Libraries Policies

Cell phone use is permitted throughout Mullins Library except for designated quiet study spaces.

Special Collections Division has their own policies (see link below).

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The University of Arkansas Libraries are committed to providing users with a safe, welcoming environment conducive to study and research. While our spaces and collections are designed primarily for the students, faculty, and staff of the University of Arkansas, we welcome children accompanied by a parent or other adult (person 18 years or older) caregiver.

Responsibility and care for children in the Libraries resides solely with the parent or designated caregiver. Children under the age of 12 should not use the Libraries unattended.

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The University of Arkansas Libraries support the University's mission of teaching and research, and remind library users that the computers of the University Libraries are made available to support these academic functions. The following policy applies to the use of computing equipment within the Libraries and supplements the University's Code of Computing Practices (see link below).

Use of the Libraries' computing resources is a privilege that depends on patrons using these resources in compliance with the policies of the University and the Libraries, and with all applicable laws governing privacy and usage.

Priority in Use of Computing Work Stations

  1. In University Libraries and general-access computer labs, priority shall be given to users engaged in activities directly related to the University's mission (e.g., completing course assignments or engaging in research). Use of the Libraries' computing resources for academic pursuits takes precedence over non-academic use (e.g., recreational e-mail, Internet surfing, chat, or games).
  2. Use of the University Libraries' computer workstations for non-academic work is not permitted when others are waiting to use the equipment. Therefore, the staff of the Libraries may ask you to limit or curtail non-academic usage during peak hours or periods of heavy demand.
  3. The Libraries strive to serve all patrons in a courteous, equitable manner. However, when the demand by the faculty, staff, and students of the University—its primary clientele—for computers in the Libraries exceeds the supply, the Libraries reserve the right to ask non-affiliated patrons to relinquish the use of a workstation.
  4. Access to computers is limited to individuals who are 16 or older. Verification of age may be required.
  5. Guest access to computers is not provided after midnight.

Sanctions

In the event of individual non-compliance with these or any of the Code of Computing Practices, University Libraries' staff may:

  1. formally or informally discuss the matter with the offending party,
  2. temporarily revoke or suspend access privileges, or
  3. refer the matter to the appropriate disciplinary authority.

Any violation of this code is misconduct for purposes of the student code of conduct, the law student code of conduct, and University personnel policies and may be punished accordingly. Any offense that violates local, state, or federal laws may result in the immediate loss of all University computing and network privileges and may be referred to the appropriate University disciplinary authority and/or law enforcement agencies.

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The University Libraries media policy allows for photography or filming as long as patrons are not unduly disturbed.

Questions from the media or about specialized filming or photography should be directed to our Public Relations Coordinator. See below for a link to the full policy.

Photographs or filming outside the building do not need any special permission.

 

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Appropriate Use of Licensed Resources

Most of the library's electronic resources are governed by license agreements that limit use to current students, faculty, and staff of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville or to individuals who are physically present at the Libraries' facilities.

  • Each user is responsible for ensuring that they use these products solely for noncommercial, educational, scholarly or research use.
  • Systematic downloading, distribution of content to non-authorized users, or indefinite retention of substantial portions of information is strictly prohibited.
  • The use of software such as scripts, agents, or robots is generally prohibited and may result in loss of access to these resources for the entire University of Arkansas community.
  • Data or text mining activities may be considered to be systematic downloading or harvesting by vendors and publishers. If you are interested in a text mining project with a library resource, contact our Data Services Librarian at datalib@uark.edu to determine what our licenses allow. 

Authorized Users

In most cases, only current University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, students, faculty, and staff may access databases, electronic books, and electronic journals remotely.

Researchers, alumni, and community members who are not current U of A students, faculty, or staff are welcome to use most databases, electronic books, and electronic journals while in the library, but they may not access these resources remotely. Certain further restrictions apply to some databases.

Questions about remote access policies? Please email us as libweb@uark.edu.

About Faculty Carrels

The University Libraries offer twenty faculty carrels available for use on the 3rd floor of Mullins Library. These carrels are designed to facilitate and provide a quiet atmosphere for research and study. Carrels are not to serve as faculty offices, and the holding of office hours or meetings in carrels is strictly prohibited. Due to their limited numbers, carrels are only available to University of Arkansas faculty, including retired/emeritus faculty, with preference given to currently employed faculty. 

All faculty carrels are furnished with a desk, chair, bookcase, and wireless internet access. Any University of Arkansas faculty member may apply for a carrel using our online application form. The application opens each August on the first day of classes of the new academic year and closes April 30th. All carrel loan periods end August 1st no matter the start of the loan period. (Example loan: Aug. 22, 2022 - Aug. 1, 2023). Faculty carrels cannot be renewed and faculty must apply for a new carrel each year. A waiting list will be maintained if no faculty carrels are available at the time of application.

*Please note that due to Mullins Library's upcoming second phase renovation, only 10 of our 20 faculty carrels will be available for assignment beginning Fall 2022. This renovation is anticipated to conclude Fall 2024.*

Procedures

  • Faculty must submit a Faculty Carrel Room Application Form (see link below). Carrels will be assigned on a first come/first-served basis.
  • The Director of User Services maintains the database of applicants and makes assignments as carrels become available.
  • Faculty assigned carrels will be notified via email; assignees must pick up their key in person at the Mullins Library Help Desk.
  • Faculty must remove all belongings and return the key to the Help Desk by the due date. Any faculty who does not return their key by their designated due date may be subjected to a fine and/or have their library privileges blocked until it is returned.

Guidelines For Use

  • Faculty carrels are available for use during all hours Mullins Library is open.
  • For security, carrel room keys may not be duplicated. There is a $100.00 charge for non-returned/lost keys.
  • Library furniture from other locations may not be moved into faculty carrels.
  • Library materials kept in carrels must be checked out to the faculty member. Library staff regularly monitor carrels and will remove any library materials not properly checked out. Library materials located in carrels are treated the same as materials taken to the faculty member’s home or office; that is, they are subject to overdue notices, renewal limits, and other library policies.
  • Assignees are allowed food and drink in accordance with the Libraries’ Food and Drink policy. Each assignee is responsible for keeping their carrel clean; housekeeping staff do not enter carrels to remove trash or to clean surfaces or carpet.  Please notify library staff of significant spills on the carpet, so that they can be cleaned appropriately. 
  • Personal appliances are strictly prohibited.
  • Carrels are not soundproof. Please be considerate of other library patrons.
  • Lights should be turned off and doors securely locked when leaving the carrel.
  • Assignees should not leave valuables or personal belongings that may be stolen or damaged; the security of the carrels cannot be guaranteed.
  • Repeat violations of guidelines may result in revocation of a carrel.

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The University Libraries strive to provide all patrons with a welcoming, comfortable, and safe environment. University Libraries have crafted a food and drink policy based on mutual respect with the goal to balance our patrons’ comfort and our need to ensure the Libraries’ materials, equipment, and facilities are protected.

No Food or Drink

  • Special Collections (3rd floor)

Food or Covered Drinks May be Allowed

  • library instruction and seminar rooms, located on the first and fourth floors, may allow food or drink at the discretion of individual instructors. Please check with your instructor when in those spaces. 

Food and Covered Drinks are Allowed

  • elsewhere in Mullins Library within the following guidelines: 
    • Patrons clean up after themselves by throwing away all trash in appropriate trash and recycling receptacles. Report major spills to library staff immediately, so we can arrange for the appropriate clean-up.
    • Be respectful. Aromatic, messy, or noisy food is not permitted where it interferes with others' use of the library.
    • Food parties and large group meals are not allowed except in relation to library-sponsored events.
    • Leave library resources, furnishings, and equipment as you found them--or in better condition than you found them.
    • Alcohol, vaping (e-cigarettes) and tobacco products are not allowed.
    • Unattended food and drink may be removed and discarded.
    • Library staff reserves the right to ask anyone who disregards the above conditions to remove the food or drink from the buildings immediately or to leave the library.

Branch libraries may establish food and drink policies appropriate to their facilities, resources, and clientele.  Please check for local policies.

By complying with these policies, patrons and staff will help maintain a clean work environment, pest-free buildings, and aid in the preservation of our collections for future generations, while enjoying some food and drink in many areas of the libraries.

Complaints will be handled by library staff in accordance with the University Libraries’ Library Use Agreement.

 

The libraries have instituted an auto-renewal policy where your checked out items will be automatically renewed as long as there are no holds on the item. For most print book items, the loan period is 16 weeks, and two renewals are allowed. NOTE: Some items, including some periodicals and course reserve items, have varying loan periods and are not eligible for automatic renewals. Interlibrary Loan items' loan periods are set by the owning library and in general one renewal is allowed; however, that privilege is at the discretion of the lending library.

Patrons in some special categories (ArkLink members, community borrowers, high school students) may have shorter loan periods and are not eligible for auto-renewals. Please sign in to your library account on OneSearch to make renewals, or contact our Help Desk for assistance. 

After the two renewals, if the items are still needed, you will need to return them to the library to be checked in and then checked back out to you.

Please note that loan periods may be adjusted depending on your enrollment in upcoming terms. 

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Mullins Library has personal lockers available for UARK faculty, staff, and students. These lockers are located on levels three and four. To view all locker locations, see the link below. 

  • Mullins Library patrons may use lockers to store personal belongings while using the Library’s spaces and resources.
  • Lockers are available on first-come, first-serve basis and are intended for short-term use only. Instructions for how to operate the electronic locking mechanism are posted inside each locker.
  • Library materials stored in your locker MUST be checked out to your library account.
  • Do not store perishable or prohibited items in lockers. All prohibited items will be turned over immediately to UAPD.
  • Please check your locker and remove all items before leaving Mullins Library.
  • All lockers will be unlocked and checked by Library staff every Saturday morning prior to opening. Any food left in lockers will be discarded, and all library materials and personal items will be removed.
  • Any personal items removed from lockers will be placed in the Library’s Lost and Found for 5 days. After 5 days, any unclaimed items will be turned over to Central Campus Lost and Found.
  • University Libraries is not responsible for contents stored in lockers.

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The University Libraries media policy allows for photography or filming as long as patrons are not unduly disturbed.

Questions from the media or about specialized filming or photography should be directed to our Director of Public Relations (see link below).

Photographs or filming outside the building do not need any special permission, but we ask that you do not block any entrances or emergency exits.

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Large Group Study Rooms

  • Capacity
    • Rooms 310, 311, 349, and 350 accommodate up to 6 people.
    • Rooms 327, 328, 335, 336, 447, 448, 455, and 456 accommodate up to 5 people.
  • Equipment
    • Each room is equipped with a large display monitor, HDMI connection, dry erase board with markers, and WIFI. There are no computers in the rooms, so patrons must bring their own computer devices to connect to the display monitor.
  • Reservations
    • Individuals may reserve a room for maximum of 4 hours per day.
    • Reservations may be made a maximum of 2 weeks in advance.
    • Only current University of Arkansas students, staff, faculty, and other UARK affiliates with current, valid UARK emails will be able to reserve a space.
    • Individuals cannot have more than one space reserved at one time.
    • Reservations are only valid when the library is open.
    • These rooms are not to serve as regular classroom spaces.
  • Access
    • Rooms are open and unlocked. At the time of your reservation, simply go to your reserved room.
    • If you have a reservation for a large group study room and there is a patron or group already in the room, kindly let them know that you have a reservation for the room and ask them to move to a different space in the library. If they refuse to leave the room, please see the Mullins Library Help Desk for assistance.
    • Please do not leave your belongings unattended as the Libraries are not responsible for unattended items.

Small Group Study Rooms

  • Capacity
    • Each room’s maximum occupancy is 4 people.
    • Rooms 441A, 441B, 441C, 441D, 441E, 460A, 460B, 460C, 460D, 460E are located on the west side of Level 4.
    • Rooms 307 & 308 are located on the east side of Level 3 across from the spiral staircase.
  • Equipment
    • All small group study rooms have access to WIFI and have dry erase boards.
    • Rooms 441A and 460E have a display monitor and HDMI connection. Please bring your own computer to connect to the display monitor.
  • Reservations
    • Individuals may reserve a room for maximum of 4 hours per day.
    • Reservations may be made a maximum of 2 weeks in advance.
    • Only current University of Arkansas students, staff, faculty, and other UARK affiliates with current, valid UARK emails will be able to reserve a space.
    • Individuals cannot have more than one space reserved at one time.
    • Reservations are only valid when the library is open.
    • These rooms are not to serve as regular classroom spaces.
  • Access
    • Rooms are open and unlocked. At the time of your reservation, simply go to your reserved room.
    • If you have a reservation for a study room and there is a patron or group already in the room, kindly let them know that you have a reservation for the room and ask them to move to a different space in the library. If they refuse to leave the room, please see the Mullins Library Help Desk for assistance.
    • Please do not leave your belongings unattended as the Libraries are not responsible for unattended items.

Instant Theater/Flex-Space Room

  • Capacity
    • Room 453 accommodates up to 32 people
  • Equipment
    • The room is equipped with a large computer display, HDMI connection, dry erase board with markers, and WIFI. There are no computers in the rooms, so patrons must bring their own computer devices to connect to the display monitor.
  • Reservations
    • University or University-affiliated groups (i.e. Registered Student Organizations, university departments, etc.) may reserve the Libraries’ Flex-Space Lecture Rooms for official University purposes only. 
    • These rooms are not to serve as regular classroom spaces.
    • Rooms are not available for private use (i.e. group study sessions) by members of the University community, nor are they available for use by non-University groups.
    • Reservation requests must be made 48 hours in advance of reservation date and time.
      • Please allow a minimum of 24 hours for a response to your request. Requests submitted after Noon (12 p.m.) on Friday will be responded to the next operating business day.
      • Reservations are done through the Library’s room scheduling system and will be mediated by User Services.

Graduate and Faculty Studies

  • Capacity: flexible seating for up to 28.
  • Room 333 on the west (Union) side of Level 3.
  • Access by ID card.

Faculty Carrels

  • Capacity: 1
  • Read more about faculty carrels through the link below or request a carrel.

Food and Drink in Library Spaces

  • Food and drink are allowed in accordance with the Libraries’ Food and Drink Policy (see link below). Patrons are expected to clean up after themselves by throwing away all trash in appropriate trash and recycling receptacles.
  • Please report major spills to library staff immediately so we can arrange for the appropriate clean-up.

 

If you have a library space question or need assistance, please email libspace@uark.edu.

 

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