Life @ Otis

About Borrowing from the Library

 
 
LIB Circ Desk


Circulation Policies

  • You may have a total of 10 items checked out at any one time.
  • Books circulate for 3 weeks at a time. You may renew a book once for 3 additional weeks, provided that another patron has not requested it.
  • Items renewed at the circulation desk must be present at the time of renewal.
  • Videos circulate for 2 days and may be renewed once for two additional days. Please rewind videos before returning them.
  • All materials inside the Visual Resource Center are available only between 8:30 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
  • Slides/Carousels: Student checkout = 1 day, limit twenty slides. VRC staff members handle slide checkout procedures; hand your selected slides to a VRC staff member, then fill out and sign a Check Out Form.
  • All Slides must be Xeroxed by VRC staff before leaving the VRC room and the box barcode, scanned into the computer for check-out. Limit of two slide carousels to any patron at any one time.
  • Please ensure that all the slides that you checked out are in the appropriate box upon return.
  • There is no copy stand available for use; please contact the Photo Lab on the sixth floor.
  • The library maintains an ongoing collection of magazines. We do not throw them away. Bound volumes of back issues can be found in the periodicals stacks.
  • Magazines, Reference, Special Collections and Artist's Books do NOT circulate. A copier and a large format, flatbed scanner are both available for your use. There is a 15-minute time limit for these machines while other patrons are waiting.
  • Allow 24 hours when requesting Bound Periodicals that are located in the Library Annex. Request forms are available at the circulation desk. You may also page items through the online catalog. Requests expire after one day, materials will then be reshelved.
  • Special Collections and Artist's Books are only accessible between 9 am and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
  • Reserve materials supplied by your instructor are held behind the Circulation Desk. To access reserve materials, please present the circulation staff with the following information: Teacher's name, class name, title of item, author of item, nature of material (book, Xerox, reader etc..).

 

 

Patron Empowerment
The Otis Library encourages patron self empowerment. For your convenience, many transactions are available online including:

  • Viewing what is checked out and account status
  • Placing "holds" on materials checked out to other users
  • Renewing your library materials.

Your Xnumber and password will be required.

Do not reshelve books, magazines or videos once you have removed them from their resting place. We prefer that you do not leave books or magazines on the tables. When you have finished with them, please place them on the book carts.

You are required to present your Otis ID when requesting library transactions. While the Otis library is available for use by the general public, circulation privileges are only offered to faculty, staff, and the students who are enrolled in degree programs. Before full library privileges are granted, you must:

  1. Obtain an Otis ID card from Student Services department
  2. Sign a Library Agreement Form

 

Overdue Fines

  • The library considers compliance with due dates and overdue fines part of your education.
  • Books, CDs, CDXs, and World Music Tapes: 25 cents per day. A brief grace period may be in effect.
  • Videos, DVDs and slides: $1.00 per day. No grace period will be granted.
  • Reserve Materials: $5.00 per day. No grace period will be granted.

 

Lost Materials

  • There is a $10.00 replacement fee per lost slide.
  • The replacement cost of videos varies. Additionally, there is a $15.00 processing fee for each lost video.
  • The replacement cost of books varies and can be over $100.00, depending on the specific item. Additionally, there is a $15.00 processing fee for each lost book. The patron remains responsible for overdue fees incurred.

 

Returns

  • There is a book return slot in the circulation desk near the entrance.
  • There is an AFTER HOURS book drop available at the opposite end of the library entry hall.
  • Items placed in this book drop will be checked in on the following business day. The book drop is checked only once a day.
  • Please do not place videos in the book drop.
  • Please remember to check all books for personal paperwork and remove all bookmarks including post-it notes.
  • Videos and DVDs, CDs, CDXs, and World Music Tapes, must be returned during business hours and placed in the video return slot that is just outside the library security gates. Please be certain that all of the materials are placed in their corresponding cases, barcodes facing out.
  • Remember to REWIND tapes.

 

Office Supplies

  • One color copier, one black & white copier, and a large-format flatbed scanner are available for your use. The use of the scanner is free. The copy machines take coins and bills. Black & white copies are 10 cents each. Color copies are $.50 to $1. Please do not attempt to install paper in any Library owned machine.
  • Standard stapler, long neck stapler, hole punch, paper cutter, ruler, pencil sharpener, scotch tape and scissors are located at the office supply station just right of the entrance. Please do not remove these materials from that location. Always clean up after yourself. White-out, glue stick, heavy-duty stapler, staple remover, compass, protractor and golf pencils are available for use upon request. Please return them after use.
  • Please supply your own pens, paper clips, erasers and paper. Please refrain from removing paper from the copy machine or printer. You may have as much scrap paper as you like.
  • Blue Books are sold in the Liberal Studies office. Text Books are sold at the beginning of every semester in the temporary bookstore, not in the library.
  • Scissors, knives, X-acto blades, razor blades and all cutting devices are not permitted within the library. Please leave them in your car or your locker.

 

Play Well with Others

  • The library is divided into two zones, talking and no talking. Please whisper while you are in the no talking section. Group study is allowed at the couches and at the talking zone tables only. Rambunctious behavior is not permitted.
  • Please be considerate of others. Cell phone conversations should be conducted outside of the library.
  • Do not run through the security gates--even if you are late for class.
  • Beverages ARE allowed in the library but only those with lids. Greasy snacks are dangerous because the grease on your fingers can damage our books. Please clean up after yourself.

 

Security Gates
 Security gates have been installed to help defend the library collection. Materials from other libraries, video rental and book vendors will trip the alarm. We request that you leave these items outside of the library. If you feel you must enter with these materials, please pass them through the video hold shelf then inform the staff. Do not bring them through the security gates.

If you cause the alarm to sound, your possessions and person are subject to search to determine the cause of the alarm. Return to the circulation desk and cooperate with library staff. Lack of cooperation will result in loss of library privileges. Attempting to bypass detection by the security gates is prohibited.

Stealing, defacing library property and other acts of vandalism are considered criminal activities and are in direct violation of the Otis Code of Conduct.

Library use is a privilege. If it is suspected that you have willfully disregarded the rules of the library, including but not limited to those listed above, you will be detained while the security guard completes an incident report. The library will revoke your privileges pending appeal through the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students may take further action, which could result in expulsion. For security purposes, your visit to the library is subject to video surveillance.

These policies are subject to change without notice.