Policies
The University Libraries is dedicated to providing a safe, professional, and accessible environment for all students, faculty, staff, and guests. The following summarizes the Libraries' policy on service animals in all library facilities, including Mulford.
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- Service animals and service animals-in-training are always welcome in the Libraries, provided they are not disruptive or destructive. The animal must be controlled by the handler at all times.
- Comfort dogs are only permitted for scheduled events such as stress breaks during exam weeks, provided they are not disruptive or destructive. The animal must be controlled by the handler at all times.
- No other animals (emotional support animals, pets, etc.) are permitted at any time.
People with questions about this policy should contact Kurtis Soltman, Assistant Director, Accessibility and Student Disability Services, 419.530.4981, kurtis.soltman@utoledo.edu.
Cell Phones
The Mulford Library is used by many students as a quiet study area. Please set all
cell phones and other mobile devices to silent/vibrate. When making or receiving calls,
please do so in the cell phone zone (on the fifth floor), in a restroom, or outside
of the Library. We reserve the right to ask anyone whose phone conversations are disturbing
other users to leave the Library.
Children
Children under the age of 16 must be supervised and accompanied by an adult at all
times while in the Mulford Library. The Library is open to the public, and as is true
of any public facility, we cannot guarantee an individual's personal safety. If staff
members notice children who are left unattended, University Police will be notified.
Closings: Scheduled and Unscheduled
Scheduled closings and changes in hours (holidays, winter break, exam weeks, etc.)
are advertised on the Library's web page, on Facebook, and on Twitter. Signs will also be posted on the fourth floor of the Library.
Unscheduled closings are rare. In support of the University's commitment to serve the community by providing uninterrupted service during emergencies, the Mulford Library will continue to provide service in all but the most serious weather or security situations. Class cancellation does not necessarily mean that the Library is closed. Factors influencing the decision to close the Library include but are not limited to:
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- University has announced a campus-wide closure (weather, natural disasters, civil unrest, or other serious situations)
- Lucas County in in a Level-Three Snow Emergency
- Threat of a tornado is imminent
- Electrical outage, flooding, or other serious maintenance incident in library or campus buildings
When the decision to close the Library is made, library staff will notify users who are currently in the Library at least 30 minutes prior to the closing. In situations which require immediate evacuation, please follow directions of staff members.
Announcements of unscheduled closings will be posted on Facebook, and on Twitter. If it is possible, signs will also be posted by the entrance door of the Mulford Library Building and/or the library entrance on the fourth floor
Computers (including Laptops) and Printing
UT Students, Faculty, Residents, and Staff
Computers are available on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors. Log in using your UTAD username and password. Laptops, laptop chargers, and headphones are available for check out at the fourth floor service desk.
Printing is available on all three floors. For students, printouts will be deducted from your semester print quota. For staff/faculty, printouts will be deducted from your departmental account. If you have questions or concerns about your print quota, contact your college or department IT staff.
Guests and Visitors
Computers in room 408 may be used by members of the public for education and medical research only. Ask at the service desk to use a computer. Information may be emailed but not printed.
In support of the University's goals of educational excellence and quality patient care, the Mulford Library strives to create and maintain a climate for reflection, research, and study that is benefiting a community of scholarly, healthcare professionals, and patients.
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- Library computers are intended to support healthcare research, education, and patient care only. Visitors and guests may use them for similar purposes. (See access instructions above.)
- Installation of software is prohibited.
- We reserve the right to restrict computer use to University students, faculty, residents and staff members at any time.
Those who do not comply with these policies will be asked to leave the Library. University policy 3364-65-01 Responsible Technology Use
Compliments and Concerns
Compliments and concerns regarding the Mulford Library should be addressed to the
library director. To assist in our investigation of the situation, please include the date, time,
department, and employee's name (if appropriate).
We love to hear positive comments on our services and staff members; they too can be addressed to the director or can be submitted online.
Because we also want to hear how the Library had a positive impact in your education, your research, or your care of patients, we also have an impact form to collect your story!
Confidentiality and Privacy
Your privacy is important to us. It is also protected under state law.
Ohio Revised Code Section 149.432 explicitly protects information contained in library records, including patron records, borrowing records, and usage records. Library staff members are thus prohibited from disclosing such information as:
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- what books someone currently has checked out
- what books someone has checked out in the past
- what materials or resources someone has used in the library or made requests for
- any personally identifiable information, such as names, addresses, e-mails, phone numbers, and ID numbers
Any request for such information from an individual, law enforcement agency, faculty member, department chair, student, lawyer, member of the news media, administrator, etc., will be referred to the Library Director, the Dean of University Libraries, and the University's Office for Legal Affairs.
Copyright
The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the
making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.
Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of the specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not be be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.
Users of copyrighted materials accessible in and through the Library are obligated to adhere to the guidelines regarding fair use for educational institutions. Library users bear personal responsibility for abiding by the copyright laws of the United States when using photocopiers, computers, software applications, reserve material services, or making slides for presentations.
Disruptive Behavior
The Library reserves the right to ask anyone who is disrupting the study atmosphere
of the Library or the work of library users to leave the library. Please report disruptive
behavior to the service desk on the fourth floor.
Donations of Books and Journals
While the Mulford Library appreciates offers of donations to the collection, anyone
wishing to donate must first speak with the University Libraries' Collection Services
department so that the potential donation can be assessed against the needs of the
collection. To facilitate this process, you will be asked for a list of the materials
(including date of publication).
Do not leave boxes or bags of materials at the Library. We reserve the right to discard donations. Copyright laws do not permit the Library to accept donations of current personal subscriptions as substitutes for library-purchased institutional subscriptions.
Please review our complete donations policy before contacting the library about possible donations of books, journals, or other physical items.
Flyers/Advertisements in the Library
Flyers and advertisements may be posted in two locations in the Mulford Library: on
the bulletin board in room 408 and on the kiosk at the top of the main staircase.
Items will remain on the kiosk until the event has occurred or the flyer has become
unsightly. Flyers promoting the services or products of commercial companies will
be removed. We reserve the right to remove any flyer that is not in line with the
academic mission of the University.
Food and Beverages
The University of Toledo Libraries are dedicated to providing a comfortable and clean
environment to support student learning and research. To maintain our collections,
furnishings, and study spaces, we ask that users follow these policies regarding food
consumption:
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- You may enjoy food and drinks with lids in the Mulford Library.
- Take care with food and drink around library materials, computers and other equipment, carpeting, and furniture. Report spills on carpeting or upholstery to the Mulford Library Service Desk on the fourth floor (419.383.4225).
- Properly dispose of all leftovers and trash.
Harassment
In accordance with University policies on harassment, the Mulford Library will not tolerate harassment of library users or library employees.
If you feel you are being harassed, please report the incident immediately to Library Administration (room 417) or to the service desk on the fourth floor.
House Phones
House (red) phones are located on the fourth and fifth floors of the Library, near
the elevators. These phones should only be used to make in-house, medically related
calls. See information about cell phones.
Lost and Found
Items that are left or lost in the Library will be kept at the service desk for a
day, then they will be placed on the free table outside of room 408. Valuables will
be taken to University Police, located in the basement of the Mulford Library.
Noise
Libraries are centers for learning, studying, research, collaboration, and scholarly
exchange. At the Mulford Library, we encourage and welcome all of these activities,
and ask only that you be considerate of your colleagues who may be involved in quiet
study. Group study rooms and conference rooms are available on the fourth and fifth
floors for quiet discussion. If you are in need of a very quiet study space, the silent
study loft is available on the sixth floor south.
Pagers
Please set pagers to silent or vibrate mode while in the Library.
Paging Library Users
The campus public address system is only used by campus security for emergencies.
Due to the size of the Library, we are not able to personally locate individuals in
the Library.
Personal Belongings
Do not leave personal items unattended within the Library. We are not responsible
for lost or stolen items.
Remote Access
Access to OhioLINK and other library resources is governed by memoranda of understanding
and licensing agreements with vendors. In general, remote access (such as from home
and office) is granted to currently enrolled UT students as well as faculty, staff,
and visiting scholars who are actively involved in instruction or research benefiting
the University of Toledo. Remote access will be granted only for the period of time
the individual is enrolled as a student, employed as a faculty or staff member, or
are actively involved in research and/or instruction that benefits the university.
Some users may require access to be granted through specific procedures. These include:
College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and College of Nursing community-based faculty (preceptors). These are health care providers who educate and supervise UT students in clinical settings. Access to library resources is granted through the Office of Faculty Affairs only by permission of the department chair, for the period of time of the volunteer faculty member's appointment.
Emeriti Faculty. Emeriti faculty are retired faculty who have been granted this special title by their departments and deans. Not all retired faculty have emeritus status. Emeriti faculty must request that their chairs complete the request form which affirms the faculty members are actively engaged in education and/or research benefiting the university. Access is granted for a specific time period and must be renewed each July 1.
Visiting scholars. Visiting scholars from other institutions who are in residence at the University of Toledo can request access through their chairs for the period of time they are actively engaged in instruction and/or research at the University of Toledo. chairs must complete the request form. Regardless of the time period for which the scholar is in residence, access will need to be renewed by the chair each July 1.
Walk-in users can access most subscribed resources. Users who are residents of Ohio can also request a free State Library of Ohio card that will permit borrowing privileges for OhioLINK printed materials. To apply for the card, please complete the form here.
The following groups are ineligible for remote access to library resources: retired faculty, retired staff, alumni, and individuals involved in for-profit ventures assisted by the University.
Please direct any questions you may have about accessing the library's resources to the Mulford Library Reference Service.
Room Reservations
Mulford Library conference rooms are available for reservation by departments on campus. Please review specific room details and policies before
making reservations.
Sales
In keeping with our academic, research, and patient care support missions, the Library
may not be used as a place for sales representatives to meet, confer, or sell products.
Smoking and Tobacco Use
Smoking and tobacco use of any kind are prohibited on all University campuses. This
includes electronic cigarettes. See the University Policy 3364-60-01: Smoke-free and Tobacco-free for details.
Study Spaces
Study tables and carrels in the Mulford Library are available on a first-come, first-serve
basis. Group study and conference rooms are available on a first-come, first serve
basis, although study groups have priority over students who are studying alone, including
groups of students are studying independently.
Study spaces cannot be reserved by individuals. They are cleared each day of unattended personal items (see Lost and Found).
If you are in need of a very quiet study space, the silent study loft is available on the sixth floor south.
Suggestions
Suggestions for improving Library services are encouraged. Please use the suggestion
box on the fourth floor by the back elevators, complete our online suggestion form, or email them to the Library Director.