Policies

Henry Whittemore Library > About Us

Access

All Minuteman Library Network patrons have access to the holdings of Whittemore Library through the library catalog. These patrons may not borrow directly. They may request materials through the network transfer process at the library where they are registered.  Anyone can use the materials within the Library.

Borrowing Privileges

• All full-time and part-time Framingham State College students have borrowing privileges at the Whittemore Library. Day and evening students must register with the library to activate the barcode on their student IDs. Borrowing privileges will expire when the student is no longer enrolled at the College.
• Alumni may obtain free borrowing privileges upon request. No more than three Curriculum Library items in total may be checked out to the patron. There will be no expiration of alumni privileges unless the Curriculum Library restriction is not respected.
• Faculty, staff, and administrators of the College will receive a bar-coded Minuteman Library Network card upon request.
• Nursing students at Framingham Union Hospital taking courses within the Framingham State College nursing department are entitled to borrow materials while they are enrolled in this program.
• Students who are currently enrolled at any of the Massachusetts public institutions of higher education may borrow from the library through the W.I.L.L. (Walk-in Interlibrary Loan) program. A validated student ID with a current semester sticker must be presented in order to check out materials.

Borrowing Policy
With the exception of Reference materials, periodicals, and reserves, most items may be borrowed for a three-week period. In order to borrow, patrons must present a validated Framingham State College ID or a staff/alumni Minuteman library card issued by Framingham State College. Registration forms for barcodes may be filled out at the Circulation desk.  Items may be renewed twice, providing they have not been requested. This procedure may be handled over the telephone, in person or in the "My Account" area of the library catalog. It is the borrower's responsibility to renew items needed longer than the three-week borrowing period. 

Reference Service
Reference librarians are available to help patrons use the resources in the library, such as the online catalog, reference collection, periodical indexes and databases, and the Web. They can help you choose appropriate resources for a particular research topic and answer any type of question you might have about doing research or about the Library. 

• Walk-in Reference: Reference Librarians are available to answer reference questions in the library during regular reference desk hours. They are available by appointment for individual or small-group consultations.
• Telephone Reference: Please call 508.626.4654 to speak with a reference librarian. At busy times priority will be given to users who are there in person.
• E-Mail Reference: Reference questions can be sent via e-mail to: reference@framingham.edu. Also check the link Contact us on the Library home page. Again priority will be given to users who are in the library in person.
• Library Instruction: We offer many types of library instruction sessions. To request a session call 508.626.4654, send an e-mail to srothenberg@framingham.edu or fill in an online request.

Interlibrary Loan Service           
Interlibrary Loan locates and procures materials that are not owned by the Whittemore Library.  Requests will not be filled if the item is available here.  Requests may be submitted for items found in the Minuteman system directly from the catalog.  Requests for articles or non-Minuteman items are submitted using the online request form.  You are limited to five requests per day.  You are contacted when items arrive and you have one week to to pick up books before they are sent back to the owning library.  Renewal is at the discretion of the owning library so check with the ILL staff (508.626.4690) if you need an item for more time.

Walk-in Interlibrary Loan (W.I.L.L.) allows students from any Massachusetts public institution of higher education to borrow items directly from any of the other institutions.  A student ID with a current semester sticker (or some other proof of enrollment) must be shown.  Borrowing privileges are based on the lending library's rules.  At the Whittemore Library, there is no limit on the number of general collection items that can be borrowed, but no more than three Curriculum Library items may be borrowed by a W.I.L.L. patron.  Below is a list of participating institutions:  

Berkshire Community College	Mt. Wachusett Community College
Bridgewater State College	North Shore Community College
Bristol Community College	Northern Essex Community College
Bunker Hill Community College	Quinsigamond Community College
Cape Cod Community College	Roxbury Community College
Fitchburg State College	Salem State College
Greenfield Community College	Springfield Technical Community College
Holyoke Community College	Westfield State College
Mass. Bay Community College	Worcester State College
Mass. College of Art	University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Mass. College of Liberal Arts	University of Massachusetts - Boston
Mass. Maritime Academy	University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
Massasoit Community College	University of Massachusetts - Lowell
Middlesex Community College	University of Massachusetts - Worcester Medical School

Reserve Policy

Placing Materials on Reserve:

1. Books and photocopies may be placed on reserve by faculty only in order to facilitate their use for specific assignments. Students are not allowed to place materials on reserve for their instructor.

2. Personal items belonging to the instructor may be placed on reserve. The instructor may request these items may be sensitized for the security system.

3. Requests must be submitted three days prior to when they are needed because of the large number of items used each semester.

4. Materials are kept on reserve for one semester only. No reserve items will be held from semester to semester.

5. The instructor informs students of what has been placed on reserve, as we have no knowledge of course assignments or requirements.

6. Articles and sections of books may be photocopied in the library.

7. All Reserve Materials placed on Open or Closed Reserve may not leave the library.

There are four types of reserves.

1. Closed Reserve: material on closed reserve is used in the library only and for a period not to exceed two hours. The library recommends this type of reserve as it provides maximum access and security where specifically assigned readings must be available. Student must have their ID card with them in order to borrow a reserve item.

2. Overnight Reserve: Material on overnight reserve may be used in the library for a two hour period during the day and may be taken out of the building after 4 PM to be returned by 10AM the following day. On weekends the materials may be checked out at noon Friday and are due back by 10AM Monday.

3. Open Reserve: Materials on open reserve are available for students for use within a supervised area. Multi-volume sets, items on comprehensive reading lists, and similar materials that require constant access to be successfully used, should be placed here. Materials are currently housed in the Reference foyer.

4. e-Reserve:  Journal articles or chapters of books are scanned into a PDF version and placed in the e-Reserve portion of Blackboard.  Professors can link to these materials from within their Blackboard course site making them available to students. e-Reserves are only available for the duration of the current semester.

Confidentiality of Records

In accordance with the recommendation of the Office of Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association, registration and circulation records at Whittemore Library are confidential. Library registration includes information required of the patrons in order for them to borrow materials. Circulation records include any information that identifies the patron as borrowing particular materials. The library staff will not release any of the information contained in the registration or circulation records except by formal state or federal judicial order. Authorized library staff may use the above-mentioned records in order to perform routine duties.

Fines

The overdue fine is 10 cents per book per day.

Public Access Computer Use

As part of a public higher education institution, Whittemore Library supports services to members of the campus community as well as users unaffiliated with Framingham State College by providing access to resources, including computers, within the Library. Although there are no specific time limitations on the use of computers, course related research takes precedence over all other Internet use and Library staff reserve the right to ask unaffiliated users to vacate a computer station to allow students to conduct research for class assignments. The Library does not filter information accessible through the Internet and is not responsible for its content. All Internet use on campus is governed by the college's acceptable use policy.

Computers on the main floor Reference area, the Business area, and on the upper mezzanine in the Periodicals Department are designated campus network PC's. They have specialty services for students and faculty, and are equipped with Microsoft 2007. These computers require a login using a FSC account username and password. Members of the campus community use these computers for any academic purpose including library research and writing.

Computers on the main floor near the Circulation Desk area, and on the upper mezzanine in the Curriculum Library, and in the lower mezzanine (pit) area are designated Minuteman Library Network public PC's and are available for use without a FSC login. These are equipped with a web browser and are intended for searching the Minuteman catalog and the state and network supplied databases, the Internet, or for quick email. Visitors not affiliated with the college can only use these computers.

Censorship

The Library does not filter the Internet content. Please use the information available on the Internet according to your research needs, but be aware of the presence of other patrons in the library.

Eating and Drinking

Food and beverages are available in the library "SmartCart" lounge.

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed in or in front of the building.

Cellular Phones

Out of consideration for other patrons, the use of cell phones in the library is not allowed.  Phones should be turned off before entering the building.