Library Policies

The library exists to serve the Baker community. Non-Baker library users are welcome to use the library collection and services for study and research as time and space allow. Please click on a heading below to learn more about a particular library policy.

• Borrowing +

  Who may check out materials:

  • Baker University faculty (including emeriti), staff and students are the primary clientele of the library and have the highest priority when needs for materials conflict.
  • We also check out materials to members of the Baldwin community, registered borrowers from KCLC libraries, registered borrowers from libraries in the Northeast Kansas Library System and pastors in the Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church.

• Loan Periods +

  Loan periods are based on material type and borrower status.

  Format Type	Students & Community Borrowers	Faculty
  Circulating Books	4 weeks	4 months
  Government Documents	4 weeks	4 months
  Audio/Visual materials	7 days	7 days
  Interlibrary Loan Items	21 days	21 days
  Reference Materials	Library Use Only	Special Request Only
  Reserve Materials	3 hours	Reserve Materials

  
  

  Renewals

  Library materials may be renewed by either bringing them to the library or using the Renew feature within the catalog.

• Overdue & Lost Materials +

  Students & Other Borrowers

  Fines are $.10 per day for regular items; reserve materials are $.25 per hour. There is a five-day grace period. The first overdue notice arrives via Baker e-mail the day after the due date. After receiving the notice, the borrower will have four days to return the material without penalty. Six weeks after the due date, a bill is sent to the Business Office for collection.

  Faculty Borrowers

  Faculty receive an overdue notice the day after the item is due. Four weeks after the due date, they are billed for replacement of the item.

• Confidentiality of Library Records +

  The Baker University Library upholds the principle of the library users’ right to privacy and confidentiality of personally identifiable information in accordance with federal and state laws and institutional policies.

  We keep only the personally identifiable information that is absolutely necessary for the operation of the library – for lending or providing access to library materials, providing library services such as reference, interlibrary loan and workshops. We regularly purge, delete, or shred information that is no longer necessary.

  Student, faculty and staff borrower records are supplied by the University administrative systems and updated on a regular basis to ensure accuracy. You may review your records upon presentation of proper identification. Non-Baker library users may also review their records upon presentation of proper identification.

  Only the Associate Vice President of Information Services is authorized to receive or comply with requests from law enforcement officers and to confer with University legal counsel before determining the proper response. No records will be released without a subpoena, warrant, court order or other investigatory document, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction that shows good cause and is in proper form.

• Policy on the Use of Copyrighted Materials+

  The University Academic Council Learning Resources Committee shall provide educational resources and opportunities for Baker students, staff and faculty to become familiar with the copyright law, its implementation and enforcement.

  Members of the Baker Community are expected to use copyrighted materials in accordance with copyright laws (Title 17 of the United States Code, sect. 101 et seq.) by obtaining permission of the copyright owner, by licensing or paying royalties for use, or by using the material in accordance with one of the exemptions or limitations on copyright that are incorporated into the law.

  Additionally, the Director of Library Services may be called upon to put reliable copyright information at the disposal of individuals with specific questions. If further legal concerns remain, the Director of Library Services may consult with the Chief Academic Officer regarding legal assistance.  For guidance on complying with the copyright law visit the following web pages.

• Student Intellectual Property +

  To respect student ownership of their intellectual efforts, the library now requires a permission form to be completed and signed by the student author before we will either make the work electronically available on the Web or lend the paper. Print and sign the student intellectual property form. Collins Library will be responsible for filing signed student intellectual property documents.

• Reservations for Equipment and Library Rooms +

  Equipment Reservations

  There is a limited amount of audio-visual equipment available for university use. Equipment may be reserved in advance and is checked out at the circulation desk. The length of the lending period should be negotiated based on the needs for a single event - a conference, a presentation, a class, etc. Equipment should not be lent for long periods of time.

  Should there be conflicting needs, classroom use would have priority. Non-Baker persons may be allowed to use the equipment for presentations on the Baker campus for Baker-related activities, if it is not needed otherwise.

  The following equipment is available for check-out at the library circulation desk:

  Cameras Digital Camera Digital Video Camera Desktop Video Conference Camera	Laptop/VCR/DVD/Microform Reader Laptop Portable VCR/DVD Player Portable Microform Reader
  Copiers DVD Writer Tape Recorder Audio Tape Copier Video Tape Copier	Projectors Data Projector 16mm Film Projector Filmstrip Projector Overhead Projector

  
  

  Room Reservations

  LI 218 is primarily for the use of the library for purposes of instruction, workshops & training, and meeting. However, there is a shortage of spaces on campus to accommodate meetings of 6-12 people comfortably and there are resources in LI 218 that are also in short supply. So, we are happy to have the room used by others when it is not needed for library and computer services needs. Permission for use is extended only to Baker affiliated groups and for times when the library is open. In addition to LI 218, library rooms 219, 220, 221, and 222 can also be reserved.  Please contact any member of the library staff by calling 785.594.8414 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to make a reservation and check a room's availability.

• Collection Development +

  The primary focus of the library collection is on the support of teaching and learning at Baker University. Faculty involvement in the development of the collection is essential to its success.

  To facilitate this, the library provides access to Choice Online Reviews and distributes book reviews on cards to each department. CHOICE publishes more than 65,000 reviews by faculty and other scholars annually.

  Reviews in professional publications and publishers' flyers also provide excellent information on materials that will support the needs of our students.

  Requests for purchases in any format (print, audio-visual, etc.) should be directed to the Library Director, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .