6920 - University Library

A. INTRODUCTION. As Idaho's flagship research library, the University of Idaho Library (Library) connects our users with information, ideas, tools, and spaces; enriches formal and informal learning opportunities; supports and advances research, scholarly, and creative activity; builds partnerships through regional and national outreach; and preserves university, state, and regional historical archives. We champion the transformative power of ideas and learning, inspire our students to engage in a lifelong pursuit of intellectual development, and provide an essential foundation for innovation, research, and scholarship. It is the U.S. Government documents regional repository and a designated Earth Science Information Center. The Library seeks to build and maintain mutually beneficial partnerships to ensure faculty, staff, and students have the broadest access to the Library collections, while providing services to citizens of the state and region.

B. SERVICES.

B-1. Loan Privileges.

a. Books in the general collection have a six week loan period. Loan periods for materials in other collections may be shorter. All materials are subject to recall after two weeks.

b. Faculty members are exempt from overdue charges with the exceptions of fines associated with overdue interlibrary loan, consortial, or recalled materials. Highly specialized materials needed by faculty members for continuous close-at-hand use may be loaned for an extended period.

B-2. Interlibrary Loans.

a. The Library administers an interlibrary-loan service to facilitate borrowing scholarly materials from other libraries for use by faculty members, staff and students.

b. Interlibrary loans are agreements between libraries. The lending library establishes loan periods and any special use conditions. Overdue materials borrowed through interlibrary loan are subject to fines as infractions may interrupt service to other library users.

B-3. Electronic Resources.

a. The Library licenses and makes available electronic content for use by students, faculty, and staff currently affiliated with UI. Use of licensed content is dictated by terms agreed to by both the Library and the content provider. These agreements typically prohibit excessive downloading of content, commercial use, and use by individuals not directly affiliated with the UI. If the Library is notified that a user is violating the terms of a license, appropriate action will be taken by the Library to address the violation in question and, as necessary, to prevent further abuse.

b. Individuals not affiliated with the UI have limited use of most resources through public terminals in the Library.

B-4. Course Reserve.

a. Faculty members are encouraged to place materials on course reserve at least one week prior to class assignments.

b. Requests forms to create a reserve list are available online or in the Library.

c. Faculty members may place personal copies on reserve. Non-library materials should be properly identified with a mark of ownership.

d. If library materials are to be purchased for reserve, sufficient time should be allowed for their acquisition.

B-5. Library-Use Lectures.

a. Upon request, librarians conduct specialized lectures on using and evaluating information resources.

b. Instructors may make arrangements for the lectures through the appropriate librarian.

c. Students may consult individually with librarians after lectures are given to gain additional insights about the research process.

B-6. Resource Requests.

a. Faculty members are encouraged to work with their librarians to select materials that will serve the current and future needs of the UI. Resources may be requested via email or through the online resource purchase request form.

b. New periodical subscription requests should be made through a librarian. Due to the cost of these materials, the Library is judicious in acquiring new titles without an evaluation of existing titles.

c. Resources needed immediately (for reserve or because of demand) will be ordered and processed in an expedited fashion.

B-7. Use of Copyrighted Materials. U.S. copyright law governs the reproduction, preparation of derivative works, distribution, performance, display, and transmission of copyrighted materials. The University Library reserves the right to refuse any request by a patron that, in Library’s judgment, would involve the Library acting in violation of U.S. copyright law.

B-8. Departmental Libraries. It is the policy of the UI to maintain a strong central library. Branch libraries are discouraged. In view of the special character of library resources in the field of law, the College of Law maintains a library and staff with specialized training in law librarianship [see FSH 6925].

B-9. Additional Information.

a. For additional information about the Library and its operations, the library website.

b. Faculty members who wish to suggest changes in Library regulations or policies should feel free to make these suggestions known to the Library staff or members of the Library Affairs Committee [see 1640.60].

Version History

Amended July 2018. Significantly revised to reflect current policies.

Adopted July 1996.