Christopher Center Library

Art Exhibit Policy

The Christopher Center provides a venue for rotating art exhibits in designated open public spaces on the 2nd floor. Students, faculty, and area artists may submit a request to temporarily exhibit their work by filling out this Art Exhibit Request form. Works of art chosen for these temporary exhibits are lent to the library by the individual artist for a mutually agreed-upon period of time.

The library neither purchases these works nor profits from exhibiting them. While the library will allow the display of contact information for the artist or group, prices for the art work will not be displayed.

Mounting Requirements

Responsibility for the mounting and dismantling of the exhibit is the artist's.

Acceptable Materials:

• Hooks and wires from metal strip
• Picture hangers or small nails
• Removable mounting (Scotch® Removable Mounting Squares)
• Removable tape (blue painter's tape, removable masking tape)

Not Acceptable:

• Screws
• Non-removable tape
• Non-removable mounting squares
• Any material that will leave holes or tear away paint or drywall

Security & Insurance

While the Christopher Center will provide reasonable security for such exhibits, security cannot be guaranteed and insurance cannot be provided to the artist by the library or the university.

Available Exhibition Spaces

• Gallery Wall 1 (hallway to A&S): 63 ft x 8 ft (51 ft x 8 ft within security cameras)
  • 1A: 11'5" x 7'6"
  • 1B: 20' x 7'6"
  • 1C: 4'5" x 7'6"
  • 1D: 13' x 7'6"
• Gallery Wall 2 (short connecting hallway): 27' x 7'6"

Authorized Users: Electronic Resources

The Christopher Center Library's authorized users include the following:

• Valparaiso University students, faculty, and staff
• Visiting scholars
• Walk-in users

Database use must be for educational, scholarly, or personal purposes. For-profit use of these resources is prohibited. All users are required to agree to and work within VU's Acceptable, Collegial, and Unacceptable Use for computing resources.

Circulation Policies

The Christopher Center Library offers different lending policies based on patron type. Please review the appropriate policy for your status:

Collections Policy (General)

The Library subscribes to the principles of the Library Bill of Rights and the Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries, including official interpretations of these statements relating to academic libraries and their collections.

Collection Priorities

The Library strives to acquire, retain, or otherwise provide access to information resources that:

• Enable students and faculty to engage with the University curriculum and related campus activities, beyond required textbooks
• Are foundational to our degree programs as a whole
• Relate to the Lutheran Church and the Reformation
• Selectively relate to our geographic region

We may remove from our collection resources that have outlived their usefulness.

More specific policies relating to particular components of the library collection or collection building practices will be developed as needed, and listed below.

Textbook Purchasing Policy

Students are expected to purchase or rent their own copies of assigned textbooks. The library will not purchase assigned textbooks for the library collection unless the work has other merit for the collection. There are two primary reasons for this policy:

• Our budget cannot support course textbook purchases across all disciplines.
• We cannot guarantee that students will have equal access to textbooks in the collection.

Library faculty will make the final determination of merit for the collection. In lieu of the library purchasing assigned textbooks, teaching faculty may put personal copies of assigned textbooks on course reserve. Faculty who are concerned about burdening their students with the high cost of textbooks should review the suggestions on the Faculty LibGuide.

Exam Proctoring

Due to limited resources and staffing, and in general accordance with the University's Honor Code, The Christopher Center Library does not offer exam proctoring services for faculty or students.

Group Study Rooms

General Guidelines

• Group study room areas are available for groups of two to 14 people, for the purpose of serious group study, on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Valparaiso University students have priority use of the group study areas. Non-VU students may use group study areas, if available, but will be asked to vacate if areas are needed by VU students.
• Reservations are not accepted for the group study areas. Groups study areas can be used for no more than two hours at a time.
• The areas must be vacated 15 minutes prior to closing.

Available Spaces

Group study areas include:

• Rooms located on the west side of 3rd and 4th floors of the Christopher Center; these are for differently-sized groups who need study or collaboration space.
• Media viewing options for groups are available on the 3rd and 4th floors with portable viewing equipment. If you have questions, please ask a Circulation Manager.

Room Use Rules

• Individuals occupying group study areas may be asked to vacate them if the area is needed for group use.
• Covering the inside windows is prohibited. This includes covering windows with paper or other material, or putting objects, such as easels or whiteboards, in front of windows/doors.
• Unattended items will be removed by Circulations Managers only. To report unattended items, call (219) 464-5500.

Guest Policies

Community members are welcome in our library! The following policies apply to our guest patrons:

Computer Access

• Guests requesting use of a library computer must first complete a Guest Patron Computer Access form.
• Guests will then be logged into one of the computers on the second floor at the north end.
• The library provides access (limited to computers on the second floor) to the internet and all databases except SciFinder. Database use must be for educational, scholarly, research, or personal use. For-profit use of these resources is prohibited. For assistance with research, see our Research Guide or inquire at the Circulation Desk.
• Students and faculty performing research and class work have priority for computer use. As a depository of government publications, library staff will make accommodation for users needing access to online US government publications. Others may be asked to relinquish their computers.

Acceptable Use

• We reserve the right to refuse service to users who abuse our policies, services, or staff.
• Guests must follow VU's Acceptable, Collegial, and Unacceptable Use Policy. Viewing of pornography is prohibited.

Printing & Borrowing

• Printouts (black and white) cost 5 cents each.
• If you are interested in checking out books, please see our Affiliated Borrower's Lending Policy.

Library User Rights & Responsibilities

The information resources of the Christopher Center for Library; whether electronic, print, or non-print; are available to all VU students, faculty, and staff. Access to library resources will not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. Likewise, library services, including reference assistance, instruction, and borrowing privileges, are also available to all VU-affiliated users.

In order for the library to properly fulfill its mission and to provide, as well as protect, information resources and services, these guidelines defining the rights and responsibilities of all library users have been established. For guidelines on the use of computing resources in the library, consult the VU's Acceptable, Collegial, and Unacceptable Use Policy.

All Christopher Center Library users are entitled to:

• Access to library resources and services library materials that are properly organized and in good physical condition
• Courteous, informed assistance from all library employees
• A research and study environment
• A clean, functioning facility

All Christopher Center Library users have the obligation to support accessibility of library resources by:

• Properly checking out materials
• Returning materials by the due date
• Responding promptly to recall requests
• Observing posted copyright regulations

Make the best use of the library by:

• Participating in orientation and instruction sessions offered in individual courses.
• Gaining and applying skills in information seeking to library research projects.
• Devoting sufficient time to the information gathering portion of library research projects.
• Interacting courteously with other users and library staff.
• Maintaining an environment conducive to research and study.
• Maintaining a clean, pest-free facility by refraining from leaving food and beverage debris in the library. Tobacco use in not permitted anywhere on campus.
• Preserving a functioning facility by putting equipment and furnishings to their proper use.
• Preserving information resources by keeping them clean, unmarked, and intact.

Other policies include:

• The library will require valid identification for access to certain materials and services.
• All Library users are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which supports these rights for themselves and others. Users who do not comply with these guidelines may be asked to leave the building.

Building Regulations

The Christopher Center Library operates according to the following building regulations to assure the safety and security of all library users:

• Tobacco use is prohibited.
• Excessive noise or other disruptive behavior that precludes an atmosphere for research and study is not permitted, including cell phone use.
• Marking in, or damage to, library resources is prohibited.
• Patrons are required to wear appropriate clothing while using the Christopher Center, including shirts and shoes.
• Small children must be under the immediate supervision of an adult.
• Public displays of affection are not permitted.
• Animals are not allowed in the building, with the exception of service animals assisting persons with disabilities.
• Bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, or skates are not permitted in the building or on the library terrace, stairs, or ramp.
• Earphone-equipped radios/recorders are allowed as long as the volume is kept at a level that will not disturb others.
• Soliciting, petitioning, selling, or displaying items for sale is prohibited. Information from student groups and other external bodies is not allowed in the library without permission from Library Administration.
• No movement of, or alteration to, library furnishings and fixtures is allowed, other than local movement of chairs and tables.
• White boards and easels should not be used to obstruct views into rooms or to create completely enclosed spaces.
• Library users must be prepared to exit the building promptly when the facility is cleared by library staff.
• All library users must enter and leave the building by the Main (North- 2nd floor) or East (1st floor) entrances/exits only, other than in a public emergency. The Christopher Center Library has installed theft detection equipment but is still authorized to perform a manual exit inspection for library materials if advisable.
• During emergency evacuation of the building, Library users must follow the directions of the library staff.
• Individual units within the Christopher Center Library may have established more specific policies for the use of specialized collections.

Noise Policy

The Christopher Center is a place to read, study, and conduct research—as well as a place for collaboration, teaching, and learning.

Collaborative Spaces (1st & 2nd Floors)

The 1st and 2nd floors of the Christopher Center are not quiet areas; these are areas where business is transacted, research consultation is done, and library users work in groups.

Quiet Study Areas (3rd & 4th Floors)

The 3rd and 4th floors of the Christopher Center are quiet study areas. Please be considerate of others using the library to read, study, and conduct research. If your work requires collaboration—or you are just talking with friends—please use the collaboration rooms on the west side of the building or gather on the 1st or 2nd floor.

Reserving Rooms in the Christopher Center

Several specialized rooms in the Christopher Center are available for reservation. Please review the policies and reservation procedures for each space:

Room Use Policies for Classrooms 261 A & B

For Valpo faculty and staff only

Reservations

Training Rooms 261-A and 261-B are the primary venue in which the Christopher Center librarians offer instruction in the use of library resources and the Information Technology staff offer training in the use of technology. No courses will be scheduled in the rooms on a regular, recurring basis because requests for instruction and training are received from faculty and staff throughout the semester.

Valpo faculty or staff may ask to reserve one of these classrooms up to three times per semester, per class. Those wanting to use either classroom more than three times per semester may request to do so. Such use is on a first-come basis and is subject to availability.

Reservation Directions for CLR 261 A & B

Classroom Use

Unlike other labs on campus, these rooms are locked when not in use. They are not attended by student consultants. It is your responsibility to make sure all equipment (including all student workstations) is turned off when you're done with the room. Failure to do so will result in loss of room use privileges.

There must always be a VU faculty or staff person in the room. Even if the use is by a student group for a project, the faculty advisor must be present during the entire session. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the person in charge (VU faculty or staff) to check-out the appropriate room key from the Circulation Desk, power up the needed equipment, power down the used equipment when finished, lock the room, and return the key to the Circulation Desk.

If you have any questions about room use, please email the IT Help Desk to request a training session on classroom use before then. If you have questions day of, ask for assistance from the Help Desk or call from the room phone: x5678.

It is also your responsibility to make sure the room remains clean and orderly. If there is an equipment malfunction or a spill of some kind, please inform the Circulation Desk immediately.

Sign-in Sheets (for attendance purposes)

Library employees have a professional obligation to protect "each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality." (Association of College and Research Libraries Standards for Libraries in Higher Education.) The use of public sign-up sheets to monitor library use violates this professional library standard. Therefore, the Christopher Center Library does not participate in the use of such sign-in sheets.

Solicitation

Soliciting, petitioning, selling, or displaying items for sale is prohibited. Information from student groups and other external bodies is not allowed in the library without permission from Library Administration.

ValpoScholar Content Submission

ValpoScholar is Valparaiso University's institutional repository for scholarly and creative works. For detailed information about content submission policies and guidelines, please review the official documentation:

View ValpoScholar Policies & Guidelines (PDF)