Mission and Policies

Mission

The Library is committed to providing resources and services that support and enhance the Core Values of Harper College. We respond to our patron's informational needs by developing, maintaining and providing access to a balanced collection of materials and services that reflects the full range of diversity of the college community.

• To acquire, provide, and preserve access to books, periodicals, and non-print material that best support and enrich the curriculum.
• To teach library patrons how to find information and evaluate it effectively.
• To create an educational environment that encourages and advances learning.
• To provide sufficient study space, computer workstations and accommodating hours of operation.
• To provide a formal library instruction program detailing general and subject-specific research skills for students, employees, and the community.
• To assist faculty in ordering materials that will enhance classroom performance.
• To cooperate with other Libraries and consortia in sharing resources to provide optimal access to information.
• To evaluate library resources and services on a regular basis and to participate in the College institutional program review process.
• To encourage the use of the Library by building awareness of our collections, resources, and service.

Any activity that interferes with the rights of other patrons to use the Library, or that is potentially harmful to oneself or library users, staff, the facility, or our resources, is considered disruptive or unacceptable. All library users have the right to read, write and reflect in a safe, quiet and clean environment. In order to protect these rights the Library staff enforces the following policies:

Please refrain from:

• Socializing. Persons disrupting the Library's quiet atmosphere will be asked to cease such activity, use a group study room, or leave the Library.
• Using mobile phones. All ringing devices on pagers must be turned off while in the Library and/or study rooms.
• Using headphones at a level of volume audible to others.
• Eating or drinking anywhere in the Library, including the study rooms. Exceptions are made for meetings when permission has been obtained.
• Sleeping. Library employees reserve the right to wake sleeping persons.

For your safety and the safety of others:

• Library patrons are requested to have valid identification with them at all times.
• Children must be quiet and directly supervised by an adult. Unaccompanied children will be reported to Public Safety after reasonable attempts have been made to contact the parent or guardian. The Harper College library accepts no liability or responsibility for the safety of children in the Library.
• Keep personal items secure at all times. Belongings found unattended will be given to Public Safety.
• Patrons must wear shoes, shirts, and attire appropriate to a public setting.
• Library entrances, exits, and aisles must remain open.
• Do not run, jump, shove or throw any object under any circumstance in the Library.
• Please keep feet on the floor, not on the tables or chairs, and do not attempt to move or rearrange library furniture.

Please respect Library materials, facilities and furnishings:

• Library property may only be removed from the building with authorization through established lending procedures. The Library reserves the right to inspect all parcels for library materials.
• Do not write on or otherwise damage library property including: books, walls, furniture, computer equipment and facilities. Theft or vandalism of library property will be prosecuted.
• Nonpublic areas of the Library may only be entered with permission.
• Solicitation and loitering on library property is prohibited.

Library patrons should follow the posted guidelines for computer and group study room use.

Enforcement:

Failure to cooperate with the direction of library staff regarding disruptions of any kind, or knowingly giving false information, will result in notifying Public Safety. Patrons who fail to comply with the Library Code of Conduct may be asked to provide some form of proper identification, which will be copied for documentation. Anyone who violates the Code is subject to removal from the building, restriction of library privileges, and may be reported in accord with the Student Conduct Code.

Computer Use Policy

The computers in the Library are intended to support the research needs of Harper College. During times of heavy computer use, priority will be given to those wishing to use the computers for research purposes. Time limits may also be imposed.

Computers in the Library are intended for accessing the Internet and library research tools. Each lab station is installed with MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel viewers only. Users are able to open these files from the Internet and may save or print. MS Office files cannot be opened or edited from a disc at these lab stations.

As a convenience to our users four lab stations near the Reference desk, two in the Quiet Study area and two on the first floor by the mircrofilm readers, are equipped with MS Office 2000. The use of these stations is on a "first come, first serve" basis. During busy periods users may be asked to limit their time in order to allow others the use of the computer.

Word processing, installation, downloading, or use of any software not currently on the machine, computer programming, HTML, or attempts to change computer configurations in any way is not allowed.

The area on the second floor of the Library, behind the Reference Desk, houses 17 computers. Email, forums, and chat rooms, and games are permitted only in this area. Persons viewing material that may be offensive to others will be asked to move to this area. If you are in doubt as to which computers to use, ask at the Reference or Information desk.

The Library is committed to providing an environment in which students and employees can work and study free from sexual harassment. Inappropriate display of sexually suggestive or pornographic materials will not be tolerated (Board Policy No. 6.4).

Users are asked to limit printing, and excessive printing may be halted.

Do not turn off the computers or any part of the computers.

Computer labs I223, D131, F303 are available for other computer applications. The Cyber Café in A building and William's Web in L building also offers Internet access.

The Library reserves the right to modify policies and procedures, and will determine the appropriate application of this policy.

VIOLATIONS OF THIS POLICY MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF COMPUTER OR LIBRARY PRIVILEGES.

Laptop Check Out and Use Policy

The computers in the Library are intended to support the research needs of Harper College . A three hour time limit is imposed.

Each laptop is installed with MS Office 2000. Installation, downloading, or use of any software not currently on the machine, computer programming, HTML, or attempts to change computer configurations in any way is not allowed.

The Library’s laptop computers are for use within the library building in conjunction with the library’s wireless network. They are not to be removed from the library building.

While a student has the laptop checked out, the student is completely responsible for its safety and use; the student should not leave the laptop unattended. The student is responsible for any damage or loss that results from misuse or neglect.

The Library laptops are available to be checked out for a loan period of up to three (3) hours and need to be returned at or before the due time. A $5.00 late charge will be assessed for each half-hour (30 minutes) or portion thereof that the laptop is returned late.

All laptops need to be returned to the Checkout desk no later than 1 hour before library closing time, even if that means the loan period is less than the standard three (3) hours. Any laptop not returned by closing time will be considered “lost” and the replacement cost will be assessed.

Always return the laptop to a library Checkout desk staff person; do not leave it on the counter or put it in a book drop. The power on the laptop should be “on” when returned to the Checkout desk.

I understand that the replacement fee for loss or damage to the laptop is an amount up to $2500.00. An additional processing fee may also be charged. All charges that are accrued as a result of violations of these policies and procedures will be sent to the College’s Business Office and will prevent a student from registering for classes for the next term or obtaining diploma/transcripts until paid in full.

The Library is committed to providing an environment in which students and employees can work and study free from sexual harassment. Inappropriate display of sexually suggestive or pornographic materials will not be tolerated (Board Policy No. 6.4).

Study rooms are reserved for one hour at a time. You must vacate the room after one hour if someone else wants to use it.

An individual may use a group study room, however he or she will forfeit the use of the room should a group need to use it.

Belongings found unattended in study rooms will immediately be turned over to Public Safety. (x6330 non-emergency)

The primary use of room F259 is to conduct student-teacher conferences. Teachers may reserve this room in advance for student conferences. If the room is not reserved, and all other study rooms are occupied, a maximum of four students are permitted to use the room for study purposes. The door will be kept locked, unless the room is in use. On-duty reference staff should notify the Information desk attendant of any problems as they arise.

If you wish to meet as a group for non-study purposes, it is suggested that you go to the Student Administration Center (A building), and use the student activities area on the third floor, the student lounge by the fireplace on the second floor, or the cafeteria on the lower level.

Patrons who do not cooperate with these rules forfeit the use of the study room and may be subject to disciplinary action.

The purpose of a William Rainey Harper College Library display is to educate, inform and promote the sharing of information with the students and employees of William Rainey Harper College. A display can be designed by a club, department, or class recognized by the College. The Library reserves the right to edit any display.

Goals:

• Promote the use and circulation of library materials.
• Promote the awareness of Harper events, services, clubs/organizations, and courses/curriculum.
• Foster a positive relationship between the Library, our campus departments, clubs/organizations, students and faculty.
• Promote the Mission and Vision of William Rainey Harper College.

Guidelines:

1. Scheduling will be done as follows:

a) Requests must be made in person, by phone, or e-mail. Telephone or e-mail: Marni Patrick ext. 6584 or Patti Stricker ext 6767.

b) The Library recommends that all displays be scheduled two months prior to setup. The Library will attempt to accommodate last minute requests, but is not obligated to alter the display schedule.

c) At the time of the call, the displayer must coordinate a date and time to setup and remove the display. The time and date will be at the beginning and end of the month.

d) The Library will try to honor the displayer's request for a particular display case or bulletin board. However, use of a particular case or board is not guaranteed.

e) The displayer must prove the club/organization, service, or course is recognized by Harper College.

f) The displayer must use at least three library materials of any medium in the display case.

g) The Library will approve each display. The Library reserves the right to alter or remove the display.