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Policies Regarding Extension of Library Privileges to Non-Whitworth Users

The primary mission of the Whitworth University Library is to serve the students, faculty, and staff of Whitworth University. However, we seek to make the library's resources and services available to persons not affiliated with the university insofar as this does not compromise our primary mission. This general policy reflects our desire to:

• support the intellectual, cultural, and economic vitality of our community and region;
• exercise good stewardship by extending the usefulness of our resources;
• cultivate good will for the university;
• reciprocate for similar benefits extended to Whitworth students, faculty, and staff by other libraries.

The specific policies listed below are designed to serve the general principle stated above. These policies may be revoked or revised, or exceptions may be made to them, at any time and without prior notice, when deemed necessary by the Library Director or the university administration. Specifically, Whitworth University will deny all use of its library resources and services to persons affiliated with any educational institution that unfairly relies on the Whitworth library or other area libraries in lieu of supporting reasonable library facilities of its own. All of the following policies are subject to this qualification.

1. Use of library materials: Anyone is welcome to use library materials within the building, provided they exercise due care and respect. Use of special collections and archive materials requires advance arrangement with appropriate library personnel, and use of certain such materials may be restricted.

2. Database access: Visitors are permitted to use the library's proprietary databases on-site only, and to the extent permitted by license terms.

   Mediated on-line database searches for non-Whitworth individuals or organizations require advance arrangement and are charged at the direct cost of the search plus a service fee of $15.00 (subject to change). Library personnel may limit this service at their discretion.

3. General computer use: Open internet access, email, and general computer use are not available to library visitors. Campus conference registrants or others who have been granted special privileges may, when applicable, obtain guest user log-ins in the computer labs through Instructional Resources.

4. Borrowing privileges are extended free of charge to registered students and faculty of higher education institutions which are members of the Inland Northwest Council of Libraries (INCOL) or the Washington-Idaho Network (WIN), or other institutions with which the library may have reciprocal or other special agreements. Presentation of a current valid ID from the other institution is required. Please see Policies for Guest Borrowers for details.

   Other non-affiliated users must obtain a Library Guest card in order to borrow materials. Fees and fee policies for the Guest Card are set by the Library Director and are published in the Policies for Guest Borrowers.

   Also see the Policies for Guest Borrowers for specific regulations regarding loan periods, renewals, overdue fines, check-out restrictions, etc.

5. Interlibrary loan: We honor interlibrary loan requests from other libraries, following generally accepted ILL practices and protocols. ILL requests to other libraries are made only on behalf of Whitworth students, faculty, and staff. Exceptions to this general policy may be made upon special application and at the Library Director's discretion. Refer to the Library's Interlibrary Loan Policy for special circumstances.

6. Reference services are normally provided to non-university visitors or callers on a non-discriminatory basis. In exceptional circumstances, the staff may give priority to serving Whitworth-affiliated patrons.

7. Instructional services: Requests for library tours or bibliographic instruction workshops for non-Whitworth classes, including K-12, may be accommodated to the best of our ability, subject to availability of personnel and facilities, the priorities for serving Whitworth students and faculty, and our assessment of the appropriateness of the requested instructional activity. Requests should be discussed initially with the Coordinator of Instructional Resources, at least two weeks in advance of the proposed activity.

8. Reservations of study rooms or other library facilities are not available to library guests. Exceptions, made only in rare cases, must be approved by the Library Director.