POLICIES
CONFIDENTIALITY
All patron and other student information is private. We take only the information that we need to perform Circulation tasks, and we actively protect that information in order to preserve the privacy of those we serve.
GUIDELINES:
All patron and other student information is private. We take only the information that we need to perform Circulation tasks, and we actively protect that information in order to preserve the privacy of those we serve.
GUIDELINES:
- Who is reading what is no one's business but their own.
- We do not divulge any personal information about a patron, for any reason. We do not give out names, addresses, pictures, or phone numbers.
- Other information from a patron's account, such as fines, is similarly confidential.
- The information we have access to through Banner is private.
- Treat faxes as private mail.
- Staff schedules and other personal information is also private.
NOISE
The Library is a place of active research and study. Some who use the Library expect to be able to study in complete silence. Some can tolerate a measure of noise and activity around them. Some are used to studying amidst the bustle of everyday life and do not notice the noise around them, or the noise they make themselves.
For this reason, we have divided the Library into zones of activity. Generally we expect more quiet in the Library than in the Learning Commons.
During the school year, full-time staff members patrol our stacks and study areas regularly. These scheduled walks, between one and three hours apart depending on the time of day, allow us to educate students about the need for quiet, and to enforce our rules.
All staff members, including Student Assistants, are expected to enforce Library rules. If you need assistance, or if your intervention is ignored, refer the problem to your supervisor right away.
For the official and printable version of our Noise Policy, click the link below:
http://www.smu.ca/webfiles/PoliciesNoise_000.pdf
The Library is a place of active research and study. Some who use the Library expect to be able to study in complete silence. Some can tolerate a measure of noise and activity around them. Some are used to studying amidst the bustle of everyday life and do not notice the noise around them, or the noise they make themselves.
For this reason, we have divided the Library into zones of activity. Generally we expect more quiet in the Library than in the Learning Commons.
- The quiet zones are now the second and third floors of the Library.
- Group study rooms, where we ask students to be very conscious of each other; quiet talking is allowed, but it must not be disruptive.
- On the stairwells and in the first floor lobby areas, normal voice volumes and cell phone use is allowed, but only to a reasonable level.
During the school year, full-time staff members patrol our stacks and study areas regularly. These scheduled walks, between one and three hours apart depending on the time of day, allow us to educate students about the need for quiet, and to enforce our rules.
All staff members, including Student Assistants, are expected to enforce Library rules. If you need assistance, or if your intervention is ignored, refer the problem to your supervisor right away.
For the official and printable version of our Noise Policy, click the link below:
http://www.smu.ca/webfiles/PoliciesNoise_000.pdf
STUDY ROOMS
For the official and printable version of our Study Room Policy, click the link below:
http://www.smu.ca/webfiles/PoliciesStudyRoomsFirstFloor.pdf
For the official and printable version of our Study Room Policy, click the link below:
http://www.smu.ca/webfiles/PoliciesStudyRoomsFirstFloor.pdf
LAPTOPS
FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Food and beverages are allowed in all areas of the Library, including at computer stations and study carrels. Beverage containers are expected to be covered. We expect students to eat and drink in a careful way, to clean up after themselves, and to garbage or recycle waste as appropriate.
We do not permit food deliveries to be made to the Library, nor do we permit the use of electric kettles in the Library.
Staff may only have food and drink in the back office work areas or in the staff room. Only water in a covered container is allowed at our public desk.
Food and beverages are allowed in all areas of the Library, including at computer stations and study carrels. Beverage containers are expected to be covered. We expect students to eat and drink in a careful way, to clean up after themselves, and to garbage or recycle waste as appropriate.
We do not permit food deliveries to be made to the Library, nor do we permit the use of electric kettles in the Library.
Staff may only have food and drink in the back office work areas or in the staff room. Only water in a covered container is allowed at our public desk.
CELL PHONE USE
Inside the Library, cell phone calls are limited to our stairwells, reference, and lobby areas. Students making or taking calls are expected to move to these designated areas right away.
Staff are not permitted to have cell phones at our desk areas, and must leave them behind when working in the stacks.
Inside the Library, cell phone calls are limited to our stairwells, reference, and lobby areas. Students making or taking calls are expected to move to these designated areas right away.
Staff are not permitted to have cell phones at our desk areas, and must leave them behind when working in the stacks.
PATRON AND STAFF EXPECTATIONS
In the Library, as in life, we are expected to treat each other with courtesy and respect. We expect staff to respect our patrons, and our patrons to respond in the same fashion.
This does not mean "the customer is always right". Occasionally, as when imposing overdue fines or not allowing some material to leave the library, for example, we take legitimate actions that disadvantage patrons. We expect, however, that all parties will behave in an appropriate way.
Staff members understand that students are immature on occasion, sometimes are sensitive to 'authority' (even when dealing with fellow students), and often operate under a lot of pressure. We understand that civility is less common than was once the case. We make allowances, but we are also careful to quickly bring our Supervisors into uncomfortable situations, before they escalate.
Our Supervisors, in turn, are expected to be problem-solvers. Student Assistants should know that asking for help does not always demonstrate a poor grasp of your work, and should easily turn to full-time staff members for assistance and instruction.
On rare occasions, a situation or a patron constitutes a genuine emergency, causing us to call Security or invoke one of our emergency procedures. All staff should be familiar with our emergency procedures.
In the Library, as in life, we are expected to treat each other with courtesy and respect. We expect staff to respect our patrons, and our patrons to respond in the same fashion.
This does not mean "the customer is always right". Occasionally, as when imposing overdue fines or not allowing some material to leave the library, for example, we take legitimate actions that disadvantage patrons. We expect, however, that all parties will behave in an appropriate way.
Staff members understand that students are immature on occasion, sometimes are sensitive to 'authority' (even when dealing with fellow students), and often operate under a lot of pressure. We understand that civility is less common than was once the case. We make allowances, but we are also careful to quickly bring our Supervisors into uncomfortable situations, before they escalate.
Our Supervisors, in turn, are expected to be problem-solvers. Student Assistants should know that asking for help does not always demonstrate a poor grasp of your work, and should easily turn to full-time staff members for assistance and instruction.
On rare occasions, a situation or a patron constitutes a genuine emergency, causing us to call Security or invoke one of our emergency procedures. All staff should be familiar with our emergency procedures.