Library Use and Conduct Policy

The mission of the UT Southwestern Library is to deliver timely, high-quality biomedical information services that meet the needs of the UT Southwestern community. The Library strives to give every member of the community biomedical information that makes a difference.

Use of Library resources is restricted to activities in support of the educational, scientific, and clinical missions of the campus. UT Southwestern reserves the right to remove anyone who fails to adhere to these policies.

The following activities and/or actions are strictly prohibited:

Computers and Equipment

• Viewing or distributing pornographic materials.
  
• Using computers for illegal, unauthorized, unethical, commercial, or personal purposes.
  
• Consuming food or beverages at the computer workstations.
  
• Gaming of any kind.

Behavior

• Bringing firearms, explosives, open knives or other weapons into the Library.
  
• Harassing patrons or staff (including but not limited to verbal abuse and sexual harassment).
  
• Stalking other customers or staff including looking into an area, such as a restroom, that is designed to provide privacy to a person using the area.
  
• Possessing, using, or being under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
  
• Bringing bedding or excessive amounts of personal property into the Library.
  
• Engaging in loud conversation or rowdy behavior.
  
• Posing a sanitary or health risk to others, including but not limited to, offensive hygiene or the absence of shirts and/or shoes while in the building.
  
• Creating excessive noise or using an audible Walkman, MP3 player, or other sound generating device.
  
• Failing to produce identification upon request.
  
• Sleeping or loitering (assembling without a legitimate purpose).
  
• Any other behavior deemed by the Library staff or police officers to be inappropriate.

Facilities

• Entering or remaining in the Library before or after posted hours of operation.
  
• Entering staff areas unless invited or accompanied by a staff member.
  
• Opening emergency exits except in emergency situations.
  
• Loitering, changing clothes, bathing or other inappropriate activities in a university restroom.
  
• Using Library facilities for meetings, events, performances, displays, exhibits, filming, and other functions outside of normal Library uses without prior approval from the Assistant Vice President for Library Services or his or her proxy.

Telephones

• Using Library phones for any purpose other than UT Southwestern business and answering hospital pages. Calls should be limited to three minutes.

Copyright

• Failing to comply with copyright laws (including but not limited to reproduction of protected documents and images).

Resources

• Removing or attempting to remove Library materials, equipment, or property without proper checkout or other Library authorization.
  
• Concealing Library materials for the exclusive use of an individual or group.
  
• Damaging Library materials by marking, underlining, removing pages or portions of pages, removing binding, removing electronic theft devices, or in any other way defacing Library materials.

Children

• Children under the age of sixteen must be supervised by a parent, tutor, youth program coordinator or other responsible adult while in the Library. Exceptions may be made on an case-by-case basis for children under the age of sixteen who are directly engaged in research or educational activities that require the use of Library resources. Prior approval must be granted by Library management, which may be contacted by email or by phone at 214-648-2001.
  
• Children should be prepared to show proof of age upon request.