Library Policies

A detailed set of guidelines have been establish to provide the framework for a collection that reflects present needs and anticipates those of the future, to establish provision of collection development services, and to acknowledge the need to implement the goals in a cost-effective manner.

The privilege and responsibility for suggestions for the selection of all instructional materials for purchase belongs to every member of the college staff and faculty. Representatives of each faculty serve as liaisons to the library. Each representative is expected to solicit book requests from members of the faculty and forward the requests to the Collection Development Librarian.

It is the responsibility of the Collection Development Librarian to place orders for appropriate requests and to supplement those orders in order to maintain a balanced collection. The library cannot reimburse MC faculty and staff for purchase of library materials except by prior arrangement with the Acquisitions Librarian. Students may make acquisition recommendations through their advisors

MC Library users who wish to know the details of the Acquisitions Policy may request a copy of it from the Library Director.

This policy governs the circulation of materials of Mission College Library and attempts to balance three goals: basic fairness to all borrowers, facilitation of research, and efficient use of library resources, including staff time. All users are responsible for knowing and following the rules stated in this circulation policy. Users fined or suspended under these rules may not use ignorance of the rules as the basis for an appeal.

Who can USE the library?

All faculty, staff, and students of Mission College have the right to use the library facilities and resources. However, MC users must have a valid ID to enjoy borrowing privileges. Persons not affiliated with MC do not have borrowing privileges, but they are welcomed to use the resources in the library only.

Application for Library ID Card

An official ID bearing the College President’s signature will be issued to all new students by the Registrar’s office. This ID can be used to borrow library materials. Please collect your ID from the Circulation Supervisor’s office in the library. Report to the Director of Admissions & Registrar immediately if you have lost your ID.

Checking Out Materials

All Library materials must be checked out at the Circulation Desk. Unless designated “Reference Only”, all materials circulate. Please, present your library ID card when borrowing library materials. The Circulation Desk staff have the right to stop you from borrowing any library materials without a valid ID card. Items are due on the last date stamped on the date due slip in the back of the book.

Renewals

Library materials can be renewed once online by borrowers, or manually at the circulation desk. Books should be renewed on or before the due date to avoid any fine charges. Books cannot be renewed by phone or email messages.

Borrowing Limits

Borrowing Periods

Fine Per Library Material

Overdue Fines

The library does not normally send out overdue notices to users. It is the users’ responsibility to know the due date and to return the books to the library before they are overdue. However, the teaching faculty will be reminded to return their books to the library by email . Teaching faculty will also be exempted from paying overdue fines.

Non-Circulating Materials

The following items do not circulate:

• Original CDs & DVDs
• Current Journals and Newspapers
• Reference Materials

Recall Requests

Teaching faculty can request the librarian to recall any book any time for “Reserve Use”. Users have 3 days to return a recalled item. Privileges will be blocked if the recalled item is not returned, and will be lifted once the overdue recalled item is returned.

Reservation Requests

A reservation request may be placed only on items which are checked out. This can be done online through the Patron option on OPAC. A reservation request allows the requestor to be “next on line” to check out the book. The requestor will be notified when a requested book is returned to the library. Books are held for 5 days from the notification date at the Circulation Desk. Books not claimed within 5 days are returned to the stacks or are made available to the next requestor.

The Media Center has a number of policy statements in place that govern the operation of its services, such as the following:

• Desktop Publishing
• EMC Photocopy Charges
• Penalties
• Rental Arrangement
• Transfer/Borrowing/Lending
• Use of Equipment and Facilities

Please contact  for more information. Thank you.

All patrons are responsible for knowing and following the rules stated on this screen. Patrons fined or suspended under these rules may not use their ignorance of the rules as the basis for an appeal.

• Library users are responsible for all materials charged to their cards.
• Library users must return all borrowed materials to the library on or before the due date.
• Library users are responsible for notifying the library immediately if their cards are lost or stolen.
• Library users will have to pay for the cost of replacing a library card.
• A quiet atmosphere must be maintained for those who want to study. Failure to cooperate may result in the loss of library privileges.
• Library users are required to dress appropriately.
• Carry bags should not be taken into the library. Students are encouraged to sign up for lockers on a daily / semester basis.
• As you leave the library, you may be required to present your belongings for checkout verification at the checkpoint. – Seats in the library may not be reserved. Any books, files, or other personal belongings left on the study tables may be removed by the staff to make room for other readers.
• No food or drinks are permitted in the library.
• Use of cellular phones is not permitted anywhere in the library.
• Library stationery materials are for the exclusive use of the library staff and will not be supplied to anyone else.

This room is intended for group learning activities and can be reserved at the reference desk on the ground floor by filling in a form. The following rules apply for the Group Discussion Room:

1. This facility is for students and teachers of Mission College only.
2. The room is available for discussion of class assignments, preparation for presentations and other related topics or courses taken by the students during the semester.
3. The room can be reserved for one hour only by not less than 4 and not more than 6 people at a time. For additional time, the group leader should request it from the reference librarian.

To request for ILL or DDS, Asia-Pacific International University’s researchers should see the librarian at the Reference Desk. They can also send an email to and request for assistance to obtain resources from other libraries. The following details must be supplied to the librarian:

1. Name of researcher ………………………………………………
2. Department/Faculty ………………………………..……….……
3. YES, I am willing to pay for the materials and services …….….
4. Date/Materials needed ……………………………………….…

The librarian requires additional information on the following:
For Book Requests:

1. Author(s) of the book ……………………………………………
2. Title(s) of the book …………………………………………..….
3. Place of publication …………………………………………….
4. Publisher ………………………………………………………..
5. Year of Publication ……………………………………………..

For Article Requests:

1. Author(s) of the article …………………………….……………
2. Title of the article ………………………………………………
3. Source (Name of Journal) ………………………………………
4. Volume, Issue # and date/year of publication ………………….
5. Page numbers …………………………………………………..

Currently, Asia-Pacific International University library has contact with the following libraries and institutions:

1. General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists Archives & Statistics.
2. Association of Christian Universities and Colleges of Asia (ACUCA)
3. James White Library, Andrews University.
4. Avondale College Library
5. Florida Hospital College of Health Science Library
6. The British Library
7. James Cook University Libraries
8. The Library of Congress
9. National University of Singapore Libraries
10. University of Malaya Libraries
11. University of Queensland Libraries
12. Asian Institute of Technology Libraries
13. Chulalongkorn University Libraries
14. Mahidol University Libraries
15. National Library of Thailand

The computers in the library are for accessing information, and not as a communication medium. Email is limited to 20 minutes only. It is against the library policy to use any of the library computers for any unauthorized purpose such as the following:

The following guidelines are used in regulating the photocopying service provided in the library:

The Reference Service Department of Mission College Library provides patrons with free access to informational, and educational resources. The reference staff endeavors to respond to each request promptly, courteously and accurately. Our challenge is to provide a consistent pattern of service excellence, to convey trust and competence, to provide training and access to new information technologies and to create an environment that invites our patrons to use and enjoy our facilities and resources.

Codes of Ethics / Performance
Reference Service staff subscribe to the Librarians’ Code of Ethics.

General Guidelines
Assisting users [faculty and students] is a primary purpose of MC Library. A good reference service attitude includes approachability, awareness, sensitivity, courtesy, and a positive frame of mind.

Priorities of Service
All users are to be treated equally with attention and care. However, requests from individuals acting in their official capacity [President of the college, Vice-Presidents, and Deans, certain government staff] are priority requests.

Reference Interview
Reference interview techniques will be used at every available opportunity. More extensive questioning will often be necessary to get into the specific need of the user.

Verification of Answers
In order to provide accurate and authoritative information, staff members should always cite the source of the information given.

Reference Service Guidelines Attitude
Staff approachability should be apparent so that the user feels comfortable in seeking assistance. Demeanor should indicate earnest, cheerful, business-like eandeavor.

Responsibility for Providing Reference Services
The accountability for reference and information service resides at the Reference Desk. To ensure quality service, only staff trained in information services and resources should provide assistance at the Reference Desk.

Other Work at the Reference Desk
Work performed at the Reference Desk should be work-related in nature to reference and information retrieval. Using desk time for purely personal interests is prohibited.

Personal and Business Calls at the Reference Desk
Personal telephone call should not be placed at the Reference Desk. Incoming personal calls should be kept very brief, if they cannot be totally avoided.

Time Spent with User
Ten minutes is a reasonable amount of time to spend with one client. Three to five minutes is appropriate when others are waiting. Additional time may be spent with users who have special difficulties in using library resources.

Answering Complex Questions
The librarian may need at least between half an hour to an hour to search the library resources for the information asked, and will then call the inquirer.

Instructions Vs Answering Questions
It is the librarian’s responsibility to give users the choice of either having the information found for them by library staff, or learning how to find it for themselves. For questions requiring extensive or repeated use of sources, it may be advisable to instruct the user and then check back with them. Patrons are encouraged to return to the librarian if further assistance is needed.

Directing Vs Accompanying to the Shelf
Whenever possible, staff should accompany users to the stacks when location directions are requested or given. If users must be directed to the shelves, they should be encouraged to return to the Reference Desk for additional help if it is needed.

Misinformation
When overhearing a fellow staff member give misinformation, one can tactfully offer better or newer information. Users should not leave the library with incorrect information, nor should staff ever embarrass one another. Some suggested phrases are:
i.] “We have some new information on that………”
ii.] “I was just working on that and found……..”

Telephone References
Telephone reference service is usually limited to supplying information that is readily available. If the question cannot be answered within 3-5 minutes, write down his name, address and telephone numbers on the Inquirer Form, not forgetting the inquirer’s questions. Call the inquirer as soon as the answers are available.

Reference Service Limits
When an inquirer has a list of titles to be checked the librarian should take the decision to teach him the basic skills of searching so that he could go on his own, and advise him to come back to the reference desk if he has further questions. Librarians are available to advise, direct and aid in such work as information retrieval, but not to do the work.

Circulation of Reference Materials
Reference materials do not circulate. Exceptions should only be made on rare occasions when there are extenuating circumstances. Permission from the Library Director is required.

Complaints about Library Materials, Staff & Services
Complaints received at the Reference Desk always deserve careful consideration. The person making the complaint should be referred immediately to the Library Director.

Document Delivery Services
Similar to DDS that is provided by the library at the moment is to help inquirer retrieve information from the Internet and deliver it by email attachment.

General Weeding Criteria
Weeding, sometimes referred as de-selection, is a continuous process, and is regularly conducted in subject disciplines where library materials become out-of-date or in which archiving is not practiced. The following criteria are used for de-selection of materials not covered by specific policies:

Nature of programs supported
Materials supporting undergraduate program should be evaluated every five years by the assigned liaison librarian in consultation with departmental faculty. Materials supporting graduate programs should also be evaluated regularly, but the research needs of students and faculty should be considered before removing materials.

Physical condition of the items

Multiple copies that are no longer in demand

Low Usage

Materials in support of discontinued programs

Mistakes in selection

Outdated information or superseded knowledge
The library will consider for weeding technical books with copyright dates that go back the following number of years, and other books as in the following table: