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University Libraries Policies [DRAFT v.2]
University Libraries Policies [DRAFT v.2]
University Libraries Policies [DRAFT v.2]
The University community is encouraged to use the Library as a place for research, study, reflection, and leisure. To promote a welcoming environment, University Libraries permits the consumption of food and drink on the premises.
Food and drinks are permitted in all areas of the Library, except:
- Electronic Classrooms,
- May 4 Resource Room,
- Special Collections Reading Room,
- Student Multimedia Studio.
Food and drinks should not be:
- stored in the library overnight.
- carried into the book and periodical stacks.
- Drinks are permitted in covered containers only.
- Food and drink refuse is to be discarded in trash receptacles.
- Spilled food or drink should be cleaned immediately with paper towels available in all restrooms.
Please be mindful of designated quiet study areas of the library, such as the 8th floor. Certain areas such as event spaces, classrooms, and group study rooms may facilitate livelier conversation.
Displays in the University Library seek to further the University's educational and cultural mission by sharing resources and information that enlighten and promote discussion and engagement. As such, the displays will highlight:
- The Libraries' collections, services, and events
- major events on campus or in the community
- University and community resources
- Postings and Bulletin Boards
Display cases are available to any University department or recognized student organization, as well as to non-affiliated organizations that reflect the educational or cultural interests of the University. University Libraries reserves the right to accept and/or refuse any display, guided by University policy and the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights.
Fliers and leaflets can only be placed on designated bulletin boards within University Libraries facilities. You may not place fliers or advertisements:
- In any faculty or staff work area, such as the 5th floor.
- On vehicle windshields;
- Inside classrooms, laboratories, libraries or offices; or
- Door-to-door or in corridors adjacent to student rooms in residence halls.
- Near (approximately ten feet of) any doorway or stairway or in any manner so as to create a safety hazard or impede normal traffic
- On stairways
- In food service and other retail sales areas
- In meeting rooms (unless with permission of the group that has scheduled the event)
- In restrooms.
University Libraries (UL) instructional spaces are available to University users for class and training needs on a limited basis. UL instructional spaces are also available to non-Kent State University groups and KSU fee-based programs such as workshops and continuing education classes; these groups will be assessed a rental charge for use of the rooms.
- A two-day cancellation notice is required; please email Pam Lemmons (plemmons [at] kent.edu). "No Shows" and non-cancelled rooms are subject to a $25 fee.
- Reservations for University Libraries instructional spaces should be made by completing the Reservation Request Form.
- Rooms may be scheduled for same-day use Sunday through Saturday.
- Rooms are scheduled in one hour blocks. You may schedule Group Study Rooms for a total of two hours per day. The two hours may be a combination of one hour in one room and one hour in another or two hours in the same room. The hours may be back to back or at different times during the day.
- If your group has scheduled a room and does not show up within 15 minutes of your scheduled time, you forfeit your scheduled time and others may use the room for the remainder of the hour.
- Repeated no-shows will result in you being blocked from scheduling rooms in the future. If your group has registered for a room and must cancel within 24 hours of the scheduled time, please call the first floor Library Services Desk to cancel.
- The room schedule for the day can be accessed by scanning the QR code posted outside the room.
- If a room is not scheduled for a particular hour, that room is available to be used by any group of two or more students.
- When your group's scheduled time is over, if the room is scheduled by another group for the next hour, please leave the room promptly.
The primary purpose of the May 4th Resource Room is to serve as a place for students to inquire, learn, and reflect on the events of May 4, 1970. The room also houses a group of selected artwork, artifacts, and non-circulating publications related to May 4.
Informal, impromptu gatherings are permitted with the knowledge that others may also expect to use the room during that time. When reserved, the Resource Room is unavailable to others. Reserved periods are clearly posted.
Eligibility for Reserving the May 4th Resource Room
- Kent State University student-related organizations, clubs, or committees with a responsible party (member/advisor/leader).
- Kent State University faculty member with a small group of students for the purpose of instruction or review.
- The Room may not be reserved by University departments nor by parties not affiliated with Kent State University.
Scheduling Guidelines
- Meetings of the May 4th Student Task Force take scheduling precedence each semester.
- The Room is available only during regular building hours.
- In all cases, maximum group size is 4.
Use Guidelines
- Nothing may be affixed to the walls.
- Additional software needs cannot be supported, nor may users install additional software on the Room's computer.
- Rearrangement of the furniture is not permitted.
- Parties using the Room are responsible for restoring the Room to its original condition after use. Any group leaving the Room in disorder is liable for a labor charge to clean and/or reset the Room.
- Use of the Student Multimedia Studio (SMS) is limited to currently enrolled Kent State University students. During peak use periods, the SMS reserves the right to give priority to students working on multimedia presentations to fulfill course assignments.
- The SMS workstations are not intended to be used for email, gaming, web browsing, or for the downloading of music or video files unless associated with the creation of a multimedia project or presentation.
- Students are advised to have an SMS Consultant demonstrate the proper use of hardware and/or software prior to beginning a project to assure that all settings are correct for that particular project. During periods of high demand, SMS Consultants may only be able to provide a quick overview in the use of SMS equipment and software. During these periods, students requiring more extensive instruction should schedule an appointment with the head of the SMS for more comprehensive assistance.
- The general multimedia workstations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. On the other hand, the audio recording booth, podcasting studio, video edit suites and video digitizing may be reserved in advance through the respective pages on each technology.
- Students are permitted to temporarily modify basic configurations or install free software, plugins and fonts to the machines as the computer allows, with the understanding that such a request may be refused by SMS staff for any reason, and will be erased when the machine shuts down or reboots. Any installs that require an administrative password will not be permitted.
- Users must abide by current copyright law. For more information about current copyright law visit the University Libraries Copyright Services page or the US Copyright Office website.
- Students are expected to work so that they do not interfere with or disturb other students using the SMS. Students working with audio should bring in or check out headphones from the Library Services Desk. Loud cell phone use is not permitted.
- The SMS endorses the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read statement of the American Library Association. While the SMS does not censor access to material or protect users from offensive and/or inaccurate or incorrect information, it fully supports the university's commitment to civility as key to the meaningful exchange of ideas. Therefore, no public SMS workstations are to be used with the intent to intimidate, harass, or display hostility toward others (e.g. hate literature, pornography). Users are also asked to be sensitive to material that others in a public place might find offensive.
- The Student Multimedia Studio and its employees are not liable for any loss, damage or expense sustained by any user, due to the use of the SMS services, equipment, software, advice or information.
All users of workstations located within UL have a responsibility to use these resources in an ethical and legal manner. The guidelines that govern the use of these workstations are derived from University policies, from other legal considerations, from standards of common sense and decency that apply to the use of any shared resource, and from concerns to maintain these workstations as effective, available resources.
Guidelines for appropriate use:
- Use of UL workstations is limited to educational purposes. These include resource discovery that fulfills class assignments, enhances career development, and promotes general knowledge gathering.
- Users may not load their own software on these workstations nor in any way modify their system hardware configuration.
- UL endorses the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read statement of the American Library Association. It does not censor access to material or protect from offensive and/or inaccurate or incorrect information. However, it fully supports the University's commitment to civility as key to the meaningful exchange of ideas. Therefore, UL workstations are not to be used with the intent to intimidate or harass (e.g., hate literature, pornography). Users are also asked to be sensitive to material that others in a public place might find offensive.
- Users must abide by current copyright law.
University policy on responsible use of information technology: https://www.kent.edu/policyreg/university-policy-responsible-use-information-technology
Kent State Students, faculty, and staff are free to check out materials. Students, faculty, and staff from OhioLINK member libraries are also eligible to check out certain materials.
Not currently a student or affiliated with Kent State University? You can borrow materials as a Community Borrower. Learn More about Community Borrowers.
Fines
Kent State University Libraries makes a wide range of materials available to our users and greatly appreciates having those items returned on or before their due date so that others may also use those materials. In those few cases where items have not been returned on time, those items are considered lost and will be billed for replacement. Items that are returned damaged may also be billed for replacement. Each item that has been billed for replacement will also be subject to a $25 Processing charge, whether or not the item has been returned.
Lost Items/Replacements
Patrons may provide a replacement copy for lost or damaged items, instead of paying the applicable replacement cost. A replacement copy must be the same title and edition of the lost or damaged item and must be in new or like-new condition.
- Library staff reserves the right to determine if a replacement is in acceptable condition.
- The replacement may not be possible for some items, and the replacement charge will have to be paid.
- Accepted replacement copies will be assessed the $25 Processing charge.
- See the Replacement Copy Submission Form for detailed information and instructions.
Kent State University Libraries welcomes offers of gift materials to our collections. All offers will be evaluated to determine whether the donation meets library collection objectives and is consistent with the learning, teaching, and research needs of Kent State University. Please note the following:
- All gifts are made with the understanding that University Libraries reserves the exclusive right to make any future collection decisions (e.g., where to store the materials, deaccessioning, etc.) related to the gift items.
- University Libraries may choose not to add donated materials to the collection for a variety of reasons, such as duplication of existing titles or poor physical condition. Any donated materials that are not added to our collection may be sent to other libraries, sold, or recycled.
- University Libraries does not return any donated items that are not added to the collection.
- Gift materials selected for addition to the collection are cataloged and processed as time permits. There may be a significant delay between donation and processing of the materials for our collection.
If you are interested in donating materials that you believe are archival or historical to Kent State University, please visit the department of Special Collection & Archives: Donations & Gifts FAQ for more information.
Kent State University students, by University Policy, own the copyright to works they create for your courses or for the fulfilment of your degree requirements. This includes papers, short stories, poetry, original music, painting, sculpture, choreography, computer programs, theses, and dissertations...any "original works" in a "fixed and tangible medium." Because ideas cannot be copyrighted, these works must be original, creative expressions of ideas, whether word processed, painted on canvas, notated, recorded, or sculpted. The creator owns the copyright for the first and any subsequent drafts, all the way to the finished work. Works do NOT need to be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office to be copyrighted; copyright is automatic once the original expression of an idea is in a fixed and tangible medium.
For more information, visit Copyright Services.
University policy regarding use of copyright-protected works | Kent State University