MISSION AND POLICIES

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.

The Library Code of Conduct supplements but does not replace the Student Conduct Code as printed in the student handbook. The Library administration, faculty and staff are fully authorized to interpret these guidelines and apply them to patron behavior as the situation warrants.

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:

The Harper College Library, as a member of the American Library Association, supports both the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights and Library Code of Ethics

The Harper College Library is dedicated to the principle of free access and flow of all information and material to our patrons. We regard the reason and rationale of material use a private matter. Library records are for the sole purpose of protecting public property and are not to be used directly or indirectly to identify the types of materials or services used by individual Library patrons.

The efforts of any outside agency to obtain any circulation records, patron lists, or information about a patron will be considered an invasion of privacy. Such an attempt will also be viewed as a violation of the principles of academic freedom.

Any individual or agency attempting to obtain information concerning Library patrons should be referred immediately to the circulation person in charge who will discuss the matter with the Library Dean. Under no circumstance will information be provided without a warrant. Moreover, any costs incurred by the Library in any such search through patron Library records, even under court order, shall be chargeable to the agency demanding such a search. The above pertains until contrary legislation is enacted.

Library patrons who provide their name, Library card number and address, can receive the following information:

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.

Book Drop Locations

Course Reserves

The loan periods of Reserve materials are:

Limitations

Procedure for Putting Items on Reserve for Teachers

Procedure for Putting Items on Electronic Reserve for Teachers

General Policy Statement

Faculty Services

Material Acquisition Form

Bestsellers Request Form

Reference Service is available to Harper students, staff and community residents at all times that classes are in session. Reference Service includes providing assistance in the finding of appropriate materials and instruction in their use.

Reference librarians also assist patrons in the use of online resources, including selection, development of research strategies, and evaluation of the resulting materials.

The Harper Library Reference collection includes approximately 5000 print titles, a Legal Reference collection, access to more than 70 online databases from 11 vendors.

Most of the Library's online resources are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Inquiries can be made in person or by phone. Some phone inquiries may be too complex to finish in one call and may require the patron to visit the Library or additional phone calls. During times of high traffic in-person inquiries may be given priority.

The general purposes of the Library's Technical Services Department reflect the Library's mission to provide curricular support for the programs offered by William Rainey Harper College. The Technical Services Department reflects this mission by

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 2007. 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.

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.

1. Scheduling will be done as follows:

a) Requests must be made in person, by phone, or e-mail. Telephone or e-mail: Monica Kirsch 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.

Group study rooms F219, F221, and F259 are to be signed out at the Information desk. The purpose of the group study rooms is to provide a facility for academic study and discussion for currently enrolled students as it relates to courses offered by Harper College. The Library reserves the right to ask for identification of persons requesting use of a study room. Harper students and staff get first priority. Others may have to forfeit the rooms if needed.

Occupancy is limited to the number of chairs provided in the room.

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 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 2007. 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 and are not permitted in the public restrooms.

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).

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

The Harper College Library charges $40, plus an additional $10 nonrefundable processing fee for each lost item, regardless of Harper employee status. If the item's value exceeds $40.00 you will be charged the current replacement cost of the item.

The Library charges $50 for lost leased books, plus an additional $10 nonrefundable processing fee, regardless of Harper employee status. The nonrefundable processing fee includes cataloging the item and updating the item record in the Library database.

The Library houses 3 photocopiers for patrons' use. Copies are 10¢ with a purchased copy card or 15¢ with cash. There is a color copier that is $1.00 with a purchased copy card or $1.25 with cash. A limited amount of change is available at the Circulation Desk.

Students and community borrowers may renew materials for the original loan periods, except for some reserve items, videos and DVD's, which are non-renewable.

Faculty and Staff materials may be renewed, after returning materials at the end of term. Faculty and Staff may only renew videos and DVDs for an additional week.

Any item with a pending request may not be renewed.

Renewing Materials Online. Students can renewal material online.

Students can renew material online.

From the Library homepage click on "Library Catalog"

Click on "My Account"

Enter your Library borrower ID and last name

Check the boxes next to the items for renewal

Click "Renew Items"

Be sure to note the extended loan period.