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ROSS SCHOOL LIBRARIES

 

POLICIES & PROCEDURES

 

 

Library Circulation Policy

Books may only be checked out from the Lower and Middle School libraries when a librarian is present. To check out books from the High School Library, please use the sign out log located on the book return cart.


Loan Terms 

Lower, Middle, and Upper School Libraries – three (3) weeks

Senior Reference Library – books DO NOT circulate


Maximum Number of Items

Students are allowed a maximum of five (5) items at any given time. Faculty members are allowed a maximum of ten (10) at any given time (faculty may borrow books for extended time period).

Pre-Kindergarten students check-out one book each week to take back to the classroom library, as an intermediate step to prepare children for the full responsibility of taking books home.


Kindergarten students check-out books to take home for the first time, after learning about taking care of and "being in charge" of their books


Late Returns

No overdue charges will be incurred for late returns, although no additional items in excess of the allowed maximum will be checked out to patrons with overdue material.


Lost or Damaged Books

Replacement fees will be charged for lost and damaged items based upon the original purchase price plus a five-dollar ($5.00) replacement processing fee. Lost/damaged book fees will be issued at the end of each trimester. In the Lower School, overdue notices will be sent home on a regular basis. Items that are one month or more overdue will be assumed lost and treated as such, as will all items not returned by a specified date at  the end of the school year.


Special School Assignments

Circulation limits may be placed on topics of special interest. Temporary reserves may be created at the request of faculty for special interest topics in order to accommodate class assignments or special study groups. Reserve collections may be checked out to a classroom for specific research projects. Students and faculty may reserve books that are checked out to others.

 

Videos

A list of videos located in the Middle and Upper School Libraries is featured on the Ross School Libraries website and is also accessible through the catalog.  If you wish to take out a video, please e-mail library@ross.org, with the video title and call number.

 

Criteria for Selection and Acquisition

 

The library has a responsibility to be inclusive in our selection in order to represent the widest possible diversity of views and to offer equal and open access to all materials in our collection. Some materials are selected in terms of learning and research, and some materials are selected

 to satisfy recreational reading needs.

 

-               Library selections and acquisition choice are made using the following standards:

-               Reading professional journals and a variety of reviews

-               Suitability of format

-               Suitability of subject for the library population

-               Relationship to the library’s existing collection

-               Qualification and reputation of the author and publisher

-               Cost and availability

-               Currency of information

-               Artistic presentation

-               Contemporary materials representing various points of view

-               Recommendations from faculty and students

 

Related American Library Association Documents

 

Intellectual Freedom, Confidentiality and Privacy

Two concepts that support intellectual freedom are confidentiality and privacy. Confidentiality exists when a library is in possession of personally identifiable information about users, for example: circulation records, Internet use logs, and keeps that information private on their behalf.  Privacy is the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one's interest examined or scrutinized by others.


Confidentiality and privacy foster an atmosphere of free intellectual inquiry. If users fear that their privacy or confidentiality is compromised, true freedom of inquiry no longer exists. Freedom of inquiry is an essential liberty.

 

Our profession's commitment to intellectual freedom is complemented by a commitment to facilitating, but not monitoring, access to information. Confidentiality and privacy are necessary for intellectual freedom and are fundamental to the ethics and practice of librarianship.

 

This policy has been adopted by the Ross School Libraries from the American Library Association. For further information see American Library Association: Privacy and Confidentiality.

 

American Library Association’s Code of Ethics

The Ross School Libraries strive to uphold the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics in our daily interactions with all of the Ross Community.

 

-          We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests.

-          We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources.

-          We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.

-          We recognize and respect intellectual property rights.

-          We treat co-workers and other colleagues with respect, fairness and good faith, and advocate conditions of employment that safeguard the rights and welfare of all employees of our institutions.

-          We do not advance private interests at the expense of library users, colleagues, or our employing institutions.

-          We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims of our institutions or the provision of access to their information resources.

-          We strive for excellence in the profession by maintaining and enhancing our own knowledge and skills, by encouraging the professional development of co-workers, and by fostering the aspirations of potential members of the profession.

Adopted June 28, 1995, by the ALA Council

 

 

 

 

Updated 15 September 2009