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NSCC Library Policies

Guidelines for Conduct: Library Patrons

The Libraries at NSCC are areas in which students have a right to expect a quiet environment conducive to study and research. (See student handbook.)

Cell Phones and Audio Equipment: When using your cell phone please be considerate of students who wish to study in a quiet atmosphere. Your audio player must be "for your ears" only. If others can hear the music while you have earphones on, you will be asked to lower the volume.

Food and Drinks: Because of potential damage to books, furniture and the computers, we ask you not to bring food or drinks into the library. (See "Library Property" below.)

Disruptive Behavior: Disruptive or inappropriate behavior, such as loud talking, swearing or overt displays of affection, are inappropriate in a library setting. Extended conversations should take place outside the library. Refusing to identify oneself with proper ID to library employees is disruptive behavior. Patrons who refuse to follow the guidelines for conduct will be told to leave the library. Campus Police will be asked to remove disruptive patrons.

Alcohol: Alcohol and/or illicit drugs may not be brought into the library. If you are intoxicated, or in possession of such items, Campus Police will be notified and will ask you to leave the premises.

Animals: Pets are not allowed in the Library, with the exception of guide dogs.

Personal Possessions: The Library Staff cannot be responsible for your personal property. Please do not ask us to watch your belongings. Please do not leave personal possessions, i.e., laptops, phones, unattended.

Library Property: Library property should be treated with respect and care. Tearing pages out of books or magazines, highlighting or underlining text in books, carving graffiti on tables, and spilling drinks that stain upholstered furniture are considered acts of vandalism. Persons who willfully commit these acts are liable for prosecution (MGL, Ch. 266, Sec. 100). Parents can be held liable for damage done by a child under the age of eighteen. Patrons who set off the Library's alarm system may be required to open bags or clothing for inspection.

Quiet Zones: Quiet zones are designated for individual work, please turn cell phones off, and refrain from noisy conversations and group work.

Community Patrons

Community patrons are welcome to use the NSCC libraries, following these guidelines:

Library space:
Community patrons may use the library premises, assistance, services and equipment with the understanding that NSCC students, staff and faculty have first priority.

Borrowing privileges:
Only users with a HELM school ID can directly borrow items from the Library. The NSCC Library is a member of the Commonwealth Catalog and Massachusetts Library System and will share eligible items via inter-library loan when requested from other libraries in those networks.

Behavior:
NSCC requires appropriate library behavior. All children must be accompanied by and supervised by an adult. Patrons who exhibit inappropriate behavior and/or disturb students, staff or faculty will be asked to leave the library and may be barred from future use of the library.

Computer Use

Access to computer resources imposes responsibilities and cooperation on the part of the computer user.

The following policy statements, as well as the North Shore Community College Computer Use Policy and all local, state and federal laws, shall apply to all users of the North Shore Community College Library computers.

All users are expected to understand and follow the North Shore Community College Computer Use Policy.

Students, faculty and staff of NSCC will have priority access to library computers. Community patrons are welcome, but will be asked to yield computer access when demand by NSCC students, faculty and staff is high.

Library computer stations are limited in number and are for research purposes only.

Young children are not permitted to use the library computers. High school students may use the computers for homework and research purposes.

You can print from any computer in the library. When students click "print" they will be prompted for their MyNorthShore user name and password.


Appropriate and authorized use of library computers includes but is not limited to:

  1. Gathering and providing research material
  2. Preparing course materials
  3. Completing class and homework assignments
  4. Enhancing educational teaching methods
  5. Gathering information from Campus Pipeline
  6. Using the NSCC web site to register for classes
  7. Searching catalogs and databases provided by NSCC Libraries
  8. Searching the Internet for study, research, and teaching

Patrons found to be using the computers in an inappropriate manner will be asked to leave. Inappropriate and unauthorized uses of the library computers:

  1. Cheating
  2. Plagiarizing
  3. Gambling, games
  4. Furnishing false information
  5. Conducting a business or unauthorized use of college computers for financial gain
  6. Disrupting normal operation of the college network
  7. Monopolizing resources
  8. Distributing media containing viruses
  9. Unauthorized sharing or attempting to access computer accounts, or passwords of others
  10. Inappropriate transmission or receiving obscene or abusive materials

Student Use of the Library Multi-purpose Rooms and Group Study Spaces

Reservations must be made via the online booking system, and are on a first come, first served basis. The room DB-240 is designed for groups of 2 or more and is not available for individual use. NSCC faculty and staff have priority in reserving the use of this room.

The rooms may be occupied for one two-hour period per day with one two-hour renewal if there is no one waiting. Only one booking per day per group is allowed. The rooms are not sound proof; therefore, users should be sensitive to the need for quiet in order not to disturb others.

The multi-purpose room blinds are to be kept open at all times, and must be left neat and clean. Please pick up after your group and take all your personal belongings when you leave. Students not in compliance with these rules may be asked to leave and/or be barred from future group study use of the Library Multi-purpose Rooms.

The Library's Guidelines for Conduct are enforced in the multi-purpose rooms.

Unattended Children

Although the NSCC Libraries welcome all responsible users, our collections and facilities are intended primarily for our college community, especially our students. Apart from the juvenile collection at the Lynn Campus Library, our resources are geared to a college audience.

Therefore, although children who are accompanied by an adult are permitted in the NSCC Libraries, they must be supervised by an adult at all times. Parents, or other supervising adults, will be held responsible for their child's behavior. Loud or disruptive children and their accompanying adult will be asked to leave. If the situation continues, Campus Police will be notified.  Parents will be held responsible for any damage caused to library property by their children. At no time should unsupervised children be in the library. Library staff cannot be responsible for unattended children in the library.

High school students may use the computers for homework and research purposes only.