Policies
The Library welcomes all users, including Fitchburg State University students, faculty, staff, alumni and community guests. Library policies apply to the areas within the building dedicated to library work. The Library asks everyone to treat the staff and other Library users with courtesy and to respect the privacy of others.
Animals in the Library
The Library complies with the University’s Service Animal and Assistance Animal policy.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals are welcomed and permitted in the Library; pets are not allowed. Per ADA, service animals are dogs or miniature horses individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. For details, please see ADA requirements for service animals from the U.S. Department of Justice. In addition, the Library occasionally hosts programs and events that feature animals. Created in May 2022
Code of Conduct
We encourage the pursuit of all scholarly endeavors. Activities that affect the ability of others to work in a safe and supportive environment are not acceptable and may result in restricted access to the Library and its resources. Revised May 2022
Collection Development
Introduction
The Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library supports the teaching and scholarship mission of Fitchburg State University by providing a dynamic and collaborative learning space, both physically and virtually. Actively developing, maintaining, and creating accessible collections with evolving services is essential to this mission. Fitchburg State University is an undergraduate institution offering more than 50 undergraduate programs, more than 40 master's degree programs, CAGS programs and post- baccalaureate graduate certificate programs in fifteen academic departments. The School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education (SGOCE) provides courses from the undergraduate and graduate programs. The Online Learning program provides for the undergraduate, graduate and CAGS courses and programs offered online. The Extended Campus programs provide for the graduate and CAGS courses and programs offered at off campus locations.
The library adheres to copyright policies and best practices, and purchases materials as appropriate. This collection development policy was developed and written to establish formal guidelines in the selection of materials for the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library. The focus of the policy is to provide consistency, accountability, and a rationale for the librarians to use in making decisions for the development of the library’s collections. Each librarian is assigned several departments with which to liaison, and materials and resources are selected to meet the needs of the subjects taught in those departments. In this liaison relationship, the primary function is to secure input and feedback in the selection of materials. The secondary functions are to assist the librarians in anticipating new courses; keeping the faculty informed of new publications and recent research tools; and in general, acting as a trouble shooter for the faculty in library matters.
Library of Congress classification schedules are used to assist in correlating holdings, selection and management.
Each of the academic departments and the graduate programs are assigned a specific level of desirability for holdings. This level is based on the collection development guidelines developed by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Section on Acquisition and Collection Development, 2001.
Goals
- Develop high quality, relevant and balanced collections to support and strengthen teaching and research.
- Plan and implement a systematic program to define the needs of the university community and selecting the material to meet these needs.
- Implement collection management policies to build and maintain print, electronic, and media resources to develop balanced collections that meet new demands and evolving technologies.
- Evaluate the collections to determine the relevancy of all items in the collections.
Purpose of the Library
The general purpose of this Library is to make available material and resources that support the goals and objectives of Fitchburg State University, recognizing that our primary clients are the students in the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Selection Statement
The Dean of the Library is responsible for managing the library and ultimately the material that is added to the collection. Each librarian is responsible for selecting materials for their liaison departments. All requests for material should be channeled to the appropriate librarian, no matter who initiated the request. It is the responsibility of each librarian to select standard or appropriate titles. Additionally, the librarians meet as a committee once a year to decide on the selection of certain materials including databases, standing orders, and periodicals; a majority vote rules on a title.
Each Librarian is responsible for developing and maintaining a liaison relationship with their assigned academic departments. It is recommended that each department in turn designate one of their faculty members as their liaison. In the absence of a department liaison, the librarian works with the academic department’s Chair. We follow the ACRL Guidelines of Liaison Work in Managing Collections and Services (RUSA 2010).
The Collection Development Policy also recognizes and adopts the Guidelines of the Resources and Technical Services Division of the American Library Association. The librarians in conjunction with the library director decide the levels of collection for each of the academic departments.
The librarians and library staff adhere to the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and the statement on Intellectual Freedom.
Filming and Photography
Filming and the photography of the library facilities, personnel, or patrons must be arranged with the Dean of the Library by completing a filming/photography request form.
Please include information regarding the desired date, location within the Library, and type of equipment being used. It is also requested that proper attribution be given to the Library in the credits. If people are being filmed or photographed, the appropriate paperwork must be completed according to University policy.
Food & Drink
The library staff has established a Food and Beverage policy to aid in the preservation and care of library materials, furnishings and electronic equipment. In order to maintain a pest-free environment and damage free furnishings, to reduce litter, and to ensure a safe and clean environment, food and drink in the Gallucci-Cirio Library are limited as follows:
- The only food brought into the Library should be of the quick snack variety.
- Drinks are allowed in spill proof, covered containers only.
- Food and beverages are not allowed in the following locations: the public computers, Special Collections and Archives, and the Library Instructional Lab.
Carry out what you carry in.
Gifts & Donations
The Gallucci-Cirio Library welcomes gifts of appropriate materials from the community that may provide valuable additions to the library collection. All donated materials are expected to meet the same standards of quality and relevance to the collection as all newly acquired titles. Donations should support the curriculum and the mission of the library as well as meet established collection development guidelines and policies.
All gifts will undergo review by professional library staff in charge of collecting for the particular subject area that the material falls under. In the event a reviewer is unsure whether certain material should be added to the collection, other librarians and teaching faculty will be consulted for their views on appropriateness.
The library reserves the right to dispose of any gift materials that it considers not to meet the library collection needs and policy guidelines. The library may dispose of the unaccepted material in a variety of different ways including: donating to other libraries; donating to local, nonprofit organizations; donating to academic departments; donating to individual faculty, staff, or students; or discarding/throwing away.
The donor has the following responsibilities:
- Include completed Gifts & Donations Form with any gift.
- If the donor would like to redeem any materials not being considered for addition into the collection, they must indicate this preference on the form.
- Items that are added to the collection may be recognized as a gift with the attachment of a book-plate stating the donor's name; donor must indicate this preference on the form.
- If it is assumed the gift has a large monetary value and if an appraisal is so desired by the donor, they must have a monetary appraisal of the gift done before it is given to the library. This is in compliance with the Tax Reform Act of 1984 and the American Research Libraries' Statement on Appraisal of Gifts.
- All gifts of money must first be discussed with the Dean of the Library.
If you are interested in transferring records from within the University or donating materials to the Archives, please contact the Special Collections Librarian.
University administrative records should be transferred in accordance with the Massachusetts State Records Retention Schedule.
Materials from individuals or non-university sponsored organizations will not be accepted without a legal transfer of title through a Deed of Gift or deposit agreement. Transfer of copyright to the Archives is encouraged so that scholars using the collections can be granted permission from the Archives to quote from the collection.
Noise Policy
Library users should be mindful of noise that may disrupt others. The first and second floors of the library are active learning spaces. Individuals and groups may converse in normal speaking voices. Volume on headphones should be at a level that does not disrupt individuals working nearby. Cell phone conversations should be held at a low volume so as not to distract other library users.
Third and fourth floors are quiet study areas. Cell phones should be on vibrate and users are encouraged to leave these floors when making or receiving phone calls. Audio from headphones should not be heard by those working nearby. Conversations in study rooms are permitted but should be held at lower volumes as the rooms are not sound-proofed and can be heard by those studying nearby. Revised May 2022
Public Users/Visitors
The Library at Fitchburg State University is open to the public and welcomes public patrons. Public patrons, 18 and older, may also apply for a Special ID library card which will enable them to borrow non-restricted circulating materials from the Library.
Computer Use
Public patrons are able to use the 1st floor open area computers to access library databases and online journals by having library staff log them onto the computers with a guest account. Fitchburg State students, faculty, and staff have priority for the library’s computers and equipment. Public patrons may be asked to give up their computers if students, faculty, or staff are waiting. Children under 14 may use a computer with their parent/guardian nearby.
Printing & Copying
Public patrons may use the copier/printer by purchasing a Fitchburg State Guest OneCard and placing money on it to make copies. Guest One Cards can be purchased from any Card Management Center (CMC - locations) on campus and at the OneCard Office (Anthony Building, room 118).
Wireless Access
Wi-Fi guest access is available on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Library.
Study Room Use
Public patrons cannot reserve study rooms. However, during the summer, winter break, and spring break they can occupy a study room until a Fitchburg State University user with a confirmed reservation arrives. Revised May 2022
Social Media
Purpose
The Library utilizes various social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to promote the Library’s services, resources, and programming to the Fitchburg State University community, as well as the general public. The Library intends to not only make information about the Library accessible, but to create a means by which Library users, the FSU community, and general public can provide feedback and seek assistance.
Library-Created Content
Content posted to the official Library social media platforms are created and managed by designated library staff who have access to the Library social media accounts.
When creating and posting content to the Library’s social media platforms, staff are expected to conduct themselves as representatives of both the Library and Fitchburg State University. All content posted to official social media accounts should reflect the mission and values of the institution as well as the Fitchburg State University General Social Media Guidelines.
Content, which can include media, such as images or video, should incorporate the following best practices:
- Cultivating a relatable and respectful tone
- Never posting derogatory or potentially offensive comments
- Providing information and responding to users in accordance with the American Library Association's recommendations for Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries
- Posting only accurate material, citing when appropriate, and adhering to copyright laws
- Crafting thoughtful posts that reflect our users’ needs and interests
- Remaining sympathetic to the concerns of our community members
Public-Created Content
With the goal of creating an opportunity for engagement and community, the Library’s various social media platforms are open to the general public and comments, messages and other interactions are welcome across the Library’s various accounts. A posted comment is the opinion of the poster only, and publication of user comments does not imply endorsement or agreement by the Library.
While the Library recognizes and respects differences in opinion, please be aware that posts are moderated by Library staff. All comments should be relevant to the original post and the Library reserves the right to remove any comments or to turn off comments at any time. Reasons for post removal include, but are not limited to:
- Defamatory language and/or language that promotes racist, sexist, homophobic, or transphobic content
- Personal attacks, insults, threatening language, or obscenities
- Willfully false statements
- Private or personal information
- Solicitation for business, for profit or for fundraising
- Plagiarized materials
- Comments or links that are not related to the content in the post
Followers that engage in the above may also be blocked from the Library’s social media platforms.
Friending/Following
The Library reserves the right to follow or unfollow any other social media accounts. The Library will only “follow back” or “friend” any of the following sites/accounts/users:
- Official Fitchburg State University sites/accounts/users
- Unofficial Fitchburg State University related sites/accounts/users (only once verified)
- Fitchburg State University partners when appropriate
- Library or academic focused sites/accounts/users
- Sites/accounts/users that are of interest to the Library’s followers
- Non-commercial/non-profit sites/accounts/users
Created May 2022
Smoking, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse Policy
The Library complies with the University’s smoking, alcohol and substance policies as listed in the University-wide policies.
Unattended Children in the Library
The Library supports parents, guardians and caregivers of children in their academic pursuits and welcomes them to bring their children into the library provided they are under appropriate supervision during their visit.
Library staff are not licensed caregivers and cannot supervise unattended children. In the interest of the child’s safety, children under the age of 14 should not be left unsupervised.
If a library staff member is alerted to the presence of an unattended child, the child will be escorted to the library public services office where public services staff will determine next steps. Should the adult responsible for the child’s welfare not be present, a staff member will ask the child to leave. If the child is too young to safely leave unescorted, staff will contact Campus Police to report the situation and seek assistance. Revised May 2022