Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery
Update on Library Services for Fall 2020
Updated 10/21/2020
The Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery will provide virtual and contactless services for the Fall 2020 semester. The Library and Gallery building will remain closed to users to ensure the safety of our staff and community.
We have been offering since closure March 13:
A robust collection of electronic resources, including ebooks, databases, journals, research guides, and more, all available from your device. Get started here: https://library.umbc.edu/researchhelp.php
Virtual research appointments and “Ask a Librarian” chat service with our librarians (https://library.umbc.edu/makearesearchappt) and archivists (https://library.umbc.edu/speccoll/research.php)
Purchasing additional electronic books and streaming media. Contact your subject librarian (https://library.umbc.edu/makearesearchappt or send a request directly to libraryacq@umbc.edu.
Providing electronic Course Reserves, with scans of book chapters, journal articles, and archival materials from UMBC Library collections. For information on how to submit your requests via Blackboard visit: https://library.umbc.edu/reserves/
We’ve added a Virtual Study Room where you can work alongside fellow Retrievers for a focused study environment: https://lib.guides.umbc.edu/virtualstudyroom
Beginning July 20:
Scanning of book chapters, journal articles, and archival materials from UMBC library collections, as well as purchasing individual journal articles, all for electronic delivery. Submit your request via Interlibrary Loan: https://umbc.illiad.oclc.org/illiad/logon.html. Chapter and article delivery from partner libraries may vary as conditions change.
Beginning August 17:
Contactless checkout and return of books and media, including physical library materials from UMBC and, to as great an extent as possible, from our library partners in the University of Maryland System. Details forthcoming at https://library.umbc.edu/circulation#borrow. Interlibrary borrowing for books and media from partners outside of USM will resume as conditions permit. Click here for a map of book return bin locations on campus.
Contactless checkout and return of digital media equipment, laptops, and accessories. Details forthcoming at https://library.umbc.edu/circulation#borrow.
Virtual information literacy and library instruction sessions and research workshops. Contact the subject librarian for your department to submit a request: https://library.umbc.edu/makearesearchappt
For up to date information on our services and resources, consult the Library & Gallery website, https://library.umbc.edu/, or our myUMBC page: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/library
Smishing scams are a type of phishing scam which occurs when a malicious actor sends text messages or direct messages. They follow a similar pattern of acting as if they were from a trusted source like banks, government agencies, or even friends and family, trying to trick users into clicking a malicious link or possibly giving personal and financial information.
In recent years smishing attacks have started to become more numerous and sophisticated. Just like with phishing attacks, smishing also spikes during a crisis like COVID-19. These attacks are designed to exploit the public’s fears and anxieties, making their victims an easier target.
According to the article below, many more adults and children will open a text message or direct message on average compared to an email. Malicious actors can also automate the sending of text and direct messages to thousands or even millions of phone numbers and, unlike emails, there is no viable way for a user to block or flag suspicious messages.
These scams are similar to other phishing scams. They will still instruct the user to perform actions that could be harmful. Some of these actions might include:
Replying to the text or direct message with personal or financial information.
Clicking a link that downloads malicious files or directs them to a website designed to gain the users personal or financial information.
Asking the user to call a ‘customer service’ number.
Asking the user to wire money to the malicious actors.
Tips on how to spot and avoid smishing attacks:
Do not click on a link or call a number from an unknown number.
Do not submit personal information to an unknown number.
If possible try to verify the authenticity of the message by finding the sender’s website and official contact details online. For example if a message is claiming to be from your bank, check the bank's website to find the real contact information.
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.
Delete all suspicious texts.
If the sender has a ‘5000’ number, the message was sent via email and could be malicious.
If the sender is anything other than a cell phone number, the message may have been sent via email and could be malicious.
Block unknown numbers if possible.
For more information, please check out:
]]>Recently, UMBC’s Community Leadership graduate program director Sally Scott, co-authored a report, Overcoming Barriers to Homeownership in Baltimore City. The report analyzed if additional first-time homebuyer incentives and more flexibly underwritten loans could reverse declining rates of homeownership in Baltimore.
In today’s Industry Roundup, we take a closer look at this report. We also take a look at genetic ancestry, scaling up quantum computers, and a newly discovered South Pole Wall in deep space.
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