Library Policy
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This policy applies to all College activity including ESF contracts.
LIBRARY POLICY
1. AIM
1.1. The aim of the Library is to provide a service which is helpful, inclusive and responsive and to create a pleasant, quiet, tidy and welcoming environment which is conducive to learning and study for all Library users.
2. LIBRARY BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT
Library Code of Conduct
2.1. The following is explained to students during their Library induction:
Use your phone for the internet or texting – please switch it to silent, and take or make calls outside of the Library.
Feeling hungry? – take a break in a refectory; food and drink should not be consumed in the Library. Bottled, clear water only.
You can talk quietly – but the Library is a study area, please do not disturb others, especially in the designated quiet areas.
Use the chairs safely – please do not tilt back or wheel them around the room.
2.2. The Library expects all Library users to follow the Code of Conduct.
Teacher and Student Contract
2.3. The contract states:
“I will treat other students, staff and visitors in the College with respect by being polite and courteous at all times.”
2.4. The Library expects all Library users to follow the Teacher and Student Contract.
Leicester College Student Charter
2.5. Students’ responsibility is to:
“Respect my college and its community.”
“Behave professionally at all times.”
2.6. The Library expects all Library users to follow the Leicester College Student Charter.
3. BEHAVIOUR IN THE LIBRARY
3.1. This policy reflects the College’s values:
Ambition
Inclusion
Collaboration
Excellence.
3.2. The Library reserves the right to govern behaviour in the Library area.
3.3. The Library undertakes to provide an environment conducive to study and learning reflecting, where possible, all learning styles and for all users. Disruptive and/or abusive behaviour to any Library users or Library staff will not be tolerated.
3.4. The Library reserves the right to determine what conduct constitutes disruptive behaviour. Verbal abuse from any Library user is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
3.5. Verbal abuse to Library staff from any other user (not students) will not be accepted or tolerated and will be reported immediately to College management.
Library Users
3.6. Library users may discuss College work but not use the Library as a social area.
3.7. Students and staff will use those areas of the Library which have been set up in response to feedback from Library surveys (Quiet study areas, Group study areas and HE study rooms) in an appropriate manner.
3.8. Library users will follow the College guidelines for acceptable use of computers displayed in the Library and stated in the Teacher and Student Contract.
3.9. All staff and students are required to wear their ID badges whilst in College, including in the Library. These badges will be needed for borrowing resources, (see Library borrowing).
3.10. Lecturers bringing their students into the Library will take responsibility for those students and will not leave them unsupervised.
3.11. Library users who engage in behaviour which is disruptive to fellow users or who fail to follow the Code of Conduct will automatically be referred to the College’s disciplinary procedure.
3.12. An extract from the Student Disciplinary Procedure:
Misconduct
“Breaches of discipline may be minor, major or gross. Examples of each type of breach are given below for guidance. This list is not exhaustive and professional judgements will need to be made about the severity of each breach.”
3.13. For Library purposes:
3.13.1. Minor Breach (level 1): “unduly noisy or unruly behaviour”
asked to leave for the rest of the day and their lecturer emailed to this effect. A note will also be made on their Library record.
3.13.2. Major Breach (level 2): “persistence of minor breach, offensive language or behaviour, refusal to identify themselves, acting in an unsafe manner, disruption to the work of others”
asked to leave the Library and not return for a period of time which will be negotiated by the Library and curriculum. Students will not return to the Library until this has taken place. This will include suspension of their Library account and their Library PC access. A note will also be added to their Library record and to ProMonitor.
3.13.3. Gross Breach (level 3): “persistence of a major breach, theft, violence, serious threat of violence, including threats made via emails, mobile phone and text messages, incapability through drugs or alcohol, deliberate damage to college property, sending accessing and/or downloading pornographic/offensive material via the internet, any other breach of the College policy on acceptable use of information technology, insubordination, harassment, breach of the College’s Equal Opportunities Policy and any other criminal activities affecting the College or other students”
Campus Wardens called to remove user from the Library. Both their Library and Library PC accounts will be suspended indefinitely. A note will also be added to their Library record and to ProMonitor. This will be reviewed by the Library and curriculum in accordance with the College Student Disciplinary Procedure.
4. LIBRARY BORROWING
4.1. Both staff and students of Leicester College are able to borrow resources from any of the campus Libraries.
Students and Staff
4.2. All students become Library members automatically on enrolment to a course of study.
4.3. ID cards are also Library cards.
4.4. ID cards must be produced to loan or renew resources borrowed from the Library.
4.5. An email will be sent to the college email address 3 days before resources are due as a reminder to return or renew the resources on time.
4.6. Resources not returned on time will incur charges according to their loan period (standard, 7 day etc.) Library users will be liable to pay fines for their overdue or invoiced Library items.
4.7. The Library will contact students twice (e-mail and letter) if resources are not returned on time.
4.8. Student Services Welfare Team may be able to offer financial support for students who would struggle to pay fines/invoices.
4.9. If resources are still outstanding on an account 28 open days (not counting weekends or holidays) after the due date, the Library will request the college Finance department to invoice the user for the replacement cost of the resource/s plus an overdue fine of £5.
4.10. The student’s computer use in the Library will also be suspended until the outstanding resources are returned or paid for and the administration charge cleared.
4.11. Failure to return or pay for the resource/s may result in exclusion from classes or the student may be referred to a debt collection agency.
4.12. Failure to return or pay for the resources may result in the college refusing enrolment onto courses in the future.
Staff Only
4.13. Staff can be enrolled into the Library at any campus by completing a staff membership card.
4.14. Staff will be liable to pay full costs to replace Library items or invoiced items. Failure to return or pay for the resource/s may result in the costs being recovered via salary or referral to a debt collection agency.
4.15. Leicester College staff, who are also enrolled on a course of study at the college and have a learner ID card, may also borrow using this card. Please note the student policy will be effective for this account.
4.16. Both accounts will be suspended if an invoice is applied to either account.
4.17. Staff will borrow Library items for short periods only. Staff will have to make their own arrangements to purchase items for long term teaching purposes.
5. CHILDREN UNDER 14 YEARS OF AGE USING THE LIBRAR
5.1. Library users are not allowed to bring children under 14 into the College Library unless it is a quick visit e.g. quick borrowing/returning Library items.
5.2. Unaccompanied children under 14 should not be sent to or left in the Library.
5.3. Carers will constantly supervise their children during their short Library visits. This is to ensure that the Library remains quiet for studying and research purposes.
5.4. Children under 14 from other schools are only allowed in the Library if they are accompanied and supervised by a college staff member.
5.5. In exceptional cases e.g. during promotional events, young people under the age of 14 can visit the Library as a part of a tour with prior arrangement with the Library.
5.6. Computers cannot be used by visitors unless access is arranged with the ICT team, e.g. work experience.
5.7. Library items will not be issued to children under 14 on behalf of their carer.
Nursery
5.8. Nursery staff will be fully responsible for Nursery children using the Library e.g. ensuring children are quiet, not running around, eating or drinking.
5.9. Children will be supervised by Nursery staff at all times. If a child displays disruptive behaviour e.g. running, climbing, shouting or mistreating Library resources, the Nursery staff will be asked to remove the child.
5.10. The Nursery staff will be advised to arrange visits before 12 pm or after 2 pm.
5.11. A dedicated member of the Library team will be allocated to liaise with the Nursery at each site.
5.12. Nursery staff can borrow a maximum of 10 books under a Nursery Library account.
5.13. The Nursery team will take responsibility for keeping books safe and undamaged. They are requested to let the Library staff know if any book is damaged.
5.14. The Nursery department may be charged for damaged books if this is a regular occurrence.
5.15. Nursery staff will be able to renew books a maximum of 3 times.
5.16. The Nursery will not be charged Library fines.
5.17. The Nursery staff can arrange a story telling session with the Library staff, subject to the availability of Library staff.
6. LIBRARY CUSTOMER SERVICES
6.1. The Library staff will treat all users with respect and respond in a positive, polite manner to each customer as an individual.
6.2. The Library will make available resources and information appropriate to courses of study in liaison with lecturers to meet students’ needs.
6.3. The Library will use the information from user surveys to respond to the changing needs of the customer.
6.4. The Library will ensure the Library staff will have training and development to provide a continuing quality service.
6.5. The Library service standards will be reviewed annually.
6.6. The Library will measure its performance against these standards in the annual Self-Assessment Report.
6.7. Users can help the library to achieve outstanding, quality customer service by complying with the following:-
Students and Staff:
6.7.1. Wear ID at all times and produce it if requested to do so by Library staff.
6.7.2. Do not lend ID to other people or borrow resources on someone else’s behalf.
6.7.3. Return or renew borrowed resources on time.
6.7.4. Take good care of Library resources and equipment.
6.7.5. Treat Library staff and fellow users with courtesy and respect.
6.7.6. Keep the Library clean and tidy. Dispose of any rubbish in the bins provided.
6.7.7. Follow the Library Code of Conduct.
Staff Only:
6.7.8. Use IT facilities in staffrooms where possible to keep these resources available for students.
6.7.9. Liaise with Library staff to purchase resources appropriate to the students’ needs.
7. LIBRARY CURRICULUM LIAISON
7.1. The aim of curriculum liaison is to facilitate a cooperative working relationship between the Library staff and curriculum teaching staff in order to provide the most current, useful, relevant and accurate Library resources. This, in turn, supports students’ studies and study related research, to aid their achievement of the highest grades for their assignments and exams.
7.2. To achieve the above, Librarians and Library staff have been allocated individual curriculum areas, and they are responsible for these curriculum areas.
7.3. Library staff will:
7.3.1. Liaise with teaching staff 1:1 either face to face, by phone or by email to identify their students’ needs regarding acquiring Library resources.
7.3.2. Inform teaching staff as soon as their recommended resources are on the Library shelves.
7.4. Librarians will:
7.4.1. Attend curriculum/programme related meetings at least once per academic year where practicable
7.4.2. Participate in HEPMB meetings termly.
7.4.3. Offer a variety of Library inductions to teaching staff
8. ICT USE IN THE LIBRARY
8.1. The Library aims to ensure the safe and appropriate use of ICT.
8.2. ICT services are made available to Library users in Leicester College by providing:
ICT hardware, software and networks for student use. The College has access to networked multi-functional devices and Microsoft Office.
Access to online multimedia resources, online subscription resources, web-based content and online learning.
Provision for mobile devices
Online access to the Library catalogue.
Adequate and suitable provision of special needs equipment - each Library has at least one wheelchair-friendly workstation with a fully accessible PC or capacity for laptop use.
Workstations which are equipped with screen magnification and text to speech software for visually impaired users.
8.3. When using the Internet in college users are agreeing not to access any materials that are obscene, racist, defamatory or illegal, cause harassment, gross offence to others or breaching copyright laws.
8.4. In addition, users are agreeing that they will not interfere with the general operation of any hardware or software accessible through the Library. Any user must stop any activity if requested to do so by a member of staff.
8.5. All users are expected to demonstrate a responsible approach to the use of resources made available to them, and to show consideration for other users.
8.6. The Library Service cannot accept responsibility for slow network responses, non-availability of web sites, the content of any e-mails received by users, other users retrieving information left on open files or any loss resulting from use of a credit card over the Internet.
8.7. Computers are provided for course and study-related purposes only.
8.8. Research is encouraged and supported. Students are asked not to use computers for recreation if computers are in demand.
8.9. Library users must NOT disclose their login details, allow other users to access their user account or use other students’ or staff’s logins.
8.10. The Library has no control over information accessed and cannot be held responsible for the content or quality of information retrieved.
8.11. As part of the Joint Academy Network (JANET) Acceptable Use Policy, appropriate filters and monitoring software are installed on computers. This has been done, in accordance with the College’s safeguarding policy, to restrict access to sites considered unsuitable. Accounts of all users will be monitored through the use of a software program. At any point where a user is misusing a computer, the Library staff have the right to remotely close down the computer. (See penalties for misuse).
8.12. The use of personal software is not permitted.
8.13. Library users can save any work or information downloaded from the Internet onto their H drive or to their Office 365 OneDrive.
8.14. The Library cannot be held responsible for work lost as a result of computer crashes or failure to save. We encourage users to save work regularly and to back-up.
8.15. PCs may be booked in advance, up to seven days ahead. (Please ask staff for details). Sessions can be booked in hourly slots. If demand for computers is not high at the time, a session may be extended. We will keep your computer for 15 minutes after the start time of your session. However, if you do not arrive within 15 minutes of your start time the booking will expire and be made available to other users to access.
9. PENALTIES FOR MISUSE
9.1. Users should be aware that computer monitoring software is capable of recording all transactions, website visits and emails made on Library computers. Any public access of illegal, offensive or controversial material may be subject to further disciplinary action in accordance with the College disciplinary procedures.
9.2. Leicester College Library Service reserves the right to refuse further computer access to any individuals accessing such material.
10. PRINTING
10.1. Students must have their valid ID cards when they come to top up printing credits.
10.2. Students must use only their own PIN numbers to print/copy/scan their documents.
10.3. There is no minimum or maximum limit for topping up printing credits.
10.4. Students are responsible for selecting the correct printer settings before sending their work it to the MFDs i.e. page set up, whether it is double sided, size of the paper A4 only, black and white or colour etc. They will not be given refunds for their own mistakes, or prints sent from classrooms or other PCs not in the Library.
10.5. Students topping their credits at the end of the day need to do it at least 15 minutes before computers shut down as the top ups of printing credits take up to 10 minutes to register.
10.6. User should not remove paper from the MFDs.
10.7. Students should use MFDs responsibly taking care not to cause damage. Ask Library staff for assistance.
11. INTER LIBRARY LOANS
11.1. The Inter Library Loan service aims to supplement the materials available in Leicester College Library with resources borrowed from other educational institutions, regional libraries or the British Library to support learning and teaching.
11.2. All members of Leicester College can request the Inter Library Loan service.
11.3. The Inter Library Loan service is free but all requests must be directly related to a course of study.
11.4. Staff must be members of the College Library
11.5. A limit of 3 requests at a time, although individual needs will be considered.
11.6. The Library reserves the right to refuse Inter Library Loan requests.
11.7. Refusal will occur if a user has an outstanding invoice for overdue or lost items or fines of £5.
11.8. Refusal will occur if a user regularly returns borrowed Library resources after their due date, as prompt return of Inter Library Loans is important in order to maintain good relations with other libraries.
11.9. Refusal will occur if the user is studying on or teaching a course taught at Leicester College on behalf of a university and the user has a current, valid library card for that university and the requested resource is in that university library.
11.10. If an Inter Library Loan is returned late, any costs imposed by the lending library will be payable by the user.
11.11. If an Inter Library Loan resource is lost by the user, all costs imposed by the lending library will be payable by the user.
12. INTER LIBRARY LOAN POLICY FOR OUTGOING REQUESTS TO OTHER LIBRARIES
12.1. For those libraries who are members of LIEM (Libraries and Information East Midlands) there is no charge for borrowing Leicester College resources.
12.2. Other libraries will be charged the standard, current CONARLS rate or, if not a member, the correct British Library rate.
12.3. All items loaned to other libraries must not be returned to Leicester College via the carrier DX.
12.4. Resources well used by Leicester College students and staff will not be available for loan to other libraries.
12.5. Resources are usually loaned to other libraries for six weeks with renewal requests considered on individual merit.
12.6. Items may be recalled before the issued due date if Leicester College students or staff request the resource.
12.7. If an item is lost or damaged, the current replacement cost plus a £5 administration will be charged.
12.8. Lending libraries must observe the loan period and must not renew the loan to their customer before applying to Leicester College for an extension to the loan date.
12.9. Leicester College reserve the right to refuse an inter library loan request from another library.
13. LECTURERS/SUPPORT STAFF USING THE COLLEGE LIBRARY
13.1. We ask you to observe the following guidelines:
General use
Please do not use the Library to instruct / teach whole groups as it will be disruptive to other Library users.
Only use the quiet study areas for individual quiet study not for interviewing/instructing students or 1:1 support work.
Ensure your students understand and abide by the Leicester College Library Code, e.g. no eating or drinking (apart from clear bottled water), mobile phones on silent, keep voices down to the level of 1:1 conversation, respect the right of others to work in a peaceful environment.
Provide the Library staff with advance notice of project and assignment work so that we can help your learners with resources.
The HE study room is for students’ use only. It is not bookable as a classroom.
Freemen’s Park Library only
Book the Group Study Room through the Library (ext.2044/2046) rather than trying to instruct whole groups in the main Library area, as this will be disruptive to other individual Library users.
Ensure you attend for the whole period of time and keep the noise level down while your group is in the Group Study Room.
St. Margaret’s Library only
Please check availability of space with Library staff before bringing groups of students to use the Library.
Classes may use the Library for research purposes. Ensure you supervise your students and keep noise levels down while you are there.
By following the above guidelines you will greatly assist us in achieving the relaxed but studious environment we wish to provide for staff and students
Contact telephone Numbers:
AP library 4250/4098, FP Library 2045/2046, SM Library 5112/2163