The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library's mission is to encourage scholarly research by maintaining an environment conducive to study in all units of the University Library system. Library users are expected to act responsibly, appropriately, and courteously to preserve the library facilities, environment, and collections.
The Library Administrative Council established the following policies in accordance with the Library's mission. Library administration reserves the right to authorize temporary suspension of any of these policies to accommodate University of Illinois sponsored, or Library-sponsored events and receptions.
Persons who violate any of these policies may lose their privileges to use the University Library, be subject to University-imposed discipline, and/or be subject to criminal prosecution or other legal action, as appropriate.
Eating, drinking, and using tobacco pose threats to the mission of the Library by creating litter as well as damage to equipment and materials, and are, therefore, not allowed in the Library, with the exception of the consumption of non-alcoholic beverages in spill-proof, covered, plastic or metal containers. Some units may not allow even spill-proof containers, because of the uniqueness of materials in their collections, e.g. Rare Books and Special Collections, and University Archives.
Disruptive behavior is detrimental to the Library's mission and to staff and patron safety. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Staff will take appropriate action to remedy disruptive behavior.
The University Library prohibits behavior that will damage University Library equipment, collections, or facilities. Protection of University Library materials is defined by Illinois criminal law (720 ILCS 5/16B). The types of behavior which are not permitted include, but are not limited to, the following:
Library electrical outlets may be used only for laptop computers, palm pilots, and other electronic equipment having a legitimate library use. They may not be used for small appliances, e.g. coffee pots, or any other electrical device that poses a hazard to the library or its collections. Electrical cords on approved items must not be draped in aisles or in any manner that creates a tripping hazard.
The University Library will notify law enforcement authorities concerning any criminal behavior in the University Library. Among the areas in which the University Library will be particularly vigilant and pursue legal remedies are:
Children under the age of 11 may not be left unattended for any period of time. The University Library is not responsible for the safety of children left unattended in any part of the University Library.
Library staff will take appropriate action upon discovering unattended children. This action may include contacting parents, Library Security, and/or juvenile authorities.
The University provides pay telephones and Campus telephones for the use of patrons. Patrons may not use staff telephones.
Staff will page Library patrons only in case of emergency.
Animals (with the exception of assistance animals) are not permitted in any University Library facilities.
The Library is a research area where users expect to work undisturbed, therefore the use of mobile phones and pagers must be limited to designated public telephone areas. Please set mobile phones and pagers to nonaudible signals while in the Library.
Theft is an unfortunate reality in the Library. Please take every precaution to ensure the security of your personal belongings, especially that of purses, wallets, backpacks, books, portable computers, and other electronic devices. In addition, sleeping in the Library increases the potential for theft of personal belongings. For this reason, library staff will wake sleeping persons.
The University Library has no facilities to store personal property, and will not under any circumstances take responsibility for theft, damage, or loss of property.
Approved by Library Administrative Council on April 30, 2001.
University LibraryFor comments on this page contact: Administration Office
Last modified by: Anna Dombrowski on 5/5/08