270.1 Overview
The Robert E. Kennedy Library provides access to information that supports and enriches learning and research both at Cal Poly and beyond.
As a center for learning and the community, the library supports open and informed inquiry, learning, creation, and collaboration by every student and scholar at Cal Poly and contributes to the cultural life of our community.
The library is committed to valuing the scholar in everyone by delivering excellent service, fostering collaboration and innovation, and respecting and nurturing Cal Poly's distinctive sense of community.
In addition to policies here, specific library policy and procedures apply, which may be obtained from Library Administrative Services.
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270.2 Library Facilities
270.2.1 University-Affiliated Use
During operating hours, members of the Cal Poly community have access to the Kennedy Library building to use its collections, resources, and services. Due to the specialized nature or fragility of some materials, use of special collections may be governed by more restrictive access policies.
Users may not engage in disruptive activity or in any behavior that interferes with the ordinary use and operation of the Kennedy Library.
270.2.2 Unaffiliated Use
Persons unaffiliated with Cal Poly may use the Kennedy Library’s collections and resources on-site during main library hours. Those desiring borrowing privileges for the library’s physical collection can become Community Members.
270.2.3 Partner Programs
The Kennedy Library shares space with other campus organizations that also support teaching and learning. Authorization to share space in the library on a long-term or short-term basis is requested through the office of the Dean of Library Services and accomplished via a memorandum of understanding.
270.2.4 Events
The Kennedy Library event spaces may be used for activities sponsored by the Kennedy Library, established partners, or for campus events. Certain areas may be used for university or curriculum-related group activities, such as presentations and meetings. Usage of all event spaces must be approved by Library Administration in advance, and spaces are not available to entities outside the Cal Poly Community.
270.2.5 Exhibitions
270.2.5.1 Priorities for Exhibitions
The library’s exhibitions program involves the academic community in visual learning experiences that are informative and educational in nature and reflect the diversity of the University’s curriculum and community. Exhibitions supporting the library’s goals and the curricular goals of academic programs are given priority.
The library sponsors its own exhibitions and considers requests from academic departments, student groups recognized by the University, faculty, and students who wish to sponsor an exhibition. Exhibitions are managed through the library’s Special Collections and Archives department with support and final approval from the office of the Dean of Library Services.
270.2.5.2 Guiding Principles of Exhibitions
All library exhibitions are guided by a commitment to:
- Stimulating library users’ educational and cultural interests while reflecting the University’s mission statement.
- Affirming the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, which states “…library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community that the library serves.”
- Observing campus policies on Freedom of Expression.
All displays must be suitable for viewing by the broad community of people who visit the library. These areas may serve as passageways for employees and members of the general public of all ages to reach certain library services.
Accordingly, the library discourages proposals containing images that include significant elements of sexually explicit imagery, nudity or graphic depiction of violence.
270.2.6 Photography and Filming
Producers and photographers must secure a signed release from students who appear in any filmed scenes or photography. Library Administrative Services must approve in advance the use of the Kennedy Library as a filming location. All commercial photography and filming must be approved in advance by University Marketing and Communications.
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270.3 Library Collections
270.3.1 General Collecting
The Kennedy Library’s general collecting policy contains the basic principles and guidelines used by the faculty and staff of the Robert E. Kennedy Library to evaluate, select, acquire, and manage library materials in all formats. It guides library faculty, who are responsible for developing disciplinary collections and promoting library resources and services to faculty, students, staff, and other library users. In collaboration with the Associate Dean for Collections, Strategy & Discovery, library faculty apply this policy by evaluating and selecting materials based on clearly identifiable objectives and parameters, thus assuring a collection that best supports the library and the University’s teaching and learning missions.
270.3.2 Electronic Resources
The Kennedy Library’s licensed databases and online services are for the use of the Cal Poly community and on-site users only. Use is regulated by the terms and conditions of the Kennedy Library’s agreements with the vendors and publishers of these electronic resources. U.S. Copyright Law (including the protections of “fair use”) and contractual license agreements govern the access, use, and reproduction of these electronic resources. In most cases, the information contained therein may not be systematically downloaded or duplicated, transferred, sold, or otherwise commercially exploited.
On-site users must follow all posted restrictions and guidelines on the use of equipment and electronic resources. In general, authorized users may access such resources for noncommercial, educational, scholarly, and/or research purposes.
Prohibited actions include:
- Sharing an access password with unauthorized users, including family, friends, or co-workers. Non-affiliated users may, however, use a personal device to access most electronic library resources by signing onto the Cal Poly Guest Wi-Fi while visiting the Kennedy Library.
- Engaging in actions intended to circumvent or defeat access control mechanisms of the Kennedy Library or the information provider.
- Sharing proprietary or client software connected to information resources, such as that used to analyze spatial data or to search and retrieve information.
These policies and guidelines conform to ITS policies for responsible use and other campus policies governing the use of computing networks.
Questions about the appropriate use of licensed information resources may be directed to the Collections Strategy & Discovery Department in the Kennedy Library.
270.3.3 Special Collections
These library collections stewarded by the Special Collections and Archives department, include unique, rare, limited-edition materials, and artworks, including the University Art Collection, that have historic and use value for teaching, learning, scholarship, and exhibition. Acquisitions are guided by a collection development policy. Acquisitions of public artworks for the University Art Collection are guided by Art Acquisition Committee processes described in the CAP 180.
Advanced notice is required to consult these materials. On-site users must register and agree to follow reading room policies and procedures, copyright laws, and citation guidelines. High-resolution digital files may be made available at nominal fees or at cost for oversized materials. The assets that Special Collections holds the copyright for may be licensed for one-time use.
Questions about access and services may be directed to Special Collections and Archives at archives@calpoly.edu.
270.3.4 University Archives
In 1978, the Faculty Senate passed resolution AS-42-78 naming the University Archives the official depository for records documenting the growth and development of California Polytechnic State University, stewarded by the Special Collection and Archives department. Records custodians guided by the CSU Records/Information Retention and Dispersal Schedule are invited to contact Special Collections and Archives when they have records of historic value that no longer have active administrative value. Acquisitions are guided by a collection development policy: https://lib.calpoly.edu/support/sca-policies/collection-development/
Advanced notice is required to consult materials. On-site users must register and agree to follow reading room policies and procedures, copyright laws, and citation guidelines. High-resolution digital files may be made available at nominal fees to off-campus patrons. Special Collections and Archives may license University Archives materials for one-time use.
Questions about access and services may be directed to Special Collections and Archives at https://lib.calpoly.edu/support/sca-policies/collection-development/
270.3.5 Censorship
Free access to ideas and full freedom of expression are fundamental to the educational process. Accordingly, the Kennedy Library purchases and makes accessible materials in a wide variety of viewpoints.
The library will not purposely censor any subject or viewpoint in its collections, and will resist any attempt at censorship from an outside source. The library endorses the American Library Association Bill of Rights and supporting documents, including formal statements on Intellectual Freedom, Freedom to Read, Freedom to View, Access to Electronic Information, Services and Networks, Challenged Materials, and the Statement on Labeling. The principles of these documents are considered an integral part of this policy statement.
270.3.6 Senior Projects and Master’s Theses
Digital senior projects and master’s theses created by Cal Poly students are submitted to the Kennedy Library from each academic department and become part of the library’s collection, and are available for use without restriction.
The student retains copyright, and requests for commercial use of student work are referred to the student.
Upon request from the student, a submitted senior project or master’s thesis may be withheld from public use for a specified period of time.
Upon request from the student, a submitted senior project may be removed from the University’s digital archives.
Each academic department determines standards for the successful completion of senior projects and master’s theses, including style guides. Changes to advisor-approved senior projects or theses are not permitted after the materials have been submitted to the Kennedy Library.
The Kennedy Library determines the format in which senior projects and master’s theses are preserved and, in consultation with and subject to approval by appropriate campus bodies, recommends the student fees (if any) assessed to cover the cost of preservation.
The Kennedy Library promotes and provides intellectual access to these materials by:
- Sharing digitized student work in an open-access environment, including the University’s institutional repository.
- Contributing digitized and born-digital masters’ theses to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses through a publishing partnership.
- Providing on-site and interlibrary loan access to users.
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270.4 Library Copyright Policies
270.4.1 General Copyright Policies
The Kennedy Library applies federal copyright laws (Title XVII, U.S. Code) and guidelines to the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials at the Kennedy Library and course reserve materials.
The Kennedy Library reserves the right to refuse any request for duplication if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would violate copyright law.
For more information regarding copyright and intellectual property at the Kennedy Library, please see: http://lib.calpoly.edu/support/policies/copyright/
270.4.2 Copyright Policies for Digital Archives (Institutional Repository)
The Kennedy Library manages the University’s digital archives (institutional repository). This program acquires and manages scholarly, intellectual, and creative work produced by members of the Cal Poly community. Contributors retain all intellectual property rights to their work and assign a non-exclusive license to the University for the purpose of offering open access to this work to users worldwide.
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270.5 Library Privacy Policies
270.5.1 Privacy of On-Site Library Users
The privacy of all users shall be respected in compliance with federal and state laws and professional standards. The Kennedy Library will not reveal the identities of individual users or reveal what information sources or services they consult. This policy applies to all resources regardless of their format or means of delivery, as well as to all services offered by the Kennedy Library.
In all cases, the Kennedy Library avoids creating unnecessary records, avoids retaining records not needed for the fulfillment of the mission of the library, and does not engage in practices that might place personal information in public view.
270.5.2 Privacy of Online Library Users
To aid understanding of the use or value of resources and services, the Kennedy Library may aggregate and retain user data for a reasonable period of time. It will, however, neither collect nor retain information identifying individuals except for the purpose of furnishing a specific service, and only during the period that such record is necessary to furnish that service (for example, loaning a book or ordering materials from another library). Data on individuals will not be shared with third parties unless required by law.
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