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About the Library

Guide to Collections and Services

The Warren Hunting Smith Library, maintained by the Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), is for use by members of the HWS Colleges’ community. The Library has developed policies that reflect the Colleges’ fundamental commitments to intellectual freedom and unfettered inquiry. These policies grant members of the HWS community equitable access to the Library’s resources. Borrowers accept responsibility for the care of library resources and for their prompt return. Members of the public with scholarly needs have in‐house access to the Libraryʹs collections. In addition, the Library will extend borrowing privileges to scholars outside of the HWS community at the discretion of the College librarian.

 

Use of the Library

The Library strives to be a place conducive to the pursuit of knowledge, which may sometimes require bodily sustenance. We ask that any food be limited to small snacks and beverages in closed containers. Smoking is not allowed.

Please refrain from the use of cell phones on levels 2 & 3 of the building. In the case of emergency use, please be mindful of others and respect their right to a quiet study space.

Publicly accessible Ethernet jacks and wireless access points are available throughout the Library.

Subscription resources are restricted to authenticated users, with guest access available at designated work‐stations.

Please be courteous and remove your belongings when leaving the library for any length of time. If you leave belongings temporarily, please be sure that valuables are secured. The Library is not responsible for the theft of unattended items. Please remand all books to a book‐drop after you have finished with them and remove all litter to a trash or recycling container.

 

Intellectual Freedom and Privacy

The Warren Hunting Smith Library is committed to protecting the rights of library users and follows the principles set forth in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights.

The registration and circulation records of the Library system are confidential. Registration records include any information the library requires of users in order to access or borrow materials. Circulation records include all information that identifies a specific borrower as borrowing or accessing particular materials or information. Included in these records are use of ILL and reserve materials.

Personal information gathered as part of the library’s operation is further protected under New York State law. In compliance with state and federal laws personal information may be released pursuant to a court order that has been received and approved by the Colleges. If such an instance occurs, the library may be obligated to release personally identifying information and circulation data.

While the confidentiality of specific transactions is maintained, the library does collect aggregate statistics on the use of collections and services.

Library Exterior--East