Library Policies
KBA-01272-C9M3D2
Question

What are the WSU Library's policies for… food and drink, cell phones, room reservations, use of space requests etc

Answer

Listed below is information on library policy from our website.  Included after this information is a link to the specific original information on the website.

We seek a balance between protecting our collections and equipment and acknowledging the increase in the popularity of using the Library building.  The Library's food/drink policy allows both. However we ask that you please remember and respect the students using the library. Also to better maintain the Library space please notify a Library staff member if you have spilled something, so that we can take action in cleaning this area to minimize damage to the facility and materials. Thank you.
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Noise & Cell Phone Policy

The library is a popular place for the WSU community for studying, learning and working.  While using the library, follow the lead of the others around you to learn about which activities would be acceptable on each floor and in each space.  Most importantly, please respect one another and the space.

General Etiquette:
  • Turn cell phones to silence or off
  • If you need to answer a call, please wait until you are outside the building
    If you take a call in the Atrium or front entrance of the library, your voice will carry all the way to the third floor
  • The stairwells are like echo chambers; voices carry throughout the building
  • Use headphones and keep the volume low enough that others around will not hear what you are hearing

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Food & Drink

Patrons may enjoy food and non-alcoholic drink in the Krueger Library. However, please respect other students who are using the library.

All of us aim to keep our building clean and our collections preserved for many years to come. Please notify a library staff member if you have spilled something. Library staff will clean it up right away to minimize damage to the library space and collections.

Just as you would when eating outdoors, we ask that you leave no trace.

Principles

The Krueger Library has adapted the following Leave No Trace principles of outdoor ethics to its food and drink policy.

  • Plan ahead and prepare: When possible, plan to eat your meals before you come to the library.
  • Dispose of waste properly: Place food and drink garbage in trash cans; place recyclables in recycling binds.
  • Leave what you find: Leave library resources, furnishings, and equipment as you found them--or in better condition than you found them.
  • Be conciderate of other visitors: Respect the next library user and the next generation of library users.

We thank Folke Bernadotte Library at Gustavus Adolphus College for their permission to adapt their food and drink policies for our library.

Guidelines

  • Deposit all recyclable food and drink packaging in the recycling bins located throughout the library
  • Deposit all non-recyclable food and drink garbage in the trash receptacles located throughout the library
  • Pack it in, pack it out: carry out any non-disposable dishes, silverware, etc. that you bring into the library
  • If you must dispose of beverages, pour liquids into the bathroom sink before recycling or throwing away the containers
  • Place food and drink garbage in trash cans carefully to avoid splattering food and drink on the walls and library materials
  • Report accidental spills to library staff as soon as possible. Also, please attempt to clean spills using materials from self-cleaning stations located around the building
  • If your food or drink generates complaints from other library patrons, you may be asked to remove it from the library
  • Food deliveries are permitted only if you meet the delivery at the front entrance

Goals

Following the guidelines above will help us achieve our goals:
  • To promote consideration of other visitors: respect the next library user and the next generation of library users
  • To promote recycling of appropriate food and drink packaging
  • To preserve our library collections and protect our facility from pests and harmful molds
  • To help to ensure the health and safety of all library users and a long life for library collections, furnishings and equipment
  • To respect our hard-working custodial staff by taking responsibility for our personal behavior
  • To allow us to direct library funds to purchasing library materials that support the curriculum, rather than to replacing resources, furnishings and equipment damaged by food and drink.

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Library Space & Room Usage (by type of space)

General Library Study Areas

Open Areas

  • In open areas, groups should be aware of others studying around them and use common sense and courtesy so as not to disturb others.
  • If a specific space is needed for faculty or campus groups, the group should either contact the department’s liaison librarian or the Library Administration. For example, if a paralegal course needs to use a specific area for a group study session, the instructor should coordinate with the liaison librarian and the library’s administrative assistant, who will create signage to reserve the space for the group.

Group Study Rooms

Group study rooms are designated for group study for the WSU community and can be reserved online. The rooms are not soundproof, so please be courteous of your neighbors.

        Study Room Policies:
  • Please do not sign up for a room if you do not plan to use it
  • If you do not show up 15 minutes after your reservation, another user can use that room for the remainder of the time (until the next reservation)
  • A maximum of three hours per slot
  • One slot per day for each individual user
  • No more than two slots per week for each individual user
  • A week is defined as Monday through Sunday
  • Reservations cannot be made more than 7 days in advance

Reservations in violation of the above polices will be automatically deleted. If you have questions, visit the Front Desk for assistance.

The Dean of the Library makes final decisions regarding the prior scheduling of all library space usage. See the librarian on duty if you have questions.

Faculty & Staff Use During Summer

Contact your Dean or supervising administrator. Exhaust all possible space options outside the library. The first priority for study rooms is for WSU students. Then have your Dean contact the Library's Administrative Assistant. The Dean of the Library and the Library department will assess the need for usage of study room or library space. Preference will be given to displaced full-time staff and faculty that are teaching summer courses.

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Library Classroom (LIB 102)

The classroom is central to the library’s mission in providing library instruction. Priority is given to library instruction of WSU students by library faculty. A class or group not taught by library faculty may use room 102 for a maximum of three (3) class periods during a semester, pending availability.

Room 102 is also available on a limited basis Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 10:00pm for use by non-library groups. Reservations for functions other than library instruction of WSU students may be made up to seven days prior to the date. Special events and meetings may be scheduled earlier with Library Administration approval.

As demand warrants and scheduling permits, the room can be opened up during peak usage times for student study space.

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Library Conference Room (LIB 109)

The scheduling of the Library Conference room for non-library WSU uses will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Use the WSU Virtual EMS system to request a reservation.

Room 109 can be available Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 5pm for use by non-library WSU entities for up to three (3) hours per day. Senior seminar type classes (small classes under 15) with a Library/research component are allowed and may be scheduled with Dean of the Library’s approval.

As demand warrants and scheduling permits, the room can be opened up during the evening for student study space.

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Library Facility Policies and Procedures

The Krueger Library building is a unique facility.  Unlike other campus buildings it includes materials and equipment that are accessible to all individuals that are in the physical building.  For this reason it is important that certain security standards must be in place when the library building is used for events, meetings, and other activities with people outside official WSU staff outside official library hours.

The library has the following items located in unsecured public areas: computers, books, DVDs, Videotapes, CDs, microfilm equipment, microforms, printers, other technology equipment (DVD burners, zip drives, headphones etc.), original art (oil paintings, and sculpture).

If the building needs to be open at times other than the official building hours the following needs to occur:

  • A staff person (student or staff member) that is trained to monitor front entrance and gate alarms.  If only a student assistant is available to work, a WSU security staff member will need to be present with the student worker.  Funding for the additional staff hours will need to be arranged by the party requesting usage of the facility.
  • Responsible WSU staff person (security and procedures) to open the building and supervise the front entrance (this could be the same person, but a student cannot be solely responsible for the building).
  • The library needs adequate time to schedule staff for a requested event (minimum 2 weeks).  Contact the Library’s Administrative Assistant.  The AA will bring the request to the Library department.

For usage of a library study room during the summer:

  • Contact your Dean, exhaust all possible space options outside the library (first priority for study rooms is for WSU students).
  • Next, have your Dean contact the Library's Administrative Assistant.
  • The library department will assess the need for usage of study room or library space.  Preference may be given to displaced full time staff and faculty that are teaching summer courses.

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Hosting Events

Events During Library Hours

On a case-by-case basis, library space may be used for events, with the library department’s recommendation, which are appropriate to the library’s mission (for example: History Day, Constitution Day).
After considering the planned use and assessing the impact to core library services, library study space usage and library hours, the Library department makes a recommendation to the Dean of the Library.

Once the Dean of the Library approves the event, the event coordination will be through a designated library contact person. The contact works with the requesting group to:
  • Coordinate and communicate with the Dean of the Library and appropriate library personnel
  • Determine and coordinate the equipment needs for the event
  • Coordinate and request facilities services for event set up and take down
  • Coordinate cleanup with custodians to protect collection and equipment in the library
For other event requests outside the library’s mission, please contact the Dean of the Library.

Events After Library Hours 

Requests should be submitted to the Dean of the Library. This request should include date, time, location and the purpose for the use of Library space, specifying why is the library is an appropriate space for the event. The Dean of the Library may choose to designate a library staff member as the coordinator or library contact for an approved event.

Note: The group that is requesting library space usage is responsible for coordinating all of the event’s needs. The library contact should work with the requesting group to:
  • Coordinate and communicate with the Dean of the Library and appropriate library personnel
  • Determine and coordinate the equipment needs for the event
  • Coordinate and request facilities services for event set up and take down
  • Coordinate cleanup with custodians to protect collection and equipment in the library
  • In coordination with the Dean of the Library, arrange for a mandatory minimum of one trained WSU security person, who will be stationed at the library entrance if the library is closed. Further security should be considered for the safety of library collections and equipment.

Events with Food or Beverages

Groups planning to serve food or drinks at events in the library must get approval by the Dean of the Library. he Dean of the Library will notify and coordinate with custodial staff to schedule for additional cleaning of the facilities. The requestor will pay for the cost of any additional staff.

If possible, it is best that food and beverages be limited to a specific area. Food and beverages are not allowed around computer equipment or microfilm areas.  Please keep food and beverages at a distance from the library books and periodicals.
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Other Library Spaces: Designated for Library Staff Usage
Storage Areas
1st priority – usage for library related purposes

No librarians or library staff other than the University Librarian should give permission to use space for non-library purposes. The University Librarian would have the ability to authorize use of those areas.
Current non-library usage:

  • Student records
  • Business Department brochures
  • Other pamphlets, catalogs

Library Policy

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