About

Leadership
We develop skilled researchers who have the tools necessary to create interdisciplinary solutions to contemporary problems at every scale.

Women
We value and collect the voices, scholarship, and contributions of women and those who identify as women, particularly those from minoritized communities. 

Critical Thinking
We teach and promote critical evaluation of information sources and an understanding of factors that influence the production and distribution of information.

Equity, Diversity, and Justice
We prize the diversity and inclusiveness of our community and strive to address barriers and inequities wherever they exist. 

Open and Civil Discourse
In keeping with our Catholic intellectual tradition, we affirm the values of free and open exchange of ideas and the rigorous pursuit of truth. 

Community
We strengthen our community by collaborating with others, creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and represented, and preserving the scholarship and history of our community. 

Service
We continue the tradition of our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, to be of service to others and respond to the needs of our time.  

Privacy
We respect the privacy of our users in their exploration of information and pursuit of knowledge.   

General Library Use Policy

The MSMU Libraries provide services, resources, and spaces that support the educational mission of the University. We maintain a positive and respectful environment and expect all library users to conduct themselves with civility, integrity, and respect for others.

Violations of University policies, theft or misuse of library materials, or disruption of the learning environment can result in loss of privileges and disciplinary action.

Please contact a library staff member if you need assistance. We are here to help you.

Think Civility in the Library

Think Civility Libraries

Alum and Visitor Policy

Please visit the Services for Alums and Visitors page to review the policies.

Food and Drink Policy

The MSMU Libraries policies allow library users to have limited access to food and drink.
Please respect the following guidelines:

• Beverage containers must have tops or lids (coffee cups with lids, twist top bottles, travel mugs).
• Do not bring in greasy, sticky, crumbly, or aromatic foods.
• Use care when consuming food and drink while using computers and library materials.
• Dispose of food and drink containers in trash bins or recycling bins. Preferably, use trash bins located outside of the buildings when possible.
• Food residue attracts insects and rodents — Alert library staff about any spills or messes.
• Individuals failing to comply with these guidelines may be asked to leave the library.
• Some library locations, such as Archives & Special Collections, have unique or at-risk resources and may have additional food and drink restrictions.
• The MSMU Libraries reserve the right to suspend these guidelines for special library events.

Please consult with library staff if you have any questions.

 Cell Phone Policy

The MSMU Libraries policies allow library users to use their phones in the libraries.
Please respect the following guidelines:

• Please keep your cell phones on silent at all times when in the library.
• Please take all phone conversations outside or to an unoccupied group study room.
• If you are using your phone to listen to music or videos, please make sure that your headphones or earbuds are completely plugged-in, and that the level of noise is not loud enough to disturb people nearby.

Please consult with library staff if you have any questions.

Study Room Policy

The MSMU Libraries policies allow library users to make reservations for study rooms in libraries.
Please respect the following guidelines:

Making a Reservation

• All current students should make room reservations online. 
• Room reservations are first-come, first-serve.
• Study room reservations are available up to 1 week in advance.
• Students may select a time slot and submit reservation using the online calendar Reserve a Study Room.
• Students who make room reservations must check their email and click the confirmation link to confirm their reservation within 1 day. To cancel a reservation, students may use the link provided in their room confirmation email.

Eligibility

• Students seeking to reserve a room must be current MSMU students and possess a current MSMU ID.
• Rooms can be reserved and held by a single user. Parties of one are also welcome to make use of other various seating areas throughout the library.

Room Reservation Policy

• Reservations made by students who are more than 15 minutes late will be forfeited to other students who are waiting for a room.
• All rooms may be used for no longer than two hours per student, per day.
• Students may not extend a room reservation beyond 2 hours. However, they may stay in a room until another student with a valid reservation arrives.
• Students must be present in the room during the entire reservation. Any materials left abandoned for lengthy periods of time may result in a forfeiture of the room.
• Students must be prepared to vacate the rooms at the end of the reserved time.
• Rooms may be reserved for use only during the libraries' regular open hours.
• All rooms must be completely vacated 5 minutes before library closing.

Additional Room Guidelines

• Students are responsible for the room and its contents.
• The MSMU Libraries are not responsible for personal belongings; never leave belongings unattended in study rooms.
• Study rooms are not soundproof; users should be courteous to other library patrons and maintain a respectful noise level.
• All library policies (including those dealing with food, drink, and noise levels) apply to study rooms.
• Rooms must be left in good order for the next student; please throw out all trash.

Maximum room capacity is determined by fire and safety regulations and may not be exceeded at any time.

Thank you for your cooperation and your help in making the library a respectful learning environment.

Please consult with library staff if you have any questions.

Computing and Technology Resources Policy

Acceptable use of MSMU Libraries' Computing and Technology Resources

When using MSMU's computer resources, individuals must comply with the rules and policies outlined in  MSMU's Acceptable Use Policy . Library computers are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Occasionally, library computers may be reserved for testing. Electronic resources licensed by the library must only be used for non-commercial, educational, or personal research purposes.

General Fines Notes

• To avoid overdue fines, items should be returned by 11:59 p.m. on the due date.
• Overdue fines will only be accrued when the library is open.
• Hourly reserve items that are checked out less than 2 hours before the library closes will be due 2 hours after the library opens the next day.
• Items on hold will be held at the circulation desk for 14 days.
• For interlibrary loan (ILL) books, the due dates, fines, and replacement fees are set by the lending institution.

Lost Materials Replacement Fees

General MSMU Item Replacement Fee: $35

• If a lost item costs more than $35 to replace, the patron will be charged the amount it costs the library to replace the item.
• Patrons may supply a replacement copy, but please consult with a library staff member before purchasing an item to replace a lost copy.
• Only approved replacement copies will be accepted in lieu of the replacement fee.

Borrower privileges may be suspended for reasons including, but not limited to, failing to return materials, returning damaged materials, and not paying fines.

Unpaid fines will be sent to university accounts.

Note: Reference books, Theses, Dissertations, University Archives materials, and Special Collections materials are building-use only and do not circulate.

The MSMU Libraries’ Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service enables MSMU students, faculty, and staff to borrow materials not available in MSMU libraries. You do not need to specify where the materials should come from; MSMU library staff will automatically search for availability in other libraries.

Eligibility

The service is free to eligible borrowers:

• MSMU students
• MSMU faculty and staff members

ILL Materials Request Form

 Delivery of ILL Materials

• Short Works: When possible, articles, book chapters, and other short works will be scanned and emailed directly to your MSMU email address.
• Long Works: Longer works, such as books, DVDs, and whole journals, will be physically mailed to MSMU. Upon their arrival, you will be notified via your MSMU email. The ILL materials will then be available for you to check out at the circulation desk at the campus you originally selected.

Items That Can Be Requested

• Items not owned by MSMU libraries
• Items that are unavailable (checked-out) at MSMU libraries (this may exclude some course reserves)
• Items missing from MSMU libraries
• Items at MSMU libraries that can no longer circulate because of their fragile condition

Items That Cannot Be Requested

• Some textbooks and course reserves may not be available from other libraries
• Non-circulating items (Items that do not circulate from other libraries may include: special collections materials, reference materials, encyclopedias, dictionaries, workbooks, etc.)

Items That May Be Difficult to Obtain

• Entire journal volumes or issues
• Titles only owned at one institution
• ePub/articles ahead of print dates (pre-publication materials)

Statement of Copyright: Legal Statute Citation

U.S. Code: Title 17 - Copyrights

"The U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 101 - 810, is Federal legislation enacted by Congress under its Constitutional grant of authority to protect the writings of authors. Changing technology has led to an ever expanding understanding of the word "writings." The Copyright Act now reaches architectural design, software, the graphic arts, motion pictures, and sound recordings and more. As of January 1. 1978, all works of authorship fixed in tangible medium of expression and within the subject matter of copyright were deemed to fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Copyright Act regardless of whether the work was created before or after that date and whether published or unpublished."

Source: ALA Copyright for Libraries: General Information

Demonstrated Understanding of Fair Use

The Four Fair Use Factors will help to determine whether your fair use claims are valid (17 U.S.C. 107):

• Purpose and character of use.
  Is it commercial (used for monetary gain) or non-commercial (used for educational purposes?
• Nature of the copyrighted work.
  Is it based on something factual, such as a biography? Or is it purely creative fiction? Note: Courts are typically more protective of creative works (art, poetry, film) than non-fiction works (non-fiction, textbooks, journal articles).
• Amount/Portion of the work used in relation to the whole.
  Is the amount requested or used no more or less than necessary to make your point and/or instruct your students? 
• Potential market value.
  How does your use affect the value of the copyrighted work's market value?
  What is the publication status of the material?

Fair Use Checklist

• For additional clarification on fair use please see the:
  Columbia University Libraries' Copyright Advisory Services Fair Use Checklist
  

Legal Counsel at MSMU:
This policy is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. If you would like legal advice regarding copyright or author's rights, contact MSMU Legal Counsel.

MSMU Libraries Scanning and eReserves Statements

• MSMU is a non-profit university and a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), serving a diverse community including many low-income students. Affordability and accessibility are extremely important factors in determining reasonable Extent and Purpose in relation to Fair Use. 
• MSMU Libraries will perform due diligence in obtaining or purchasing eBooks from our library vendors, explore all options, purchase print copies for the MSMU Reserves collection, and when necessary, provide scanned copies of readings to faculty for dissemination in our LMS, Canvas, which remains behind SSO firewall.
• In collaboration with faculty, MSMU Libraries staff will determine whether it is appropriate to provide a pdf or a proxy link to the needed materials.
• MSMU Libraries will NOT place any materials obtained through ILL or Document Delivery on Reserve.
• While the MSMU Libraries support the technical components of the scanning system, the patron assumes all liability associated with the use of duplicated materials under Section 108(f)(1) of the U.S. Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code).

General Guidelines for Scanned Copies of MSMU Library Materials
What we can always provide to MSMU community members: (if available)

• 10% of an entire work*
• 1 chapter for every 10 chapters
• 1 article per journal issue (when requesting a document that is scanned from print)**
• Entire print news articles
• Table of Contents

*Note: Many sources may recommend that using 10% of the total work constitutes fair use, but this number varies on a case-by-case basis, depending on the users' needs. If instructors can justify that they are using no more than necessary to make their point or provide instruction, then their fair use claims may be validated.

**Note: This limit does not apply to the Article Request Policy; users may request as many articles as they wish from any journal issue. It simply applies to the number of articles MSMU Library staff may scan from an owned print journal for an individual patron.

MSMU Libraries Copyright Statement on Electronic Documents

• While the MSMU Libraries support the technical components of the scanning system, the patron assumes all liability associated with the use of duplicated materials under Section 108(f)(1) of the U.S. Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code). 

MSMU Libraries Collection Development Policy - 2025

MSMU Libraries Gift Policy 

Revised October 2022

MSMU Libraries is grateful for our donors’ generosity. We welcome monetary donations as well as gifts-in-kind. Monetary donations help us purchase new materials for the collections, update technology, expand teaching and learning services to students, and renovate library spaces. To make a monetary contribution, visit the University’s website for the Give to the Mount donation form and designate “Libraries” for your donation. 

Gifts-in-kind, e.g., books, must meet the same guidelines required for materials purchased by the Libraries to be added to the collection. Before acceptance, a librarian will review the materials to determine if the content falls within the scope of the Libraries’ collection policies. Accepted materials become the property of the University. The Libraries reserve the right to determine their retention, location, cataloging treatment, and other considerations related to their use or disposition. The Libraries do not accept materials in poor physical condition (e.g., stained, marked, damaged, signs of infestation).

The Libraries invite Mount alumnae to submit a copy of their authored book(s) and other published works for inclusion in the Alumnae Authors Collection.

Further inquiries can be directed to Cheryl Ocampo, Associate Director of Collections, cocampo@msmu.edu, or Kevin A. Barry, Assistant Vice President of Development and Alumnae Relations, at kbarry@msmu.edu.

Gift Books

Gift books are accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please call or email before dropping off gift books. Please also review our gift policy above or contact Cheryl Ocampo, Associate Director of Collections, cocampo@msmu.edu.

Special Collections & Archival Materials

If you wish to donate rare or MSMU related items to the Special Collections department, please contact Laracarina Suarez at lsuarez@msmu.edu.

Other Donations

All other donations (monetary, naming opportunities, etc.) should be referred to Institutional Advancement, Kevin A. Barry, Assistant Vice President of Development and Alumnae Relations, at kbarry@msmu.edu, or the Give to the Mount page.

See the About page for instructions on how to donate directly to the libraries.