Library Policies

Stevenson University Students, Faculty, Staff, and Administrators

The Library's primary audience is those who attend or work at Stevenson University.  Stevenson students (including those taking on-campus, online, or hybrid classes), faculty (including full-time, part-time, and emeritus), staff (including PMM and Sodexo contract staff), and administrators all have full access to the library and its services and facilities.

The Library is open during these hours.  During times that the Library is open on evenings and weekends, an SUOne card is required to access the Library.  Wave your card over the black cardreader to the right of the door.

Current students, faculty, staff, and administrators have access to library resources from off campus.  Sign in using your SU username and password.

For more information about the resources available to Stevenson students, faculty, staff, and administrators, check out the rest of our website.

Alumni and Alumnae

The Library staff welcomes alums of Villa Julie College and Stevenson University to the library on Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Wi-fi is available on the SU-Connect guest network. Staff can log alums into a desktop computer, which allows them to use the databases while in the library but does not provide remote access to library databases or electronic resources.

If alums need to borrow physical items, they are eligible to apply for a guest card.  The card allows the holder to check out up to 5 books and/or DVDs for a non-renewable period of 28 days. They may not borrow reference materials, reserve materials, or equipment.  To apply for a guest card, bring your government-issued photo ID to the front desk and fill out the application.

In order to give priority to current  students, faculty, and staff, we reserve the right to decline use during peak times or to ask an alum to move from a computer that a current student needs.

Alums do not have printing, scanning, or copying privileges at the library.

Degrees to Succeed Students

Through the Degrees to Succeed Dual Admission Program, students can complete an associate degree at Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) and transfer credits seamlessly to earn a bachelor’s degree at Stevenson University.

Degrees to Succeed students can:

• Visit the Library
  Our library is open to Degrees to Succeed students Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.  No ID card or reservation is required.
   
• Use the Wifi
  The SU-Connect wifi network is available to anyone with a laptop or mobile device without needing to log in.
   
• Access Library Databases
  Search our databases, download articles, and save or email them to yourself from your own laptop using the wifi. If you don't have a laptop, a library staff member can log you onto a computer.
   
• Borrow Books and Movies
  Sign up for a library card so you can borrow books for 28 days and DVDs and Blu-Rays for 7 days. You can apply for a card in person at the Zaffere Library.

Patrons from Other Educational Institutions

Students, teachers, faculty, staff, and administrators from other educational institutions are welcome to visit the library on Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Wi-fi is available on the SU-Connect guest network. Staff can log community members into a desktop computer, which allows them to use the databases while in the library but does not provide remote access to library databases or electronic resources.

If you need to borrow print materials, you are eligible to apply for a guest card.  The card allows the holder to check out up to 5 books and/or DVDs for a non-renewable period of 28 days. They may not borrow reference materials, reserve materials, or equipment. To apply for a guest card, bring your government-issued photo ID to the front desk and fill out the application. Guests who are affiliated with one or more of the BALC or MICUA institutions can bring their regular campus library/ID card in addition to a government-issued photo ID.

In order to give priority to Stevenson students, faculty, and staff, we reserve the right to decline use during peak times or to ask a guest to move from a computer that a current student needs.

Guests do not have printing, scanning, or copying privileges at the library.

Community Members

If you live nearby, the Philip A. Zaffere Library may be the closest library to you.  Community members are welcome to visit the library on Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Wi-fi is available on the SU-Connect guest network. Staff can log community members into a desktop computer, which allows them to use the databases while in the library but does not provide remote access to library databases or electronic resources.

If you need to borrow print items, community members are eligible to apply for a guest card.  The card allows the holder to check out up to 5 books and/or DVDs for a non-renewable period of 28 days. They may not borrow reference materials, reserve materials, or equipment.  To apply for a guest card, bring your government-issued photo ID to the front desk and fill out the application.

In order to give priority to current  students, faculty, and staff, we reserve the right to decline use during peak times or to ask a guest to move from a computer that a current student needs.

Guests do not have printing, scanning, or copying privileges at the Library.

In order to check out materials, a SUOne card with a barcode is required. To obtain an ID, contact Campus Safety & Parking at 443-352-4500 for scheduling and information.

Books

• Books circulate to students for 28 days and to faculty and staff for 120 days.
• Students may have up to 25 items checked out at a time.
• A maximum of 8 books at a time may be checked out from the Children’s Collection.

Audiovisual Items

• Audiovisual items (DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs) circulate to students, faculty, and staff for 7 days.
• Patrons may have up to 2 audiovisual items checked out at a time.

Laptops and Projectors

• Laptops and projectors circulate to students, faculty, and staff for 3 days.
• Patrons may have one of each type of item checked out at a time.

Calculators and Whiteboard Kits

• Calculators and whiteboard kits circulate to students, faculty, and staff for 5 hours.
• Patrons may have one of each type of item checked out at a time.

Renewing Items

There are three ways to renew items:

• Log into your library account using your SU username and password and request the renewal yourself
• Contact a librarian via our AskUs system and provide your SU ID number
• Call the Circulation Desk at 443-352-4234 and provide your SU ID number

Students can renew books and audiovisual materials a maximum of two times.  Laptops, projectors, calculators, and whiteboard kits cannot be renewed.

Overdue Materials

The Library does not charge fines for overdue materials. However, repeated failure to return items can result in suspension of library privileges until the matter is resolved.

When an item is declared lost or damaged, the library charges the borrower the replacement cost of the item and a processing fee of $25.00. In addition, the borrower will be flagged at the Registrar’s Office and will not be able to register for classes until the account is cleared.

We strive to make the Library a comfortable and productive space for all users. Drinks are permitted if properly covered. Food is permitted in the library, but should be kept away from computers, materials, and library equipment. We ask that patrons who bring food and drink into the library clean up after themselves.

Study Rooms

The Library has five study rooms, PAZ 163, 164, 165, 166, and 168.  The study rooms are reserved for SU students, faculty, or staff doing group work or group study or holding meetings. If you are working alone in a study room, you may be asked to give the study room to a group that needs a place to work together.

Groups may reserve these study rooms for a maximum of 4 hours per day.  You can check room availability or book a room at this page.  Click to highlight the time slot(s) you would like to request.  Reservations are not required; study rooms may be used on a drop-in basis as long as no one else has a reservation.

The study rooms have varying capacities.  The maximum capacity is ten people per group with a two-person minimum. Please note that rooms are not soundproof. 

Please use only your own Stevenson email address to reserve a room.  Patrons may not store personal belongings in the study rooms.

Instruction Room

The Library has one instruction room, PAZ 161.  The patron computers and furniture in this room can be used any time that the room is not being used for a class or meeting.  The use of the equipment, including the instructor computer and screen, is reserved for instructional/academic purposes.

If you are an instructor and would like to reserve this room, please contact a librarian.

Chip Rouse Computer and Media Room

The Chip Rouse Computer and Media Room, located near the front doors of the Library, offers 10 desktop computers for students, faculty, and staff to use on a drop-in basis.  This area cannot be reserved.

Stevenson University-affiliated individuals and organizations are permitted to post flyers and other marketing material for campus-related activities and events. The Library has a bulletin board and handout stand near the printer/scanner/copier where flyers can be left without the need to ask special permission.  Flyers left on tables, counters, and other library furniture or spaces will be discarded.

Flyers for individual events should have the date of the event and may be removed by library staff at any time after the event is over. Flyers for ongoing events or events with no specific date (such as "every Friday of the month") will be removed by library staff after the end of the semester.

Individuals and organizations who are not affiliated with Stevenson University are not permitted to post marketing material, and such items will be removed without notice.

If you wish to advertise on library-owned marketing spots, such as social media, please speak to a librarian.

Stevenson University Library has always maintained the privacy of its students and faculty by not disclosing personal information derived from library transactions to anyone outside of the library. This includes borrowing records, registration records, questions asked of the librarians, and results of computer searches (internet or databases). Article III of the Librarian’s Code of Ethics states:

Librarians must protect each user’s right to privacy with respect to information sought or received and materials consulted, borrowed, or acquired.

Further, Maryland law prohibits the disclosure of circulation records to anyone except library personnel in the course of library business. See Md. Education Code Ann. Sec. 23-107. (Under Search Full Text and Natural Language, write "library business" to be directed to this section.)

However, with the passage of the USA Patriot Act in the wake of the September 11th attacks, law enforcement was given expanded powers to monitor (such as visits to web sites) and obtain electronic transactions including those performed by patrons in libraries. This means that upon being presented with a court order, the library staff may be required to turn over to law enforcement personal library records, stored electronic data or library hardware. Also, library staff may be required to allow surveillance equipment to be installed on library computers and equipment. Further, library staff will not be permitted to tell anyone, including the person being monitored, that their personal information is being shared with authorities outside the library.

The following procedures will be followed by all members of the library staff in the event confidential information is requested by any authority outside the library:

1. All requests for confidential information (circulation records or any information that identifies names of library patrons) will be referred to the Library Director, immediately. If she is not available, refer the request to the Coordinator of Public Services.

2. If the requestor is from law enforcement, library staff are only required to give their names.

3. If the requestor is from law enforcement, the Library Director will immediately contact legal counsel.

4. If the request includes a court order, legal counsel will examine it to make sure it is in proper form. However, if served with a search warrant, compliance must be immediate; in this case, the Library Director will attempt to get counsel involved, but will comply with the order.

5. Evenings and weekends, library staff will contact the Library Director or the Coordinator of Public Services for the proper course of action, and, if unable to contact either of these people, will contact the Dean.

For more information on the Patriot Act and Privacy see the following links:

Overview of the Patriot Act by the Congressional Research Service
Electronic Privacy Information Center

In accordance with the Stevenson University policies and Residence Life policies, the Library and Archives are smoke-free. Use of such products in our library locations, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems, hookahs, and other devices whose products are inhaled and/or which produce a vapor, are prohibited. Should a vapor-producing product be used while in the library, you will be asked to refrain from use while in the library or asked to exit the library when the device is in use.

The purpose of this policy is to establish and communicate guidelines and procedures for the acquisition, disposition, placement, and access to materials held in Library collections. Further, this document sets out the Library’s philosophy of collection development.  This policy will evolve as Stevenson University’s information needs and the nature information sources change. 

The Stevenson University’s Philip A. Zaffere Library builds its collections to support the educational and research needs of the library’s primary clientele: the students, faculty, and staff of Stevenson University.  The Library also provides services to alumni and the communities around our campuses.  The Library will endeavor to provide access to materials in all appropriate formats and subject areas and provide appropriate means of discovery for all users. 

Purpose of Philip A. Zaffere Library Collections 

The Library’s collection development policy focuses on selecting, evaluating, and maintaining information resources that support the current and future needs for learning, teaching, and research for the community of undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff.   

Specific Collection Development goals include: 

• To support the curriculum of the University. 

• To provide easy access and serendipitous discoverability for all collections. 

• To facilitate big-picture design of the collections with input from all stakeholders. 

• To collaborate with students, faculty and other stakeholders to determine user needs and how to best meet those needs. 

• To provide leisure reading as funds allow.