Meadows Library Policies and Services

Circulation Collection Development Alabama Virtual Library
Library Instruction Gifts Reserve Materials
Visiting Schools Electronic Use Library Cards

Circulation

Meadows Library will make its media resources readily and easily accessibleto the academic community through an efficient Circulation system.
 
  1. Please ask for information concerning materials to be checked out by faculty, administration, or staff.

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  2. Books or tapes may be checked out for a period of two weeks. However, the Library reserves the right to place a limited circulation period on materials short in supply but much in demand.  Extended check out of tapes for video courses may be available.

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  3. Students, members of the faculty, administration, and staff must present a proper library card before checking out materials.

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  4. A reminder about materials checked out will be sent when materials are over-due.

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  5. Fines for over-due books are $.10 per day. Fines for over-due video and audio tapes are $.50 per day.

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  6. Periodicals and reference books do not circulate.
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Gifts

The Meadows Library solicits and encourages gifts and donations of useful materials or the funds to purchase them. However, all gifts of materials to the Meadows Library are accepted with the understanding that they are added to the collection only if they meet the same selection criteria asmaterials considered for purchase. Meadows Library cannot accept gifts with conditions as to their disposition or location. Meadows Library retains the right to dispose of any unneeded materials regardless of how they were acquired.

 Gifts of either library materials or funds to purchase them will be accepted provided they comply with the expanded collection development policy statement concerning gifts. The abbreviated policy concerning gifts is as follows:

  1. All gifts of either library materials or funds shall be referred to the Director of Library Services.

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  2. The Director of Library Services can refuse to accept gifts which do not contribute to the mission and purposes of the Meadows Library.

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  3. Patrons may request a specific title or form of information, or they may suggest certain subjects or areas for selection by the Meadows Library staff. They may give funds at the time of inquiry, or send funds in an amount they determine.

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  4. The donor should be aware that Meadows Library will determine the classification, housing, and circulation policies of all gifts just as it does with purchased items. The donor should also be aware that Meadows LIbrary retains theright to dispose of duplicates and unneeded materials as it sees fit.


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    Reserve Materials at Meadows Library

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    Library Instruction

    Assistance in the location of materials and utilization of equipment shall be available to all users.
     
    1. General library instruction or orientation will be conducted each term at instructor request.

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    2. Requests for special library instruction pertinent to the needs of the class must be made well in advance through the Reference Librarian (256-549-8411).

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    3. Instructors who bring entire classes en masse to Library should notify the Reference Department (256-849-8411). Classes scheduled for Library Use will be given first priority.   Classes are not double booked--two classes scheduled at the same time.

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    4. Any instructor who sends an entire class to the Meadows Library during regularly scheduled class periods must accompany the class during the period.

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    Visiting School Policy

    Meadows Library reserves the right to schedule Library time for visitingschool groups.
     
    1. All instructional requests must be made by the school librarian by telephone to Melinda Harvey at 256-549-8411.

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    2. Limits may be set by policy or situation.

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    3. Visiting instructors must have read the Library Skills Handbook and theVisiting School Policy prior to their visit. These may be obtained from the School Librarian. The visiting instructor and other group leaders are completely responsible for their student's assignments.

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    4. Topic lists must be submitted to the library at least one week in advance of the scheduled visit. If Reference material is needed for the assignment, this request should be made at that time.

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    5. Classes and groups must be accompanied by an adequate number of responsible adults who have been familiarized with the assignment. One adult for every 15 high school students is required. Instructors are responsible for their students' conduct in the Library, and if it is disruptive, the group may be asked to leave the building.

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    6. School groups are asked to schedule library time on Friday morningss.  School groups or classes may schedule library time after school hours by calling Melinda Harvey at 256-549-8411. The Class Instructors must accompany their classes.  Adult supervision is advisable.  The Instructors are responsible for their students' conduct, and if it is disruptive, the group may be asked to leave the building.

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    7. PAC terminals cannot be reserved for classes

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    Electronic Use Policy

    Using the Internet and related electronic resources in the Reference Centerof the Meadows Library constitutes acceptance of the Library's Network Acceptable Use Policy. Network access is a service we are pleased to provide, but use of this service is a privilege not a right.

     Meadows Library provides computer workstations for student and faculty research. The databases and tools provided on these computers are the property of Gadsden State Community College and are provided equally to all library users. The Library staff will be glad to assist you in learning to search for information on these databases but cannot provide in-depth training on computer use.

     As a part of the resources of the Library, these computers are connected to the Internet. Each user of these work stations is responsible for his or her activities on the Internet. Activities that are illegal will result in your Internet use being suspended indefinitely. In addition,activities which harass or offend those working around you are not permitted.  If you feel that you have been harassed in this manner, you should report the incident to a College official.

     Library workstations and the resources they access are provided for course-related assignments, scholarly research, and other activities directly related to the educational, research, and public service mission of Gadsden State Community College. Therefore, this mission takes precedence over recreational and casual use of the workstations. Casual Internet use is available only when the computers are not needed for course related research. The Library staff reserves the right to ask you to use computer facilities in the computer labs if there is a need.

     Word processing and other applications software cannot be used due to the limited number of workstations.

     Meadows Library cannot guarantee the accuracy or reliability of information obtained via the Internet. Links to information on the Internet may not always be valid and even valid sites may sometimes be unavailable. Some information needs may be more quickly and easily supplied by the Library's traditional print resources, and the Library staff can direct you to those sources.

     The Library cannot guarantee the privacy or security of any Internet transaction or interaction. Finally, there may be times when the Internet or other electronic resources are not available due to necessary or routine maintenance.

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    Library Cards

    Faculty of GSCC, Staff of GSCC, and students currently enrolled at Gadsden State Community College, Jacksonville State University at Gadsden State,and the University of Alabama Graduate Center in Gadsden are eligible for a library card and check out privileges.  In addition, members of the Gadsden State Community College Alumni Associationare eligible for check out privileges.

     Those eligible for a library card should fill out the application at the circulation desk in Meadows Library.  Your student id will be activated upon visiting Meadows Library.  If you are enrolled at JSU at Gadsden State or The University of Alabama Graduate Center, you can expedite your process by bringing proof of enrollment (paid receipt).

     Library Card applications are available at the Circulation Desk of Meadows Library. Or, you may print the library card application and bring it and your student/faculty id to the Circulation Desk. In addition, you may email your application form to Meadows Library. Please remember that this is not a secure service.

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    Alabama Virtual Library Cards

    The Alabama Virtual Library provides all students, teachers, and citizens of the State of Alabama with online access to essential library and information resources.

     With a home access card, an Alabama resident may now access the Alabama Virtual Library from the home, office, or other remote site.  Simply visit your local public library to request your personal access code and begin using the AVL databases immediately. Students, Staff, and Faculty of Gadsden State Community College may apply for an AVL card at the circulation desk.  An online registration form is available, but Home Access Cards are not mailed to you unless you live outside the College Service Area.  This form may also be printed out and brought to the Circulation Desk.

    Since this service is reserved for state residents, online registration is checked to ensure that college enrollment requirements are met. Other users must first visit their local Alabama public library to request the AVL card. Remote access to the Alabama Virtual Library is provided as a service to individual residents of Alabama through Alabama's public libraries. Technical support for this program is provided by the Alabama Supercomputer Authority.


     

    last updated on November 13, 2002
    Maintained by Melinda Harvey