Library Policies

Mission
Greenlease Library’s mission statement is available on our Strategic Plan and Assessment webpage here: https://libguides.rockhurst.edu/StrategicPlan.

Objectives
A key aspect of modern academic librarianship is stewarding the library collection throughout the lifecycle of the resources. The selection of library materials is a cooperative venture between the academic faculty and the library staff. The objectives of collection development are: (1) to support the university curriculum, (2) to provide for the research needs of the University community, and (3) to support the mission of the University. 

Selection
Each department has a librarian liaison to assist and consult in the selection of materials.  All expenditures fall under the discretion of the library director.

Selection Criteria
General selection guidelines for all materials are:  

1. Lasting value of the content in relation to teaching and research needs, including:
   • Quality of scholarship
   • Uniqueness of content or treatment
   • Accessibility and discoverability of the information
2. Strength of present holdings in subject areas.
3. Appropriateness of the level of the materials for their intended user (undergraduate, graduate, faculty, and staff), and frequency of anticipated use.
4. Content, format, and scope required for accreditation or programmatic licensure of programs.
5. Current materials will be given priority over out-of-print materials.
6. Preference will be given to electronic format, unless otherwise noted.
7. Consortial holdings and cooperative agreements will be considered when making selection decisions.
8. The acquisition of more than one copy of any title, regardless of format, shall not be purchased without consulting the appropriate library liaison.
9. Lost, damaged, or missing items are not automatically replaced but evaluated on University needs and usage data for the given area.
10. The library will not purchase physical materials intended for single use in the context of a University course or licensure (e.g., workbooks, tests, software, etc.). See textbook section below.
11. The library does not acquire materials to support off-site, non-library collections including department-specific resources retained outside the library. 

Library Collection

Academic Materials
Emphasis is placed on developing resources that support Rockhurst curriculum. Secondary emphasis is placed on the research needs of the students, faculty, and staff.  To maximize library funding, minimal collection development will occur for minor academic programs. For fictional works, preference is given to acquiring major literary works supporting the curriculum and special programs sponsored by the University, i.e., Visiting Scholars Lectures. Materials will be added primarily in the English language. Materials in other languages taught by the English, Modern Languages, and Fine Arts Department will also be considered. 

• Ingrisano Library Fund: The Ingrisano Library Fund is used by the library to provide resources that support the study of history at Rockhurst University. 
• Sims Library Fund: The Sims Library Fund is used by the library to provide resources that support the study of English and Modern Languages taught by the University.
• Rossner Fund for the Library: The Rossner Fund for the Library provides support for the library’s acquisition of philosophy and theology resources.

Interlibrary Loan
Greenlease Library will utilize Interlibrary Loan to supplement the library collection when acquiring resources for individual or small group research and projects. The library will follow CONTU Guidelines, including the payment of copyright fees for interlibrary loan requests when necessary. Interlibrary Loan is not designed to support requests for required textbooks.  Unless it is a ‘popular’ or older title, textbook loan requests are almost never filled by other libraries.

Textbooks
Greenlease Library does not generally collect nor acquire textbooks to best utilize library funding and avoid overlapping services with the University Bookstore. However, when requested by faculty and/or departments, Greenlease Library will consider the acquisition of textbooks using the following criteria. 

1. Priority is given to one-time purchases in electronic format with multi-user access in order to maximize the availability of the resource.
2. The publisher must have institutional purchasing options available within its platforms.  Platforms and materials must be accessible via current library systems.
3. Program faculty understand textbook expenditures significantly affect the availability of other resources in the field of study due to library budget constraints.
4. The impact of the library’s actions on the University Bookstore services.

Government Documents
Greenlease Library is a member of the Federal Depository Library Program and takes into consideration the information needs of people in the 5th Congressional District of Missouri. 

Co-Curricular Collections
Greenlease Library provides resources supporting important University core values, including social justice and activism. These collections endeavor to provide resources supporting community interests in popular fiction and nonfiction as well as the core value of Cura Personalis. 

Book Donations
Greenlease Library conditionally accepts donations of physical materials. The Library Director, or his or her appointee, is free to decline and/or dispose of book donations if they do not align with the mission of the library or duplicate materials already owned. All donated materials are acknowledged by the library, but no appraised value is given. The library refers donors asking for appraisals to utilize third parties as well as the instructions for IRS form 8283. Memorial gifts are encouraged by the library. The staff will work with donors to select materials appropriate for the library and the person being commemorated.

De-Selection
Liaison librarians are responsible for the full lifecycle of collection management from point of selection to withdrawal. Review of library collections is performed regularly, ensuring collections remain both current, authoritative, and correspond with Rockhurst University needs. Resources not supporting current curriculum or having low usage may be deselected at the discretion of the library staff, working in consultation with faculty as needed.

Intellectual Freedom
Intellectual freedom is a basic right in a democratic society and a core value of the library profession. The American Library Association actively defends the right of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Greenlease Library supports the concepts of intellectual freedom as core to both democracy and the Jesuit mission of Rockhurst University that includes the following Jesuit Values:

• Finding God in All Things
• Care for the Whole Person - “Cura Personalis”
• “Magis” as a commitment to excellence
• Reflection and Discernment
• Contemplation in Action
• Learning as a form of Wisdom - “Sapientia Aedificavit Sibi Domum – Wisdom has Built Herself a Home”

The Greenlease Library has three patron categories for utilizing Rockhurst library resources: 

• RU Student (undergraduate/graduate) 
• RU Employee (staff and faculty) 
• RU Guest/Alumnus 

Circulation duration of Greenlease Library resources is based on the category of affiliation with Rockhurst University.  

MOBIUS Library material circulation duration is set by the MOBIUS Bylaws (https://mobiusconsortium.org/governance-documents).  

Interlibrary Loan circulation duration is determined at the discretion of the lending library per the ILL Code for the United States (https://www.ala.org/rusa/interlibrary-loan-code-united-states-explanatory-text). 

Below is a chart listing patron category, circulation duration of RU resources, and usage of MOBIUS libraries’ resources, and Interlibrary Loan resources. 

These policies are applicable to all Rockhurst library patrons regardless of affiliation with the University.
It is under the discretion of the Research Learning and Assessment Services Librarian or Library Director to waive fees related to materials owned by the library. 

Greenlease Library Lost Item Fees*:
The library will only assess fees for lost items with the cost of the item determined by the Collection Services Librarian. The patron will have a hold placed on their library account until the item is returned or the lost fee is paid. This prevents the patron from checking out additional materials from the library or MOBIUS. 

MOBIUS Lost Item Fees:
Lost materials fees are determined by the lending library. The patron will have a hold placed on their MOBIUS OpenRS account until the item is returned or the lost fee is paid per MOBIUS Consortium policy https://mobiusconsortium.org/lost-materials. 

Interlibrary Loan Lost Item Fees: 
Lost materials fees are determined by the lending library as required by the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States of the American Library Association - https://www.ala.org/rusa/interlibrary-loan-code-united-states-explanatory-text  

Payment for Library Fees:
Payment can be made at the front desk of the Greenlease library via cash or check. Checks may be made out to either Rockhurst University or the Greenlease Library.The library will not accept replacement copies of lost materials in lieu of payment.

Overdue Library Fines*:
Greenlease Library will not assess fines to Rockhurst University affiliates for overdue library materials.

Interlibrary Loan Fees: 
Greenlease Library will not charge Rockhurst University affiliates fees for interlibrary loan requests. Greenlease Library will be responsible for interlibrary loan fees generated by the library lending the resource and follow CONTU Guidelines - https://digital-law-online.info/CONTU/contu24.html.

*- Effective January 12, 2016
 

The Greenlease Library building hours of operation vary depending on the academic session schedule and other campus operational scheduling decisions such as holidays, special events, or inclement weather. Hours of building operations are dependent on the availability of resources and building usage by patrons.

To maintain services and operation, at least one library staff will be in the building during scheduled hours of operation. Library hours of operation are posted on the library website, social media channels, and library entrance including modifications to typical library hours.

Fall and Spring Session Hours of Operation*:

• Sunday, 12:30 – 8 pm 
• Monday – Thursday, 8 am – 10 pm 
• Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm 
• Saturday, noon – 4:30 pm 

* Finals Week Library Hours are extended  

Summer Session Hours of Operation: 

• Sunday, closed 
• Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm 
• Saturday, closed 

Intersession Hours of Operation: 

• Sunday, closed unless the Sunday before the return to the academic session 
• Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm
• Saturday, closed 

Food and Drink Policy 
Food and drink are allowed throughout the Greenlease Library with the exception of the University Archives spaces. The use of covered drink containers is encouraged. Patrons are welcome to use the vending and microwave options available in the building. 

Events and Programming in the Greenlease Library 
The Greenlease Library encourages events and programming opportunities. The 1st floor (main) floor and the basement level (STEAM Studio) spaces may be reserved through the space request form on the Web Portal. Scheduled events may occur in the Greenlease Library outside of current hours of operation but require coordination with Campus Security on the part of the event planner. The Director of Greenlease Library will be the approver of the request. Reasons to refuse a request will be due to conflicting needs, such as providing study space for students during Finals, or another event.