Services & Policies

Please note that some services and policies may be subject to change, particularly in response to Covid-19 measures. Visit the Library Home Page to view updates or contact the Library any time by calling 610-558-5545 or via e-mail at library@neumann.edu.

The Neumann University Library makes a concerted effort to develop a balanced and substantial collection that reflects the Catholic Franciscan mission and identity of the University, supports the curriculum, and represents best current practices. The collection is developed to meet the academic information and research needs of Neumann University students, faculty and staff, with the primary focus on students’ information and research needs as a foundation for lifelong learning. The Library Collection Development Policy can be viewed in its entirety in the Academic Administration Policy and Procedure Manual, number LB 1.00 under the subheading “Library.”

As part of maintaining a vital collection, the library welcomes title recommendations from Faculty, Administration, and Staff. Title recommendations can be made using our Acquisitions Form (Faculty, Administration, and Staff use only).

In pursuit of the university mission and vision, the Library is committed to free and open inquiry in matters concerning the advancement of knowledge. The Library acquires and provides access to information resources to support a diverse range of academic curriculum, programs and areas of inquiry, and encourages intellectual discovery and critical information consumption by our students, staff, and faculty.

 

The Library acknowledges that in providing access to a wide variety of information resources—both those which are or have been commercially available and those which are collected as part of the historical record of the university and its connected communities—there are ideas, language, and events described and used that some library patrons may experience as disturbing or hurtful: the privileging of certain identities and perspectives in publishing, scholarship, and historical records has created an academic and archival corpus that may marginalize or oppress anyone who does not identify or conform with those historically hegemonic identities and ideologies.

 

The Library does not advocate for, nor endorse, any specific ideas or pieces of information for which we provide access to, and we will not exclude materials relevant to academic inquiry because of the nature of their content, origins, or the identity, background, or affiliations of the author(s). The Library endorses and adheres to the principles of intellectual freedom outlined in the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read statements. The Library supports the academic freedom of our community students, staff, by ensuring that different perspectives are represented in the collections and further supports the critical consumption of information with a firm commitment to Information Literacy.

 

For more information about this, please refer to the Library Collection Development Policy.

The Library accepts and appreciates donations of good condition (bindings intact, no underlining or highlighting) materials related to the University's history or curriculum, as identified by Library staff in accordance with the Library Collection Development Policy. Donated items become the property of the Library and may be used or disposed of, as deemed appropriate by Library staff.

The Neumann University Library does not evaluate gifts for tax purposes in accordance with Internal Revenue Service regulations. Donors seeking to have books of great monetary value or collections recorded as formal gifts to the University will be referred to the Office of Institutional Advancement and University Relations and to all relevant policies and procedures.

The University Archives are housed in the Rocco A. Abessinio Building. Call the Archivist at 610-361-5206 or email archives@neumann.edu for more information.

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

Loan Periods and Fines

Patrons must have a current Neumann ID card or library card to check out items. Books from the General Circulating collection and Popular Reading collection are loaned for 28 days. Films circulate for 14 days.  Items may be renewed in person, by logging into a library account, via email library@neumann.edu, or by telephone, ext. 5545.

There are no overdue fines associated with library materials; however, the library reserves the right to put an Academic Hold on student records if they have outstanding materials. Patrons are notified about overdue materials by email, and after four notices have been sent, an Academic Hold is placed. Anyone wishing to have an Academic Hold removed must speak with library staff and return or pay for the late/ lost item.  Lost items are assessed at their replacement value. Call the Circulation Desk at 610-558-5545 for more information.

Note: All items circulate to faculty members until the end of the current semester.

ILL Late Fees 

Interlibrary Loan books may have overdue fines associated with them. See ILL policy for further information.

There are 30 computers available in the Main area for Neumann University students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Computers provide access to the internet, online databases, and Microsoft Office, and are not subject to timed-use restrictions. Computing support provided by Information Technology & Resources.

Two "Find Me" printers are located in the Library and students may send print jobs to be released from them via any university computing terminal. 

The university provides students with a $25 printing allowance per semester. Personal funds may be added to print accounts via the University Business Office. 

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

The Library has four Study Rooms available for Group use, two or more people constituting a group. Study rooms are equipped with a wall-mounted monitor, a pc tower/ laptop, input cables for personal laptops, and seating for five (5).

Study rooms can be reserved in TWO HOUR blocks online, and each person is entitled to TWO block reservations per day. A valid Neumann email address is required to make a reservation and they can be made up to two (2) weeks in advance.

Guests with reservations are asked to check in at the main desk and may be asked to provide proof of reservation (confirmation email). Guests failing to show within a half-hour of reservation start time may have their reservation cancelled. Avoid this by contacting the main desk when running late or leaving a note in the appropriate field when making your reservation.

Make reservations here.

 

Library Privileges for Alumni, Visitors, and Consortia Guests (SEPCHE/ TCLC)

Community members, Neumann University alumni, and consortia guests (SEPCHE/ TCLC) can obtain borrowing privileges by presenting current ID, such as a valid driver's license or Neumann University Alumni ID, and providing some personal contact information at the Circulation Desk. TCLC Guests will need to bring a completed letter of intent signed by a librarian from their home institution. This letter can be obtained from the TCLC website: http://tclclibs.org/

Registered guests may borrow up to five print books (Renewals for these materials will not be available). 

Guests are asked to sign the Guest Registration book upon entering and may ask for assistance from staff for logging into university computers. Printing for guests is prohibited. Call the Circulation Desk at 610-558-5545 for more information.

Books and journal articles not owned by Neumann University Library or found openly on the web may be located via Interlibrary lona, a service available to  Neumann students, faculty, and staff.

The Information Literacy program at Neumann University is run by the Library. It aims to teach students the critical thinking skills and ability to locate, retrieve, analyze and use information.

In this academic setting, these are the skills needed to:

  • Understand an assignment and what research is expected
  • Find resources that suit the assignment, the field, and the competency of the student
  • Read and understand the resources that were found
  • Appropriately use resources to complete papers, assignments, and other school work.
  • Correctly cite the resources, both within the text of the paper and in a bibliography or reference page.

However, these skills have a lifelong application and will be invaluable as students search for jobs and begin their professional careers. Are you interested in having a librarian come to your classroom for an Information Literacy session? We work with all disciplines and all levels and would be happy to cater the session to your students' needs.

Please contact Michael Pace, Coordinator of Information Literacy, at pacem@neumann.edu or ext. 5543 to schedule a session.

 

Visit the Research Desk staff in person, over the phone, by email, or use chat when you need assistance finding, using, citing, and presenting research and information. Stop by or make an appointment; skilled, friendly librarians are usually available any time the library is open. Use our Get Help button to set up an appointment or ask a question today at (610) 558-5545 or library@neumann.edu.

Have a quick question? Use chat from any of our web pages or click the Ask Us button below for chat and appointment options plus a database of frequently asked questions and answers.

Ask Us

Faculty may place books and audiovisual materials on reserve in the Library for student use. Reserves items are checked out for limited times and cannot leave the library. Reserve items remain for the duration of ONE semester. Please review the Faculty Reserves Policy web page for more information.

Call the Reserves Desk at 610-558-5557  for more information.

Access to reserves materials will be denied to anyone without a valid student ID.

Materials on reserve are for in-Library use only and may only be checked out for two-hour time periods. 

Failure to return Reserve materials may result in an Academic Hold, and/ or replacement cost of the material.

For more information call the Reserves Desk at 610-558-5557.