Resources and Services for Faculty

We’re happy to bring the library to your students, either in your classroom or in our Inspirational Learning Center (up to 30 students). Most sessions cover how to find and use library resources, but we can tailor instruction to your course goals. If you do not need a full lesson, we can lead a library tour or provide on-site research support while your students work.

If you have any questions or are interested in setting up a visit, please email library@avila.edu or contact Library Director Tom Pfeifer.

Library staff can help you identify articles, books, videos, and other resources in our print and online collections for your courses. We can help you to find new materials, or we can check to see if your existing links or resources can be accessed freely through the library. Shareable permalinks are available for your courses, offering more reliable and durable access than standard web links.

To get help, email us at library@avila.edu or schedule a meeting in person, on Teams/Zoom, or by phone at 816.501.3621.

In addition to extended loan periods on many materials, the library offers several collections with access limited to faculty and staff.

• Faculty DVDs: Over 1,000 titles, including documentaries, educational videos, and notable films. Students may view these in the library, but only faculty and staff can check them out for instruction or personal use and keep them through the semester.
• Print Periodicals: All users may read print periodicals in the library, but faculty may borrow them for seven days. Check with the Circulation Desk, as some processing may be needed before borrowing.
• Reference Books: Students use these in the library, but faculty may check them out for seven days following standard borrowing procedures.

The library maintains a Professor’s Suggested Reading collection to highlight books recommended by faculty for the Avila community. Unlike Course Reserves, which focus on materials for a specific class, this collection shares titles you consider important for all students or for particular programs.

Books currently included in Professor’s Suggested Reading can be found in the Avila Library Catalog. To add or remove books listed under your name, please contact Library Director Tom Pfeifer.

The Avila Library is a central spot to share information with students. You can post flyers about events, classes, or other relevant topics on our designated wall. Please contact us in advance if you’re unsure if a flyer is appropriate. The library is also home to a career collection and career corner, please contact Career Services before posting in these areas.

Library staff also create displays throughout the year to highlight collections, celebrate holidays, or promote academic programs. If you would like to request or collaborate on a library display, please contact Library Director Tom Pfeifer.

Faculty may borrow freely from the library’s print collection, which includes over 35,000 books, 1,300 DVDs, and hundreds of periodicals. The collection supports both scholarship and recreation. Many items qualify for extended loans, including semester-long checkout for select resources. While there are no late fees for faculty, please request approval before keeping materials past the semester or their due date.

You can search and place holds on our print materials in the Avila Library Catalog, and renew items on the catalog’s Holds & Checkouts page.

Faculty have full access to the library’s databases, eBook collections, and individually purchased online titles, including a complimentary subscription to the Wall Street Journal. These collections focus on scholarly materials for research and instruction, but also include options for reading and viewing enjoyment.

We recommend starting with Search Everything, the library’s search engine. You can also browse our Databases page, which lists recommended resources by subject along with an A to Z index.

When conducting research, you may like to use reliable online sources like Google Scholar or PubMed. These platforms are helpful for finding articles, but many results may provide only abstracts or be behind paywalls. The Avila Library offers a browser extension called LibKey Nomad, which works with most browsers to enhance access to resources you find online.

After installing LibKey Nomad, select Avila University as your library. The extension will then display buttons in the lower-left corner of articles you find:

• Full Text: Opens the PDF or online full text from the Avila Library. You may need to sign in with your Avila credentials.

• Article Retracted: A red button indicating the article has been retracted. Clicking it leads to a landing page with the retraction notice, related articles, and access options.

• Manuscript: Provides the PDF or online full text of a pre-publication version.

• Access Options: Indicates the library does not have full text. Clicking provides alternatives, including Interlibrary Loan requests.

• View Complete Issue: Opens our BrowZine database to see all articles in that issue with full text links.

Note: LibKey Nomad works only with scholarly articles.

Avila is a member of MOBIUS, a consortium of more than 70 libraries in Missouri and neighboring states. Faculty can borrow books and DVDs from other MOBIUS libraries at no cost, with delivery to the Avila Library in about a week.

You can search and request materials directly through the MOBIUS Catalog, which works almost the same way as the Avila catalog, with one extra step to select your home library. Periodicals and online resources are not available through MOBIUS.

If a resource is not available at Avila or through MOBIUS, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan. ILL searches libraries nationwide, making it a good option for hard to find books and articles.

There are two main request types. Article requests deliver a PDF copy by email, usually within a week and often within a day or two. Book requests send a print copy to Avila for you to borrow, which typically takes one to two weeks.

ILL requests are free. On rare occasions, lending libraries may charge a fee, but the Avila Library will cover these costs for faculty.

Library Spaces
The Avila Library offers eight reservable rooms and many open seating options, including booths, tables, and computer stations. Whether you need a quiet spot between classes, a place to work outside of your office, or a classroom for 30+, the library has flexible spaces to support you.

Open Seating (No Reservation Needed)

• Booths: Along the far wall, with natural light, athletic field views, and nearby outlets.

• Computers: 16 Windows and 6 Apple computers, available with your Avila login.

• Quiet Study Area: The library’s only designated quiet zone, with natural light, quad views, and desktop computer access.

• Tables: Available throughout the library in different sizes, many with built-in outlets.

Reservable Rooms
Six study rooms and two large learning centers can be reserved in advance or the same day (allow 15–30 minutes if a room is in use). All rooms include tables, writeable walls, and seating; many have TVs with screen-casting capability. Reservations can be made at the Circulation Desk or by phone at 816.501.2912.

• Inspirational Learning Center: Seats 30 comfortably, 6 tables, 2 TVs.

• Mabee Transformational Learning Center: Seats 20 comfortably, 4 tables, 4 TVs.

• Study Rooms 1–6: Seats 5–8, 1 table per room, rooms 1, 3, and 6 have TVs.

Reservations may be cancelled if the room is not occupied within 15 minutes of the start time.

Library staff are happy to help with your research and information needs. Stop by the Circulation Desk for quick questions, use the chat box found on this and most library web pages, or call 816.501.3621.

For more in-depth support, you can schedule a meeting with a librarian by emailing library@avila.edu. You are also welcome to contact Library Director Tom Pfeifer directly with any questions or concerns.