and alerts to track scholarly articles, books and other sources for your work. You should develop a system for file naming and strategies for archiving and backing up your work.

Services to support your research, publishing, and grant seeking

• Sign up for a carrel at the Wilson or Magrath libraries.
• Find collaborators or manage your own research profile with Experts @ Minnesota.
• Evaluate your academic impact using a variety of measures, including impact factor, h-index, and altmetrics.
• Share and archive your digital scholarship (articles, presentations, posters) in our open access repository, the University Digital Conservancy.
• Learn about resources, tools and best practices to manage your data or find out how to publish your data using our Data Repository for the U of M (DRUM).
• Get templates to write a Data Management Plan (DMP) now required for most federal grant applications.
• Find tools and consult with an expert on your next digital humanities project.
• Consult with our copyright librarian on publisher agreements and fair use questions.
• Use our tools to find grants to support your travel and research.
• Learn how to Enhance Your Online Academic Identity.
• Learn more about the U’s Open Access Policy (effective Jan 2015) and what this means for your research.
• Identify ways to electronically publish a journal, book, or a WordPress site with our Publishing Services.
• More information is available at our Research Support Services.

Services to support your teaching, courses and students doing library research

• Integrate our rich collections into your courses and take advantage of services that save students money, like Course or Electronic Reserves, Digital Course Packs or E-Books. We can help you to transition away from high cost commercial textbooks and course materials into more affordable and effective course content. We can help you identify material and integrate it into a Moodle, Canvas or other site. This includes videos and streaming media.
• Schedule a customized library workshop to be sure students are able to find high quality research based on your particular assignments or courses.
• Plagiarism is a complex issue. Your subject librarian can help develop assignments and lessons to ensure students understand what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.
• Give students an unparalleled research experience through our world class Archives and Special Collections. Take advantage of our ongoing exhibits and lectures by incorporating them into your courses.
• Try Teaching Support @ UMN. This coordinated service includes support from U Libraries, the Disability Resource Center, the Center for Educational Innovation, and Academic Technology - OIT.

Librarians and experts: help when you need it

We have over 75 subject librarians, archivists, experts and hundreds of Libraries staff to support your work.

• In-depth reference consultation? Set up an consultation.

More on campus

• Center for Educational Innovation
• Academic Technology Support Services and IT Services for Faculty & Staff
• Canvas Course Management System Transition Information
• Office for the Vice President for Research
• Office of Equity and Diversity
• Center for Writing, Teaching with Writing, Writing Enriched Curriculum
• Office of Classroom Management