Mayfield Library Policies & Procedures

The Library values, respects, and celebrates a diverse community of NSCC students, staff, and faculty. We offer collections, resources, and services which encourage exploration and discovery in order to prepare lifelong learners for today’s careers and tomorrow’s opportunities. We aim to provide library materials to support the programs and disciplines of our college, as well as provide cultural representation of our student body. We refer to the Library Bill of Rights in thinking about and evolving our policies and procedures, which guide our everyday practice in the library. 

1. Authorized Borrowers

Borrowing privileges are available to the NSCC community, specifically:                                                     

  • Current Students                                                         
  • Employees                                                           
  • NSCC Distance Learners                                                             
  • Students from all TBR Community and Technical Colleges and the UT system (except for equipment)
  • Nashville area community members.                                                          

Community members may use journals and magazines while in the library only. They may use DVDs and headphones while in the library by leaving a photo ID with the Circulation Desk. Print books may be checked out for 2 weeks.

Computer stations may be used by anyone in the library so long as the user: 

  1. Abides by the campus Code of Conduct for computer use.                                                             
  2. Gives priority to NSCC students

2. Loan Periods and Renewals

  Loan Periods 

  • Course Reserves: Varies   Borrowing periods are arranged by the instructor but are generally for two hours of in-library use only                                                           
  • Books: Due last day of the semester.                                                           
  • Magazines, journals, and newspapers (physical copies): In-library use only.  Many magazines, journals, and newspapers can also be accessed electronically through the library's research databases                                                          
  • Laptop computers and graphic calculators: due last day of the semester -- availability not guaranteed                                                             
  • DVDs and audio books -- one week                                                                                                                    
  • Faculty restricted Videos and DVDs: Library use only                                                           
  • Video cameras, digital cameras, web cameras, microphones, projectors: One week 

Alternate loan periods can be arranged between librarians and faculty/staff for the following items: 

    Books: Due last day of the semester                                                             

  • Magazines, journals, and newspapers (physical copies): In-library use only                                                             
  • Many magazines, journals, and newspapers can also be accessed electronically through the library's Research Databases 
  • Some magazines/journals are now shelved in the circlating Stacks by Call number.                                                           
  • Laptop Computers: HP's and Dell's (including a separate monitor) all semester.                                                              
  • DVDs and Audio Books -: One week                                                                                                                     
  • Video cameras, digital cameras, web cameras, microphones. 4 hours.

Renewals

All library items can be renewed in person, by email, or by phone.. Please note that all items are due on the last day of each semester and cannot be renewed beyond this date without talking to library staff. 

  • For students to renew their equipment for the semester breaks,  they must be registered for the next semester.


Other Borrowing Policies 

  • Borrowers are responsible for returning materials by the due date. Book drop boxes  are located outside the White Bridge and Southeast campuses library entrances.
  • Reserves must be returned to a staff member at the circulation desk.                                                             
  • If a borrower needs a reserve item longer than the borrowing period, they may return the item to the circulation desk and check it out again, provided that no one else has requested the item.                                                            
  • Borrowers may place a hold on physical collection books, audio books, and DVDs (excluding reserves) online via library Search or in person with a library staff member and will be notified when the items are available.                                                    

3. Patron conduct


The library is an academic area and patrons should conduct themselves as they would in the classroom 


  • Patrons should respect others trying to study. 
  • After being warned of inappropriate behavior, patrons will be asked to leave. 
  • When studying in the study rooms the lights must remain on.
  • The number of persons allowed in each study room must not exceed the number posted on the door.
  • Study room doors will be left open the the room is vacant.
  • Patrons are encouraged to not leave personal belongings unattended 
  • The library does not allow unaccompanied minors, except Early College students. (TBR policy 7.04.00.00) 
  • Patrons should report to the library staff any behavior that is disturbing or possibly harmful to others. 
  • All materials must be returned by the due date to avoid being charged replacement costs and having holds placed on college accounts. 
  • Students are expected to abide by the NSCC Student Code of Conduct



Community Members: 

The primary mission of the Mayfield Library is to provide materials and services to its students, faculty, and staff, but we also want to be a good neighbor and will check out materials to community members upon request. 

Community members may check out up to three books at a time for a period of three weeks. Only one three-week renewal is allowed (if the book has not been requested by a Nashville State student, faculty, or staff member.) 

Community members agree to pay the replacement cost if the book is not returned by the due date or damaged. 

 


4. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Services and Reciprocal Borrowing

Due dates for materials requested through interlibrary loan are governed by the lending library  


Intellectual Freedom 

The NSCC Library is committed to academic freedom, intellectual freedom, and equitable access to information. Student success, scholarly excellence, and community engagement require free and unrestricted access to a wide spectrum of viewpoints and theories, and library resources may reflect different points of view, disagreement, and controversy. Appearance of a resource in the collections or displays does not mean that the Library or College advocates or endorses the ideas or statements found in that resource. 


 

Reciprocal Borrowing 

In  accordance with a reciprocal agreement between the TBR Community Colleges and Colleges of Applied Technology borrowing privileges may be extended to persons if they are an enrolled student or faculty member from another state community and technical college.To initiate reciprocal borrowing privileges, the student must present their college student ID card and demonstrate evidence of current enrollment at their college. 

5. Computer and Equipment Usage


All patrons are expected to follow the College’s Acceptable Use Policy:   

The library recommends that all users log out of computers after use. 


6. Procedures by Content Type of Materials

Booksi  In general, single copies of books are purchased. If a topic is very popular, the library will consider purchasing multiple copies.

Textbooks Textbooks for specific courses will not normally be purchased. In rare cases, textbooks for specific courses may be purchased for the Reserves Collection, provided there is available funding and at the discretion of the librarians. Textbooks are normally purchased by the Division that needs the book. . 

Electronic Resources Electronic Resources are defined as any material requiring a computer or digital device for access. The library shall choose to acquire, or access electronic resources based on the above selection guidelines. The Librarians strive to purchase multi-user licenses for digital format resources when available.

DVDs and Audio Books DVDs and audio books will be purchased on request of a faculty member or if there are curriculum areas that could be supported. 

 Library Archive The library includes an archive which is used to store high-value technology items and historic documents related to the library and college. Visit the NSCC History page for details about this collection.

Foreign Language Materials Items written in languages other than English will be acquired when they support Foreign Language/ESL curriculum requirements.

Collection Maintenance (“Weeding”) Monthly the Collections Development Librarian will evaluate the collection to identify materials for withdrawal. The same guidelines apply to the existing collection as to new purchases and materials that no longer meet the collection policy will be removed. For example, materials that are outdated, damaged, seldom circulated, or contain inaccurate information will be removed. Faculty members may be consulted when materials in their disciplines are being considered for withdrawal

Procedure Reserve Textbooks  Items may be placed on reserve in the library by faculty. A Reserve Request Form is available at the Circulation Desk.and online. Duration for reserve items varies and is at the discretion of the faculty.


Databases The library subscribes to databases to support students’ academic research, as well as other school assignments. Due to the cost of databases, subscriptions will be prioritized if they are supporting more than one academic program to allow for equitable treatment of disciplines at the college. 

The library will regularly review current database subscriptions to ensure they are accessible, user-friendly, representative of diverse voices, and (in conjunction with other database subscriptions) offer multiple formats of content for supporting student engagement. Database subscriptions may be avoided or severed if vendors engage in unethical behavior, including but not limited to violating user (student) privacy. 

If any academic program is interested in a database and the library cannot afford a subscription, the academic program may subscribe to the platform directly, or collaborate with the library to provide financial support. The library will work with the vendor to ensure the database is configured appropriately and the library will ensure visibility of the database on its website. 

7. Selection Guidelines

Selection of library materials rests with the teaching faculty and Librarians, and is followed via these guidelines:

  • Support of the NSCC educational curriculum                                                             
  • Correlation or fit with the existing collection                                                            
  • Reflection of the diverse and complex student body and academic community at NSCC                 
  • Appropriate level                                                             
  • Accuracy and objectivity                                                           
  • Reputation of author or publisher                                                             
  • The currency of the material                                                            
  • Cost                                                            
  • Demand                                                             
  • Condition                                                             
  • Format serving widest possible patron base 

Missing / Lost / Withdrawn Users

Check out a book to Missing is the book might come back.  The current location will be changed to Missing.

Leave it in Missing for 1 semester.