Services and Policies

Interlibrary Loan

Library Instruction

Acquisitions Service

The Library purchases materials in accordance with its mission. Faculty members placing orders should submit the request in writing to the Acquisitions Librarian. The request should be written on a request card provided by the Library and should include the following: Title, Author, ISBN, Cost, and Year of Publication. The card must be signed by the faculty member's Dean for the order to be processed.

The Library accepts and appreciates donations of materials related to the University's history or curriculum. The materials should be in good condition (bindings intact, no underlining or highlighting) and should not be duplicates of items already in the collection. The Library reserves the right to dispose of materials as appropriate.  Call the Acquisitions Librarian at 610-361-5316 for more information.

Archives

The University Archives are housed on the third floor of the Library and include the records of the internationally acclaimed nurse theoretician Dr. Betty Neuman and the Neuman Systems Model Information Center. Call the Archivist at 610-361-5206 for more information.

For genealogists, Delaware County's Tax Assessment Dockets from 1791 to 1903 are housed in the Archives.

Circulation

Loan Periods and Fines
Patrons must have a current Neumann ID card or library card to check out items. Books circulate for 28 days. Videos circulate 7 days. Compact discs circulate 3 days. Items may be renewed twice. Overdue fines are 10 cents per day per item. Call the Circulation Desk at 610-558-5545 for more information. Note: All items circulate to faculty members till the end of the semester.

Late Fees and Lost Book Charges
Overdue library items are charged at a rate of $0.10 per day. Lost items are assessed at their replacement value or $35.00 depending on the age of the item. When library materials are overdue for more than four (4) weeks, a library hold is placed on the student's account in the administrative accounting system (Datatel). When the books are returned and the fines paid, the hold is removed. At the end of each semester, all fines over $1.00 are posted to the student's account in Datatel.

Library Privileges for Alumni and Visitors
Community members and Neumann University alumni can obtain borrowing privileges by presenting current ID such as a valid driver's license at the Circulation Desk. Call the Circulation Desk at 610-558-5545 for more information.

Collection Development Policy

The Library purchases materials in accordance with its mission.

Computers

There are 24 computers available in the Reference area for Neumann University students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The computers have access to the World Wide Web, online databases, and Microsoft Office. Computing support provided by Information Technology & Resources.

All users of Library computers are expected to comply with the University's Declaration of Computing and Information Rights and Responsibilities.

Events

.....Art Exhibits

The Library hosts exhibits by emerging artists from the surrounding area. The exhibits typically run for one month and are in congruence with the mission of Neumann University. For a schedule of upcoming art exhibits or for information regarding exhibit proposals, please contact the Office of Cultural Programming by calling 610-558-5626 or by emailing dimarinn@neumann.edu.

.....Bock Book Awards

Sponsored by the Library and the Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies. See the Bock Book Award page for more details.

.....Reading Series

The Library hosts literary readings by faculty, staff, students, and local writers. See the University Calendar of Events for dates and times. For more information call the Reference Librarian at 610-558-5541 or email library@neumann.edu.

Interlibrary Loan

Books and journal articles that are not part of the Neumann University Library holdings are available to Neumann University students, faculty, and staff through the Interlibrary Loan service. Forms are available at the Circulation Desk in the Library. Please check Francis (the Library catalog) and read the Interlibrary Loan Policy before making a request. Call the Interlibrary Loan Desk at 610-361-5216 for more information.

Library Instruction

The Library offers students and faculty basic classes, such as how to use the library, how to use databases, or how to focus research. With a few weeks' notice, we can also offer classes geared specifically to students' research. Classes are usually taught at the computers near the Reference Desk in the Library. We can also come to a classroom to give brief talks and hand out materials. Arrangements may be made by calling the Reference Librarian at 610-558-5541 or by emailing library@neumann.edu. See also Information Literacy.

Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies

Housed on the second floor of the Library. See the Institute web page for more information.

Reference

Librarians are available to assist students, faculty, and visitors to the library with any research. Do not hesitate to ask. We can answer questions on how to format papers, how to use specific databases, search engines, or reference tools, how to focus your research, how to track down obscure citations, and much more. A librarian is usually available any time the library is open (except on Sundays and after 8 p.m.). Questions may be emailed to library@neumann.edu.

Reserves

Faculty may place books and audiovisual materials on reserve in the Library for their students to use. The items may be instructors' personal copies of an item or the Library's copy.

Electronic Reserves provide access to reserve items via the Internet. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and allows both on- and off-campus access to electronic reserve items.

Faculty should review the Faculty Reserves Policy and Electronic Reserves Policy before placing items on traditional Reserves or Electronic Reserves. Call the Reserves Desk at 610-361-5216 for more information.

.....Student Reserves Policy

1. Access to reserves materials will be denied to anyone without a valid student ID (with barcode affixed to back). No exceptions!

2. Materials on reserve are for in Library use only, unless otherwise noted. Reserve materials are placed by the faculty, to allow equal access by students enrolled in their classes.

3. Photocopies may be copied for personal use.

4. Failure to return reserve materials will result in a fine of $3.00 per day per item.

For more information call the Reserves Desk at 610-361-5216.