Library Guidelines

In order to facilitate Bluford Library’s primary mission to support and advance academic scholarship and research at N.C. A&T through services, collections, technologies, expertise and spaces, the library provides the following guidelines governing the use of library facilities, collections, and services and its online environment.

Refusal to Comply with Library Guidelines

Users who are unwilling to comply with the regulations listed below will be asked to leave the library facility.
Persons refusing to leave the library at the request of a staff member will be subject to removal by University Police and may not be allowed further access to the library.

Animals

Guide and service animals for people with disabilities are welcome in the library. Other animals, including emotional support animals, must remain outside. Patrons may be asked to provide verification of the animal’s service role. Please refer to:

Bluford Library "24/5" Hours

During the fall and spring semesters, Bluford Library provides a 24/5 study space for NC A&T students, faculty and staff with an Aggie OneCard ID from 12 am Monday – 7:30 am Friday.

Enter and exit through the front doors of Bluford Library.

To enter between 12 am and 7:30 am swipe or Aggie OneCard ID on the black box located to the right of the doors.
Each person must present their Aggie OneCard ID at the Circulation Desk upon entry. IDs presented with unrecognizable photos will require additional picture ID. Individuals without proper ID may be asked to leave by security personnel.

Anyone without an Aggie OneCard ID card must exit the library by 12 am, and may not re-enter until 7:30 am.

Cameras/Filming

Requests by NC A&T students to photograph or film in the library as part of a class assignment are reviewed by library staff at any of the service desks. Students will be asked to complete a request form. All other requests need to contact NC A&T Media Relations at 336-256-0863.

Cell Phone Usage

Cell phones ringers and speaker phones must be turned off upon entering the building. Patrons must be considerate of others, lower their voices, and keep conversations as brief and quiet as possible. On the 3rd floor, the Quiet Study Floor, cell phone conversations are not allowed.

Clothing

Patrons must be fully clothed, including shirts and shoes.

Computers

Library computers are for academic and research use consistent with the educational mission of NC A&T. Priority is given to students, faculty and staff users.

When using the library computers, the following activities are prohibited:

Game playing or recreational use.
Malicious use, defined as unauthorized access to computing resources.
Transmission, uploading or downloading of copyright-infringing materials, including unauthorized files or software and/or library- or university-licensed software.
Theft, vandalism and/or reconfiguration of workstations/computers, software, printers and/or related material

The library's regulations are adopted in accordance with NC A&T's Computer Use Policy:
https://hub.ncat.edu/administration/legal/policies/sec7-info-tech/acceptable-use-policy.pdf

Conference/Group Study Rooms

The library has a limited number of conference rooms for use by students and in support of academic programs and student success initiatives. We are unable to accommodate the use of conference/group study rooms by outside groups. Additionally, please review the Regulations for Group and Individual Study Rooms usage.

Events and Programs

Requests for events or programs to be held within the library facility should be directed to the appropriate library administrative staff, Monday – Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. This is adopted in accordance with NC A&T's Use of University Space Policy:
https://hub.ncat.edu/administration/legal/policies/sec4-stud-aff-Issues/use-fo-space-final-2017.pdf

Food, Drink, and Smoking/Vaping Rules

In order to provide a clean and comfortable environment for all and to maintain library resources and furnishings, we ask that you adhere to the following guidelines:

Beverages with secured lids are allowed in the library.
Snack foods, such as chips, cookies, crackers, bagels, apples, etc., are allowed in the library. Meals, messy, greasy, sticky and aromatic foods (e.g., french fries, ice cream, pasta, pizza, burgers, fried chicken, salads and fast food) are not permitted outside of the Food Zone on the first floor.
Distribution of food (including snacks) or drink in the library is not permitted unless authorized in advance by Library personnel.
Food deliveries, food parties, and group meals are not allowed except in relation to library-sponsored events or through authorization by library administration.
Other than bottled water, no food or drink of any kind is allowed near computer terminals or other equipment, in the library instruction rooms, or in the group study rooms.
No food or drink of any kind is allowed in the University Archives.
Properly dispose of all food, trash, and recycling in appropriate receptacles, as food residue attracts insects and rodents.
Possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages are not permitted. This is in accordance with NC A&T's Drug and Alcohol Education Policy: https://hub.ncat.edu/_files/administrative/drug-alc.pdf
Smoking or chewing of any tobacco product is not permitted in the library. This is adopted in accordance with North Carolina law for purposes of improving public health: N.C. General Statutes 143-596 to 143-597 and N.C. General Statutes 130A-491 to 130A-500
Vaping is not permitted within the library.

Interpretation of these guidelines is at the discretion of Library personnel. The Library reserves the right to ask anyone to relocate, remove, or dispose of food and drink in case of complaints or if found to be in violation of these regulations.

Library Database Usage Rules

Databases and electronic resources are provided for academic research to currently authorized university faculty, staff, students and library visitors. Database vendors regulate our usage of these resources via licensing agreements, which supersede "fair use" copyright law provisions and govern how each resource may and may not be used.

Permitted Uses

As an authorized user, you have the right to search the database, view the results and to extract (via emailing, printing or downloading) limited data or articles for personal academic use only. Downloading entire journal issues or data collections violates copyright law and our licensing agreements with publishers.

Prohibited Uses

You may not:

Email or send articles or other materials to anyone at another institution.
Post licensed material on your own website.
Use licensed material for commercial purposes.
Remove, modify or obscure copyright notices or disclaimers from licensed materials.

Violations

Violations are taken seriously as they may result in publishers terminating access for the entire university community or undertaking legal action against the university.

Related content includes NC A&T's Computer Use Policy:
https://hub.ncat.edu/administration/legal/policies/sec7-info-tech/acceptable-use-policy.pdf

Prohibited Misconduct

The following misconduct is prohibited in Bluford Library:

Destroying, mutilating, defacing or theft of any materials;
Damaging any hardware or equipment;
Misusing furniture or the facility;
Introducing viruses or other malicious code into any computer system; and/or tampering with software or changing equipment settings;
Disruptive behavior, whether in person or through electronic or digital means, toward library patrons, security or staff, including but not limited to:

Creating excessive noise;
Engaging in unprotected or harassing speech, or abusive conduct;
Having odor constituting a nuisance or health or safety concern;
Bringing in personal belongings not essential to the research undertaking (e.g., bedrolls, carts, frame backpacks or large duffel bags);
Engaging in behavior that disturbs others or interferes with the appropriate use of the facility, including inappropriate sexual behavior;
Removing or attempting to remove library materials or property without formal check-out or other authorization.

Statements #1, #2, #3 and #5 a, b, c, and f are adopted in relation to NC A&T's Student Handbook 2019-2020, page 34-39, "Conduct Prohibited by the University" or “Academic Dishonesty Policy” p. 39-40.
https://www.ncat.edu/campus-life/pdfs/student-handbook-19-20.pdf

Statement #4 is adopted in accordance with NC A&T's Information Security Policy:
https://hub.ncat.edu/administration/legal/policies/sec7-info-tech/information-security-policy.pdf and Network Usage Policy:
https://hub.ncat.edu/administration/legal/policies/sec7-info-tech/IT%20Network%20Usage%20Policy%20Final.pdf

Statement #5e is adopted in relation to NC A&T's Sexual Misconduct: Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Assault - Administrative Policy:
https://hub.ncat.edu/administration/legal/policies/sec3-human-resources/Sexual_Misconduct_Discrimination_Harassment_Sexual_Assault.pdf and Student-On-Student Sexual Misconduct – Administrative Policy:
https://hub.ncat.edu/administration/legal/policies/sec4-stud-aff-Issues/student-on-student-sexual-misconduct-final-2015.pdf

Sleeping

Sleeping by students beyond a short study nap is discouraged in the library for safety and security reasons.
Community users are reminded that the library is open for research and study purposes and sleeping is not allowed.

SOLICITATION

Display of posters and distribution of flyers is prohibited except in designated areas or with the permission of library personnel; in the case of students, materials must be cleared with the Office of Student Development. Unauthorized solicitation or fundraising of any type within the library or outside its entrance is prohibited. The library adheres to University regulations that pertain to the display and distribution of materials, and to solicitation activities on campus.

This is in accordance with NC A&T's Student Handbook 2019-2020, Section IV. page 37, example #34, "Conduct Prohibited by the University": https://www.ncat.edu/campus-life/pdfs/student-handbook-19-20.pdf

Underage Children

Children under the age of 13 should be accompanied by an adult. Exceptions will be made for children participating in library sponsored programs and activities. The library computers do not have internet filters. Parents or guardians are responsible for their children when visiting the library and for the children's use of library resources and materials.

Visitor Computer Use

We are charged with maintaining the academic integrity and climate of the library. Therefore, we reserve the majority of computer workstations in the library for student, faculty and staff use. To uphold our charge but also accommodate our guests, the following guidelines are strictly enforced at all times:

Visitors may only use the designated set of computers on the first floor of the library.
Picture identification must be presented to gain access to a computer.
When using a computer, you must provide picture identification upon request.
We reserve the right to excuse an individual from a computer workstation.
Each guest computer session is limited to 1 hour. Additional time may be granted if no one is waiting to use a computer and you have not exceeded your individual daily time limit.
You are limited to a maximum of three 1 hour guest computer sessions per day. Multiple sessions are not guaranteed if there is high demand.
For their safety, no unattended children are allowed in the library.
Due to federal and state law, anyone under 18 must have parental supervision while using our computers.

Guests must still adhere to the applicable university policies for computer, network and database use:
https://hub.ncat.edu/administration/legal/policies/sec7-info-tech/acceptable-use-policy.pdf

Wheeled Transportation

Riding bikes, skateboards, shopping carts or any other conveyance in the library is prohibited. Equipment used by mobility-impaired library users is allowed.

This is in accordance with NC A&T's Student Handbook 2019-2020, page 97, example 6.4, "Prohibited Behavior":
https://www.ncat.edu/campus-life/pdfs/student-handbook-19-20.pdf