Library Policies

A valid MHCC College ID "Activity Card" is required to borrow MHCC College library materials including course reserves that are restricted to library use only.

All current (registered) MHCC College students, faculty and staff may obtain a college ID card at the MHCC Library.

Residents of community college service district who are over age 16 may apply for a MHCC Library card with valid picture identification, proof of current residence and age.

Cardholders are responsible for the prompt return and the physical condition of any items checked out on their card.

Lost or stolen cards must be reported.

Usage

• The MHCC Activity card is a library card, giving staff and students' access to the multitude of services available within the Library.
• The MHCC Activity card is a means of identification and proof of program affiliation within the College's Allied Health Programs.
• The MHCC Activity card provides on-campus security clearance for contractors.
• The MHCC Activity card identifies members of the Board, ICS team and University Affiliations.
• The MHCC Activity card allows access to the pool, theatres, dental facility, planetarium, computer labs, and Cosmetology.
• The MHCC Activity card will provide staff and students access to associated functions.

Card Issue Guidelines

Fall 2012: The College Center will issue cards from 8 am to 1 pm, the Library will issue cards from 1 pm till 30 minutes before closing.

An individual receiving an MHCC Activity Card must be a currently enrolled student, an employee of MHCC or an affiliate of the College.

Individuals who cannot have pictures taken for religious reasons may receive an MHCC Activity Card with a blank silhouette. These individuals must present two forms of identification when presenting the MHCC Activity Card.

Validation stickers are issued throughout the term to currently enrolled students.

The Library accepts the following documents to assure identity:

One picture ID:

• Government-issued driver's license or ID card
• permanent resident card
• federal/state/local governmental ID
• US military card
• consular card
• passport from any nation
• high school ID card.

If none of the above, two of the following:

• birth certificate
• tribal document
• voter registration
• lease with name and address
• credit or debit card
• utility or other bill with name and address
• club or organization ID
• social security card

Improper Usage

If a card is used improperly, the following procedure will occur:

• The individual attempting to use the card will be denied access to the event or facility.
• The department representative may confiscate the card immediately.
• The card will be forwarded to the Dean of Student Success no later than the following working day, and they will investigate whether the prohibited use was the result of an Activity Card theft or the intentional misuse of someone loaning their Activity card to another.

For additional information please contact the MHCC Library 503-491-7161 or email diane.schmitt@mhcc.edu.

MHCC library strives to accommodate users with disabilities in a variety of ways. The Library actively includes consideration of ADA concerns in policy and decision making.

Adaptive computer equipment is available in the library, on the south wall, near the circulation shelves.

The library purchases films and videos with closed captions or subtitles when they are available. The library encourages faculty to be aware of the need for closed captioning when they request the purchase of new material.

Please also read Disability Services.

Cardholders are responsible for the prompt return and the physical condition of any items checked out on their card.

It is the responsibility of the borrower to notify the Library check out desk of any loss, damage or defect immediately upon return of the item.

Search for Items Now

Use the library catalog to search for materials to borrow.

Current enrollment is required for Summit and Interlibrary loan borrowing.

Who can borrow?

Current and retired MHCC employees, currently registered students, Orbis Cascade Alliance members and community members within our district can borrow library materials. Valid identification is required.

Loan Periods

Employees check out library materials for 60 days. Students and community members borrow most items for 30 days. Course materials for specific classes are borrowed from 2 hours to 7 days.

Fines

Fines will be charged to your MHCC account if you keep an item out longer than its due date. Fines for MHCC materials are $.25 per day for most items, $.25 per hour for reserves, $1 per hour for laptops. You will be responsible for the price of the item as listed in the library system if the item is lost. Fines for Summit materials are $25 per day for most items, and/or $90 if the item is lost.

Loan enforcement

MHCC Library reserves the right to deny checkout privileges indefinitely based on prior abuses.

Charges of $5.00 or more are forwarded to the Business Office and restrict access until fine is paid.

Campus safety does not automatically receive notice when 911 is called. They sometimes catch it on the switchboard if they are watching to see the outgoing numbers that are dialed. We ask the staff to call 7911 when an incident occurs at the Gresham campus, so that Public Safety can assist the emergency responders as they try to find their way to the injured person. Many times the people with cell phones have called 911 before a staff member calls 7911.

In order to maintain suitable learning environments, cell phones and pagers are to be used within the group study area, the Reader's Cup room or the Bob Scott room when available.

Juveniles under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, unless the juvenile is attending approved activities or enrolled in classes which have been properly scheduled or has been invited to attend by the College.

Library staff will call Security to escort child back to parent if left unattended in facility. Staff will ask parents with disruptive children to use the Bob Scott Room when it is available.

Currently registered students, faculty, staff, retirees, Distance Learners, and MHCC public borrowers have checkout privileges.

Students and Staff

Checkout privileges are provided only if student or staff registration information is in the library's database; or acceptable identification is provided and a patron record added to the system. Acceptable proof is a current validated MHCC ID card or photo identification with a picture and name. College-issued photo ID cards are available for free, and are now processed in the library. To allow maximum access to materials by all library users, the library requests that faculty and staff return materials promptly.

Retired MHCC Staff and Faculty

Honorary card holders may only checkout general circulation materials and are subject to the same circulation policies as students. Honorary patrons may not check out laptops or have remote access to electronic databases.

Distance Learners

Students who are currently registered at Orbis Cascade Alliance member institutions have checkout privileges. The Orbis Cascade Alliance consortia consists of public and private colleges, community colleges and universities in the Northwest.

Orbis Cascade Alliance member libraries deliver materials to MHCC.

Only current credit students, faculty and staff are eligible to borrow Orbis Cascade Alliance items.

All fines and lost charges apply (even for MHCC faculty and staff). Charges are significantly higher than those assessed at MHCC Library and are not negotiable. Replacement costs include a processing fee. Processing fee is nonreturnable.

Please also read Distance Learners

Public Patrons

The library welcomes use of its material, facilities, and equipment by the general public. However, students and staff of the college are our primary clientele and assistance to them will take precedence over all other users. Public Borrowers must live in the district of MHCC to receive a library card and must 18 years of age. Registrants that are 16 years and older must be accompanied by a parent until the age of 18.

MHCC Library does not restrict access to any of their resources, nor do we employ the use of filters on any of our computers. MHCC has a professional commitment to ensure that all members of the community it serves have free and equal access to the entire range of library resources regardless of content, approach, format or amount of detail.

Public borrowers may not checkout laptops or reserve items.

Public borrowers do not have remote access to electronic databases.

Please also read Public Patrons

It is the policy of the library to protect the privacy of the patron who uses the library; no inquiry will be made into the purposes for which a borrower requests information or books, and information regarding what a patron has checked out will not be divulged.

The MHCC library operates under the confidentiality and ethical standards set by the American Library Association (ALA). The First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution support barrier-free access to information on all points of view and the freedom to read in order to become informed citizens. Librarians are ethically responsible to protect this freedom through maintaining confidentiality of all library user records. This privacy ensures that library users are protected from the misuse of such information to create fear, intimidation, or resistance to free expression.

Federal law, state law and local policies govern the privacy of library records. The Library may release information to law enforcement agents in response to a search warrant, subpoena or other lawful directive. Legal interpretations of the Oregon Public Records Act and the Federal Privacy Act will be recognized as they relate to community college libraries. Nothing in this policy shall restrict the rights of Mt Hood Community College to use records in accordance with its own lawful policies and procedures

Also read Intellectual Freedom Statement

The copyright law of the United States governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. MHCC College is legally obliged to pay attention to the copyright law. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.

Section 107 [of Title 17 of U.S. code] describes the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered fair or determining whether or not a particular use is fair. Below are the four factors used to consider fair use:

1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes
2. The nature of the copyrighted work
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work

The distinction between what is fair use and what is infringement in a particular case will not always be clear or easily defined. There is no specific number of words, lines, or notes that may safely be taken without permission. Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission.

Please also read Copyright Law and Fair Use Guidelines.

MHCC belongs to a library consortium which allows us to access the collections of other libraries. Orbis Cascade Alliance (http://www.orbiscascade.org) is a consortium of most of the academic libraries in Oregon, Idaho and Washington. Membership gives us access to over 9 million volumes. Borrowing from these libraries is done by placing a request in the Summit catalog (http://summit.orbiscascade.org). The lending library will send it by courier and we should have it within a couple of days. You can find a link to Summit from our homepage and within our local library catalog.

Students who are currently registered at Orbis Cascade Alliance member institutions have checkout privileges. The Orbis Cascade Alliance consortia consists of public and private colleges, community colleges and universities in the Northwest.

The Library supports MHCC distance learning students and instructors. There are many resources available to assist you in finding, retrieving and evaluating information to support your online coursework.

For more information, please check out the Distance Learners page.

Acceptable Guidelines for MHCC Library's Electronic Resources

Electronic resources available through the library at Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) are licensed by the Library for use by current MHCC students, employees, and walk-in visitors to the Library.

Resource types include but are not limited to electronic databases, e-journals, e-books, image files, and practice test sites.

In general, authorized users may access licensed electronic resources for educational, non-commercial purposes only. Failure to comply with the terms of these licenses can result in an immediate loss of access to a resource for the entire College community. Disciplinary action for individuals failing to comply with the terms of these licenses will follow the MHCC Student Code of Conduct process.

The library's electronic resources license agreements generally prohibit the following uses:

• Downloading entire issues of electronic journals, large portions of electronic books, or attempting to create large databases from electronic resources content.
• Systematic downloading of content, either manually, or with specialized software such as robots, scripts, or other software programs.
• Using licensed resources for commercial purposes.
• Sharing an access password with unauthorized users including but not limited to family, friends, or co-workers.
• Redistributing copyrighted licensed content to non-authorized users including but not limited to posting content on a publicly accessible web site.
• Engaging in actions intended to circumvent access control measures of the Library or Electronic Resource provider to licensed content.

When using any library electronic resources, all users must comply with MHCC's Student Code of Conduct, MHCC Board Regulation AR-2060-B, and U.S. Copyright Law (including the protections of fair use and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998). Many electronic resources have more detailed terms and conditions regarding acceptable usage. Please Ask a Librarian for specific information related to acceptable use.

MHCC equipment is used for MHCC business only. Fax machines, copiers, scanners or computers cannot be used for the benefit of another's personal gain or for the benefit of another institution.

The use of any technological resource of MHCCD implies acceptance of all current operational guidelines. Library users are expected to act in accord with the following guidelines based on common sense, decency, and civility applied to the networked computing environment. Unauthorized, inappropriate, or illegal use may result in sanctions upon the user depending on their user status and appropriate MHCCD Board policy and regulation.

Library users are prohibited from violating copyright law, theft, file theft, violating other's privacy, deliberately crashing Library or other's workstations or computer systems, modifying files without authorization, altering data, introducing viruses/malware, damaging files, interfering with the work of other users, maliciously disrupting network services, harassing or intimidating others, concealing or misrepresenting their name or intimidating others, concealing or misrepresenting their name or affiliation to mask irresponsible or offensive behavior, sending abusive or patently offensive or unwanted material to others, penetration or harm to operating system, reselling bandwidth, or any other illegal acts promulgated from or targeting the Library's computers or MHCCD computer systems.

These prohibited activities include devices and systems on the Library's network, internet site or other non-specified computer or network resources managed by the Library or the College.

If abuse of computer systems occurs, those responsible for such abuse will be held legally accountable and subject to appropriate college, State or Federal regulations. By use of the Library's systems the user agrees that neither the Library nor the Mt. Hood Community College District can assume liability for any loss or damage to the user's data and hardware or for any other liability for damage or injury arising from the Library's provision of the service or consequence arising therefrom.

Help us keep work surfaces clean by reporting accidental spills to the checkout desk as soon as possible so that they can be addressed quickly. The library does allow food and drink as long as patrons respect the library, and not leave trash in the area they used.

Drink containers should be in sealable containers. Please attempt to keep food odor to a minimum out of respect of the other patrons and library staff.

The library accepts gifts and donations through the auspices and according to the established policies of the MHCC Foundation. Gifts must be of such a nature and kind that they can be integrated into the collection without special handling, special controls, added facilities, or staff. The library reserves the right to retain and or dispose of any gift materials at the discretion of the librarian. The library retains the right to determine lending/borrowing restrictions regarding all holdings. All materials and/or equipment must be a part of the permanent collection and adhere to the criteria that the item is course or campus related. All equipment is checked out from the audio visual department.

Circulating library material, except video cassettes and other audiovisual items can be held at no cost. Patrons are able to place holds at Public Access terminals and are limited to 2 holds on their record. You will receive notification when the item arrives at the pick-up location. The library will hold the item for 7 days.

Any item checked out may be recalled after 2 weeks if needed by faculty or by the library.

The Library at Mt. Hood Community College subscribes to the principle of intellectual freedom for everyone who uses its library materials. This means that all users of MHCC and the library collections may conduct their research in confidence that no permanent record will result from that research and no restrictions will be made on the content of inquiries. Specifically, the library supports the American Library Association's Code of Ethics.

Also read Client Privacy

MHCC adheres to the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Code of Oregon Libraries.

ILL is a means of requesting material not owned by MHCC library for our students, staff, and faculty from libraries around the country and the world. MHCC Library will not borrow textbooks for any MHCC class or affiliated institution's classes (EOU, PSU). Loan requests primarily include books and articles. Reference materials, non-print materials, newspapers and complete issues of journals are GENERALLY not ILL materials. Check with a reference librarian on each ILL request for a reference book. The reference staff can make an exception for reference books with limited restrictions of 2 weeks in library use only or specific instructions set by reference staff. The Media Clerk approves videos and other media materials with limited restrictions of 2-week in-house use or with specific restrictions set by the Media Center Clerk. There is no guarantee that all requested material will be found or if found, will be available for loan.

When requesting items, please verify that the item is not available locally before you place an ILL request. For articles, look for the journal title in the Library's print and electronic collections. For books and videos, look for your item in the Summit catalog of college libraries in the Pacific NW.

For further information you may email Patti Allen at patti.allen@mhcc.edu, call (503) 491-6974, or refer to the Interlibrary Loan Page.

In keeping with MHCC's mission of preparing students for employment and advanced academic work, the Library provides members of the MHCC community with electronic access to a variety of resources such as the Library's catalog, full text and indexed databases, and the Internet.

The Library recognizes that the internet is a global, unregulated medium. Information on internet sites may not be current, accurate or complete. There are also sites where content may be controversial or objectionable to some users. Sites may appear and disappear without notice. Because MHCC Library has no control over the internet and does not select or monitor the information available or accessed, the Library cannot be responsible for Internet content or the manner in which that content is used.

To protect your privacy and documents, please log off the computer when you are finished, and exercise caution when transmitting personal or sensitive information over the Internet.

Please also read Equipment Use Agreement

Laptops may be borrowed from the MHCC Library check out desk. Laptops are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Checkout is limited to one laptop per person for a 2 hour period for use within the library only. Units must be returned to the check out desk staff. Earphones must be worn with all equipment.

To check out you will need an MHCC Activity or Library Card.

Laptop Usage

Laptop computers may be used anywhere in the MHCC Library, however, laptops may not leave the library. If laptops are removed from the library, the borrower may lose the privilege to use a laptop in the future.

Laptops can be checked out with a power cord. We strongly recommend using it rather than the laptop battery. The quick turnaround time for checkouts may leave the battery low and result in lost data.

Loan Period

The loan period is 2 hours. Laptops will stop circulating 30 minutes before the closing of the library. End-of-day loans must be returned 15 minutes before closing.

Renewals are allowed after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends.

Overdue Charges

Overdue charges are $1.00 per hour for the first hour and $2.00 for each additional hour. There is no grace period. Replacement cost is $1500.00 for any damages incurred to the equipment while it is checked out to you.

It is the responsibility of the borrower to notify the Library check out desk of any loss, damage or defect immediately upon return of the laptop.

Security

You are responsible for the laptop checked out to you until it is checked back in. The Library is not responsible for loss while the laptop is checked out to you.

Please do not leave the laptop unattended.

Personal software may not be loaded onto the laptop. No user files will be retained on the hard disk.

Disclaimer

MHCC is not responsible for damage to any removable drive or loss of data that may occur due to malfunctioning hardware or software.

Assistance

For technical questions using the library laptops, please see the computer lab assistants or ask for help at the student help desk. A library technician is available to support all equipment and computers in the library during most open hours, however it is assumed that if you checkout a laptop that you can operate it without help. Library staff is not responsible for instruction in using the laptop. Report any hardware or software problems to the Library check out staff.

Please also read Borrowing Guidelines

See Activity or Library Cards

The Library Code of Conduct has been developed to assure a safe, healthy, and productive environment for all library users. It is based on MHCC Board of Education policies, including the Student Code of Conduct. In all cases, Board policy and federal, state, and local laws will be followed. This code applies to all persons on Library premises. Premises are defined as stack areas, study spaces, classrooms, group study rooms, meeting rooms and stairwells.

Code of Conduct

The MHCC Library offers services to students and to community members. All library users have a right to expect these freedoms in the library:

• Freedom from disorderly, lewd, offensive, threatening, or disruptive behavior.
• Freedom from acts of intimidation, harassment, and threatening or coercive behavior that communicate a direct or indirect threat of physical or emotional harm.
• Freedom from disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, or other college activities.
• Freedom from solicitations, petitions, political canvassing, and proselytizing.
• Freedom from theft, abuse, vandalism or sabotage of College property.

In return for these freedoms, library users have a right to expect these behaviors from each other:

• All users will comply with the directions of College officials acting in performance of their duties.
• All users will identify themselves when requested to do so by College officials.
• All users will refrain from using, possessing, or distributing alcohol, tobacco, and/or any state or federally controlled substance.
• All users will refrain from possessing explosives, firearms, dangerous weapons, or other hazardous objects or substances.
• All users will report threats, acts of aggression or disruptive behavior to College Officials in accordance with this policy.

Violations

Students in violation of the Code will be referred to the Dean of Student Success.

Community members in violation of the Code will be referred to MHCC Public Safety or to Gresham Police.

The MHCC library strives to provide a place for its users that is conducive to study and research. To create an environment that provides both quiet study places and group collaboration, we have divided the library into two distinct types of study zones-each with a different noise level expectation:

Quiet Zones

In the rear of the library, we provide patrons with individual study carrels; this area is intended to serve as an area for readers and students who need to concentrate. In this zone, no talking is permitted.

The Library Instruction Room and the Trio Room have been designated as Quiet Zones where Low Level talking is permitted.

The other quiet zone the library offers is the Reading Room (formerly the periodical room). Low Level talking is permitted.

Group Study Zones

The library features a group study zone, near the checkout area. This zone is intended for collaborative learning experiences. Here, Mid Level talking is permitted. The Group Study Room is available at all times and can accommodate two groups. The Bob Scott Room has also been designated as an Active Study Zone. Cell phone use is allowed in these areas (be courteous and respectful to fellow students and patrons)

Self service copy machines are available in the public area of the library. The machine settings are standardized to provide service to the majority of users. Student Service desk staff can provide instruction and will handle basic troubleshooting.

Black & White Copies are 5 cents per single-sided page, 10 cents for double-sided copies Color Copies are 10 cents per single sided page, 20 cents for double-sided copies. Machines will accept debit cards or copy cards only. Copy cards are purchased through the two kiosks located near the checkout desk. These cards are reusable and can be refilled. Kiosks accept 1, 5, 10, and 20 dollar bills for refilling cards. Student Help Desk Staff will refund money lost in the machine if the problem is reported immediately and can be verified.

Library personnel cannot be responsible for the quality of copies or for copies produced because of patron error.

All copiers have document feeders.

There is a public fax machine available in the college center.

Please be advised that the library computers are in a public area, and information viewed on the screen may be visible to other users. Library staff can provide a privacy screen for a computer monitor if you are concerned about the confidentiality or sensitive nature of online information.

Library staff can also request a patron use a privacy screen if other patrons complain about the nature of their web browsing.

Members of the community who pay taxes to support the college may register for a card and check out a limited number of items at the MHCC library. Registrants must be 16 years and older and must be accompanied by a parent until the age of 18.

Community residents must show picture ID and proof of address that they reside in the MHCC district. A driver's license, passport, or state identification card is accepted. Due to limited resources, student laptops and reserve materials are not available to public borrowers. Public borrowers do not have remote access to electronic databases.

Public Patron Library Accounts

Patrons can access their Library Account through the My Library Account link on the Library home page.

To log in, enter your last name + MHCC ID number. Public Patrons will be assigned a number and may retrieve it from the circulation desk.

On the Library Account Page, patrons can:

• Verify personal information
• Check on due dates
• Renew books
• Check on the status of requested items

To use one of the six public access computer terminals, public patrons must ask a desk lead at the circulation desk to log them on.

Public patrons get one hour of computer access per day.

Traditional course reserves allow faculty members to put selected readings, books, and videos on reserve to be used for varying lengths of time in the Library, so that many students can be assured of continuous access to required readings.

Contact our public service staff with questions about reserve services.

Faculty may acquire the Reserve Submission Forms from the library web page or at the checkout desk.

Loan Periods for Course Reserve Materials

Library materials required for class use are placed on Course Reserve. The instructor selects the loan period. Reserve fines accrue whether the library is opened or closed. Interlibrary Loan items will not be placed on MHCC Course Reserve. The library will accept instructor's personal copies on Reserve.

All 2 hour, 4 hour, 24 hour, 48 hour and 7 day reserve materials can be checked out again after a 1 hour wait. If there are 2 or more copies of the same book already on the shelf, the same book with a different loan period may be issued immediately.

Please also read Borrowing Guidelines

ADA recognized service animals are permitted in the library with the proper documentation. The animal must be professional, and remain within the behavioral guidelines listed in the detailed service animal policy.

Please read the complete Student Code of Conduct