Policies

• Cellular/Telephone/Beepers
• Children
• Circulation
• Collection Development
• Community User Card
• Computer Use
  • Wireless Network
• Elevator Keys
• Food/Drink
• Personal Information
• Privacy
• Proper Library Behavior

FOOD/DRINK:

• Food and beverages pose a threat to library materials and furnishings. Do not bring them into the library.
• Drink containers, including water bottles, must be kept in backpacks.

CIRCULATION:

• Patron's registration with the Library shall be the validated I.D. card issued to students, faculty, and staff. No other identification is necessary. If a student does not possess a current validated I.D. card, a class schedule and a current picture I.D. will suffice until an I.D. card is obtained.
• Residents of El Paso County may apply for a community user card. Minimum age for a community user is 17. The appropriate application form must be completed with proof of residence such as current driver's license, telephone deposit receipt, utility receipt, city or county tax receipt, and private/public school or university I.D. The community user card is valid for one calendar year from date of issue. Only the authorized card holder may use the card.
• Certain materials, including periodicals, reference books, and vertical file materials will be restricted to use within the Library. Copies may be made for research or instructional use within the restrictions of copyright legislation.

Authorized checkout periods:

• Students, faculty and staff may check out books (unlimited) for 3 weeks and AV materials (limit of 4) for 1 week.
• Community users may check out 2 items only; books for 3 weeks and AV materials for 1 week. Loan periods for reserve materials are specified by the instructor with options for library use only and overnight.
• Students and community users who have a total fine of $1.50 or more must pay the fine before any additional material can be checked out. Anything less than $1.50 total will be waived.
• Lost items must be paid in full including a $10.00 processing fee per item.
• Materials may be transferred upon request from another EPCC Library.

TELEPHONE, CELLULAR PHONE AND BEEPER POLICY:

• Library telephones are for staff use only.
• The use of cellular phones, beepers and other electronic signaling devices is prohibited anywhere in the Library, including the Library classroom and study rooms. Patrons are asked to maintain a quiet atmosphere in the Library. Please turn off cellular phones and set beepers to vibrate mode when entering the Library. Violators will be asked to leave the Library. Exceptions will be made when cellular phones or beepers are required for documented medical reasons.

Elevator Keys:

• In order to accommodate patrons using the second floor elevator, the library has installed a big red button next to the 2nd floor elevator to alert staff of the need for assistance. The following procedure has been established:

1. To request that the elevator be opened, the patron presses the red button.
2. The "camera" installed on top of the stairwell, behind the Reference Desk, will flash a very bright light and will emit a soft pulsating sound.
3. Staff or librarian should immediately get keys to the elevator.
4. Go to the first floor elevator, press the yellow button next to the door. This will stop the flashing of the light.
5. Go to the second floor and open the elevator for the patron. The Library installed this system after being required by state inspectors to control access to the elevator. This was the best alternative available. Staff and librarians are being asked to be prompt and diligent when dealing with assistance to the elevators.
6. Another option to access the elevator is by checking out the elevator keys. See below for procedure:

Keys to the elevator can be checked out. To request a key:

1. The patron should go to the Circulation desk and ask the assistant for a key.
2. E.P.C.C. students MUST leave a validated E.P.C.C. student I.D.
3. The community user MUST leave a CURRENT PICTURE I.D.
4. There is a replacement charge of $10.00 for lost keys.
5. A key is considered lost if, at closing time, it has not been returned.
6. If a key is returned after closing time, i.e., the day or days after, there will still be a LOST KEY CHARGE.
7. Patrons who do not return the key will lose the privilege of checking out additional keys, until the replacement charge has been paid.
8. There are NO exceptions to this policy.

COMPUTER USE POLICY:

E.P.C.C. District Computer Use Policy 2.05.01.54 (PDF document, p. 177; look for policy #2.05.01.54)

• To use the Internet and Microsoft Office computers, ALL users MUST sign up at the "Computers" counter (front desk) and present the following types of I.D.:

EPCC Students:

VALIDATED STUDENT I.D. or CURRENT PICTURE I.D. WITH CURRENT CLASS SCHEDULE.

Community User:

E.P.C.C. COMMUNITY USER CARD AND A CURRENT PICTURE I.D.

 

• Community users under age 17 are NOT allowed to use the computers unless they are accompanied by a parent or a guardian at all times. The computer will be assigned to the parent or guardian.

GUIDELINES:

• To request a computer, please go to the front desk, "Computers" counter.
• Use the assigned computer workstation or you will be asked to move.
• Users must be familiar with the application they are running. The Library will only provide assistance in handling minor problems such as logging in, paper jams, or program selection.
• Please do not save to the C: drive. Use double-sided, high-density diskettes or a flash (U.S.B.) drive for saving documents.
• The Library cannot guarantee a virus-free environment and will not be responsible for loss of documents.
• If the Library computer area becomes too busy, we reserve the right to limit your computer use time. Priority will be given to El Paso Community College students, faculty and staff.
• Library staff will NOT maintain a waiting list. All work and printing must be completed 30 minutes before closing.

NO RECREATIONAL CHAT LINES, MUDs or MOOs.

NO USE OF PERSONAL OR CLASS SOFTWARE

• The library does not allow the download of personal or class software onto the library's computers. Please make arrangements with computer labs [B120, A1721] to view/use your software.

Procedures for Responsible Computing at El Paso Community College

• In support of its mission of teaching, research, and public service, El Paso Community College provides access to computing and information resources for students, faculty, staff and community users, within institutional priorities and financial capabilities.
• All who use the College's computing and information resources must act responsibly. Every user is responsible for the integrity of these resources.
• All users of College-owned or College-leased computing systems must respect the rights of other computing users, respect the integrity of the physical facilities and controls, and respect all pertinent license and contractual agreements.
• It is the policy of El Paso Community College that all members of its community act in accordance with these responsibilities, relevant laws and contractual obligations, and the highest standard of ethics.

Misuse of Computing and Information Resource Privileges

Examples may include but not be limited to:

• accessing computers, computer software, computer data or information, or networks without proper authorization, regardless of whether the computer, software, data, information, or network in question is owned by the College. (That is, if you abuse the networks to which the College belongs or the computers at other sites connected to those networks, the College will treat this matter as an abuse of your El Paso County Community College computing privileges.)
• using computing facilities, computer accounts, or computer data for purposes other than those for which they were intended or authorized encroaching on others' use of the College's computers (e.g., disrupting others' computer use by game playing; by sending excessive messages, either locally or off-campus [including, but not limited to electronic chain letters];
• printing excessive copies of documents, files, data, or programs;
• modifying system facilities, operating systems, or disk partitions;
• attempting to crash or tie up a College computer;
• damaging or vandalizing College computing facilities, equipment, software, or computer files).

Violations of these procedures may result in administrative and/or criminal actions.

Such administrative action may include, but not be limited to:

• inspecting any files or programs in question
• suspending or restricting the computing privileges of the violator

It should be understood that nothing in these guidelines precludes enforcement under the laws and regulations of the State of Texas, any municipality or county therein, and/or the United States of America.

Wireless Network- Acceptable Use as of 1-03-06

• Unauthorized use of the system is prohibited.
• Usage may be subject to security testing and monitoring.
• Use of E.P.C.C. computing resources must be in accordance with E.P.C.C. procedures for acceptable use of information technology resources and information security.
• You have no expectation of privacy except as otherwise provided by applicable privacy laws.
• By continuing to use the system you indicate your awareness of and consent to these terms and conditions of use.

To El Paso Community College Libraries District Page

To El Paso Community College Home Page

Last Updated: July 2007

Maintained by Sahyly Martinez

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URL: http:/www.epcc.edu/vvlib/policies.htm