About Us

Library and Academic Success mission, departments, policies & more

Policies

All members of the College community (students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community users) have the right to learn, work, and study in an environment that supports collaborative learning.

The Library and Academic Success strives to create welcoming and inclusive spaces where all members of the College community belong. We respect the diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences of visitors and staff and ask that all users do too.

Library and Academic Success Use of Space Guideline

The purpose of this guideline is to ensure members of the college community (students, professors, staff, alumni and community users) have the ability to learn and work in an academic environment that supports collaborative learning. The spaces within Libraries and Academic Success are places for studying and learning. We support teaching and learning needs through the provision of providing environments that are conducive to learning.

This guideline is reflective of Georgian Libraries and Academic Success policies and Improvement Plan 2022 – 2024, that supports Georgian’s Colleges Strategic Plan (2012 – 2024).

Scope

This guideline applies to the college community.

Within the spaces, all users agree to follow the policies and procedures, which include the following:

Noise

  • Quiet study only alone or in small groups
  • Use headphones and set devices to vibrate
  • Be considerate of the needs of others sharing the space

Food

  • Lidded drinks allowed
  • No food

Computers and facilities

  • Use computers for acceptable purposes
  • Pick up personal garbage and recycling
  • Keep aisles clear for Health and Safety Regulations
  • Supervise minor children in attendance
  • Use library materials without causing damage
  • Respect furniture
  • Follow Lockdown and Fire evacuation procedures

If a user continues to be disruptive or act inappropriately after receiving a warning, they will be required to leave the library.

Georgian Security will be notified upon failure to comply with the requests by staff. Violations and non-compliance of any of the above or Georgian’s policies may result in loss of Library and Academic Success privileges and/or sanctions.

For further information review Georgian College Student policies, procedures and reports

Review Georgian's policies, procedures & reports

Policy Last updated: September 2022

Academic Integrity

Library and Academic Success is an active supporter and partner of Georgian's philosophy on academic integrity and Georgian's Academic Integrity policy.

Georgian's philosophy on academic integrity states:

Academic integrity arises from a system of shared values and responsibilities. The ability of Georgian College to achieve its mission of exceptional teaching and learning, maintain the credibility of its credentials, and uphold the rights of honest students, depends on communities of integrity. Teaching, learning, and conducting research with integrity ensures that learning is authentic and supports the development of professional autonomy and social responsibility. Therefore, all members of the Georgian College community (students, alumni, staff, faculty and administrators) make a commitment to work together to embrace a fair and respectful culture that supports institutional, intellectual, scholarly and professional integrity.

General

Library and Academic Success Privacy Statement

Georgian College is compliant with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), and endeavors to protect your personal information in accordance with this law. The personal information requested on this form is collected under the legal authority of the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002 and in accordance with Sections 38(2) and 41(1) of FIPPA. The information provided will not be used for any purposes other than for statistical measures, to fulfill service requests and as explicitly stated at time of collection.

For further information about the information requested on this form or the purpose for which it will be used, please contact:

Georgian College Library Copyright - library@Georgiancollege.ca

For more information about FIPPA, please contact

The Access and Privacy Office - AccessPrivacy@GeorgianCollege.ca

Copyright Policy

Strategic & Operational Plans

Borrowing & Lending (Library)

Loan Periods & Fines

An active ONEcard is required to borrow Georgian College Library material. Borrowing is limited to 4 items/resources on one topic. Borrowers are responsible for the replacement cost of any lost/damaged items.

Loan Periods

Books
  • Most may be borrowed for 3 weeks, others are marked with specific loan periods (overnight, 3 day, etc)
  • Holds may be placed on most books; you will be notified when it becomes available
DVDs
  • May be borrowed for 3 days as copyright permits
  • May be booked for presentation on a particular date at the Library Customer Service Desk
Periodicals
  • May be borrowed for 1 week with the following exceptions:
    • nursing periodicals on the Barrie campus are “In Library Use” only
    • all current issues are Library use only
Reserve Material
  • Reserve shelf at each campus library
  • Ask at the Customer Service Desk.
  • Loans range from 2 hours “In Library Use” to overnight, depending on the resource
Technology Loans
  • iPads are loaned for 6 hours
  • Cell phone chargers are loaned for 2 hours - in library use
  • Scientific calculators are loaned for 5 hours (Owen Sound & Orillia)
  • Other technology loans may have varying time periods – please ask at customer service

Renewals

  • In person at the Library Customer Service Desk
  • Phone toll free 1-877-890-8477
  • Materials may only be renewed if there are no holds and the user has no outstanding fines

Overdue Items - Fines/Fees

  • $1/hour for iPads
  • $2/hour for Reserve items
  • $2/day for Program Resources (kits, etc.)
  • $15/day for Media Equipment
  • Suspension of borrowing privileges may apply
  • Differing overdue fines may apply to technology loans, items borrowed via interlibrary loan
  • Some overdue fines may be waived through the “Food for Fines” program – please check with the Customer Service Desk for more details.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Policy

Eligibility

This free service is available to current Georgian College faculty, students, staff with an active Georgian College account.

What can be borrowed?

  • Print books, journal articles (one article per issue) and DVDs
  • Must adhere to Copyright Act and licensing guidelines

Items Not Available for ILL

  • Course textbooks, eBooks, dissertation/thesis
  • Coursepacks, consumables (workbooks, instruction manuals), items in our collection
  • All items that violate copyright laws, licensing agreements, and lending library restrictions are NOT available for Interlibrary Loan. Systematic, cumulative copying is prohibited.

Loan Period

  • Length of loan/due date is determined by lending library
  • Any renewals are provided by lending library and requests must be emailed to ILL@GeorgianCollege.ca
  • Items may be recalled by lending library earlier than original due date. Item must be returned when requested.

Direct Borrowing

You can borrow from libraries participating in the Direct Borrowing program using your Georgian College library card. All such borrowing is subject to borrowing terms of that institution.

Last updated: April 2017

Collection (Library)

Collection Management Policy

Read the Library's Collection Management Policy [PDF] - Under review - Winter 2023

Donation Policy & Procedure

Donations provide a source of growth and enrichment for our libraries. Gifts, including books and other materials, are accepted on the understanding that the Library has complete jurisdiction over the use of the gift. Materials that are not suitable for the collection may be accepted and will be disposed of at the Library’s discretion.

Donations are added to our collection on the basis of whether or not they match the library collection needs as per the library’s Collection Management Policy. Criteria include quality, authoritativeness, accuracy, objectivity, and relevance to the curriculum – present and future, point of view, currency, intellectual level, format, expected utilization, language, and Canadian content. Items donated must be clean and odour-free. Generally, items older than 10 years will not be accepted unless currency is a lesser criteria for the subject area, for example, literature.

  • Library staff will determine the suitability of all donated items for addition to the collection from the above criteria.
  • In the case of a donation of over 25 items, the donor will be asked to provide a bibliography of all items prior to shipping/moving items to the library, in order for staff to assess the suitability of the materials in question.
  • If requested by the donor, an income tax receipt may be issued for gifts over $1,000.00. The library adheres to the Gift in Kind Policy as determined by the Advancement and Community Development Office. Tax receipts will only be issued for material that is added to the Library collection. Tax receipts are issued by the Advancement and Community Development Office, not the library.
  • The donor will pay for shipping costs, unless the library manager agrees to other terms.

Procedures:

  1. Library staff will ensure that potential donors are made aware of the library’s policy, prior to any items being delivered.
  2. Donors will complete and sign the Georgian College Library Material Donation Form (attached) prior to any items being accepted.
  3. Library collection development staff will assess the donation and determine whether or not items will be added to the collection.
  4. Technical services staff will process the items for addition to the collection, notifying Georgian’s Advancement and Community Development Office if a receipt is requested.
  5. Items not added to the collection will be disposed of at the library’s discretion.

Download & Complete the Donation Form

Last updated: March 6, 2019

Reserve Policy

Print Reserves

Purpose

The Reserve Collection is composed of resources that meet copyright compliance deemed necessary to specific course(s) by the Faculty or Library Staff member. This is an active, circulating collection and as such is monitored for use; items which have been dormant or a have a low record of use in the last academic year may be removed from the Reserve Collection.

Materials Accepted for Reserves:
  • Books within the Library’s general collection
  • Textbooks supplied by faculty unless in library general collection
  • Articles or book chapters
  • Personal copies of books or articles
  • Note: these will be processed with labels and stickers. Faculty are advised not to provide copies of rare or valuable items, as these are accepted only at the lender’s risk and will not be replaced if lost, stolen or damaged while in the Reserve collection
  • Legal copies of DVDs/Videos/CDs
  • Other types of materials, such as kits, and models, if these meet the physical limitations of the space
  • Custom or in-house publications
Materials NOT Accepted for Reserves:
  • Materials belonging to another library
Procedure
For personal copies, faculty must provide:
  • The item (book or article)
  • Faculty’s name and contact
  • Course code and course name
  • Length of loan period
  • End date of reserve (i.e. 2wks, end of semester, up to 2 uninterrupted semesters)
For materials from the library’s collection, faculty must provide:
  • Faculty’s name and contact
  • Course code and course name
  • Length of loan period
  • End date of reserve (i.e. 2wks, end of semester, up to 2 uninterrupted semesters)
Library Staff will:
  • Verify copyright compliance prior to acceptance
  • Process reserve request within a two week period
  • Identify if materials are available from electronic sources such as the library databases and advise/create persistent links

Ereserves

Purpose

The purpose of Ereserves are to allow for simultaneous, 24/7, on and off campus access to electronic materials for all students in a class. The materials are selected by faculty and may contain both required and supplemental reading. This is a collection of materials for a course from journals and books organized that meet with copyright compliance for the duration of a semester.

Materials Accepted for Ereserves
  • Journal articles
  • Book chapters
  • Other materials such as lecture notes, sample exams, assignments producer by faculty
Materials NOT Accepted for Ereserves:
  • Entire Books or Journal Issues
  • Items belonging to other libraries
Procedure
Faculty must:
  • Provide bibliographic citations for requested readings
  • Provide original copies if owned and able to
  • Use links and the direction for access that the library provides
Library Staff will:
  • Process requests in order they are received
  • Review for copyright compliance
  • Source out legal copies if needed
  • Digitize and create access
  • Provide access to faculty with directions for students to access the readings.

Academic Success Policies

Writing Centre Procedures

How to prepare for a visit

  • Reread the assignment instructions to ensure you have addressed all of the criteria.
  • Run a spelling and grammar check.
  • Read your work aloud to catch errors.
  • Format your paper according to the faculty’s instructions or preferred style guide (APA, MLA, or Chicago). If you are unsure of this, the Writing Centre can help.
  • Be prepared to share your work electronically.

Plan ahead and book an appointment

  • You can pre-book 30-minute or 60-minute appointments.  You may have up to 120 minutes of writing help per week to accommodate other students’ needs.  

  • To make the most of your appointment, please arrive on time with a specific goal in mind for your session. 

  • If you are less than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you will be supported for the length of time that remains. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will need to book another appointment. 

Writing Centre Policies

Writing Centre Responsibilities

  • The staff in the Writing Centre advise on techniques to improve writing at all stages of the process, model editing and revision techniques and advise on topic development, flow, style and technique.
  • We are happy to show you how to proofread, but we cannot proofread your work for you.
  • Writing Centre staff are very comfortable with APA format and have access to standard APA resource material. However, we cannot be expected to know every nuance of the APA system, nor are we experts in its usage in every application. We can support you in learning where to find the information and guide you through the process of applying the rules to your own writing.
  • Each Writing Centre is staffed by a Writing Centre Technologist and student staff. Any comments, concerns or suggestions can be directed to academicsuccess@georgiancollege.ca.

Intellectual Property

  • All students are responsible for doing their own work.
  • Ownership of written work rests with the student. Writing Centre staff will not write directly on student work and will not make any editorial changes on the behalf of the student.
  • Writing Centre staff will not support or encourage plagiarism, cheating, or fabrication of information. Staff may advise students on infractions, but students are at liberty to decide whether or not to modify their work. As a result, students may be subject to academic discipline if their work is not in accordance with Georgian College's Academic Regulations.

Paper Submissions

  • Current students can submit their papers to the Writing Centre for feedback using this form. Paper submissions must be for a course or academic purpose relating to Georgian College. Quizzes, tests, and exams cannot be reviewed by the Writing Centre.
  • Each paper submission will be reviewed once to accommodate other students’ needs. The same paper cannot be submitted multiple times.
  • The Writing Centre staff will review approximately 30% of the paper. Staff will not edit or alter the paper but will suggest tips, techniques, and strategies to help students improve their writing skills.
  • Paper submissions will be returned with feedback within one to three business days.
  • The Writing Centre staff cannot explain assignment instructions or evaluate papers for students. All students are responsible for contacting their professors to clarify assignment instructions, expectations, and content.
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