The Library Space
Non-disruptive food and drink is allowed in the library, but please be courteous about how your food may affect others who are using the library.
Light snacks and covered beverages are permitted, but please eat meals outside of the library. If your food is hot, noisy, potentially messy, or aromatic (such as fast foods, soups, meats, or anything that requires silverware), please do not bring it into the library.
Drinks without secure lids are not permitted at the computer stations.
The library is intended to be a quiet study area for all users; conversations should be limited and at “library volume.” There is a group study room that can be used for people who wish to talk. Library staff will give a noisy patron one verbal warning; if the noise continues, the patron will be asked to leave.
Cell phone conversations are not allowed in the library. Patrons must exit the library to use their cell phones.
The following policies govern the use of the OCOM Library’s Group Study Room:
- Only current OCOM students, faculty and staff with an OCOM ID can reserve the Group Study Room. Alumni and other community members may not make room reservations.
- When not reserved, the Group Study Room operates as a multi-purpose open access area, providing access to the Herbal Library, as well as additional study space to anyone who wishes to use it.
- Users without a reservation must vacate the room when requested by a user or group with a valid reservation.
- Users are responsible for their personal property at all times, and should never leave items unattended. Library staff are not liable for loss or damage to personal property. Library materials checked out to your account should be treated as personal belongings; you may be assessed overdue and replacement fees if they go missing from a study room.
- Group Study Room users must maintain a moderate noise level – the room is not soundproof, and loud talking disturbs other users in the study area directly outside the room, and the rest of the library.
- Users of the Group Study Rooms must clean up after themselves and leave the room in good condition for the next users.
- Group Study Rooms must be vacated 10 minutes before Library closing time.
NOTICE: failure to follow these policies, or other applicable library policies, may result in a temporary or permanent suspension of access to the group study room.
The goal of the OCOM Library staff is that this room will be a clean and pleasant place to study. If you find that a room was left in poor condition by the previous occupants, report this immediately to the library staff.
Technology
The OCOM Library provides computers to support patrons’ academic computing needs. These computers offer access to the online library catalog, databases, the Internet, and essential computer programs. Research or schoolwork takes precedence over personal or recreational use such as email. Outside software may not be installed by patrons to these computers nor can users change any configurations on the library computers. Computer users must save any materials to their personal storage devices. Outside software including any program from the Internet is prohibited from being installed or downloaded on the library computers.
The library also provides free wireless access. The network is password protected; library staff will provide patrons with the access code to use this service.
The OCOM computers and/or OCOM wireless network may not be used to solicit for commercial ventures, religious or political causes, outside organizations, nor to be used to create, display, or print any message or information which is offensive to others and is based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, religious, or political beliefs. The user of the library computer also needs to be aware of copyright infringement if use of such materials in excess of fair use.
Library computers are connected to a networked laser jet printer. Printing costs $0.10 per page. Students will need to have a valid OCOM Library account in order to print in the library. Current students receive 25 pages of free printing each academic year.
Library users have access to a copy machine. Copies cost $0.10 per page. Students, staff and faculty with a valid OCOM email address may use this machine as a scanner and send digital files to their OCOM email address.
Print charges are automatically added to student accounts at the time of printing; alumni and members of the general public must pay at the time of printing.
You can photocopy individual pages of almost anything in the library for research / personal use, but the following are prohibited by the Copyright Act:
(A) Unauthorized copying may not be used to create or to replace or substitute for anthologies, compilations or collective works. A violation of the Copyright Act occurs regardless of whether copies of various works or excerpts there from are accumulated or are reproduced and used separately.
(B) Copying of or from works intended to be “consumable” in the course of study or of teaching is NOT authorized. These include workbooks, exercises, standardized tests and test booklets and answer sheets and like consumable material.
(C) Copying shall not:
- Substitute for the purchase of books, publisher’s reprints or journals
- Be directed by higher authority; or
- Be repeated with respect to the same item by the same teacher from term to term. (Marcus vs. Crowley, 695 F. 2d 1171 (9th Cir. 1983))
Members of the OCOM community who are not current students, staff or faculty may use the Library computers for up to two-hours per day; at the time of use, guests must show ID at the circulation desk to request a temporary user account. Due to the limited number of computer stations, guest access is awarded at the discretion of Library staff. OCOM students have priority for computer use, and guests may be asked to give up their seats if students are waiting to use a computer.
