Library policy and regulations

We will:

• Provide a range of welcoming, comfortable and accessible study spaces.
• Provide high quality resources to meet your study needs and make access to these as easy as possible.
• Provide helpful and well trained staff to help you find what you need.
• Teach you the skills you need to use the library resources effectively.
• Ensure that your needs are our primary focus when considering changes to library services and always value your feedback.

We ask that you:

• Make the most of the library and its resources by attending training sessions and asking staff if you need any help.
• Let us know what we are doing right and what we could do better.
• Read and follow the Library Code of Conduct and Library Regulations.

• Books and other library materials (apart from journals and items designated for reference use only) may be borrowed from the Library by registered borrowers.
• A University smartcard or other borrower/Library card may only be used by the person named on the card.
• Anyone borrowing materials from the Library is responsible for their care and safe return on or before the date due. Fines are charged when materials are returned late.
• Borrowers are personally responsible for all materials borrowed on their cards and will be required to pay the cost of replacement or repair of material which is lost, damaged or not returned.
• The unauthorized removal of library materials will be treated as theft.
• Library materials must not be mutilated nor library equipment misused.
• Users must not bring hot food or alcoholic drinks into the Library, nor by their conduct disturb others. [Note: cold snacks and lidded drinks are permitted but please be considerate of those around you and avoid smelly, noisy or messy food or drinks.]
• Library users must produce their University smartcard or borrower/Library card for examination on request by library and security staff.
• The University cannot accept responsibility for any damage to or theft of library users' property.
• Contravention of these regulations may result in suspension from further use of the Library, and in disciplinary action.

Note: Users of the Library are subject to the University Regulations, of which the Library Regulations are a part.

To provide an enjoyable and pleasant study environment, we request that all Library users:

• Treat other Library users and Library staff with courtesy and respect.
• Allow others to work undisturbed, respecting designated silent and quiet areas.
• Do not bring hot food or alcoholic drinks into the Library (cold snacks and lidded drinks are permitted but please be considerate to those around you and avoid smelly, noisy or messy food or drinks).
• Leave study spaces tidy, and dispose of litter using appropriate bins.
• Do not reserve study spaces or networked pcs.
• Do not leave personal property unattended.
• Produce their University smartcard or borrower/Library card for examination on request by Library and Security staff; visitors must produce ID on demand.
• Display the contents of bags to Library and Security staff.
• Take responsibility for their own health and safety when in the Library and not endanger the safety of others with the use of trailing cables to personal equipment.
• Leave the Library when fire alarms sound.

Oxford Brookes graduates can ...

...Confidently and competently analyse a personal, academic or professional information need

• Identify research needs by establishing gaps in their knowledge.
• Investigate likely sources of appropriate information available to them.
• Make informed decisions about the type and level of information needed.
• Recognise the need to use varied and good quality information.

...Devise effective strategies and choose appropriate tools for locating information

• Understand how different types of search tools work; e.g. library catalogues, specialist databases, Web search engines.
• Search systematically across a range of resources.
• Construct effective searches by identifying and combining appropriate keywords.
• Learn how to use specific search tools e.g. by reading help pages, manuals or search guides, and consulting appropriate professionals.
• Support ongoing research and professional needs by using current awareness services.
• Recognise and deal with the problems of too much or too little information.

...Evaluate information obtained and assess its appropriateness for their needs

• Compare and critically assess the authority, currency, detail, and relevancy of information.
• Recognise bias in information, especially from freely available web sources

...Integrate information obtained into their own personal, academic or professional understanding and communicate it effectively and ethically

• Take appropriate notes, summarise and adapt information for a new audience.
• Synthesise information from different sources to present a reasoned argument.
• Create new information through integrating their own knowledge and understanding with prior reading and research.
• Understand academic and professional ethics eg. appropriate acknowledgement of sources, correct citation practices, and avoidance of plagiarism.
• Continue professional development by keeping up to date, sharing and debating information through appropriate communication tools.

Academic Liaison Librarians can ...

• Underpin students’ acquisition of these Graduate Attributes throughout their time at Brookes, as the University’s professional experts in developing information literacy.
• Work with programme teams in Faculties and individual courses, for example through the Academic Progression Initiative and Course Design Intensives, to embed progressive development of the Information Literacy Graduate Attributes throughout the student’s experience at Oxford Brookes, ensuring the attributes are visible and clearly articulated throughout programmes.
• Teach students the skills and use of appropriate information tools needed to develop their information literacy, at all levels from induction of first-year undergraduates (for example: basic search facilities and scholarly tools of the trade, different published formats of information, interpreting reading lists), through to advanced research skills for Level 6 and Level 7 work (for example: advanced database searching, interpreting systematic reviews, current awareness tools, using reference management software).
• Work with academic staff and learning technologists to create courses, tutorials and learning objects in the VLE/RADAR which students can access either as part of modules or independently to develop various information literacy skills.
• Provide individual and personalised support for students and researchers at all levels – face-to-face, by phone and email – in developing their information literacy throughout their time at Oxford Brookes.

The purpose of this policy is to inform Library users of the principles upon which collection development and collection management decisions are based.

See our Collection Management Policy (Google Doc).

The Library welcomes donations, but as we have limited space they must meet the same standard as our selection criteria for new stock (in line with the University’s taught courses and research priorities and our Special Collections). We have a donation form for up to 5 items. Larger donations for general Library stock must first be cleared with the relevant Academic Liaison Librarian. Donations that do not meet our selection criteria, or are an unnecessary duplication of existing stock, may be disposed of as the Library sees fit, including by re-sale with proceeds going to the Library. If you are interested in donating a special collection, please see our Special Collections collections management policy.

This policy from the Directorate of Learning Resources will be updated in line with the Information Commissioner’s Office guidelines and advice from the Information Management team at Oxford Brookes University

The Directorate of Learning Resources (LR) will be the Data Controller of any personal data that you supply. This means that they will make the decisions on how your data is used and for what reasons. You can contact the Director of Learning Resources (hcurtis@brookes.ac.uk) or OBU’s Information Management Team email info.sec@brookes.ac.uk.

Why do we need your data?

If you are a current student or member of staff, the Learning Resources Directorate needs your data in order to perform many of its established library operations, including issuing, reserving and ordering books and other printed and online resources.

If you are a registered external borrower, the Learning Resources Directorate needs your data in order to perform many of its established library operations, including issuing and reserving books.

If you are an external user of our services, we need to keep records for matters relating to health and safety (onsite visitors) and statistical purposes.

OBU's legal basis for collecting this data is:

Your contract with the university as a student or member of staff.

If you are visiting as part of the SCONUL scheme, the legal basis is that of the contract agreed between its members.

For registered external borrowers, the basis is your consent on your registration form.

For external visitors to our Special Collections area, the basis is your consent to providing it to us.

What types of personal data will Oxford Brookes University use?

LR will use the following types of personal data:

• Name, address, email address, contact number, student/staff ID number, disability status.
• The faculty or directorate you are linked to as either a student or current member of staff at the university.

Who will LR share your data with?

OCLC: the provider of our library services platform and PSI IPV Ltd (providers of cybersecurity services)

Will you transfer my data outside of the EEA?

OCLC have their headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, USA. Any international transactions are compliant with data processing legislation.

What rights do I have regarding my personal data that OBU holds?

• You have the right to be informed
• You have the right of access to your data
• You have the right to correct data if it is wrong
• You have the right to ask for your data to be deleted
• You have the right to restrict use of the data we hold
• You have the right to data portability
• The right to object to OBU using your data
• You have rights in relation to using your data automated decision making and profiling.

Where did LR source my data from?

As a student, your data is provided to us by the university’s student registration system or, if a member of staff, by its HR system.

If you are visiting the university from another UK academic institution, your data will have been obtained from your parent institution.

If you are a registered external borrower, your data will be as provided by you on your registration form.

Are there any consequences of not providing the requested data?

LR will not be able to provide you with a comprehensive library service if we are not in receipt of the requested data.

Will there be any automated decision making using my data?

No.

How long will you keep your data?

If you have outstanding fines against your borrower record, the data in relation to this is currently held indefinitely. Otherwise, it will be removed after a period of six years.

Who can I contact if I have concerns?

You can contact LR’s senior management team. Alternatively, the University’s Information Management contact details are:

Email: info.sec@brookes.ac.uk