Blumberg Memorial Library Policies

Facility Use Policies

• Art Gallery – Located on the first floor, the Art Gallery is a venue for faculty, students, and community artists to exhibit and perform a variety of art forms. For more information, contact Mr. Nate Aubin, extension 8102, nbaubin@tlu.edu or Prof. Amelia Koford, extension 3138, akoford@tlu.edu

• Basic Policies – All uses of the library should be compatible with an academic atmosphere. The individual who makes use of a study room/testing room/classroom or other library space is responsible for any damage to the room or objects therein. Library materials used for more than one class period must be checked out. Use of alcohol, illicit drugs, tobacco or electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes or vaping) is prohibited in the library.

• Public Access – The library is open to the general public. Adult community members may use collection items in house and may use the library’s computers. Underage users must be accompanied by a responsible adult user at all times. Use of special library equipment and facilities is limited to TLU students, faculty, and staff.

• Quiet Study – The library’s second floor is reserved for quiet study activities. Talking on cell phones is prohibited in quiet areas. The use of audio or video on phones, computers, or other electronic devices must be in silent mode or inaudible. The use of headphones, ear buds, or AirPods is encouraged so that the sound is not audible to other patrons or staff.

• Group Study – The library’s lower level is arranged to accommodate classes, group study, and other collaborative activities. We ask that users honor these arrangements in order to enhance everyone’s library experience. Groups may be asked to move to a study room or to the lower level if noise is an issue.

• Security – Security cameras are in operation at the circulation desk and entrance/exit, in the Help Desk area, and at the rear fire exits. These devices are intended to ensure the safety of the facility and its users. Cameras do not record users’ reading, studying, or computing activities.

• Library Special Facilities – Use of the active learning classroom is scheduled by the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. Use of the library instruction lab is scheduled by the Head of Library Instruction Services. To reserve other special library rooms or facilities, users should contact the circulation desk at extension 8100. Users are asked to return room arrangements and contents to their original state after use.

• Library Computers – In addition to circulating laptops, the library provides more than 40 public access computers for general library use by TLU students, faculty and staff. This includes two Macs, plus computers or laptops at all collaboration tables. The library instruction lab (B12) is reserved for library use but may also be booked by classes for occasional use only. The B12 lab is not open for individual or walk-in use by students or faculty/staff members. Non-university library users may only use specified computer workstations and must be logged on by a TLU library staff member.

• Accessibility – The library seeks to provide all users with access to library resources and services. Any user who requires assistance accessing library resources or services should ask at the circulation desk or contact the Outreach and Information Literacy Librarian. Current TLU students who require accommodations for disabilities should contact TLU’s ADA Coordinator (extension 8009).

• Group Study Rooms – The library’s group study rooms are available for use by TLU students, faculty, and staff only. Each of these rooms provides a place for two to six people to study and converse. Each study room is outfitted with a large-screen projection unit that can accommodate laptops or viewing of video recordings that have been put on reserve by professors. All study rooms have whiteboards. Group study rooms are generally available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Library Lower-Level Offices – The Center for Teaching and Learning, Academic Support, and the Student Communication Center are staffed on varying schedules. Users should look online for the specific schedules and event calendars for each of these services.

General

All users of Blumberg Memorial Library are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful of the normal activities and function of the library, its staff, and of other users. To this end, library users shall not:

• engage in activities that deliberately annoy others or that disrupt library operations or the use of library resources
• engage in behavior that is hostile, harassing, or threatening to other patrons or to library staff members
• damage library property
• engage in illegal activity

If campus, library, or computing policies are violated by a user, the library, in cooperation with the TLU Police Department, reserves the right to restrict the violator from entering the library or from using any of its resources or services.

Policy - Blumberg Memorial Library honors the privacy of its users, in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association and Texas state law. Library staff does not give out information about library patrons. This includes personal information such as addresses, phone numbers, or identification numbers, as well as usage information such as the titles of items a person has checked out or a person’s reading habits.

Procedures for Official Requests for Information - On weekdays, during regular business hours:

• Student workers should always get their immediate supervisor.
• If necessary, supervisors should get Prof. Mark Dibble (University Librarian) or one of the other professional librarians  (Amelia Koford, Mark Dibble, Rebecca Dillen, or Nate Aubin).
• If appropriate, the librarians will contact the Provost and the Chief of Police or officer on duty. [Officers have been instructed to treat such calls as a top priority].

On evenings or weekends:

• Student workers should always get a full time staff member who will make the appropriate contacts. If no full time staff members are available, student workers should follow the next steps themselves.
• Call Prof. Mark Dibble (University Librarian) or one of the other professional librarians (Rebecca Dillen, Amelia Koford, Mark Dibble, or Nate Aubin).
• If appropriate, the librarians will contact the Provost and the Chief of Police or officer on duty.

Law Enforcement Officials & Requests for Information

Verbal requests - Do not give out information in response to a verbal request from anyone. Turn down the request politely, as you would any request of this nature. Say, "I'm sorry, I cannot help you with that information," or get your supervisor to speak with the requestor.

Subpoenas - Accept the subpoena and say, "Thank you, I will give this to the university librarian." Nothing needs to be given to them immediately. The university librarian will route the request to the Provost’s office.

Search warrants - Accept the copy of the warrant and allow the requestor to get only what is listed in the warrant. (A search warrant will have a list of specific items being sought.) While the search is going on, follow the “Who do I call?” instructions outlined above.

Do not attempt to stop or interfere with an official who presents a search warrant!

Library staff members are not required to volunteer information to law officials outside the scope of a warrant.

All users of Blumberg Memorial Library are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful of the normal activities and function of the library, its staff, and of other users. To this end, library users shall not:

• engage in activities that deliberately annoy others or that disrupt library operations or the use of library resources
• engage in behavior that is hostile, harassing, or threatening to other patrons or to library staff members
• damage library property
• engage in illegal activity

If campus, library, or computing policies are violated by a user, the library, in cooperation with the TLU Police Department, reserves the right to restrict the violator from entering the library or from using any of its resources or services.