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Research and Instructional Services (RIS)

Our goal is to ensure that all students are information literate.

Mission statement

The Research and Instructional Services (RIS) Department is dedicated to enhancing the educational, research, and service missions of the University by providing support to Virginia Tech faculty, students, and staff and the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia through excellence in instruction, reference assistance and information access.

Librarians and staff of RIS are located throughout: Newman, Art + Architecture, Northern Virginia Resource Center, and Veterinary Medicine libraries. Hours and directions for all the University libraries can be found online.

Below are just a few of the research tools and resources available. Please contact your college or subject librarian for more assistance.

Reference services

Research help

Meet the librarians and staff

Manuals

Tutorials

Classes and classrooms

Tours



Newman Library tour options

Self-guided audio tour

Our primary tour option for individuals is a self-guided, audio tour option with a graded quiz that can be used to show attendance for classes that require participation or give extra credit.

The tour consists of 16 different information stops/points, accessible by using a device to scan a QR code. Once scanned using the camera in your mobile device and its built-in reader or a separate app, your device will play an audio track (with some photos/videos) explaining the different services that are offered in Newman Library and how our collections are organized. The audio track at each stop will direct you to the next stop, where you will scan the next QR code.

To take the tour you will either need to use a smartphone or tablet, have access to Virginia Tech’s wireless network (we recommend wireless over a cellular data network since several sections of the library get little to no cellular signal), and have headphones or earbuds to hear the narration. If you do not have a suitable device, then you can check out an iPad at the Circulation Desk. The Circulation staff will show you how to take the tour.


Newman Library summer hours

Sun: 9:00am - 10:00pm
Mon-Thu, 7:30am - 10:00pm
Fri: 7:30am - 8:00pm
Sat: 9:00am - 8:00pm

Current semester hours

Art + Architecture Library summer hours

Sun: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: Closed

Current semester hours

NVC Resource Center summer hours

Sun: Closed
Mon-Thu: 11:00am - 8:00pm
Fri: 11:00am - 6:30pm
Sat: 9:00am - 5:00pm

Current semester hours

Veterinary Medicine Library summer hours

Sun: Closed
Mon-Thu: 8:00am - 6:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat: 1:00pm - 6:00pm

Current semester hours