VISITS FROM SCHOOL GROUPS: POLICY STATEMENT


INTRODUCTION

The services and collections of the St. Lawrence University Library are available to the general public as well as to those affiliated with the University. The Library welcomes school groups from the surrounding communities and provides these groups with a variety of services, ranging from general library tours to research workshops.

KINDS OF TOURS AVAILABLE

The librarians offer two kinds of tours to school groups:

1. General Tour: This consists of a general introduction to an academic library and its collections as well as a walking tour of the building. This usually lasts between 30 and 60 minutes.

2. Basic Introduction to the Library for Students Who Will be Using the Collections: This
consists of a walking tour of various parts of the Library. Stops are made at key points in order to provide students with a more than cursory introduction to those areas that they will use when doing their research projects. This is an effectiveway to introduce the Library to students who will be spending one to two hours at St. Lawrence.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Because the presence of school groups places an added responsibility on the Library staff and affects the use of resources by our regular patrons, the following guidelines have been instituted.

Scheduling

A. During the St. Lawrence academic year, school groups will be welcomed at those times when college classes are not in session. Thus, Fall and Spring Breaks, Thanksgiving Week, and Interterm in January are available for group visits.

B. All tours regardless of type must be scheduled at least one week in advance. While the maximum number of students that can be accommodated at one time is 35, the librarians strongly recommend that visits be limited to approximately 20 students. Experience has shown that more productive work is done when there are fewer students in a group.


Borrowing Books

The St. Lawrence University book collection is available for use by community members. While there are no restrictions placed upon the use of books in the Library, the following policy applies to students who come on school tours and wish to check out books. It also applies to students who come to the SLU Library either alone or in groups without an accompanying adult, but under a released-time arrangement. Schools arranging tours to ODY must accept ultimate financial responsibility for charges incurred by student borrowers who do not pay their fines. If a school cannot accept this obligation, students will be allowed to use books only in the Library.

1. Each student who plans to borrow books from the Library must fill out an ODYsseus Borrower's Card application form and agree to allow officials from the visiting school access to information about any overdue or lost materials. These forms will be mailed to the contact person at the public school after tour details have been arranged. All students who plan to come on a tour should fill out a form, whether or not they already have a Borrower's Card. The completed forms should be sent back to the Owen D. Young Library (attn: Circulation Desk) before the class is scheduled to arrive for its tour. Students should also be informed that they will need a form of identification with them at the Library. The following are examples of identification: Driver's License, School ID, a library card from another library.

2. Each student may check out a maximum of three books for up to four weeks. Failure to return the books within the allotted time may mean suspension of all future borrowing privileges.

3. Students who borrow books accept financial responsibility for these books in case they are lost or damaged. Students who are not able to assume this obligation are encouraged to use the books in the Library.

4. At the request of the school or teacher, a list will be provided with the names of the students and the number of items each has checked out. Students will be sent two overdue notices and one bill if the items are not returned by the due date. After the bill has been sent, the Senior Circulation Technician will contact the teachers letting them know which students have outstanding items. If the items are not returned by the end of the semester, the school will be billed for the replacement cost.

Back to Policies

go to Library Home Page