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Leslie J. Savage Library

Leslie J. Savage Library: Policies

ABOUT THE LIBRARY

Our Policies

Library Policy Governing Use and Conduct

 

Leslie J. Savage Library supports the mission of Western Colorado University by partnering with the campus community to support teaching and scholarship, to promote learning and student engagement, and to foster thoughtful citizens for local, national and global communities.

 

To achieve this mission, the library has adopted the following policies governing use of the facility. The library staff is authorized to ask any patron who abuses the following policies to leave the library. If the patron refuses, Campus Security or law enforcement authorities will be contacted.

 

ANIMALS

With the exception of service animals, animals are not permitted in the library.

 

CELL PHONES

If cell phone use is necessary, please be considerate of others. If your call becomes disruptive, you may be asked to continue your call elsewhere.

 

COMPUTER USE BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VISITORS

Savage Library welcomes the use of Internet-only workstations by Gunnison community members and visitors. Internet-only workstations are provided for accessing the library catalog, databases, and other information resources. Be advised that workstations may not provide the security that is required for other functions. Patrons using workstations for non-library functions may be asked to leave if the workstations are needed for library research or if use results in disruptive behavior.  

 

CONFIDENTIALITY OF LIBRARY RECORDS

In accordance with the LIBRARY RECORDS CONFIDENTIALITY ACT OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, all library circulation records are considered confidential information. Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 24-90-119.

 

CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

The library will notify law enforcement authorities concerning any criminal behavior in the Library including, but not limited to, theft, vandalism, exhibitionism, or assault, including verbal threats.

 

DAMAGE TO LIBRARY PROPERTY

Any behavior which may damage library equipment, collections, or facilities is strictly prohibited. Protection of Library materials is defined under Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 24-90-117 THEFT OR MUTILATION and Section 18-4-509 DEFACING PROPERTY.

 

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR

The Library does not permit behavior that is incompatible with the use of the library. Such behaviors include, but are not limited to:

  • Creating excessive noise that disrupts library patrons or staff
  • Playing in the elevators or anywhere else in the building
  • Using audible personal devices or other sound generating devices
  • Using skateboards or skates inside the library
  • Posing a sanitary or health risk to others
  • Not wearing shirts and shoes
  • Any hostile or rowdy behavior, including but not limited to fighting, threatening, intimidating, or abusing library staff or patrons with words or actions
  • Overt signs of substance abuse, including drunkenness
  • Bringing excessive amounts of personal property - including, but not limited to bicycles, bedding, and other large items - into the library
  • Overt sexual behavior; viewing of obscene material in public areas
  • Entering areas of library marked "Staff Only" without permission
  • Passing or distributing petitions, pamphlets or other materials to library patrons or staff without staff approval. 
  • Buying or selling goods or services, unless related to a campus program or activity, or soliciting donations of any kind

 

PERSONAL PROPERTY

The library has no facilities for the secure storage of personal property and is not be responsible for lost property.

Please inquire at the circulation desk for lost or found items.

Do not leave personal belongings unattended.

 

TOBACCO & DRUG USE

Use of tobacco or marijuana or illegal substance in any form is PROHIBITED in the building.

 

UNATTENDED CHILDREN

Patrons with children are welcome; minor children may not be left unattended in the library.

As with all patrons, children are expected to use the library in a quiet, orderly manner. Disruptive behavior could result in children, as well as the responsible adult, being asked to leave.

 

USE OF THE LIBRARY BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VISITORS

While the library primarily serves Western students, faculty, and staff, we do welcome community members and visitors.  Use of the library facility by community members and visitors is a privilege, not a right.  Any community member or visitor who does not comply with acceptable behavior or Library policies will be instructed to leave the facility.

This policy supplements any campus-wide policies on conduct and use and does not replace any existing campus policies.  It is created to preserve a positive and safe experience for all library patrons and staff. 

Academic Priority

Computers are made available to Leslie J. Savage Library patrons for purposes of research, instruction, and public service. The Library is also committed to serving the research needs of the Gunnison community and the general public. However, the Library also reserves the right to give priority to current Western students, faculty, and staff, through restricting the number of computers available for public computing, setting time limits on public-use computers, and limiting what content may be accessed on public-use computers.

 

Acceptable Use Policy

The use of library computers is governed by federal, state, and local laws, as well as compliance with Western Colorado University policies.

Certain conduct by users may prevent the library from being freely and readily accessible to our students and employees. The following is intended to clarify what behaviors may be considered unacceptable use of Leslie J. Savage Library computers. The examples below include, but are not limited to: 

  • Viewing and printing material from the Internet that would be considered illegal for minors to view, such as sexually explicit or violently explicit pictures, movies, and/or videos.
  • All forms of harassment. All Leslie J. Savage Library patrons are expected to respect privacy and diversity and be considerate about viewing material that would render the library unusable to other users.
  • Any use that violates copyrights, patent protections, or license agreements. See: Leslie J. Savage Library Electronic Use Policy
  • Attempts to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, information systems, or that violate the privacy of others.  See: IT - Acceptable Use Policy
  • Viewing material that violates federal, state, or local laws or regulations, including those regarding accessing, viewing, printing, and distributing child pornography.
  • Tampering with library computers, including attempting to install unauthorized software, disconnecting library computers, or connecting private computers to the library’s network lines.

Failure to comply with governing laws and Library policies may result in penalties up to and including temporary or permanent loss of computing and/or library privileges.

Thank you for your cooperation and consideration.

Western Colorado University Library Logo

 

Collection Development Policy

Mission, Goals, Guidelines, and Priorities

 

Collection Development Policy Mission

Leslie J. Savage Library selects and maintains a collection of library materials to support the instructional, research, intellectual, and artistic needs and interests of undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff. Library materials represent appropriate formats that are carefully selected, acquired, and cataloged, whether physically on campus or available online. 

 

Goals

The library collection must:

  • Provide materials necessary to support teaching and learning as outlined in the curricular program and mission of the University,
  • Provide foundational materials necessary to support the research required of undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff,
  • Provide materials that are necessary for liberally educated students, scholars, and thinkers, and that foster an informed society, and
  • Collect and provide published and unpublished materials that reflect the University's history and that support research in history, prehistory, cultural, and natural resources of the western region of the United States.

 

Guidelines and Priorities for Collection Development and Maintenance

To strive for consistency in making decisions about the collection, the Library has developed guidelines on selection of new materials, spending priorities, disposition of gifts, and periodic collection review to weed outdated materials and redirect resources to meet changing needs.

 

Nondisclosure Clauses in Licenses 

Effective immediately, the Leslie J. Savage Library of Western Colorado University will not enter into contracts containing confidentiality clauses of any kind or require the nondisclosure of license terms. If the Library and vendor are unable to come to an agreement regarding the removal of such clauses or terms from the license, then the Library will not license that content. The Leslie J. Savage Library, at its sole discretion, will openly share information contained within its licenses and agreements with interested parties.  The Library Director, Faculty Senate, and Provost must approve any exemption

Adopted by Faculty Senate, Provost, and Library Director on October 7, 2019.

 

Selection of New Materials

Although selection of new materials added to the collection is primarily the responsibility of librarians following their professional judgment and the guidelines below, all faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to request materials they feel will be of value to the collection. In particular, new tenure track faculty are encouraged to evaluate their needs in order to enhance our collection. The Library has a special responsibility for selecting interdisciplinary materials and other materials necessary to maintain a well-rounded collection focused on the undergraduate and graduate curricula. 

Generally, the Library does not purchase textbooks. Books that are used as class texts and meet the criteria described in “Spending Priorities” below may be acquired.

The Library maintains overall responsibility for shaping the collection and has final authority in all collection decisions.

A systematic analysis of the collection is performed regularly to ensure that there are no large gaps in certain subject areas. 

In addition to requests, the Library reviews the following sources in building the collection:

  •  Class assignments,
  •  Resource sharing requests,
  •  Bibliographies in textbooks,
  •  Collection development tools and reviewing sources,
  •  Publications of academic organizations, and
  •  Lists of award-winning books and films, university and scholarly press catalogs, e-mail alerts from publishers, and other materials.

 

Spending Priorities for Library Learning Materials Funds

Spending priorities serve as guidelines for library staff. The priorities are designed to accommodate fluctuating resources and changing directions of the curriculum. In addition to guiding decisions for spending, priorities also serve a communication function by informing faculty, staff, students, and others about the method and reasoning of adding materials to the collection.

The Library has identified five priorities for purchasing learning materials:

• Undergraduate Curriculum. The Library spends learning materials funds in order to support the major and minor programs of the undergraduate curriculum. An effort is made to balance the needs of first and second year students (more basic, easy to understand materials) with those of upper level students (more research- oriented materials). Members of the faculty are encouraged to assist librarians in the selection of materials.

• Graduate Curriculum. The Library supports graduate programs, which are limited at present. Since these programs are primarily delivered online, the focus for the Library is on acquiring relevant electronic resources such as databases, journal collections, reference titles, and monographs. Since all graduate programs are self-funded through Extended Studies, a portion of the revenue in the form of overhead will support campus operations. Members of the graduate faculty are encouraged to assist librarians in the selection of materials.

• Research Tools. The Library spends learning materials funds in order to support the daily research needs of the university students, faculty, and staff. Daily research activity requires expenditures for reference sources, monograph series, and multidisciplinary databases.

• General Education. The Library spends learning materials funds in order to support the general education of its community. General education is a process of self-directed learning in a broad range of subject areas. 

• Regional, State, and Local Subjects. The Library spends learning materials funds for resources that are relevant to the life and times of the western region of the United States, the state of Colorado, and the greater Gunnison area. 

These priorities serve as guidelines for allocating funds.

 

Local Authors

The Library selectively purchases books and other materials written or created by local authors. Local authors are defined as full or part time Gunnison County residents and Western faculty, staff, and students. Purchased works by local authors should fit with one of the Library’s four spending priorities.

Visiting Authors

If the Library anticipates a sustained interest in the author or his/her works, the Library purchases works by visiting authors who provide lectures or talks to the campus community. Purchased works by visiting authors should fit with one of the Library’s four spending priorities.

 

Federal and State Government Publications

The Library selectively collects federal government publications through participation in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). As more government information shifts from paper to electronic formats, the Library provides access to this information through the catalog and website. The Library collects or provides access to the Federal Depository Basic Collection. The Library’s collection of government publications focuses on geology and science-related information, educational resources, and health materials from FDLP. Additional selections of materials not currently included can be requested once a year from the FDLP program and are reviewed according to the spending priorities previously described. The Library also collects Colorado State Government information from the Colorado State Library. The government documents section is regularly inventoried to ensure that the records in the online catalog accurately reflect the items on the shelves. 

 

Electronic Resources

Electronic resources include subject databases and indexes, large multidisciplinary aggregators, journal collections from publishers, subscriptions to individual online journals, electronic books, and websites on the free web. The Library prefers to subscribe to resources that cover many subjects to ensure widespread use and relevance to the curriculum. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to acquire access to more specialized resources. The following criteria are used to inform selection decisions:

  • Variety and quality of content
  • Amount of full text content available
  • Interface’s ease of use
  • Compatibility with existing computer hardware and software
  • Off campus access
  • Number of simultaneous users
  • Amount of content duplication with current subscriptions (both online and 
  • print)
  •  Walk-in access
  • Perpetual access versus subscription business models
  • Sustainability of the cost of future renewals
  • Usage statistics
  • Stability of the resource and vendor
  • License terms that are favorable to the Library and its users as well as in accordance with the State of Colorado’s purchasing policies and laws

 

Emerging Technologies and Business Models

The Library may experiment with patron-driven acquisition, short-term loans, and streaming audio/video.

 

Formats

In an effort to maximize its acquisitions budget and acquire as much unique content as possible, the Library will not purchase a work in multiple formats unless necessary to support the needs of the curriculum. Every attempt possible will be made to further transition from print to electronic serials with the following exceptions:

- Popular magazines for leisure reading and browsing

- Journals that are not included in aggregators and are too costly to subscribe to digitally on an individual basis

- Serials of local and regional interest that are useful for archival purposes

 

Disposition of Gifts

The Library welcomes the donation of gifts as a way to enrich the Library’s collection and to support the scholarly, artistic, and informational interests of the campus community. Current selection and university copyright policies apply to gifts received. The Library also recognizes the investment of time by librarians and staff in cataloging and processing resources and the other expenses involved with the addition of any item to the collection. Judicious decisions about adding gifts must be made in accordance with existing collection development and university copyright policies. 

The Library does not supply appraisals of donations indicating monetary value. If contact information is supplied, a donor will receive a letter of acknowledgement from the Director of Library Services. 

The Library reserves the right to make all final decisions on what is added to the collection given the needs of the students, faculty, and staff and the capacities of the Library.

 

Weeding Policy

Most materials are purchased with consideration of their long-term value to the collection. The value of a work, however, changes overtime. While many materials retain their value when considered against the whole of a subject or area of knowledge, the content of some materials will age and need to be replaced with materials that reflect advances in a subject area. As the university's curriculum evolves, the need to maintain materials in some subject areas may be reduced or disappear. This may require discarding materials that are no longer of use or interest to the campus community.

Savage Library strives to provide users with access to relevant, quality, current, and high use materials. To ensure this, weeding is performed on a regular basis. Librarians use 

their professional judgment, including the criteria below, and consult faculty as needed. 

Materials, which may be weeded, are:

  • Items not supporting the current curriculum of the university or the goals as stated in the Collection Development Policy,
  • Superseded editions not containing unique information or data,
  • Unneeded duplicate copies,
  • Items not used or circulated within the past 10 years,
  • Items containing out of date and/or factually incorrect information or data and not 
  • relevant to the historical study of the subject matter, and Items in poor condition beyond reasonable preservation efforts.

In addition to the above, the following criteria may apply to periodical titles in print. Back issues, which may be weeded, are:

  • Issues with articles represented in other formats (microfiche, full-text in electronic databases, or other online versions), and
  • Issues for titles generally not purchased for research value but to support the general interests of the campus community.
  • An entire title may be weeded if significant missing issues diminish the research value of the title.

Withdrawn materials are discarded in compliance with State of Colorado regulations.

 

Collection Development Committee

This policy and spending priorities serve as guidelines for allocating funds and building the collection of library materials. Because the curriculum is dynamic and needs and priorities change, the Library has established a Collection Development Committee that:

  • Determines spending priorities for library materials that will best serve the needs of the university community and ensure the optimal expenditure of collection funding,
  • May review faculty, staff, and student requests in consideration of the priorities and available funds,
  • May solicit faculty advisement on collection needs and encourages faculty involvement in development of the collection, and
  • Serves as a discussion group for collection development issues.

The committee consists of the library director, acquisitions technician, and librarians.

Revised November 14, 2013
Updated December 6, 2018

Challenged Materials Policy

 

The selection of library materials is made in accordance with the library’s mission and in support of Western Colorado University’s mission. Leslie J. Savage Library believes in intellectual freedom for all and is guided in part by the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read. While the library embraces its responsibility to provide information representing multiple points of view, Leslie J. Savage Library does not advocate or endorse ideas or statements found within these resources.    

Library staff recognizes that given our collection of diverse materials, there may be objections to items in the collection. Procedure has been developed to assure that concerns with collection materials are conducted in a consistent and thoughtful manner. Challenged material will not be automatically withdrawn from the collection. Items shall remain on shelf during the review process and will be handled once a decision has been made. Challenged material may be removed from the collection, reclassified or have the status changed to “limited access.”  Material may also see no change and remain on the shelf as is.

 

Reconsideration Process

Persons wishing to challenge library materials or resources will be asked to submit a written request for reconsideration to the Library Director, who will acknowledge receipt of the request.

The Director will review the request and may bring the manner before library staff for discussion. The request will be considered with the challenged item’s circulation statistics in mind, along with the Library and University missions and the principles of intellectual freedom. The final decision will be made by the Library Director, who will notify the complainant, in writing, of the decision.  A copy of the reconsideration request and the subsequent assessment may be provided to the Provost.

Appeal to the process will be brought to the Leslie J. Savage Library Director and Western Colorado University’s Provost. 

Western Colorado University Library Logo

 

Electronic Resource Use Policy

 

The Leslie J. Savage Library, Western Colorado University, provides access to subscription-based electronic resources to university students, staff, and faculty for non-commercial, academic, educational and research purposes. Guests may use most licensed electronic resources on-site. Copyright law, individual license agreements, the University’s Information Technology Services Acceptable Use Policy, as well as other applicable laws and regulations apply. Users of library-licensed resources must comply with the terms of the agreement(s). Western Colorado University will not be held liable for any unauthorized use of electronic resources. The University, at its discretion, will act upon unauthorized use as it sees fit.

 

Authorized users and acceptable use:

  • An authorized user is a current student, faculty or staff member of Western Colorado University.  Many, but not all, electronic resources allow guest access on networked University library public use terminals and secure Wi-Fi access.

  • Persons using a computer on the University campus network are considered authorized users for many, but not all, electronic resources.

  • Off-campus, authenticated use is available for many, but not all, electronic resources for authorized users of Western Colorado University. Remote access requires the user to log-in with his or her network ID and password. 

  • An authorized user may copy reasonable amounts of the electronic use for personal or private academic purposes.

  • Authorized users may also search, view, or browse the online content of electronic resources, and download, save, and print limited data for personal, academic use only, in support of the university’s educational mission.

 

Users of the Library’s licensed content agree not to:

  • Violate any copyright, trademark, patent, or other intellectual property right associated with the resource

  • Use the electronic resource for any purpose other than stated educational purposes

  • Use the electronic resource for commercial purposes

  • Systematically download or copy the licensed content

  • Use the electronic resource in course packs or e-reserves without the appropriate permissions

  • Distribute the electronic resource to others in any format (including sharing passwords)

  • Use the electronic resource in an illegal or otherwise unauthorized manner

 

Consequences of Inappropriate Use of Licensed Content

Violation of license terms jeopardizes access for the entire University. Consequences for misuse of these resources may include referral to appropriate campus disciplinary bodies, suspension of access privileges, and suspension of library privileges for non-campus users. All other University policies pertaining to computer use and conduct are applicable in the use of Library computer terminals and electronic resources. These may include:

  • Information Technology Services Acceptable Use Policy

  • Western Colorado University Student Handbook

  • Western Colorado University Handbook for Professional Personnel

  • Western Colorado University Trustee Policy Manual

 

Electronic Resources and Copyright

U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.) allows the reproduction of protected works. Section 107 permits fair use copying for certain purposes, including instances of non-profit personal, educational use. Making reproductions of copyright-protected electronic resources, even those not covered by a license agreement, requires permission from the copyright owner unless the copying qualifies as a fair use.

Reproductions of licensed content made by the University library for its users are made in compliance with the resource's license agreement and/or under the provisions of copyright law, Section 108. Reproductions made by University library under copyright law are provided to users with the understanding that copies will be used only for private study, scholarship, or research; and that said copies become the property of the user and may not be duplicated for additional distribution.

February 3, 2016
Updated December 6, 2018

Western Colorado University Library Logo

 

Library Instruction Classroom Use Policy

 

The library instruction classroom is located on the first floor of Leslie J. Savage Library (room 102). This room is available by reservation only due to increased use and demand for instruction workshops. The primary use of this classroom is to support academic instruction across campus.

 

Peak Use Period

Please note, there is high-demand for the classroom in the first four weeks of fall and spring semesters.

 

Requests

Instructors are limited to a maximum of four (4) individual non-librarian led sessions per course section in the library classroom per semester.

 

General Rules

  • As room 102 is locked when not in use, please stop by the information desk on the 2nd floor to request access to the room at your reservation time.
  • Food and drink must be in covered containers.
  • Instructors are responsible for logging off of the instructor computer, shutting down the projector, turning off lights and fans, and closing the door after use.

 

Restrictions

  • Not available to be reserved for semester-long courses.
  • All groups must be accompanied by a Western staff or faculty member.
  • Non-Western groups are not permitted.
  • Catered food and food delivery is not permitted.

 

Technology Issues

  • Please contact the ITS department for any technology issues. Contact information is posted in the room.
  • If ITS is not available, please contact a library staff member on duty.

 

Room Specifications

  • 24 thin-client terminals with network access
  • Wi-Fi (throughout building)
  • 1 instructor PC
  • VGA & HDMI cables for external devices
  • Projector / large screen display
  • Audio
  • 1 moveable whiteboards
  • Installed chalkboards
  • Adjacent to Classroom 101 via a partition

For questions or to request to use the room, please contact us.

Updated December 6, 2018

Director of Library Services

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Tiffanie Wick
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Contact:
Library 209
970.943.2477
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