AUS Library Policies

Library User Rights and Responsibilities
Food and Drink
Mobile Phones
Donations
Photographing and Videotaping
Copyright
AUS IT Department Policies and Procedures
External Users
Collection Development

Library User Rights and Responsibilities

The Library is committed to providing students and faculty with an inspiring and engaging learning environment that meets a wide variety of needs. To support this mission, the Library has adopted the following statement of Library User Rights and Responsibilities.

The AUS Library provides:

• Courteous, knowledgeable and helpful assistance  
• Technology tools to facilitate research, inquiry and knowledge creation
• Facilities that support and enrich individual and collaborative learning
• Information resources in a variety of formats

Library users are expected to:

• Honor the library as a place for study, research and collaboration
• Behave in a manner that does not disturb others or cause damage to the library
• Interact courteously and respectfully with other library users and library staff
• Maintain a clean, pest-free environment by not bringing food or drink into the library (excluding bottled water)

Library users, as members of a community of learners, play an important role in creating an environment that is conducive to research, reflection and collaborative learning. As such, all library users are expected to act appropriately in the library and conduct themselves in accordance with these rights and responsibilities. Users who do not comply and who disrespect the rights of others will be asked for their university ID, escorted from the building and referred to university authorities.

Food & Drink

AUS Library's Food & Drink Policy is intended to preserve our library materials, computer equipment, and furnishings, and to maintain a pleasant and comfortable environment for our readers and staff. Your help in this effort is greatly appreciated.

Food will not be allowed in:

• Book stacks
• Study carrels
• Computer workstation areas
• Group study rooms
• Print/Photocopy areas
• Classrooms
• Any place posted "no food allowed"

Designated Food Areas

Student Study Hall

Drink

Unless otherwise posted, water in approved containers only may be consumed in the library.

Approved containers include:

• Spill-proof mugs with secure lids and a drinking hole that can be closed
• Sports bottles with a drinking spout that can be closed
• Water in capped plastic water bottles

• Open cups or mugs
• Aluminum cans
• Glass bottles
• Paper or Styrofoam cups with or without lids

Non-Compliance

• Users not complying with these policies will be asked to take the food or drink to a designated food area.
• Unattended food in a "no food allowed" area will be discarded as will unattended drink in unapproved containers.
  

Mobile Phones

Use of mobile phones is permitted in the designated Phone Zone, located on the Second Floor. Library users are urged to set their mobile phones to silent or vibrate out of respect for the other users of the library

Donations

Donations will be accepted without conditions from the donor. No monetary value will be placed on materials given to the library. No special arrangements will be assured for housing, retaining or displaying gifts. The library's selection and weeding principles apply to donations in the same manner as they apply to purchased selections.

The Donation Agreement Form is available online for your convenience. 

Photographing and Videotaping

Photography or videography is generally permitted if it is for general Public Library promotion by the media, student projects, and/or strictly for personal use.

In order to protect the rights of individual Library patrons and to reduce distractions, photographing and videotaping on Library property are restricted as follows:

• Under no circumstances may the public, members of the media, or Library staff take photographs or videotape without the express permission of any Library patrons who would be prominently included within the composition.

Requests to photograph or videotape for commercial purposes are not permitted without approval by the University Librarian. Requests for permission to photograph or videotape for commercial purposes must be submitted in writing for review by the University Librarian.

Copyright & Fair Use

The AUS Library adheres to copyright regulations outlined in UAE Federal Law No.40 of 1992 On the Protection of Intellectual Works and Copyright.

As an institution accredited in the United States, the library also adheres to the spirit of copyright legislation existing in the United States as it pertains to distribution of scholarly material.

External Users

The American University of Sharjah Library welcomes all users to visit the library.  Although the campus is open to outside visitors occasionally non-affiliated users are turned away at the gate. If you would like to ensure access to the campus you may register as an External User of the library. The following requirements must be met:
The user is required to:

1. Provide a letter from the Dean (or equivalent) of his/her institution identifying the nature and expected duration of the user’s research requirement
2. Complete the External User Registration form
3. Submit a copy of his or her passport or driver’s license
4. Provide one passport-sized photo

The above materials should be submitted to the library secretary for review by the University Librarian. *Incomplete packets will not be reviewed.* Upon approval by the University Librarian, Public Relations will issue a letter of permission which will allow the user to enter the campus for the duration of the research requirement period. The user will be contacted when the letter is ready for pickup.

Library Terms of Use:

Library privileges for external users include in-house use of library print resources including journals, magazines and reference materials; access to reference service; and use of photocopiers.

Borrowing privileges are not available for any material. Computers, research databases and other electronic resources are not available to external users.

External users are expected to observe all library rules and regulations.

Collection Development

The AUS Library Collection Development Policy can be accessed for further information regarding collection building and acquisition policies.