WSU Library Policies

Library Food & Drink Policy

We seek a balance between protecting our collections and equipment and acknowledging the increase in the popularity of using the Library building.  Our drink/beverage policy limits the carried beverage containers to sealable and non-breakable containers. The Library's food policy does not allow food in the Library building. Food and drink in the library can cause damage to materials and furnishings and attract pests which damage library materials, and provide an unpleasant and unhealthy environment for our patrons. Food also brings the need for a higher level of custodial services and cleaning. Damaged materials may be irreplaceable, or replaced only at great cost, effectively diverting funds away from additional materials and services which can benefit our patrons.* 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.

*Dewitt Wallace Library at Macalester College.  Since it was so well stated by Macalester part of this paragraph is a direct quote from their Food and Drink policy. http://www.macalester.edu/~library/about/policies/building.html#food

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Noise & Cell Phone Policy

The Library is a quiet study area for WSU students. The second and third floors tend to be the quieter study spaces. We encourage the use of group study rooms for conversations and group work. However, the group study rooms are not sound proof. Students need to use indoor voices and be aware of students working in neighboring study rooms and nearby study areas.

The first floor has quieter group and individual study areas. The Information Gallery has equipment and students working in groups which may generate noise. Students are still expected to speak with indoor voices and be aware of those around them.

On entering the Library all cell phones should be turned off or silenced. If you need to answer a call, wait until you are outside the library. If you take a call near the library's entrance or on the first floor, remember to speak with an indoor voice and please respect students studying around you.

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Library Space & Room Usage (by type of space)

General Library Study Areas

Open Areas

• Groups should use common sense and courtesy.  If a specific space is needed, faculty or campus groups should contact the Library Department Chair or the department’s Library Liaison.
• Groups should be aware of others studying around them.
  Example: paralegal students need to use a specific area; coordinate with Liaison and Administrative Assistant; the liaison would create table tents and communicate with the rest of the Library staff.

Special Days (when open):

On a case by case basis library space may be used for events with the library department’s recommendation, which we think are appropriate to the Library’s mission (History day, constitution day).  Space requests because we have an excellent large space (Registration, testing etc.). This request needs to be given to the University Librarian.  

After considering the planned use, the library department would make a recommendation to the University Librarian based on common sense, courtesy, and after assessing the impact to core library services, library study space usage, and library hours.

Once the event is approved by the University Librarian, the event coordination will be through the designated Library contact person. The contact should work with the requesting group to:

• Determine the minimum needs for space (# of chairs, tables). 
• Coordinate and be responsible for requesting facilities services (set up and take down).
• Coordinate cleanup with custodians, to protect collection and equipment in the Library.

During times when the Library is not scheduled to be open:

This request needs to be given to the University Librarian.   This request should include the location of area requested and the purpose for the use of Library space (why is the library is an appropriate space). A library staff member will be designated as the library contact.

Note: The group which 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:

• Determine the minimum needs for space (# of chairs, tables).
• Coordinate and be responsible for requesting facilities services (set up and take down).
• Coordinate cleanup with custodians to protect collection and equipment in 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 collection and equipment. Reason: The library is unique in that it has materials and equipment that should be protected when the public is in the library.

Student Group Study Rooms

Student group study rooms are designated for group study for WSU students. The rooms are not sound-proof, so please be courteous of your neighbors. To reserve a group study room, go to the WSU Library Meeting Room Booking System. You will either need to be on campus using the internet or, if off campus, using the VPN on your laptop.

Please observe the following guidelines:

• A maximum of three hour per slot.
• No more than two slots per week for each individual student.
• If you do not show up 15 minutes after your reservation, another student can use that room for the remainder of the time (until the next reservation).
• Please do not sign up for a room if you do not plan to use it.
• Reservations cannot be made more than 7 days in advance.

Reservations in violation of the above polices will be subject to deletion by system administrators without notification.

The University Librarian should make final decisions regarding the prior scheduling of all library space usage. Please see the librarian on duty if you have questions.

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• Room 102 is reserved for Library instruction sessions for the first six weeks of the semester; it is open for reservations to other groups after that time.
• No outside class should use it for more than 3-4 class periods during a semester, pending availability.
• As demand warrants and scheduling permits, the room can be opened up during peak computer usage times for student overflow or study space.

• Two to three hours per day could be scheduled by non-library WSU entities, 8am-5pm.
• Scheduling of non-library WSU entities will be decided on a case by case basis. Applications for use should be made through the University Librarian.
• Priority will be given to senior seminar type classes (small classes under 15) with a Library/research component.
• As demand warrants and scheduling permits, the room can be opened up during the evening for student overflow for study space.
• People should be out by the time the librarian leaves in the evening.

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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.

We seek a balance between protecting our collections and equipment and acknowledging the increase in the popularity of using the Library building.  Our regular food and drink policy limits the carried beverage containers and does not allow food in the Library. Food and drink in the library can cause damage to materials and furnishings, attract pests which damage library materials, and provide an unpleasant and unhealthy environment for our patrons. Food also brings the need for a higher level of custodial services and cleaning. Damaged materials may be irreplaceable, or replaced only at great cost, effectively diverting funds away from additional materials and services which can benefit our patrons.*

For special events that must have food and/or beverages:

• Custodial staff needs to be scheduled for additional cleaning and checking of the facilities.
• If possible, it is best that food and beverages be limited to a specific area. Food and beverages are not allowed in the following areas:  around computer equipment and microfilm areas.  It is best that food and beverages be kept a distance from the library materials (books and periodicals).

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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

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