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Begley Library Homepage: Policies

Policies

Begley Library embraces the responsibility of curating spaces, providing services and resources that support our communities equitably, and foster belonging. In keeping with SUNY’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mission, Begley Library is committed to continually raising cultural awareness, sustaining transformation, and working to “champion initiatives that support individual expression.”

Archives / Special Collections:

archival support will not be provided until all materials have been relocated and correctly arranged in the Learning Commons.

 

 

Books / Media:

The circulating collection in the Begley Library is located on the second floor of the Learning Commons.  Please contact the library at 518-381-1235 or libraryservices@sunysccc.edu with questions or for help requesting circulating materials.  Please bring your SUNY student or staff ID to check-out materials.

 

 

Course Reserves:

Scanning limited portions of print materials unavailable via other means may be possible upon request.  Please contact the library at 518-381-1235 or a libraryservices@sunysccc.edu for more information.

 

 

Hours:

the library will be open Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

 

Instruction:

library instruction is available upon request and will be provided virtually.  Faculty can sign up for an instruction session using the "Book a Teaching Space" link on the library website, or contact Research and Instruction Librarian, Caroline Buff, at buffca@sunysccc.edu to schedule an instruction session.

 

 

Interlibrary Loan (ILL):

ILL services are available will begin shortly after the semester begins.  Please keep in mind increased turnaround times are expected due to quarantine periods, limited on-site staffing, and reduced delivery schedules.  Please email Jacquie Keleher at kelehejs@sunysccc.edu with any ILL requests.

 

 

Material Return:

all materials must be returned to a book "drop box" located in the Learning Commons.

 

 

Other Equipment:

headphones are available at the Circulation/Reference Desk in the Learning Commons.

 

 

Periodicals:

Per copyright guidelines scanning services for articles will be made available for articles not available electronically. Please contact the library at 518-381-1235 or at libraryservices@sunysccc.edu for individual article requests.  If an entire issue of a periodical is required, please contact Jacquie Keleher at 518-381-1241 or at kelehejs@sunysccc.edu.

 

 

Printing / Scanning Services:

are accessible but with very limited support in an effort to follow physical distancing protocols.  Student and staff printers are located on both the first and second floors of the Learning Commons.  The Learning Commons does not have wireless printing capability.  To print a document, you will need to use a computer in the Learning Commons.

 

 

Research Services:

in-person, walk-in research support and consultation are offered on a limited basis.  Appointments for in-person research are preferred. The link to schedule an appointment is available on the library homepage.  Online research support is available and can rescheduled using the "Meet Online with a Librarian" calendar located on the library homepage, https://libguides.sunysccc.edu/begleylibrary, or an email can be sent to libraryservices@sunysccc.edu.  Immediate online help can be found using the Ask Us 24/7 service, also found on the homepage.

 

 

Technology Support:

The IT HelpDesk is located in the Learning Commons.  Hours of availability are:

Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM & 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Friday: 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

If you need help outside of the hours listed, please contact the IT HelpDesk at: (518) 381-1487 or ithelpdesk@sunysccc.edu

Mission Statement

Begley Library's role is fundamental to the educational mission of Schenectady County Community College. Primary to this role is the development, maintenance, and preservation of collections in varied formats representing diverse perspectives. Of vital importance is the provision of on- and off-campus access to resources and services in support of the educational objectives and research needs of College and community members. Through their work in developing critical thinking skills and information literacy, Begley Library faculty are committed to creating a stimulating environment conducive to independent thinking and life-long learning. The Library creatively responds with thoughtful study and consideration to emerging information technologies in order to provide high quality services to the College and community.

Collection Development Policy

 

The primary mission of Begley Library is to provide resources in support of the educational objectives of Schenectady County Community College. One of the principal means employed to achieve this end is the selection and acquisition of print, non-print and online materials. In developing the collection, the chief consideration will be given to those materials supporting the curriculum. Also, selected items which meet the general information needs of students and foster lifelong learning will be acquired. Faculty needing resources not included in Begley Library collections will be assisted in accessing the collections of other libraries.

Circulating Collection

The circulating collection is the largest and most comprehensive in the Library. It is composed of monographs which are available for circulation to students, faculty, staff, qualified community members and interlibrary loan. The subject scope of the collection reflects the curriculum and other needs of the institution. It is as comprehensive as funding allows.

Media Materials

Media materials are acquired to support the curriculum of the institution. Additional factors taken into account are the technical quality of the production, currency of the materials, and cost-effectiveness. Materials not used expressly in the classroom are available for circulation and interlibrary loan.

Online Collections

Online collections are selected as a result of collaboration among librarians with input, when relevant, from teaching faculty.  Selections may also be influenced by available consortial arrangements.  Selection criteria include usefulness for students, faculty and staff for course work and research; cost; technological capabilities and support; and amount of access provided to the campus.  Other guidelines for selection of online collections include authority and scope, comprehensiveness, interface and availability of instructional guidelines. Current online collections include subscription databases, ebooks, ejournals and ereference collections.  As new technologies emerge, they will be evaluated for inclusion.

Periodical Collection

Since periodical publications represent a continuing expense, titles are added selectively. They are evaluated according to scope, depth, relevance to the curriculum, current or expected demand, price, and availability of titles in electronic databases and other online formats.  Print backfiles are kept for varying lengths of time depending on the demand for and usefulness of back issues of each title.

Reference Collection

Reference resources, both print and electronic, are collected to serve the needs of students, faculty and staff. The subject scope of the collection reflects the curriculum and other needs of the institution.  Selection criteria for the reference collection include authority, academic level, scope, cost and format.

Special Collections

The Library maintains a small archival area where the special collections are housed. Materials related to the founding of the College and to the two historic buildings on the campus, Elston Hall (the former Hotel Van Curler) and the Center for Science and Technology (previously a General Electric facility and the site of early television broadcasts) are collected. These include correspondence and other documents as well as blueprints, photographs, negatives and newspaper clippings. Items such as the College's catalogs, student handbooks, yearbooks, and commencement and honors convocation programs are collected routinely along with other documents deemed to be relevant to the history of the institution.

Duplicates

In general, only one copy of any item is purchased. Duplicate materials received as gifts are added to the collection if warranted.

Gifts

Gift items are accepted at the discretion of Begley staff. Materials are evaluated before being added to the collection. The Library reserves the right to dispose of gifts. Gifts are added to the collection based on the same criteria used for those that are purchased. A letter of acknowledgment will be sent to the donor, but no value appraisal will be made by the Library.

Withdrawing Materials

The collection is reviewed on an ongoing basis. Resources are evaluated according to their content, authority, scope, currency, condition, patron use, applicability to the curriculum and importance to the overall collection. As new editions are received, older ones are removed unless retention is warranted.

Intellectual Freedom

Begley Library supports the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights.  In the development of the library's collection, librarians attempt to purchase materials and provide access to information which represent differing views. Censorship will not be exercised because of point of view or manner of expression.