Library Policies and Services
For questions regarding Loan Policies, please call the Circulation Desk at 406-683-7495. Loan Periods for Print and Non-Print Materials
TYPE OF MATERIAL LOAN PERIOD RENEWALS
General Circulating Collection
4 weeks
Yes
Reserves
Designated by faculty/staff
Not immediately
Reference
By permission of professional library staff
No
Periodicals
By permission of professional library staff
No
Microforms
By permission of professional library staff
No
Photocopies: may be made of selected parts of materials in accordance with Copyright Policy.
Holds
Materials or equipment that are checked out may be placed on hold in our Online Catalog for the patron making the request. Please ask for holds on library materials at the Circulation Desk, 683-7495. To reserve audiovisual equipment, call or visit the Swysgood Audiovisual Office, 683-7163.
Fines
Currently, fines are not assessed on library materials or audiovisual equipment. Lost items will be charged at a cost of replacement for the item with a $10 reprocessing fee. Students with either outstanding loans on materials or equipment, or lost materials or equipment, will have a "hold" placed on the release of grades and transcripts, until the matter is resolved by the patron and the University. If the University is unable to collect fees due, the matter is turned over to a collection agency.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality of Circulation Records: With certain exceptions, library staff are prohibited by law from releasing records or information pertaining to the identity of materials which an individual has checked out, or has use in the library. (Library Records Confidentiality Act, Montana Code, 22-1-1101-1103) Any request for such information must be referred at once to the Library Director. If the Library Director is not available, inquiries will be directed to the Assistant Librarian, the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, or the Chancellor.
Interlibrary Loan
The library has a very active interlibrary loan program. If Carson Library does not own an item, it can be borrowed from another library. You may request interlibrary loan online via the Montana Library Network or by using our Interlibrary Loan Request online forms for audio, book, video, ERIC document, or journal requests. Hardcopy forms for any type of interlibrary loan are also available at the Circulation Desk.
Faculty Interlibrary Loan Research Support Policy
It is a library general rule to support each member of the faculty with up to $50.00 a year toward items for individual research provided through Interlibrary Loan system and supplied by charging libraries. There is no limit to items for faculty research supplied through ILL by non-charging libraries. Exceptions can be made to this policy on a case by case basis but should not exceed $150 for the individual department in one academic year. These totals are dependent upon yearly usage of the service and can change. If a faculty member consistently uses an item in classes, that individual should consider requesting the library purchase the item.
For assistance with Interlibrary Loan contact :
Barbara Vancleave
683-7491
b_vancleave@umwestern.edu
Reserves
The Reserves collection provides supplemental course materials to students. Reserves materials are either located in the collection at the Circulation Desk, or in electronic form on E-Res. To search for and access Course Reserves material, go to the library Online Catalog and select "Course Reserves."
Forms and assistance for placing items on reserve are available at the Circulation Desk, or by contacting:
Denice Rust
406-683-7542
d_rust@umwestern.edu
Library Loan Policy
The Library serves the faculty, staff, and students of UM-Western, in addition to members of the Dillon community and residents of Montana. Borrowing privileges are also extended to visiting rural school students and their families from throughout the region. Out-of-state residents here for campus Elderhostel, geology field camps, and other groups visiting throughout the year are also allowed to borrow. Other libraries from Montana and the nation may borrow from our general circulating collection through interlibrary loan.
Most of the materials and equipment in our collections are catalogued and may be searched via The Montana Public Access Catalog. This Online Catalog provides access to the collections of the eight Affiliated Libraries of the University of Montana, including the Carson Library. Our Online Catalog and databases make our collections available to all patrons 24x7. Our patrons are encouraged to assist us in the development of a library collection that supports the curriculum. Suggestions for our collections may be made using a form available at the Circulation Desk, by submitting an online Ask a Librarian form, or by contacting a librarian. All borrowers must have an ID or circulation card on file to check materials or equipment. Please direct special requests to the library professional staff. General Circulating Collection The general circulating collection includes Fiction, Nonfiction, Paperback, Audiocassette, CD, CD-ROM, DVD, Videorecording, Curriculum, Juvenile, and Montana materials. In addition to the library's own media collection, including the PBS VideoDatabase, it functions as the NASA Teacher Resource Center, Humanities and Social Science Center and the K-12 Educational Media Center for Montana. Reference Collection The reference collection includes resources in print, microform, and electronic formats. All reference material may be used in the library but may not be checked out without permission from professional staff. Copiers are available for patron use. Periodicals Magazines, journals, and newspapers may be used in the library but may not be checked out without permission from professional staff. Photocopies may be made of selected parts of periodicals. Periodicals on microfilm or microfiche may be viewed in the library. Copiers and computers are linked to the microform reader machines. Special Collections The Carson Library is pleased to offer a selection of historical materials in both hard copy and electronic forms. The Esther Stahl Schmittroth Endowment for Bannack and Local History, Montana Women Artists, digitized historical Western publications, and books and periodicals on Montana History may be accessed via the library web site and the Online Catalog, and are available upon request. Audiovisual Hardware and Software The library's audiovisual equipment collection of laptop computers, digital cameras, multimedia production equipment, and other audiovisual equipment are housed in the Swysgood Technology Center. Equipment is available free to UM-W students, faculty, and staff, and to community patrons for a fee. Assistance is provided to help patrons learn how to operate audiovisual equipment.
Textbook Policy
As a general policy, the Carson Library does not collect textbooks used in Western classes nor does it add textbooks in general support of the collection. Due to financial implications, space considerations and research suitability, it would prove impossible to fulfill the demand for textbooks. The rationale for this policy lies within the library’s mission to enrich the curriculum by providing research and supplemental resources. It is the library’s view that the purchase of textbook related materials is part of the student’s cost of an education. Exceptions to this policy may be made if the item in question is considered a “classic” or if the life of the information will outlive the current course offering. The library will also be happy to add a textbook to the collection if the author is a University of Montana-Western faculty member. Exceptions to this policy will be made on a case by case basis. We encourage faculty to contribute a review or extra copy of their textbook to the library reserve area to support students’ access to this type of materials if they wish.
Online Catalog
UMW has joined in a consortium with its sister campuses, the University of Montana-Missoula (Mansfield Library/UM Law Library/College of Technology), Montana Tech in Butte, and the Helena College of Technology. In addition, Saint Patrick Hospital Library is also a member. These eight libraries have launched the Endeavor Voyager Library automation system, with plans to add additional libraries in the future.
Currently, the Montana Public Access Catalog has combined holdings of over 1.5 million volumes and serves 15,000 two-year, four-year, and graduate students, along with 700 plus full-time faculty. This web-based system is a state of the art library automation system that boasts ease of use, is aligned with the current web-based standard to allow for more simple connection to library collections in the world, and will interface with existing Montana University System software. Library instruction is available for one-on-one, small group, or classes. The library staff is happy to tailor presentations to faculty or student requests.
Online Instruction Guides and Tutorials are provided to teach faculty and students how to use the library and online research tools. To set up a library instructional experience, contact:
Library Instruction
Mike Schulz, Librarian
406-683-7492
m_schulz@umwestern.edu
