Any system, like a library, that can provide easy and timely access to valuable information must be pretty remarkable. Yet people tend to take libraries for granted, and don't give much thought to what it takes to provide that kind of service.

Cooperation and Sharing

You and your fellow students have paid tuition and taxes into a common pool to buy books and other materials, and to pay for the selection, processing, organization and housing of those materials. You can now share in the benefits from that mass of material, with the only limit to your benefit being your time and energy.

Role of Librarians

The librarians enhance the benefits you can gain by promoting particular values and principles of library and information service.

• Collection of resources that would most likely meet your needs
• Effective intellectual access to the content of resources through the library catalog, the classification system, or the indexes to periodical articles.
• Convenient access or delivery of resources to you in any format
• Intellectual freedom (no censorship) and the protection of your privacy

Your Role

And finally, creating the wonder of library service takes some responsibility on your part. You are, after all, responsible for making the most of your investment in the pool of library resources. Only you can ask questions. Only you can read and learn. Also, the responsible use of library resources by yourself and others helps insure that those resources are accessible and available to yourself and others on a continuing basis.

• Do you keep library materials clean and undamaged?
• Do you return borrowed materials on time?
• Do you leave the materials you have used in a place designated for that material so that it can be re-shelved promptly and accurately?
• Do you act in a civil and courteous manner, so that you don't disturb the work of other students?
• Do you observe rules particular to Penfield Library, such as keeping the third floor as quiet as possible?

Details of Penfield Library policies are posted on the library's web site. Please report any problems to the Reference Desk.

Penfield Library's Policies