Library Policies

• The Library maintains and provides a collaborative working atmosphere; please be respectful of other library users and refrain from sustained, disruptive noise and behavior in all parts of the Library. 

• Cell phones should be placed on vibrate or silent. Phone calls should be limited to under five minutes. Video calls and calls on speaker phone are never permitted. 

• Students must use headphones when using the public computers or using a laptop outside of the study rooms if they are using the sound on their computers, including if they are participating in an online class.  

• Respect and treat library materials with care. Library materials should remain in the library until they are checked out under the terms of the circulation policy.  

• Solicitation, selling, advertising, and the dispersal of handouts or applications are not permitted in the Library. Any flyers or handouts on the library bulletin boards are subject to the BHCC policy on postings.   

• Students, faculty, staff, and community members are expected to follow all rules and regulations of Bunker Hill Community College, including those outlined in the BHCC Student Handbook and all relevant federal, state and municipal laws. 

• The BHCC Library is open to BHCC students, faculty, staff, and community members. 

• Please take your bags and personal items with you when you leave the Library for any reason, including while using the study rooms.  

• After 15 minutes, the Library reserves the right to contact Campus Police to have them collect any bags or items left behind in the library’s spaces, including the study rooms. 

• The Library is not responsible for items left unattended. Abandoned items may be sent to the campus lost and found in Student Activities (D106) or Campus Police (A200) 

Circulation and Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Library Cards & Identification for Checking Out Physical Library Materials

Students, staff, and faculty members must present their BHCC ID cards (obtained at the Student Central Department) to check out library materials. Non-affiliated community members must present their NOBLE library cards (obtained at the Library’s Circulation Desk) to check out library materials. BHCC Virtual IDs and digital library cards viewable through the BHCC website and NOBLE library consortium app are acceptable alternatives to physical ID or library cards. 

Government-issued identification (e.g. driver’s license, green card, passport, etc.) are acceptable alternatives to presenting a BHCC ID or NOBLE library card. Library staff will ask questions related to personal information attached to a patron's account in order to confirm account ownership. Library staff reserve the right to deny checking out library materials to a patron if a presented form of identification does not satisfactorily confirm account ownership. 

Photographs or photocopies of BHCC IDs, library cards, and government IDs are not valid forms of identification for checking out library materials. 

Obtaining and/or bringing in your BHCC ID or NOBLE library card is strongly encouraged in order to make accessing library materials easier and to unlock all of the benefits of a patron’s library membership.

Requirements for identification are to ensure that our community members are protected from incurring fines for items checked out by someone else using their account and having their personal information compromised.

Loan Periods for Physical Library Materials

Accessing and Borrowing Electronic Materials

eBooks, audiobooks, articles, and other electronic resources can be accessed through library apps, databases, and other online services. Borrowing, downloading, printing, and multiple user limits are determined by vendors and their individualized Digital Rights Management (DRM) policies. 

BHCC-affiliated patrons have both on- and off-campus access to all electronic resources such as databases and eBook borrowing with either their OneLogin credentials or NOBLE library card number depending on which platform is being used.

Non-affiliated community members have on-campus access to databases and other electronic resources while using our public computers or on their own devices connected to the campus’ guest WiFi network. There are some services, such as the Libby app, that can be used off-campus by non-affiliated patrons with a NOBLE library card number.

Interlibrary Loan

Library patrons can request physical and electronic materials from other libraries. Some resources, such as the NOBLE and COMCAT catalogs, can be used directly by patrons to make requests. Upon request by the patron, librarians can search catalogs that are not accessible to the public to have physical items delivered to the Library or have electronic copies of items such as articles delivered directly to patrons from other libraries. The Library will only pursue requests from libraries that do not charge a delivery, photocopying, or document fee. These requests can made in-person or be emailed to bhcclibrary@bhcc.edu and are typically responded to within 1-3 business days.

Late Fees & Fines

Most physical materials that are owned by and borrowed from the BHCC Library are not subject to late fees. Late fees are attached to items in order to encourage the return of items that are on loan from faculty/staff or have a high replacement cost. The following items are subject to late fees:

• Reserves – 10 cents per every 15 minutes past due time

• Library of Things Items – 10 cents per every 15 minutes past due time

• Interlibrary Loan Items – Determined by lending library; varied

Library patrons will incur larger fines if an item enters Long Overdue, Lost, or Damaged statuses. These charges are typically set to the replacement cost of the item, which includes the cost to both purchase and process the item if it is determined that it should be replaced. Returning a borrowed item marked as Long Overdue will immediately remove the fine from a patron’s account.

If a patron incurs fines of $50.00 or more, the library system will block the patron from borrowing physical materials. A block on borrowing privileges does not affect a patron’s access to electronic resources such as databases.

Patrons should contact the Library to dispute any charges or if they are facing any challenges that prevent them from being able to return an item or pay a fine.

Purpose 

The Collection Development Policy provides guidance to the Bunker Hill Community College librarians through the selection and deselection processes required to build and maintain a library collection. It also provides transparency to library patrons and stakeholders.  

Responsibility 

Building and maintaining the library’s collection is a shared collection development responsibility among the librarians, with oversight from the Dean of the Library, Learning Commons, and TASC. 

Selection Criteria  

The librarians consult the college’s curriculum and faculty recommendations when selecting materials for the collection.  Additionally, they focus on titles that have historic or local value, are useful for faculty and student research, and meet patron demand.  The librarians purposefully seek out many voices during the selection process to ensure multiple opinions and expertise are available on each subject.  

Scope of Materials  

The library purchases print books, eBooks, and DVDs, as well as subscriptions to online journals and databases.  Due to the overwhelming preference of BHCC students and faculty to access journals online, print journals are only considered for a specific faculty request or for accreditation purposes.  When choosing between print and electronic books (eBooks), librarians consider cost, access, and licensing availability.  The library also has a Library of Things collection, which includes equipment, supplies, and other non-traditional materials. 

Textbooks 

Textbooks used for courses at the BHCC are not within the scope of the Collection Development policy.  

Donations 

The BHCC Library does not accept unsolicited donations. Materials dropped off at the library with no previous arrangement will be discarded. If you have materials that you feel strongly would be of benefit to the BHCC Library's users and campus community that you would like to be considered, please contact us at bhcclibrary@bhcc.edu.  For donations to be accepted, the BHCC Library requires materials to be within the scope of the BHCC Library collection development policy and in good physical condition. 

Given the library’s limited space, donations are accepted on the basis that the processed materials become the property of the library and are integrated into the existing collection without restrictions placed on their use. Donated materials that will not be accepted include outdated books, newspapers, popular magazines, and incomplete sets of serials. The library does not provide facilities for the retention or warehousing of personal materials of faculty or other BHCC community members. 

Deselection 

To ensure an effective current collection that best serves the educational mission of the college, the library systematically removes obsolete, outdated, damaged and little-used materials from the collection.  The librarians are responsible for deselection, but they welcome the feedback of faculty.   

Equipment Use

General Courtesy to Others

Individuals should use library equipment in a courteous, reasonable, and responsible manner. When using the Library’s resources, patrons are asked to limit their use if others are waiting. Patrons are also asked to remember that the Library is a public place and that they should exercise discretion in viewing, printing, or copying text or graphics that may be offensive to others.

Library Computers and Internet Access

The BHCC College provides public computer workstations and a public wireless network that offer comprehensive access to information and applications. These workstations and the public wireless network are designed to offer the BHCC community access to electronic library catalogs, databases, and other information sources to help users meet the objectives of their studies, research, or other information needs.

Appropriate use guidelines have been established in order to ensure the maximum library-related use of these workstations and laptop Internet connections.

The following activities are considered to be the primary library-related uses for which the computers and laptop Internet connections are reserved:

• Searching of library catalog, online or electronic databases, and files made accessible by the Library through its website
• Use of the Internet to complete academic assignments or perform research tasks

• Use of Library-supported software applications such as word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet software to complete academic assignments or prepare career-oriented documents.

The Library staff will announce Library closing times 30 minutes prior to closing. Computer users must be prepared to finish their work on the computers before closing time.

Patrons are not permitted to install or run software that is not already installed on the Library computers.

First priority will be given to searching library catalogs and databases using library’s computers and wireless network connections

Minors under the age of sixteen are not allowed to use BHCC computers or printers.

Users of library computer equipment must not engage in illegal activity and must abide by the rules, regulations and policies established by the College.

Downloading and Printing

• Patrons wishing to download files from Moodle and the internet do so at their own risk.
• Patrons wishing to download PowerPoint files do so at their own risk.
• The Library currently offers free printing. Student cooperation is requested in the form of responsible use to help keep printing free. Before printing, please consider whether you need all of that paper. Ask a librarian to show you how to print two-sided (duplex) or with multiple slides on a single page.  Please avoid waste.
• There is a 20-page limit to print jobs. Jobs over 20 pages may be cancelled.
• By default, Library computers print single-sided (simplex).
• Four black-and-white printers are available for patron use. By default, Library computers print to the closest printer.
• Color printing is not available to students on campus. Faculty and staff needing documents printed in color should visit Central Services.

Wireless Internet Access

Bunker Hill Community College provides access to a wireless network for use on campus. The wireless network is publicly accessible but requires authentication in the form of a valid email address. Minors under the age of sixteen may use their own laptops or devices to connect to the wireless network. The campus wireless network is maintained by Tech Support Services. If you have questions, contact them.

Personal Computer and Device Use

• Patrons are permitted and encouraged to bring their own computers and other electronic devices for use in the Library. Personal electronic devices may be used in any area of the Library as long as the patron complies with all other policies.
• Electronic devices may be plugged into any open electric receptacle. Patrons may not unplug Library equipment to charge their devices.
• Patrons are strongly encouraged to monitor their electronic devices at all times. The Library is not responsible for personal items (see BHCC Library Patron Responsibilities).
• Software downloaded from the Internet may contain computer viruses. Every user is responsible for maintaining virus-checking software on his/her own computer. The BHCC Library is not responsible for damage to any user’s disk or computer, or any loss of data, damage, or liability that may occur from patron use of the Library’s computers or Internet connections.

Reserves

Most reserve materials are items chosen by faculty for student use during the semester. Physical reserve items are placed on reserve at the Lending Services Desk. To borrow reserve items present your student ID and provide the name of the instructor, course, and title of the item you wish to borrow. You can search course reserves in the following location: https://bunkerhill.noblenet.org/eg/opac/course_search?locg=7. You can search for classes by name, professor or course number.

Most reserve materials are for two-hour in-Library use only. Photocopying is permitted. Reserve DVDs may be viewed in the library using headphones.

Other reserve materials available include headphone sets, dictionaries, and copies of the current college catalog, which are also provided for use in the Library only.

Please return Reserve items on time. There are 10 cent per hour overdue fines.

What May Be Placed on Reserve

• Your lecture notes, syllabi, problem solutions, old exams, etc.
• Student papers under a pseudonym or anonymously only, with consent from the student
• Any circulating BHCC library item
• Personal copies of commercially-produced books, DVDs, VCDs, CDs, audio recordings, CD- or DVD-ROMs, or other audiovisual material
• Single photocopies of articles, poems, a chapter of a book, or other short readings that fall under the fair use doctrine
• Print copies of articles to which the library subscribes electronically
• U.S. and Massachusetts state government publications
• Any material for which copyright permission has been granted or obtained

What May Not Be Placed on Reserve

• Non-circulating items from the BHCC library, including but not limited to items from the reference, career, legal materials, and/or archives collections
• Complete issues of periodicals, journals, magazines, or newspapers
• Photocopies of a complete book, periodical, journal, magazine, or newspaper
• Photocopies of more than five chapters from a single book
• Photocopies of a substantial portion of a copyrighted work
• Workbooks, books of exercises, or other “consumable” publications. Solutions manuals, instructor editions, and exam files will still be accepted as long as they are designed for the user to read only, not to write in or on.
• Coursepacks produced by the BHCC bookstore
• Items owned by anyone other than a) the individual teaching the course, b) the individual providing the material for reserve, c) a department or other organization within BHCC, or d) a library
• Burned, copied, dubbed, or otherwise illegal copies of copyrighted video and/or audio media
• Videocassettes (VHSs)

If you have an item not addressed in this list, please ask and we’ll determine whether it can be placed on reserve.