We regret to inform the campus that the processing of reserves (both hardcopy and E-reserves) will take slightly longer this semester than inprevious semesters. There are several reasons for this situation.

1. The Albin O Kuhn Library, like the rest of UMBC, has been hard hit by the current financial crisis. Several positions, essential to the timely processing of reserves are now vacant with no chance of filling them in the foreseeable future.

2. The USM has installed a new Library Information Management System (Aleph) as of January 2003. This new system necessitates the reprocessing of all reserve material carried over from previous semesters in addition to the processing of any new material for the Spring 2003 semester. We are also experiencing some technical difficulties with the new system that still need to be worked out.

3. The scanning equipment for e-reserves is also experiencing some technical problems. The Library computer staff is working to correct the problems as quickly as possible, but this has caused a delay in scanning new material.

Please be aware that the Library is doing its utmost to ensure that the processing of reserves will go as smoothly and quickly as possible. We ask for your patience and understanding when the inevitable delays occur.Thank you for your consideration.

Questions should be directed to Jessame Ferguson, head of circulation, at ext. 53604