Doherty Library – General Use Policy
Resources at the Doherty Library are primarily intended for scholarly use.
Creating a disturbance of any kind, (including, but not limited to, loud noise, loud talking, harassment or abusive behavior toward other patrons or library staff, vandalism, carrying a weapon, smoking, inappropriate behavior, viewing pornography or sexually explicit material, inadequate personal hygiene, soliciting, unauthorized petitions or surveys, unauthorized entry to private or closed areas, unauthorized recordings, etc.) are not allowed and will result, at minimum, in your removal from the library.
For serious or repeated violation of the general use policy, you will be banned from future use of the library.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Doherty Library will follow ADA requirements for automatic door entrances, aisle width, suitably wide doors, restroom requirements, door handles and other ADA requirements as needed in an academic library. Specialized software and workstations will be installed at the library for the visually impaired and other ADA-related conditions as required by law.
Computer Use Policy
The library computers are primarily intended for scholarly use only.
Viewing pornography and sexually explicit materials is prohibited for all users. Failure to abide by this policy will result in your removal from the library and may result in being banned from the library.
The library computers are not intended for non-scholarly uses such as computer games, music videos, and excessive e-mail and chat and you may be asked to cease these activities. Refusal to abide by this policy may result in your removal from the library, and will result in the intervention of UST Police as appropriate.
The computers in the library basement computer lab are restricted to University of St. Thomas students, faculty and staff use only.
Children in the Library
Anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times while using the Doherty Library. Children cannot be monitored and supervised by the staff; therefore the safety of unattended children cannot be guaranteed. UST Police will be called to resolve incidents involving unsupervised children under age 14.
Cell Phone Usage in the Library
Cell phone use is permitted in the Library; however, please be respectful of your fellow library users by following these guidelines:
- Set your phone to silent or vibrate.
- If you must answer or make a call, please speak in a low voice and, if the call will last for more than a few minutes, exit the building.
Designated “Silent Areas” are found in the Silent Reading Room, located on the first floor, east-wing; and also the first floor west-wing book stack area. Cell phones should not be used in these areas.
Special Accommodations
Here at Doherty library we respect each individual patron as our guest and if you have a need for a special accommodation or have a special circumstance that you would like us to be aware of please contact a librarian at the reference desk or a circulation desk manager. If your request does not infringe on anyone else’s library use we will try to accommodate your request.
We are always interested in hearing your comments and concerns. You can email the library Dean Jim Piccininni at jpicci@stthom.edu.
Copyright Notice
Copyright infringement may lead to serious legal and financial consequences. Library materials may be subject to the copyright law for purpose of preservation, scholarship, or research only. No reproduction, distribution, display, or performance is authorized.
Copies of copyrighted works should include proper attribution and copyright notices.
Additional Policies
No self-propelled or electronic vehicles are allowed to be stored in the library foyer, or anywhere inside the library. Patrons are encouraged to use the bicycle rack located outside the front of the library to store these vehicles.
No animals or pets are allowed in the library. The one exception to this policy is for patrons with vision impairments that require assistance from guide dogs.
Limited food and beverages for individual use are permitted. Food and beverages for large groups are not permitted. Exceptions may be made by the library staff in advance.
Furniture, such as arm chairs, study desks, tables, easels, whiteboards, etc. may not be moved from their positions so that they block walkways, doorways, emergency exits, fire alarms, or anywhere that will disrupt library patrons and processes.
