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University Libraries Policies and Procedures

Services Other Statements

Borrowing

Borrowing Books and Music Materials 3 minute read.

Covers a patron’s borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for regular circulating and music materials.

Covers a patron’s borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for regular circulating and music materials. Summary This policy describes a patron’s borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for regular circulating and music materials. Definitions Library Patron: An individual who is eligible to use the UNT Libraries. Regular Circulating Materials: Library materials that can be circulated regularly such as books, music scores, government documents, and Curriculum Material Collection (CMC) items. Loan Period: The time period that an item can be checked out to a library patron. Library Use Only: An item status indicating that it must be used in the library building. Billed: An item is billed when it has been overdue for an extended period of time. Returning the item will remove the billed status and there will be no late fees. Borrowing Guidelines Most items within the UNT Libraries collections, unless noted as “Library Use Only” are available for borrowing by library patrons. Borrowing policies vary based on the type of material and library patron. There are no overdue fines for books and other regular circulating materials, however items may be billed if they have been lost or are overdue for an extended period of time. Books and Other Regular Circulating Materials Undergraduate Students The following rules are applicable to undergraduate students regarding books and other regular circulating materials. Loan period: 6 weeks Renewals allowed: Yes Maximum concurrent checkouts: Unlimited Overdue fines rate: No fines Billed after: 45 days overdue Graduate and Honors Students The following rules are applicable to graduate and honors students regarding books and other regular circulating materials. Loan period: Semester Renewals allowed: Yes Maximum concurrent checkouts: Unlimited Overdue fines rate: No fines Billed after: 90 days overdue UNT Faculty and Staff Including Retirees The following rules are applicable to UNT faculty and staff including retirees regarding books and other regular circulating materials. Loan period: Semester Renewals allowed: Yes Maximum concurrent checkouts: Unlimited Overdue fines rate: No fines Billed after: 90 days overdue Courtesy Card and Public Library TexShare Card Holders The following rules are applicable to courtesy card and public library TexShare card holders regarding books and other regular circulating materials. Loan period: 6 weeks Renewals allowed: Yes Maximum concurrent checkouts: 10 items Overdue fines rate: No fines Billed after: 45 days overdue Academic Library TexShare Card Holders The following rules are applicable to academic library TexShare card holders regarding books and other regular circulating materials. Loan period: 6 weeks Renewals allowed: Yes Maximum concurrent checkouts: Unlimited Overdue fines rate: No fines Billed after: 45 days overdue Music Audio and Video Recordings UNT Students The following rules are applicable to UNT students regarding music audio and video recordings. Loan period: 7 days Renewals allowed: 1 time Maximum concurrent checkouts: 10 items Overdue fines rate: No fines Billed after: 45 days overdue UNT Faculty and Staff Including Retirees The following rules are applicable to UNT Faculty and Staff Including Retirees regarding music audio and video recordings. Loan period: 7 days Renewals allowed: 1 time Maximum concurrent checkouts: Unlimited Overdue fines rate: No fines Billed after: 90 days overdue Borrowing Other Library Materials Borrowing Media Borrowing Print Periodicals Borrowing Course Reserves Borrowing Laptops and Equipment Dates Created/Approved: 05/29/12 Revised: 04/17/20, 03/25/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Borrowing Course Reserves 2 minute read.

Covers a patron’s borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for course reserves.

Covers a patron’s borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for course reserves. Summary This policy describes a patron’s borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for course reserves. Definitions Library Patron: An individual who is eligible to use the UNT Libraries. Reserves: Any material placed on reserve as required or recommended reading for a course. These materials have a shorter loan period than regular circulating materials. Loan Period: The time period that an item can be checked out to a library patron. Library Use Only: An item status indicating that it must be used in a library building. General Borrowing Guidelines All reserves are available first come, first served and may not be placed on hold. Items must be returned to the service desk where they were originally checked out. Reserves must not be returned to a book drop. Some reserve items are designated as library use only. The loan period for course reserves are determined by the course instructor. Reserves with Loan Periods under 24 Hours For items that circulate for periods of less than 24 hours, the following rules apply: UNT Students and Community Members Loan period: 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, or 24 hours Renewals allowed: No Maximum concurrent checkouts: 4 items Overdue fines rate: $1.00 per hour, $100.00 maximum fine UNT Faculty and Staff Including Retirees Loan period: 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, or 24 hours Renewals allowed: No Maximum concurrent checkouts: 4 items Overdue fines rate: No fines Reserves with Loan Periods more than 24 Hours For items that circulate for periods of more than 24 hours, the following rules apply: UNT Students and Community Members Loan period: 3 days, 7 days, 21 days Renewals allowed: No Maximum concurrent checkouts: 4 items Overdue fines rate: $1.00 per day, $100.00 maximum fine UNT Faculty and Staff Including Retirees Loan period: 3 days, 7 days, or 21 days Renewals allowed: No Maximum concurrent checkouts: 4 items Overdue fines rate: No fines Dates Created: 03/25/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Borrowing Equipment From the Soundbox 1 minute read.

Describes patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for Soundbox materials.

Describes patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for Soundbox materials. Summary This policy describes patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for Soundbox materials. Definitions Library Patron: An individual who is eligible to use the UNT Libraries. Community Member: A library patron who is not affiliated with UNT but is eligible for library privileges such as Courtesy and TexShare card holders. Loan Period: The time period that an item can be checked out to a library patron. Circulating equipment: Equipment from the Soundbox collection that is available through the catalog and available to leave the library. Loan Period: The time period that an item can be checked out to a library patron. General Guidelines To check out equipment, please ask an assistant at The Soundbox or Music Library service desk for the item. Circulating equipment may be placed on hold if it is checked out when a patron requests it. Items must be returned to The Soundbox when open or to the Music Service Desk outside of Soundbox hours. Laptop users must comply with UNT Student Computing policies and the Library’s Computer, Software, and Network Use Policy. Laptops have a different circulation policy that can be found on the “Borrowing Laptops and Equipment” page. Circulating Equipment Current UNT Denton Students, Faculty, and Staff Loan period 7 days Renewals allowed 1 time, in person Holds allowed Yes; pickup at Music Library; not eligible for faculty delivery. Items will remain on the holdshelf for 3 days. Fines rate $10 per item; Lost items may incur a replacement charge to the patron. Repair/Replacement Cost Damages incurred while in use may be charged to the patron Community Members Use in Soundbox only Dates Approved: 08/30/24

Borrowing Laptops & Equipment 2 minute read.

Covers a patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for laptops and equipment.

Covers a patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for laptops and equipment. Summary This policy describes a patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for laptops and equipment. Definitions Library Patron: An individual who is eligible to use the UNT Libraries. Equipment: Any devices owned by UNT Libraries available to library patrons, including but not limited to calculators, headphones, phone chargers, and cameras. These materials have a shorter loan period than regular circulating materials. Loan Period: The time period that an item can be checked out to a library patron. Library Use Only: An item status indicating that it must be used in the library building. General Borrowing Guidelines All laptops and equipment are available first come, first served and may not be placed on hold. Booking may be available for some equipment such as cameras. Items must be returned to the service desk where they were originally checked out. Laptops and equipment must not be returned to a book drop. Library patrons are responsible for returning items in the same condition they check them out and may be charged a damage or replacement fee. Some equipment items are designated as library use only. Library laptops are only available to currently enrolled UNT students. Providing a UNT ID card is required for borrowing laptops and some other equipment if it is considered a tracked asset by the State or University. Laptops And Laptop Chargers UNT Students - Standard Loan period: 24 hours Renewals allowed: No Maximum concurrent checkouts: 1 laptop, 1 charger Overdue fines rate: $5.00 per hour for laptops$1.00 per hour for chargers$100.00 maximum fine per item UNT Students - Extended Loan period: 14 days Renewals allowed: No Maximum concurrent checkouts: 1 laptop, 1 charger Overdue fines rate: $5.00 per day for laptops$1.00 per day for chargers$100.00 maximum fine per item UNT Students - Long Term Loan period: 1 semester Renewals allowed: No Maximum concurrent checkouts: 1 laptop, 1 charger Overdue fines rate: $5.00 per day for laptops$1.00 per day for chargers$100.00 maximum fine per item Specific Equipment Borrowing Policies Specific equipment borrowing policies are available at following library webpages: The Spark Equipment Willis Library Service Desk Equipment Music Library Soundbox and Equipment Media Library Equipment Kids Activities Kits Dates Created: 03/25/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Borrowing Materials From The Spark 2 minute read.

Describes the patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for makerspace materials.

Describes the patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for makerspace materials. Summary This policy describes the patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for makerspace materials. Definitions Library Patron: An individual who is eligible to use the UNT Libraries. Loan Period: The time period that an item can be checked out to a library patron. Bookable equipment: Equipment that is requestable for use at a specific time. Items that are bookable are items that have a high demand/use, require training, and/or are tracked assets that circulate outside of the space. Booking is provided to ensure availability of items. Circulating equipment: Equipment from the Spark collection that is available through the catalog and available to leave the library. Restrictions The Spark users must complete safety and/or equipment training prior to being able to use the makerspace in space equipment including recording booth, plastic bending machine, hot wire cutter, vacuum forming machine, CNC, laser, 3D printers, 3D scanner, Cricut, sewing machines, embroidery machines, sergers, power, soldering and hand tools, as well as the camera collection and any additional in space equipment added to our collection. Trainings are offered by group classes or individual appointments Users must bring their own materials for cutting or printing, and those materials must be approved before use. Bookable Equipment Available to: Current UNT Denton students, faculty, and staff Loan period: 4 days Renewals allowed: no Checkouts allowed: 1 camera, 2 lenses max Fines rate: $10.00 per day, $100.00 maximum fine Repair/Replacement Cost: Damages incurred while in use may be charged to the patron Circulating Equipment Available to: Current UNT Denton students, faculty, and staff Loan period: varies Renewals allowed: yes, if no holds exist on the item Fines rate: Depends on equipment Repair/Replacement Cost: Damages incurred while in use may be charged to the patron Paid Services Full Service 3D printing is a paid service with the following procedure: Available to: anyone USE: Will be subject to review and approval, submit .stl file here Time frame: 7-10 days from date paid Materials: PLA Cost: $1/hour Files: .stl format* Dates Approved: 07/08/24

Borrowing Media 2 minute read.

Covers the patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for media materials.

Covers the patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for media materials. Summary This policy describes the patrons’ borrowing privileges, loan periods, and fine rates for media materials. Definitions Library Patron An individual who is eligible to use the UNT Libraries. Community Member A library patron who is not affiliated with UNT but is eligible for library privileges such as Courtesy and TexShare card holders. Loan Period The time period that an item can be checked out to a library patron. DVD, VHS, LaserDisc, Video And Tabletop Games UNT Students* Loan period: 3 days** Renewals allowed: 1 time Checkouts allowed: 3 items Fines rate: $1.00 per day per item, $100.00 maximum fine * Distance Learning Students should contact the Media Library for accommodations. ** If media materials are needed for teaching purposes, an extension for a 10 item / 7 days checkout can be requested by contacting the Media Library. UNT Faculty and Staff Including Retirees Loan period: 7 days Renewals allowed: 1 time Checkouts allowed: 10 items Fines rate: No fines Community Members Use in Media Library only Media Library Equipment, Gaming Consoles And Peripherals UNT Students Loan period: 3 days Renewals allowed: No Checkouts allowed: 1 item Fines rate: $5.00 per day per item, $100.00 maximum fine UNT Faculty and Staff Including Retirees Loan period: 7 days Renewals allowed: No Checkouts allowed: 1 item Fines rate: No fines Community Members Use in Media Library only Audiobooks All Library Patrons Loan period: 3 weeks Renewals allowed: 1 time Checkouts allowed: 10 items Fines rate: No fines Media Special Collections UNT Students Use in Media Library only UNT Faculty and Staff Including Retirees May checkout for 7 days for use in class or research Community Members Use in Media Library only Dates Approved: 05/29/12 Revised: 04/17/20 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Borrowing Print Periodicals 1 minute read.

Covers a patron’s borrowing privileges, loan period, and fine rates for periodicals.

Covers a patron’s borrowing privileges, loan period, and fine rates for periodicals. Summary This policy describes a patron’s borrowing privileges, loan period, and fine rates for periodicals. Definitions Current Periodical: Print periodicals that are held as individual issues Bound Periodical: Print periodicals that are held as bound volumes containing multiple issues Loan Period: The time period that an item can be checked out to a library patron. Library Use Only: An item status indicating that it must be used in a library building. Regular Circulating Items: Library materials that are circulated according to the Borrowing Books and Music Materials Policy Billed: An item is billed when it has been overdue for an extended period of time. Returning the item will remove the billed status and there will be no late fees. Periodicals in Willis and Sycamore Libraries UNT Students, Faculty, Staff, and Retirees Loan period: 1 day Renewals allowed: No Maximum concurrent checkouts: 5 items Overdue fines rate: No fines Billed after: 45 days for undergraduate students90 days for faculty and graduate students Other Patrons (Courtesy Card and TexShare Card Holders) No checkout allowed Current Periodicals and Music Library Periodicals Some current periodicals and Music Library periodicals are library use only. Articles in current periodicals may also be available through the UNT Libraries’ electronic resources. Scans of articles from print current periodicals may be requested through Document Delivery. Bound Periodicals at the Library Annex (Remote Storage) and Government Documents Periodicals With the exception of rare and other non-circulating items, periodicals stored at Remote Storage and government documents periodicals are treated as regular circulating items. Scans of articles from print bound periodicals may be requested through Document Delivery. Exceptions The following periodicals are non-circulating: Periodicals that are available in microfilm, microfiche, or in an electronic format. Periodicals in Special Collections. Dates Created: 05/29/12 Revised: 01/23/18, 03/25/24, 07/08/24

ID Cards 1 minute read.

Covers the identification documents needed to borrow library materials.

Covers the identification documents needed to borrow library materials. Summary This policy describes the identification documents needed to borrow library materials. Valid IDs UNT students, faculty and staff can check out materials using their UNT ID card. All other users must register with the Library Services Desk at Willis Library before checking out materials. All ID cards are non-transferable to other patrons. UNT ID number, picture or copy of an ID card are not considered valid identification for checkout. The following ID cards, if valid for the current semester, are honored at the UNT Libraries: UNT ID cards Government issued picture IDs are accepted once a semester as an exception. This exception does not apply to borrowing laptops and equipment that are considered State tracked assets. UNT Health Science Center ID cards Registration at Willis Library Services Desk is required prior to the first checkout. UNT Libraries Courtesy cards Registration at Willis Library Services Desk or through the online Courtesy Card Application form is required prior to the first checkout. A picture ID must be present in addition to the courtesy card at the time of checkout. TexShare cards Issued by public libraries and academic institutions. OCLC cards Issued by other academic institutions. Cardholder Responsibilities You are responsible for any material checked out on your ID card and for any fines and/or fees incurred. You should report the loss or theft of an ID card to the Library Services Desk at Willis Library, and to the University ID Office immediately. You are responsible for material checked out on your stolen ID if it has not been reported prior to the unauthorized use. Dates Approved: 06/03/12 Revised: 01/11/17, 03/25/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Recall Policy 1 minute read.

Describes the policies and procedures regarding recall of regular circulating items.

Describes the policies and procedures regarding recall of regular circulating items. Summary This document describes the policies and procedures regarding recall of regular circulating items. Definitions Regular Circulating Items: Library materials that are circulated according to the Borrowing Books and Music Materials Policy. Recall: A process in which items checked out to patrons are required to be returned to the library prior to the original due date. Reserves: Any material placed on reserve as required or recommended reading for a course. These materials have a shorter loan period than regular circulating materials. Recall Eligibility Regular circulating library materials are subject to be recalled by library staff members for course reserves or other special circumstances. Due Dates Recalled items will be due 10 calendar days from the recall date or due on the original due date, whichever is soonest. Notification A recall notice will be sent to individuals with recalled items through e-mail when the items are recalled. An overdue notice will be sent to individuals with overdue recalled items through e-mail when items are 7 days overdue. A second overdue notice will be sent through e-mail when items are 14 days overdue. Regardless of whether or not these notices are received, it is the borrower’s responsibility to return the material to the Libraries by the recalled due date. Renewals Recalled items are not eligible for renewal. Late Recall Fees Patrons who fail to return a recalled item by the due date will incur a $10.00 Late Recall Fee. See the Fines Assessment Policy for more information. Dates Approved: 12/2018 Revised: 06/06/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Resource Sharing Policy 5 minute read.

Describes the scope and limitations of Interlibrary loan and document delivery services, as well as relevant copyright implications.

Describes the scope and limitations of Interlibrary loan and document delivery services, as well as relevant copyright implications. Summary This policy describes the scope and limitations of Interlibrary loan and document delivery services, as well as relevant copyright implications. Definitions Resource sharing: A broad terminology referring to various library services dedicated to sharing library resources among participating libraries and providing access to resources as requested by patrons. Interlibrary loan: A reciprocal service that provides UNT library patrons access to library resources not owned by UNT Libraries and loans materials owned by UNT Libraries to other libraries. Document Delivery: A service that provides UNT library patrons access to materials owned by UNT Libraries. Distance learning services: A library service in which print books are shipped to eligible students. More information about distance learning services and eligibility is available on the distance learning service page. ILLiad: A resource sharing request management system utilized by the UNT Libraries Library patron: An individual who is eligible to use the UNT Libraries Lending library: A library which lent or supplied library materials to the UNT Libraries for patron use. Purpose The purpose of resource sharing is providing access to information resources requested by library patrons. As defined by the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States, the purpose of interlibrary loan is to obtain, upon request of a library patron, materials not available in their local library. Guiding Principles The Resource Sharing and Access Unit of UNT Libraries adheres to: American Library Association (ALA) Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States. Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) Texas Statewide Interlibrary Loan Procedures. TexShare Interlibrary Loan Protocol. Amigos Resource Sharing Agreement. Section 108(g) (2) of the United States Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Guidelines for the Proviso of Subsection 108(g) (2) prepared by the National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works (the CONTU Guidelines). OCLC Resource Sharing Technology, Protocol and Participating Institutions. Eligibility Current UNT faculty/staff, retired UNT faculty, and currently enrolled graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to use resource sharing services. Library patrons not affiliated with UNT and UNT alumni that do not also hold one of the additional statuses listed above are not eligible for using resource sharing services. Patrons with library blocks are not eligible for using resource sharing services until the block has been removed. General Resource Sharing Guidelines Interlibrary loan, document delivery, and distance learning requests must be submitted through the ILLiad Interlibrary Loan System. Submitting an ILL request does not guarantee procurement of the material. The Resource Sharing team makes every effort to fulfill requests within available borrowing options. Resource Sharing requests for journal articles and book chapters are fulfilled electronically following copyright law guidelines and restrictions. The library patron who is the ILLiad account holder is responsible for the item. Borrowed items are non-transferable to other individuals. Borrowed items must be used in adherence to the lending library stipulations or restrictions. Physical items must be returned to the library in the same condition that they were borrowed on or before the established due date. The library patron is responsible for damage/repair or replacement fees as determined by lending library. Electronically delivered materials are available for 30 days from the fulfillment date and will be automatically removed after that. Use Restrictions The lending institution decides whether or not to provide a particular item, the conditions of use, the due date, and if an item can be renewed. Items may be restricted to library use only, prohibition of photocopying, non-renewability, etc. Physical materials are subject to recall by the lending library. Required textbooks, sound recordings, and audiovisuals are not borrowed through Interlibrary Loan. Audiovisual materials are borrowed for faculty only. Misuse Library patrons are responsible for the replacement fee or billed charges as determined by the lending library for damaged or unreturned interlibrary loan items. Patrons who owe interlibrary loan fees or charges are blocked with the university, which prevents them from receiving an official transcript. Abuse of resource sharing service which may include repeated instances of non-returned items, damaged items, lack of adherence to lending stipulations, accumulated and/or unpaid ILL fees will lead to suspension of Interlibrary Loan privileges. Copying And Copyright Implications Section 108(d) of the Copyright Law authorizes the making of a single copy of a single article or a copy of a small part of a copyrighted work for purposes of interlibrary loan provided the following conditions are met: The copy becomes the property of the user, The library has no notice that the copy would be used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research, The library both displays prominently at the place where copying requests are accepted and on its order form the following warning of copyright: NOTICE: WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS The Copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies and other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use”, that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. Section 108(g)(2) further provides that requests must not be in such aggregate quantities as to substitute for purchase or subscriptions. Dates Approved: 06/19/12 Revised: 01/12/17, 6/6/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Returning Items to the Libraries 5 minute read.

Covers a patron’s responsibility for borrowed library materials and returning them to the library.

Covers a patron’s responsibility for borrowed library materials and returning them to the library. Summary This policy describes a patron’s responsibility for borrowed library materials and returning them to the library. Definitions Book Drop: A receptacle where patrons can return library materials. Equipment: See definitions section of the Borrowing Laptops & Equipment Policy Regular Circulating Items: Library materials that are circulated according to the Borrowing Books and Music Materials Policy. Reserves: Any material placed on reserve as required or recommended reading for a course. These materials have a shorter loan period than regular circulating materials. General Information Most regular circulating items may be returned to any service desk or book drop with exceptions. Refer to the tables in Specific Locations. Fines and fees are charged for late or damaged returns. Exceptions & other circulating items: Some materials and circumstances require that items be returned to specific locations and some items may not be deposited in book drops. These are: Course Reserves Returned to the library/service desk they were checked out from. Fragile Items Returned to an open service desk. Do not deposit fragile items in a book drop if there is a reasonable chance of damage as a result. Laptops & Equipment Laptops and other equipment must be returned to the desk where they were originally checked out. All laptops must be returned to the appropriate desk 30 minutes before the Libraries close. Music Library A/V Items All Music A/V media (CDs, vinyl records, DVDs) should be returned to the Music Library Service Desk during operating hours or The Spark Desk after hours. Soundbox Equipment Returned to the Soundbox or Music Library Service Desk during operating hours. Media Library Items Returned to the Media Library Service Desk during operating hours or The Spark Desk after hours. Spark Items Returned to The Spark Service Desk where they were originally checked out. Maps/Posters Sycamore maps and posters should be returned to the Sycamore Library Service Desk during operating hours. Specific Locations Below are the locations of various library service desks, associated book drops, items that can be returned to these locations, and return related limitations. Willis Library Places to return items at Willis Library: 1st Floor Library Services Desk Accepts Regular circulating materials from any UNT Libraries locationInterlibrary loan itemsWillis Course Reserves Not accepted Music Library Audio RecordingsMedia Library ItemsLaptops and Spark equipment 1st Floor and Highland St. Book Drops Accepts Regular circulating materials from any UNT Libraries locationsInterlibrary loan items Not accepted Course ReservesMusic Library Audio RecordingsMedia Library ItemsLaptops, and Spark equipment The Spark at Willis Accepts Laptops, chargers, & equipment (if checked out from The Spark at Willis) Willis course reserves* (when Library Service Desk is closed)Media Library items* (when Media service desk is closed)Music Library items* (when Music service desk is closed) Not accepted *Equipment checked out from other desks/locations. 2nd Floor Media Library Service Desk Accepts All media items.Return non-equipment to The Spark Desk after hours. 4th Floor Music Library Service Desk Accepts All music itemsSoundbox audio equipmentRegular circulating materials from any UNT Libraries locationsReturn non-equipment to The Spark Desk after hours. Discovery Park Places to return items at Discovery Park: Discovery Park Library Room B112 Accepts Regular circulating materials from any UNT Libraries locationsInterlibrary loan itemsDiscovery Park Reserves and laptops. Not accepted Music Library Audio RecordingsMedia Library ItemsSpark equipment. Discovery Park Library Book Drop, Room B112 Entrance Accepts Regular circulating materials from any UNT Libraries locationInterlibrary loan items When the service desk is closed: DPL loaned course reserves, calculators, & phone chargers Not accepted Music Library Audio RecordingsMedia Library ItemsLaptopsSpark equipment The Spark at Discovery Park Accepts Returns of Spark items and equipment which were checked out from The Spark at Discovery Park. Sycamore Library Places to return items at Sycamore Library: 1St Floor Library Service Desk Accepts Regular circulating materials from any UNT Libraries locationsInterlibrary loanSycamore Library Reserves and laptopsSycamore maps and posters. Not accepted Music Library Audio RecordingsMedia Library ItemsSpark equipment Outside Book Drop Accepts Regular circulating materials from any UNT Libraries locationInterlibrary loan items Not accepted Course ReservesMusic Library Audio RecordingsMedia Library ItemsLaptopsSpark equipment Frisco Landing Places to return items at Frisco Landing: The Spark at Frisco Accepts Returns of laptops, chargers, and equipment which were checked out from The Spark at Frisco. 2Nd Floor Library Service Desk Accepts Regular circulating materials from any UNT Libraries locationsInterlibrary loanFrisco Landing Library reserves and equipment Not accepted Music Library Audio RecordingsMedia Library ItemsLaptopsSpark equipment 2nd Floor Indoor Book Drop Accepts Regular circulating materials from any UNT Libraries locationInterlibrary loan items Not accepted Frisco Landing Library reserves and equipmentMusic Library Audio RecordingsMedia Library ItemsLaptopsSpark equipment. Frisco Landing Library course reserves and equipment may be returned to Frisco Landing Welcome Desk when the library is closed. Additional Information Media Library Courier Service Returns Faculty members at UNT Denton campus can request courier pickup of classroom use materials from their departmental office. Refer to the Booking and Courier Service page for more information. Mailing Items to the Library Library patrons can mail regular circulating items to the library at the following address: UNT Libraries ATTN: Access Services 115 Union Circle #305190 Denton, TX 76203-5017 Dates Approved: 06/01/12 Revised: 01/11/17, 06/06/24, 07/08/24

Fines and Fees

Fines Assessment Policy 3 minute read.

Describes when fines and fees are assessed and patrons are blocked.

Describes when fines and fees are assessed and patrons are blocked. Summary This policy describes when fines and fees are assessed and patrons are blocked. Definitions Library Patron: An individual who is eligible to use the UNT Libraries. Regular Circulating Materials: Library materials that can be circulated regularly such as books, music scores, government documents, and Curriculum Material Collection (CMC) items. Overdue: An item that is checked out to a library patron and it is passed the due date. Billed: An item is billed when it has been overdue for an extended period of time. Returning the item will remove the billed status and there will be no late fees. Fines and fees: Fines are library charges due to late return of overdue items. Fees are library charges accrued due to damaged or lost items, or recall of library materials. Library block: Patron is blocked from checking out or renewing library materials. University block: Patron is blocked from receiving an official transcript. Notices A courtesy notice is sent by email three days before the due date of regular circulating materials. At least three overdue notices are sent through email before an item is billed. Library patrons are responsible for all library materials checked out to their account and for any fines incurred whether or not they receive a notice. Fines And Fees Overdue library materials may accrue fines, and fees are assessed for damaged or lost items. More information about these charges are available in the following policies: Overdue items: See borrowing policies for specific overdue fine rates. Damaged item charges Lost item charges Billing Library materials are State property. Any library material may be billed if it has been lost or overdue for a period of time. The billing periods vary based on the type of material and library patron. For specific billing periods see relevant borrowing policies. When an item is billed, a replacement bill will be emailed to the library patron. Billed materials are not renewable. When a billed item is returned to the Libraries, lost item charges and patron blocks are removed. Blocks Library patrons may be blocked for having billed or lost items, or other financial obligations to the UNT Libraries. Individuals who fail to return or renew materials by the due date or owe fines of $50 or more may be blocked with the library until the block is cleared with the Library Services Desk in Willis Library. Patrons are blocked with the University when they are billed for an item or owe Interlibrary loan or TexShare fees. Students who have graduated or otherwise left the University and have any outstanding balance on their library account are blocked with the University. Disputing Fines And Fees Library patrons have the option of appealing overdue fines by filling out a Fine Dispute Form online. All requests are reviewed within 5 business days. The decision for whether or not overdue fines are adjusted or waived will be emailed to the library patron. To appeal other library fees, including lost item or damaged item fees, patrons may contact the library in person, over the phone, or via email. All requests will receive a response within 5 business days. The decision for whether or not fees are adjusted or waived will be emailed to the library patron. Paying Fines Patrons have several payment options. Visit paying fines page to see all payment options. Dates Approved: 06/01/12 Revised: 04/17/20, 08/26/21, 05/29/24, 07/08/24

Damaged Item Charges 1 minute read.

Describes fees that patrons are charged with for damaging library materials.

Describes fees that patrons are charged with for damaging library materials. Summary This policy describes fees that patrons are charged with for damaging library materials. Definitions Library Patron: An individual who is eligible to use the UNT Libraries. Overdue: An item that is checked out to a library patron and it is passed the due date. Billed: An item is billed when it has been overdue for an extended period of time. Returning the item will remove the billed status and there will be no late fees. Fines and fees: Fines are library charges due to late return of overdue items. Fees are library charges accrued due to damaged or lost items. Damage to Materials Damage to library materials includes, but is not limited to spills, stains, cover or spine damage, cutting, tearing, and writing on the pages. Returned Damaged But Salvageable The patron will be charged $15.00 fee for repairs of print materials. If damaged equipment can be repaired, patron will be charged with the repair cost. Returned Damaged Not Salvageable The patron will be billed the lost item fee for the item. In some instances, all or a portion of the overdue fines will be charged as well. Dates Approved: 06/03/12 Revised: 01/11/17, 09/06/17, 06/24/20; 06/06/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Lost Item Charges 3 minute read.

Describes basic information about fines and fees related to lost items.

Describes basic information about fines and fees related to lost items. Summary Describes basic information about fines and fees related to lost items. Definitions Library Patron: An individual who is eligible to use the UNT Libraries. Regular Circulating Materials: Library materials that can be circulated regularly such as books, music scores, government documents, and Curriculum Material Collection (CMC) items. Reserves: Any material placed on reserve as required or recommended reading for a course. These materials have a shorter loan period than regular circulating materials. Equipment: Any devices owned by UNT Libraries available to library patrons, including but not limited to calculators, headphones, phone chargers, and cameras. These materials have a shorter loan period than regular circulating materials. Overdue: An item that is checked out to a library patron and it is passed the due date. Billed: An item is billed when it has been overdue for an extended period of time. Returning the item will remove the billed status and there will be no late fees. Fines and fees: Fines are library charges due to late return of overdue items. Fees are library charges accrued due to damaged or lost items. General Guidelines If a library material is lost or billed, the patron is charged with the replacement fee of that item. Items returned with missing parts may be charged partial or full replacement fee as determined by the Libraries. Library materials are State property and have to be returned to the library or paid for once lost or billed. The replacement fee of the library materials varies depending on the type. General Collections The Libraries do not accept replacement copies for lost items from the general collection. The replacement fees for these items are: $50.00 Regular circulating materials with the exception of juvenile and government documents collections. $25.00 Juvenile collection items. $25.00 Government documents collection. Reserves The Libraries do not accept replacement copies for lost reserves items. The replacement fee for lost reserve materials is assessed by adding: The cost of the item as determined by the Libraries, The maximum fine for the material type. Periodicals & Special Collections The Libraries do not accept replacement copies for lost periodicals or special collections materials. The replacement fee for lost periodicals, media items, and music audio and equipment is assessed by adding: The cost of the item as determined by the Libraries, A processing fee of $30.00, A $26.50 service fee, The maximum fine for the material type. Equipment The replacement fee for lost equipment, which includes devices and other materials not covered in previous sections, is assessed by adding: The cost of the equipment as determined by the Libraries, The cost of container or cases, if applicable, A processing fee, if applicable. Finding Materials After Payment of Replacement Fee Patrons who locate library materials after payment may contact the Access Services Department and ask about a refund. If a payment is deemed eligible for a refund by the Libraries within three months of the payment, a refund is issued to the credit/debit card used for the payment. Eligible payments between three months and one year from the payment date, as well as cash payments will be paid by a check issued by the University. A refund request may take up to 3 months for processing. Dates Approved: 06/01/17 Revised: 12/19/19, 06/06/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Reserves

General Course Reserves Policy 3 minute read.

Describes policy information related to placing items on reserves.

Describes policy information related to placing items on reserves. Summary This policy describes policy information related to placing items on reserves. Definitions Course Reserves: Any material placed on reserve as required or recommended reading for a course. These materials have a shorter loan period than regular circulating materials. General Course Reserves Guidelines For courses currently offered at the University, the Libraries will make copies of certain works available on Course Reserves. Material may be made available in physical or electronic format depending on the type of material and amount put on Reserves. The Borrowing Course Reserves policy provides details about Reserves materials checkouts. These items have shorter loan periods compared to regular circulating items, accrue overdue fines, and may be restricted to use within the library. Materials are placed on Reserves per instructor request. Materials Which Can Be Placed On Reserves Items owned, leased, or licensed by the Libraries. Required reading for courses currently taught. Personal print copies from the instructor, if required reading. Electronic copies of articles or chapters of books, or scans of limited portions of materials owned by the UNT Libraries, by the instructor, or claimed as a resource in common with other libraries. CDs, DVDs, games, and other media or music. Materials Which Generally Cannot Be Placed On Reserves Whole issues of print periodicals Workbooks Materials from other library institutions Physical Material Reserves Reserves materials will be removed at the end of the semester unless the instructor requests renewal for use within the following year. The Libraries are not responsible for loss or damage to personal print copies of materials loaned to the Libraries by the instructor for reserves. Electronic Material Reserves Copyright and Licensing Limitations Requests to place on reserves copies of articles or chapters from books will be made available to students in electronic format if at least one of the following is true: The print item is owned or leased by the UNT Libraries The print item is claimed as a resource in common with other library institutions An electronic version has been purchased or licensed by the Libraries A print version owned by the instructor is lent to the Libraries for digitization The article or chapter was authored by the instructor, and they are the sole copyright holder Print items digitized by the UNT Libraries for electronic course reserves will be subject to the following limitations: No more than one chapter, or 10% from a single book, may be made available through electronic reserves for a course each semester. No more than one article from a single issue of a journal may be made available through electronic reserves for a course each semester. The Libraries may digitize an entire item for electronic reserves if the item is: Not available for purchase in electronic format by the Libraries Not available for purchase in print or electronic format by students through the official campus bookstore Not available for licensing as an electronic coursepack through the official campus bookstore A copyright notice will appear on the electronic reserves system opening screen and on the cover sheet of each scan. Articles available through the electronic resources or e-books of the Libraries are subject to the terms of the Libraries’ licensing agreement with the vendor. Access and Availability Access to electronic reserves will be limited to students currently enrolled in the relevant course, and all electronic reserves material digitized from print will be hosted on a secure, password-protected server. The faculty member must provide to the Libraries a password that students will use in accessing electronic documents and will be responsible for distributing the password to the class. All electronic reserves will be removed from the electronic reserve system at the end of every semester, but the faculty member may request that the file be reinstated for the following semester. The course password must be changed if the materials are to be used again. Copyright Information The Libraries comply with U.S. Copyright Law. For additional copyright information, please go to our Copyright Advisory Services page. Dates Approved: 06/11/12 Revised: 12/04/17, 06/26/20, 06/13/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Media Library Reserve Policy 2 minute read.

Covers the placing of personal items, or legal off-air recordings on reserve for students to view in the library.

Covers the placing of personal items, or legal off-air recordings on reserve for students to view in the library. Summary Instructors may place Media Library items, personal items, or legal off-air recordings on reserve for students to view in the library. All reserve items are entered into the UNT Library Catalog and can be searched by the instructor’s name or course number. The Media Library requires 48 hours to process and place an item on reserve. Please contact the Media Access Services Manager at (940) 565-2413 or email the Media Library at media.library@unt.edu to place items on reserve. Media Library Collection Reserve items belonging to the Media Library may be taken out by other instructors for a 24 hour period for use in class. Bookings placed on an item by other faculty before the item was put on reserve will be honored. Media Library Faculty Reserve Request Form. Personal Items The Media Library carefully handles any personal items placed on reserve, but accepts no liability for loss or damage that may occur to the materials while it is in the Media Library. Illegal copies of materials will not be placed on reserve. Off-air Recordings Items that have been recorded off air will only be placed on reserve if they are in compliance with copyright law and the guidelines for off-air recording, which limits viewing time to 45 days. Please contact the Media Library for more information about requesting off air recordings. Digitization Requests If an instructor requests that a DVD held by the Media Library or loaned to it by the instructor be digitized in part or whole and made available online, the Media Library will attempt to negotiate a license to stream this film for at least the remainder of the semester. If a license cannot be acquired at a reasonable price in a reasonable time period, the Media Library will work with vendors to digitize the DVD, in part or whole, and make it available online through the end of the semester. Please fill out the Streaming Media Faculty Request Form. Dates Approved: 06/11/12 Revised: 06/25/19 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Music Library Reserve Policy 3 minute read.

The Music Library houses reserves for music classes. Materials on reserve in the Music Library may include books, scores, recordings, or other personal items. Different policies and procedures apply to the various formats.

The Music Library houses reserves for music classes. Materials on reserve in the Music Library may include books, scores, recordings, or other personal items. Different policies and procedures apply to the various formats. Summary The Music Library houses reserves for music classes. Materials on reserve in the Music Library may include books, scores, recordings, or other personal items. Different policies and procedures apply to the various formats. Books And Scores Books and scores may be placed on reserve behind the Music Services Desk, where students may request them. These materials circulate for two hours or twenty-four hours at a time. Instructors may request reserve items be used in-library only. Recordings Sound recordings for course reserves stream online; registered students and assigned instructors can play content for their course anywhere. Digital audio reserves are only accessible for the semester in question. To request audio items for reserve, instructors can send a list of call numbers and work titles or track numbers, along with a list of the course’s student names and emails, to the Music Access Services Manager. In order to have material on reserve in a timely manner, please send audio reserve requests a minimum of two weeks prior to their initial use by students. Other Media DVDs and video cassettes from the Music Library’s collection (call numbers MDVD and MVC, respectively) can be placed on physical reserves at the Music Services Desk. Electronic Material Copies of articles or book chapters can be made available electronically to students. Access to electronic reserves will be limited to students currently enrolled in the relevant course and require a password to view. To read the copyright and licensing limitations of electronic reserves, please reference the University Libraries General Course Reserves Policy. New Purchases Instructors wishing to place materials not currently owned by the Music Library on reserve may submit a purchase request. Please submit purchase requests at least two months before the beginning of the semester in which you would like to use the item. Personal Copy Materials If the UNT Libraries do not own one or more desired reserve items, personal copies may be placed on reserve. Such materials should be clearly marked with the owner’s name. Personal copies of books and scores are accessible by request for in-library use at the Music Services Desk, and they circulate for two hours at a time. The Music Library will make every effort to acquire a library copy of materials placed on personal-copy reserve. Periodicals And Reference Materials Periodicals and Reference Materials may not be placed on reserve in the UNT Libraries. Requesting Materials For Reserve Materials requested less than two weeks prior to class use will be processed as soon as possible, but the library cannot guarantee processing by the requested date. Submissions may be made by submitting the Faculty Reserve Request form. It is also helpful if a syllabus is submitted with reserve requests. If you have questions related to your form submission, please contact the Music Access Services Manager. Once items are placed on reserve, a library user may find reserves for a particular class by searching by course number or instructor name in the Course Reserves section of the online catalog. Contact Information Music Access Services Manager Dates Approved: 06/11/12 Revised: 01/11/17, 06/24/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Reserves: Copyright Information 2 minute read.

Outlines applicable copyright laws as they apply to faculty requests for reserve materials and is the University of North Texas Libraries policy related to fulfilling faculty requests for reserve materials.

Outlines applicable copyright laws as they apply to faculty requests for reserve materials and is the University of North Texas Libraries policy related to fulfilling faculty requests for reserve materials. Summary The University of North Texas Libraries adheres to all applicable Copyright Laws outlined in Title 17 of the United States Code and the UNT Copyright Compliance Policy. This document outlines applicable copyright laws as they apply to faculty requests for reserve materials and is the University of North Texas Libraries policy related to fulfilling faculty requests for reserve materials. Fair Use Section 107 of Title 17 states that a copyrighted work may be used for teaching, scholarship or research. However, four factors must be considered when relying on fair use for protection: The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes. The nature of copyrighted work. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole. The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. UNT Libraries reserve the right to deny faculty reserve requests that disregard all or a portion of these factors. The Teach Act The Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act was signed into law by President Bush in 2002. The TEACH Act addresses the unique needs of online distance education by replacing Section 110(2) with an amended version. The Amended Section 110(2) allows for: Larger range of materials can now be transmitted for distance education. Wider area of transmission allows for students to view copyright materials from their homes and other remote locations. Brief retention of materials for use by students. Digitization of materials that are not already in digital form. These benefits can only be enjoyed if: The institution benefiting is a government body or an accredited nonprofit educational institution. The institution must have a policy regarding copyrighted works. Informational materials accurately describing copyright and promoting copyright compliance must be furnished to faculty staff and students. Notice is given to students that materials are protected by copyright and are subject to implications of copyright laws. Only “students officially enrolled in the course for which the transmission is made” will have access to the copyright materials. Students who are no longer enrolled in the related course should not have access to the copyrighted materials. Public Domain Items in the public domain are not protected by copyright law. These include: Most things published by federal and state governments. Materials whose copyright has expired and no renewal has been granted. Copyright Clearance If the material you wish to place on reserves is not in the public domain and does not qualify as fair use, it is still possible to use them for reserves. You may contact CLEAR about requesting copyright permission from the copyright holder. The copyright permission must be submitted to the Libraries with the course reserves request. Additional Copyright Information For additional copyright information, please go to our Copyright Advisory Services page. Dates Approved: 06/11/12 Revised: 01/12/17, 06/13/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Libraries Use

Library Use 10 minute read.

Information about building use, identification, tobacco, animals, bicycles, food & drinks, noise, and room reservations.

Information about building use, identification, tobacco, animals, bicycles, food & drinks, noise, and room reservations. Summary The Library Use Policy includes information about building use, identification, tobacco, animals, bicycles, food & drinks, noise, and room reservations. The UNT Library strives to provide an environment that is: Welcoming, comfortable, and safe Accessible with a well-managed and diverse collection of library resources Staffed with knowledgeable and helpful staff. The policy is applicable to all individuals using the buildings and is enforceable by all Library employees. Primary Clientele & Building Use The Libraries’ primary clientele are students, faculty, and staff of the University of North Texas. Courtesy privileges are uniformly extended to other patrons with some restrictions in order to provide appropriate service to those who have an official connection to UNT. Additionally, the federal and state depository collections are available to the general public. The safety of children left alone in our library buildings is a serious concern. Responsibility for their safety and behavior rests with the parent or caregiver, not with library personnel. The Library cannot accommodate minor children in unsupervised circumstances, and the adult accompanying the minor is responsible for the minor’s compliance with all Library Use policies. The Administrative Office supervises the designation of the University Libraries’ buildings and spaces for public use, determining where patrons may study or access library resources. Material Use & Identification Library materials may be used by any individual in accordance with library-established guidelines for each area or building. Only persons with appropriate identification are authorized to check out materials. ID cards are non-transferable and may not be used by other individuals. With cause, library staff members are authorized to request identification from patrons. Patrons unwilling to provide proper identification may be requested to leave the premises once the University Police have been notified. Library staff on duty must report immediately to the University Police any situation they cannot handle. Space Use The UNT Library has adopted policies and procedures that govern all library spaces and operations. Library users are asked to observe and comply with these policies while utilizing one of our facilities. Furniture Furniture and equipment are shared resources for the entire UNT community and are provided for the users who are in the facility to use. Users should not deface or damage any Library equipment, furniture or building surfaces. Outlets When using electrical outlets, items should be plugged into outlets available in the furniture; otherwise, the cords become hazardous to the walkways. Safety of other library users and proper maintenance of the equipment must be considered. Personal Belongings Do not leave personal items unattended. The library accepts no responsibility for personal belongings. If items are left unattended, Library staff may confiscate them and turn them in to Lost and Found located in the UNT Union. Animals Guide and service animals for individuals with disabilities are welcome in UNT library facilities. Other animals must remain outside. Tobacco University of North Texas Campus buildings prohibit the use of all tobacco products. All buildings are designated as smoke-free. See: Smoke and Tobacco-Free Workplace and Campus Wheeled Vehicles Wheeled vehicles used by persons with disabilities are permitted for use inside all Library facilities. However other wheeled vehicles should not be used inside the building. Skateboards, scooters, roller-skates and rollerblades may be carried into Library facilities and properly stowed away with personal belongings. Wheeled vehicles are not permitted to be locked to Library furniture, equipment, or railings. Bicycles according to UNT Parking and Transportation rules, are not permitted to be inside building and must be parked in the appropriate bike racks on campus. Library personnel reserve the right to ask owners of wheeled vehicles to properly stow or park their items so they do not impede ingress, egress, access to Library materials or resources, or the safety of Library users. Food & Drinks Food and drinks are allowed in all areas of Library buildings except for those excluded locations listed below under exceptions. All drinks or beverages must be in a spill-proof container, i.e. cups with lids, bottles with twist off caps, sports bottles, or travel mugs. Patrons must leave no trace of any food, drinks, or beverages they opt to bring into the Library. When considering bringing food into the Library, a public space, patrons are expected to comply with the following guidelines: Plan ahead and prepare: Meals should be eaten before coming to the Library. Avoid bringing messy, greasy, pungent-smelling, or noisy snacks that may damage library material or facilities and that may be distracting to others. Properly dispose of waste: Any leftover food or utensils brought into the library must be packed up or disposed of. Place recyclables in recycling bins and non-recyclable garbage into trash cans. Leftover liquid in a disposable container should be poured down a bathroom sink before the container is recycled or thrown away. Clean up: Library resources, furnishings, and equipment should be left in the same or better condition than their initial state. Report accidental spills to library staff as soon as possible and clean up immediately. Paper towels are located in the restrooms. To report a spill, call (940) 565-3024, e-mail lib.facilites@unt.edu, or tell someone at a service desk. Consider others: Respect fellow library users and the next generation of library users. Damages: Users are responsible for any damage to library property & equipment caused by food or drink. Exceptions Absolutely no food or drinks are allowed in the following locations: The Archives and Rare Books Room Media Library Gaming Stations The Edna Mae Sandborn Music Reading Room The SoundBox The Library staff reserve the right to ask anyone to stop eating if they have received complaints. Anyone refusing to put or throw away their food will be asked to leave the library. Noise & Disruptions The library is committed to providing areas that are conducive to academic studies, including experiential learning, group work and individual study. Library patrons should always be considerate of others. The areas of the library have a designated noise levels to help individuals find a space that fits their needs. The designations include: Quiet, Collaborative, Social QUIET: These areas are expected to be silent for the most part. The quiet floor is intended to mean no cell phone calls, notification sounds, loud headphones, group gatherings, and are not conducive to conversations. COLLABORATIVE: These areas are designated for groups to gather and work together with consideration for others. Expect to hear conversations, group activity, and limited cell phone usage. SOCIAL: These areas are designated for casual use and lively group work. Expect busy spaces, conversations, and noise from electronic devices. Behaviors that create a disturbance to others including loud disruptive noise levels are unacceptable. Library staff reserve the right to ask individuals and groups to lower their noise level to ensure the comfort of others working around them. Room Reservations Instruction and meeting rooms located within the Libraries are reserved for Library instruction. Library staff may reserve a room through our library calendar system. Students may reserve study rooms using the online reservation tool. Room reservation requests for non-library UNT groups should go through subject librarians. if you are unable to locate the designated contact please use Lib.facilities@unt.edu and we will help direct you to the best liaison for your group For groups outside of UNT, request should go through the Library Facilities and Systems office at lib.facilities@unt.edu. Behavior Expectations When using UNT Library facilities and/or resources you are responsible for complying with UNT policies as well as all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Established behavior expectations for library users and employees allow us to provide a consistent positive experience for all library facility users. Specific standards and rules are in place to better serve the entire UNT community. Behavior becomes unacceptable when: it interferes with the regular and routine operations of the library, it interferes with the appropriate use of the library by others, the behaviors present a safety hazard, or risk of injury the behavior creates damage to library property. In the event, behavior becomes unacceptable, the UNT Library has the right to refuse service, and/or implement steps to enforce appropriate consequences. Right To Refuse Services The library reserves the right to refuse services to any patron who acts irresponsibly by disrupting the use of the facilities or by being disrespectful to other patrons or to an employee. Any employee can exercise the right to refuse service when confronted by a patron acting irresponsibly. Irresponsible behavior includes but is not limited to the following: Rudeness including loud and offensive language. Unreasonable demands for service. Being under the influence of controlled substances or alcohol. Misuse or abuse of library resources. Threatening or erratic behavior. Policy Violations As a UNT facility in the State of Texas, UNT Library operates in compliance with all governing federal, state, local laws, as well as UNT and UNT Library policies. According to the Dean of Students, it is the responsibility of users to be aware of applicable policies, procedures and laws when using a UNT facility. Library employees may inform users of specific policies or policy violations. However if a library user is found to be abusing policy or exhibiting disruptive behavior in our facilities, all Library staff are authorized to address the situation. The library wants all users to be comfortable and feel safe when using our facilities. In that regard, the library will enact appropriate consequences for individuals who are not respectful of the nature of the space and the appropriate activities/acceptable behaviors for the ordinary library functions. In the case of a dispute between users, the library is not able to take a side and will make every attempt to treat all parties the same or call appropriate authorities to handle the situation. When addressing a violation or disruptions, if the violation does not create imminent danger, Library staff will attempt the follow inform, warn, and evict. INFORM: Step one is to inform the user of the unacceptable behavior or policy violation and the consequences for continuing to behave in this manner WARN: Step two is to issue a warning, notifying the user that this is your last warning. EVICT: Step three notify the party exhibiting the unacceptable behavior that they have been evicted and are expected to leave the premises immediately The UNT Police are the libraries partners in providing a safe facility and will be part of situations that go beyond the library staff’s scope. Officer will often and regularly visit various library facilities as part of their routine campus patrol. The library will reach out to the police whenever necessary, including but not limited to: When a person, or situation presents an imminent threat or danger When the situation continues after having applied the inform, warn, evict procedures When a library user is found to be participating in illegal behavior or activities If a library user is found to have a pattern of abusive or disruptive behavior, the library will work with the Dean of Students and the UNT Police Department to determine the appropriate level of consequences which may include being banned from the facility up to legal action. Dates Approved: 06/25/12 Revised: 08/09/23, 07/08/24

Outreach, Tours, Orientation, and Instruction Policy 2 minute read.

Guidelines for library outreach, tour requests, orientation, and instruction.

Guidelines for library outreach, tour requests, orientation, and instruction. Library Outreach: Programs, Events, And Exhibits Goal Of Outreach Library programs, events and exhibits are developed by library staff and librarians with colleagues in the Libraries, University units, or community partners to promote library services and collections in support of the mission of the Libraries. Requests For Collaboration Requests to partner with the library on outreach activities can be made by emailing AskUs@unt.edu. Requests should include the name of the individual or department proposing the collaboration, the goal of the outreach, the intended audience, the proposed date and location of the activity, and the ways the requestor would like the library to be involved. Requests For Reconsideration Requests for the library to reconsider a scheduled program, event, or exhibit can be made by filling out the Reconsideration of Program, Event, or Exhibit Form. A library representative will follow up with the individual who filled out the form within two business days. Related University Policies Free Speech and Public Assembly Facility Use Requests to Tour the Libraries Library tours for groups external to the University are guided, general overviews of the services, facilities, and resources available through the University of North Texas Libraries. External groups may request library tours through the UNT Libraries’ External Relations Office (940) 369-8740. The External Relations Office schedules tours with the appropriate library departments. Suggested guidelines for scheduling external group tours: External groups must be accompanied by either a librarian or teacher and have one chaperone for every ten students. External groups must provide a minimum of two weeks prior notice. Requests To Tour A Single Department For tours of a single library department, please contact the head of that department directly. Library Orientations Library orientations are activities that provide a general overview for internal groups as to the services, facilities, and resources available through the University of North Texas Libraries. Audience Library orientations are available to: UNT students. UNT Faculty. UNT Staff. Requests Groups may request library orientations through the UNT Libraries’ External Relations Office. The External Relations Office schedules the orientation with the appropriate library departments. Library Instruction Library instruction involves in-depth training in the effective use of the services, facilities, and resources available through the University of North Texas Libraries. The ultimate goal of library instruction is to promote and foster individual information literacy skills for effective lifelong learning. Available To Library instruction is available to students, faculty, and staff of the University of North Texas. Under special circumstances, library instruction for groups external to UNT may be available. Requests Instructional requests should be provided by groups at least two weeks in advance. The representative requesting instruction for a group is required to attend the library instruction session with the group. UNT Faculty may request library instruction through above linked instructional request form or through their Subject Librarian. Each library department is responsible for their own library instruction scheduling. Related Libraries Policy Library Use Policy Dates Approved: 07/08/24

Special Collections Policies 8 minute read.

The materials in the University of North Texas Libraries collections are open for research use, except where noted, or where restricted by law.

The materials in the University of North Texas Libraries collections are open for research use, except where noted, or where restricted by law. Summary The materials in the University of North Texas Libraries collections are open for research use, except where noted, or where restricted by law. Patrons Our collections are available for public use and can be viewed during operating hours. All visitors are welcome to view the exhibits, but use of the Reading Room for study is restricted to those patrons engaged in research with Special Collections materials. A completed researcher’s profile form is required for all first-time researchers. The form will be kept on file for future research requests for a period of 5 years. A valid photo ID is required to access Special Collections materials for the first time in order to verify identity UNT Libraries reserves the right to refuse the use of special collections to patrons who do not comply with these policies. Personal Belongings Briefcases, book bags, and purses must be placed in a designated area away from your research space. Laptops, tablets and digital cameras are allowed in the reading room, but the case must remain with the researcher’s personal belongings. Care of Materials Notes must be taken in pencil. Pens, markers, highlighters, and post-it notes are prohibited, as are tracings or rubbings made from our materials. Acid-free bookmarks are provided for your convenience. Digital images may be taken with prior permission. Use of flash is not permitted. Handling of photographic material requires the use of gloves, which staff will provide. Due to the delicate nature of many of our materials, we ask that our patrons wash their hands before their research visit. Facilities are available on the 4th floor of Willis Library. Eating, drinking, and chewing gum are prohibited in the Reading Room. While researchers may request several items from the Collections during a visit to the reading room, only one item may be used at any time. Please return an item when you are finished with it and a staff member will exchange it for another item. Researchers are permitted to remove only one folder from manuscript or archival collections at a time. Box markers are provided for your convenience. Do not remove items from folders; acid-free bookmarks are provided to flag desired materials. The order and arrangement of the papers must be maintained. If you discover an error in the arrangement or description of a collection, please call it to the attention of a staff member. Do not rearrange items yourself. The researcher is responsible for the careful handling of all materials. The materials may not be leaned on, folded, traced, or marked in any way. Reading Room staff will place materials in book supports and cradles for appropriate care of materials, and materials may not be handled in any way that may damage them. Brittle or oversized pages require special handling. Instead of turning the lower edge or the corner of pages between your thumb and forefinger, slide your entire hand underneath each page to support it as you turn. Rare, delicate, or damaged materials are sometimes housed in protective enclosures, such as clamshell boxes, portfolios, or polyester wraps. We will remove such items for you and will replace them in their protective enclosures when you are finished. Privacy, Personal Information, and Open Government Special Collections personnel may limit access to certain collections in order to maintain the confidentiality of student grades, student records, privileged communications and other documents containing personal identifying private information normally given special protection under law. Due to the nature of our collections, it is not always possible to anticipate the location of such private information, and the researcher is held responsible for the inappropriate or unlawful use of any such information they encounter during their research. Small portions of our collections are subject to access through the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552). The University of North Texas Special Collections Department complies will all state and federal regulations regarding access to government records. Reserves If you need to return to the Reading Room to continue working with specific materials, we will place them on our reserve shelf for you. We will hold materials in reserve for five days before they are re-shelved. Copyright, Reproduction and Use Copyright Information The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Special Collections Department reserves the right to refuse to accept a duplication request if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the request would involve violation of copyright law. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” Reproductions may not be made for or donated to other Repositories. If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. In most cases, the library is not the holder of copyright for the materials held in its collection. Except in these cases where the library owns the copyright, the library cannot grant permission for uses of material that fall outside of fair use. Instead, the responsibility falls on the user to obtain that permission. Copyright law protects unpublished as well as published materials. If you wish to use either published or unpublished materials from our collections in a publication, you must determine whether the work has passed into the public domain and is no longer under copyright protection or find the copyright holders and get permission to use the material. Reproduction The library reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of the copyright law. Costs for Digitization Please see the Fee Schedule for estimates of the costs of digitization. A librarian will follow up with you after you place your request to provide a quote. Completion of Requests We normally require 15 working days to fulfill a request. During holidays, or when requests involve audio visual materials, the wait time may be longer. Rush requests may be accommodated when possible. Digitized files will be delivered to the patron via a link to a digital drop box service. Additional fees may be required for delivery via a DVD or hard drive. We provide images at a variety of resolutions. If known, please specify in your request what file type and resolution is needed. Use of Special Collections Materials The Library, as the owner of a variety of collections, is not able to address all copyright issues related to publication and use. It is the responsibility of the person using library materials to determine the copyright status of individual items and to use library materials in accordance with copyright law. For Materials in the Public Domain You do not need to request permission to publish materials from the library’s physical collection if it is in the public domain. This applies to both commercial and non-commercial uses. Reformatting and reproduction fees may still apply to materials in the public domain if they are not already digitized and available through either the Portal to Texas History or the UNT Digital Library. “Fair Use” of Copyrighted Materials Section 107 of the Copyright Act provides a framework for identifying certain types of uses, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research—as examples of activities that may qualify as fair use. You do not need to seek the Library’s permission to portions of text or images from a collections (constituting a non-substantial percentage of the total collection) if the use is being considered “fair use.” For Materials in Which The Library Owns Copyright In some instances the library owns the copyright to a collection, or has agreed to act as the licensing agent, and may grant permissions for the publication of images from those collections. Collections for which the library does own the copyright include but are not limited to: Byrd Williams Family Photography Collection Junebug Clark Family Photography Collection Bell Helicopter Collection NBC 5/KXAS Collection University Photography Collection To request permission to use items in these collections, please complete the Request for Use of Special Collections Materials form and a staff member will contact you with more information. Citation Any materials or images used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. Citation format should read as follows: Courtesy of {Name of collection}, University of North Texas Special Collections. Dates Approved: 07/11/13 Revised: 01/12/17, 08/07/20 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Willis Library Locker Service Policy and Procedures 3 minute read.

Information about Willis Library Locker Service policies and procedures.

Information about Willis Library Locker Service policies and procedures. Summary Information about Willis Library Locker Service policies and procedures. Eligibility Current Graduate Students are eligible for the Library Locker Service. Obtaining a Locker Eligible students may apply online for a locker. Lockers are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. An email will be sent to the student’s UNT email address when a locker has been assigned. Lockers are checked out to the student’s library account for a semester. The Libraries will make every effort to accommodate Americans with Disabilities (ADA) requests. The Libraries reserve the right to re-assign lockers to accommodate ADA requests. The Libraries will maintain a waiting list for lockers if demand is greater than supply. Music students have a priority for Fourth Floor lockers. Rules and Regulations Locker combinations will be assigned. One locker per student. Lockers may not be shared. The student assigned to a locker is responsible for its content. Students are not permitted to affix anything to the interior or exterior of their lockers. Library and Interlibrary Loan materials stored in lockers are subject to library borrowing policies. Because noise can be disruptive to other patrons, electronic devices stored in lockers, such as cell phones, should be turned off. Responsibility for Contents Store items in lockers at your own risk. The Libraries are not responsible for items stored in lockers. Library Materials That Can Be Stored In Lockers Regular circulating items currently checked out to the student. Interlibrary Loan materials currently checked out to the student. Personal Items That Can Be Stored In Lockers Personal books, stationery, and research materials. Food and drink in sealed containers. Items That Cannot Be Stored In Lockers Food or drink not in sealed containers. Items with a noticeable aroma. Illegal or dangerous substances. Library material not checked out to the student. Inspection The Libraries reserve the right to inspect lockers on a regular basis or as needed. Upon inspection, items in violation of this policy will be removed from lockers. Consequences for non-compliance to the Library Locker Service Policy: First Infraction – Student will be notified of their first warning via email and written notice placed in locker. Second Infraction – Student will be notified of their second warning via email and written notice placed in locker. Third Infraction: Revocation of locker privileges. Student will be notified via email. Personal items left in the locker will be turned in to the Willis Library Lost and Found. Library material will be checked in and returned to the appropriate collection. Illegal or dangerous substances found in lockers will be reported to the proper authorities and locker privileges will be revoked immediately. Renewing Lockers Lockers must be renewed online or in person by the due date. If not renewed: Locker will be checked in. Personal items left in the locker will be turned in to the Willis Library Lost and Found. Library material will be checked in and returned to the appropriate collection. Damaged/Broken Lockers Broken lockers will not be assigned. If a locker becomes broken while it is assigned, the student assigned to that locker will be assigned another locker or put on the waiting list for the next available locker. Dates Approved: 02/01/19 Revised: 06/13/24 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Collection Development

Collection Development Policy 11 minute read.

The Collection Development Policy of the University of North Texas Libraries governs the acquisition, disposition, placement, and access to materials that support the research and teaching needs of students and faculty, in accordance with the missions of the University and the Library.

The Collection Development Policy of the University of North Texas Libraries governs the acquisition, disposition, placement, and access to materials that support the research and teaching needs of students and faculty, in accordance with the missions of the University and the Library. Summary The Collection Development Policy of the University of North Texas Libraries governs the acquisition, disposition, placement, and access to materials that support the research and teaching needs of students and faculty, in accordance with the missions of the University and the Library. The UNT Libraries’ general collection supports the core studies and interdisciplinary work of the UNT community. Library resources serve students through access to excellent scholarly material; access is made possible through traditional purchasing as well as subscriptions to electronic resources, user-driven selection programs, and open access materials. The UNT Libraries serve a diverse constituency with varied experiences, backgrounds, abilities, and needs. We endeavor to attain equity of ideas and diversity of voices in the research materials provided to users of the UNT collections. We affirm our alignment with the Association of College & Research Libraries’ Diversity Standard #4: ‘Librarians and library staff shall develop collections and provide programs and services that are inclusive of the needs of all persons in the community the library serves.’ The Collection Development Department, working in collaboration with selectors ranging from subject librarians to faculty and students, are committed to a strategy of cultivating collections that include multiple formats and languages, various types of publishers and countries of origin, content produced by and demonstrative of historically excluded groups, and a multitude of viewpoints. Collection development activities (resource evaluation, acquisition, description, location, retention, preservation, investment in open access) will reflect the varied, evolving, and increasingly interdisciplinary curricula and research of UNT, and include regular assessment, examining representation, inclusivity, varieties of perspectives, and collection gaps. Definitions Subject Librarian: a member of the Libraries’ staff who has the responsibility for working in a partnership with one or more academic departments, schools, programs or colleges to develop the Libraries’ collections. See the subject librarians list for more information. Academic Department Faculty Representative: a member of the academic department who works with the subject librarian to develop the Libraries’ collections in the department’s areas of expertise. General Collection: the collection that contains the majority of the materials in the areas of the humanities, social sciences, science, and technology. Primary Clientele: students, faculty and staff of the University of North Texas are the primary clientele of the general collection. Selection: refers to the act of choosing materials to make accessible to UNT Libraries patrons via the UNT Libraries catalog, discovery system, website, or other means. Selection does not necessarily imply permanent ownership. Scope Of The Collection Development Policy The Collection Development Policy applies to the General Collection of the University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries. Some unique collections of the UNT Libraries have individual collection policies. The unique collections are governed by the Collection Development Policy, but are allowed variance in primary and secondary clientele, selection guidelines and collection maintenance. The variance will be determined by the heads of unique collections to meet the needs of the special materials and their clientele. For information on collection development in UNT’s unique collections, please see the following policy statements or collection websites: Special Collections, Government Documents, Media Library, Digital Collections, and Music Library. For other related policies, please see the Born Digital and Open Access Resources Collection Development Policy, Reconsideration of Materials Policy, Gift Policy, and General Collection Research Data Policy. Goals Of Collection Development UNT Libraries’ collection development activities emphasize collections as a “just in time” service, designed to meet current users’ needs, take advantage of emerging acquisitions models, and maintain a sustainable, holistic, and flexible collection plan within allocated budgets. The UNT Libraries demonstrates a strong commitment to evidence-based decision-making by continually assessing the collections and their impact on learning and research. Collection Development goals include: To provide an excellent user experience. To provide access and discoverability to collections that respond nimbly at point-of-need. To facilitate big-picture design of the collections with input from all stakeholders. To apply new technologies to the wise stewardship of funding. To collaborate with students and faculty to determine user needs. Fund Allocations Each year the Libraries’ materials budget is set by the University Librarian and Vice Provost based on the recommendations of the Collection Management Division and with review by the Academic Financial Officer. The materials budget is intended to support the University’s overall goals of delivering high quality education, enhancing student success, and expanding knowledge through research, scholarship, and creative activity. Funds are set aside to cover current costs and anticipated inflation for serial resources, including databases, journals, and standing orders. Funding is also designated for one-time purchases like books, backfiles, and archival collections. Each year, expenditures are planned on a targeted set of special enhancements, based on evidence of need, and to support other special projects. Responsibility For Selection Ultimate responsibility for the development and maintenance of the general and unique collections rests with the University Librarian and Vice Provost. Delegated responsibility for coordinating the collection as a whole lies with the Collection Development Department in close consultation with subject librarians, who represent the needs of the students and faculty. Academic faculty and subject librarians are responsible for recommending resources in the fields of their particular expertise to support the curriculum and research mission of the University. Selection Guidelines The Libraries will provide access to materials in all appropriate formats and subject areas, and provide appropriate means of discovery. The UNT Libraries bases collection development decisions on objective and subjective evidence via continuous assessment. Requests to acquire materials in untested or inaccessible formats will be referred to the Senior Associate University Librarian for approval. Exceptions to the stated guidelines will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as necessary by the Collection Development Department. In striving to meet its obligations within the limits of its resources, the UNT Libraries will follow these guidelines for the general collections. General Selection Guidelines General selection guidelines for all materials are: Support for curriculum and research: Materials must relate to the teaching and research of current UNT students and faculty. The Libraries’ materials budget will support access to and/or discovery of materials available for use by students. Lasting value: Longevity of the content, including but not limited to: Interdisciplinary resources that can be used by many researchers are favored. Anticipated value to the current patron population based on predicted need, demonstrated by evidence such as feedback from trials. Quality of scholarship (the information in the resource logically pertains to its apparent subject; the information is reliably accurate, demonstrably factual and reasonably comprehensive or complete within the context of the subject; and the citations or links within the resource are valid). Uniqueness of content or treatment. Interdisciplinary resources that can be used by many researchers are favored. Appropriateness of the level of treatment (depth, breadth, etc. ). Full-text access is preferred to indexing services. Objectivity (the information presented is open to verification and validation within the context of the subject). Currency of information and/or frequency of updating, as assessed within the context of the subject. Quality of the physical condition of the product, if applicable. Organization: how the information is organized and retrieved; quality of indexing or MARC records. Usability and accessibility: UNT Libraries will not purchase materials for individuals or materials restricted to single-user access; or purchase materials whose use is limited to a sub-set of the patron population. UNT Libraries will purchase materials that meet accessibility standards for users. Cost and terms: When purchasing, UNT Libraries will consider overall cost, purchasing method, predicted cost-per-use. Strength of present holdings in subject areas or similar subject areas. Authoritativeness of the author and/or reliability of the publisher, compiler, producer, vendor, etc. Format: Preference will be given to materials in electronic format. Consortial holdings: Holdings of libraries or consortia with which the UNT Libraries have cooperative agreements or of libraries within the UNT System must be considered when making selection decisions. Consortial or system agreements may override local requests for ownership. Multiple copies: 3 or more print copies of any title shall not be purchased without approval by Collection Development Department personnel. Purchasing an electronic version is preferred to purchasing multiple print copies. Consumable materials: UNT Libraries will not purchase materials intended to be consumed (e. g. workbooks, tests, software, etc. ). Textbooks: UNT Libraries will not purchase or maintain a collection of currently adopted textbooks for coursework. Requests for purchases of textbooks will be considered on a case-by-case basis; textbooks must have value beyond that of a textbook to be considered for inclusion. Donated textbooks may be added to the collection. Electronic Resources Selection Electronic resources shall be selected based on the following characteristics in addition to those stated above: Remote access availability and number of simultaneous users allowed. Resources restricted to a specific location will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Usability: Standards for the proper functionality of the resource include but are not limited to: Absence of additional non-standard or proprietary technology, Absence of additional fees or registrations, Absence of barriers for accessing text directly in order to change displays for alternative methods of viewing. Accessibility for patrons with disabilities; Ease of use for novices; Device compatibility; Adequate help resources; Adequate output options (printing, downloading); Adheres to established standards for readability and usability; Availability of digital archiving rights; and Ease of archiving, replacing, or preserving. Network hardware and/or software compatibility. Quality and usability of retrieval/search engine. Availability and quality of vendor support. Compliance with minimum standards for licensing and contract terms. Licensing considerations include, but are not limited to: Texas state contract requirements; InterLibrary Loan rights; Right to include in course packs; Patron privacy protections; and Restrictions on other activities such as resource sharing and data mining. Treatment of graphics, formulae, and other nonstandard characters. Availability of standardized usage statistics. Other technical manageability concerns. Continuing Resources Serials selections and purchases will be guided by the following guidelines as well as those stated above: Current serial subscriptions are reviewed annually by the Collection Development Department and subject librarians for continued appropriateness to the University’s and the Libraries’ mission; to ensure the most efficient use of library funding; and to meet consortial or system agreements. Collection Maintenance Deselection Because of the research status of the UNT Libraries, deselection, or “weeding,” is done on a limited basis. Any weeding from the collections will be the responsibility of the Collection Development Department and the subject librarian in consultation with appropriate library departments and/or unique collections. Types of materials that might be considered for deselection include, but are not limited to superseded materials, surplus materials, or deteriorated materials. See also Disposition of Library Materials Policy. Placement Of Materials Patrons have access to library materials unless the needs of the Libraries’ primary clientele necessitate special placement in reserves. The primary reason for placing items on reserve is that they will be used repeatedly by large numbers of patrons, e. g. required or recommended reading selected for courses by faculty members. Materials may be considered for placement in a secured location or reserves for the purposes of preservation or security. The Head of Collection Development or subject librarian is responsible for making placement decisions for these purposes. Librarians will consult with heads of unique collections before placing items in those collections. Reconsideration Of Materials The UNT Libraries are committed to the principles of intellectual freedom as outlined in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights. Challenges to collection development decisions are governed by our Reconsideration of Materials Policy. Gifts Gifts are accepted in accordance with the current Gift Policy. Dates Approved: 06/25/12 Revised: 01/17; 02/19; 06/21

Collection Development Policy for General Collection Research Data 4 minute read.

Covers the acquisition of research data resources intended for inclusion in the general collection at the University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries, provided by non-UNT affiliates, including, but not limited to data sets and statistical resources.

Covers the acquisition of research data resources intended for inclusion in the general collection at the University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries, provided by non-UNT affiliates, including, but not limited to data sets and statistical resources. Summary This policy governs the acquisition of research data resources intended for inclusion in the general collection at the University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries, provided by non-UNT affiliates, including, but not limited to data sets and statistical resources. This policy does not govern data sets produced by UNT faculty or students in the conduct of research, or those included in the UNT Data Repository. Mission Statements University Libraries Introduction Research data resources are an important part of the UNT Library collections and are essential to meet the dynamic needs of UNT’s educational and research communities by supporting the university curriculum, student learning and faculty research. However, many research data resources are designed for the needs of corporations and may not be equipped to support an academic institution’s needs. Thus, it is necessary to closely evaluate and monitor all research data resources to ensure they meet the needs of the institution. Definitions Research Data Resources: is defined as “the recorded factual material commonly accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings, but not the following: preliminary analyses, drafts of scientific papers, plans for future research, peer reviews or communications with colleagues. This “recorded” material excludes physical objects” (Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR §215.36 (d)(2)(i))). Subject Librarian: a Libraries employee who has the responsibility for working in a partnership with one or more academic departments, schools, or colleges to develop the Libraries’ collections. Primary Clientele: students, faculty and staff of the University of North Texas are the primary clientele of the general collection. For the primary clientele of the UNT Libraries’ special collections, consult the individual policies of the special collections (see XIII. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS). General collection: the collection that contains the majority of the materials in the areas of the humanities, social sciences, science, and technology. Non-UNT affiliates: persons not employed at or enrolled at UNT, and entities not part of or affiliated with UNT. This includes, but is not limited to, researchers at other organizations and commercial vendors. Selection Guidelines There should be broad curricular and research interest in the research data resources to be acquired. Preference will be given to research data resources that demonstrate relevance and usefulness to an identified curricular area(s) of the university. The UNT Libraries endeavors to build a research data collection useful to the largest number of individuals and groups across the institution. The following selection guidelines will help determine what research data resources are appropriate for the UNT Libraries to acquire: Scope Numeric, spatial and textual data will all be considered. Open data and/or data that are openly available to the public will be given preference. Any time-period and geographical extent will be considered. Research data including confidential information or personally identifiable information will not be collected by the UNT Libraries. Research data resources which do not require frequent or costly updates are preferred. Quality Research data resources are from a credible and reliable source with author, publisher, researcher or related metadata easily and clearly identifiable. Format & Access Research data resources must be accessible to all students, faculty and staff (Primary Clientele) through IP Authentication and EZProxy without restrictions on the number of simultaneous users. Research data resources must comply and be compatible with UNT Library Technology & Computing policies and infrastructure. Research data resources must be stored online and have the ability to be remotely accessed. Research data resources that provide increased discoverability, increase the ease of use or aggregate data in a meaningful way will be considered. Research data resources that provide access to otherwise freely available data will be considered if there is demonstrable added-value. Preference is given to software-independent (“standard”) formats. Examples include, but are not limited to: CSV TSV DAT PDF ASCII Research data resources requiring local hosting will not be acquired by UNT Libraries. Documentation Research data resources must be accompanied by descriptive metadata and adequate documentation explaining the data content. Responsibility for Selection The Collection Development department has primary responsibility for research data resource selection in consultation with the relevant Subject Librarian(s). All research data resources are considered on a case-by-case basis and exceptions may be made. Sources Consulted Code of Federal Regulations. (2012). 2 CFR §215.36 (d)(2)(i). Accessed November 2018. University of Virginia Library. (2018). Data Collection Development Policy. Accessed November 2018. Dates Approved: 02/19 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Collection Development Policy for Open Access and Born-Digital Resources 9 minute read.

The Libraries of UNT are committed to the principles of open access, as outlined in the IFLA Statement on Open Access to Scholarly Literature and Research Documentation. Resources provided by the University of North Texas Libraries include open access and born-digital products to support the educational and research-related goals of the university.

The Libraries of UNT are committed to the principles of open access, as outlined in the IFLA Statement on Open Access to Scholarly Literature and Research Documentation. Resources provided by the University of North Texas Libraries include open access and born-digital products to support the educational and research-related goals of the university. Summary The Libraries of UNT are committed to the principles of open access, as outlined in the IFLA Statement on Open Access to Scholarly Literature and Research Documentation. Resources provided by the University of North Texas Libraries include open access and born-digital products to support the educational and research-related goals of the university. Introduction The Libraries of UNT are committed to the principles of open access, as outlined in the IFLA Statement on Open Access to Scholarly Literature and Research Documentation. Resources provided by the University of North Texas Libraries include open access and born-digital products to support the educational and research-related goals of the university. In addition, the Libraries provide support for members of the UNT community who want to publish in open access formats. For more information about open access support for scholarly works produced at UNT, please visit Open Access @ UNT. Goals And Definitions The Libraries strive to meet the research needs of all users, including community users, by actively seeking out and supporting barrier-free access to quality information. Born-digital information is knowledge that first appears in an electronic form and that is accessible in an online environment using a computer. Open access information is a subset of born-digital information, access to which is online, free of charge and free, in varying degrees, of most copyright and licensing restrictions. Open access resources typically permit users to download, copy, print, display, distribute, search, index, and link to the information; open access resources remain the intellectual property of their creators, who have attribution rights as well as control over the integrity of their work. In the current information landscape many, if not most, library resources are born-digital. The Libraries establish access to authoritative born-digital resources via a wide variety of acquisition methods, including purchase, harvest and subsequent hosting of online materials, and referral to open access content that is not held by the Libraries. For the purposes of this policy open access and born-digital materials include: Resources clearly designated as open access, provided via the Internet with unrestricted access to peer-reviewed scholarly research; Resources clearly designated as open content, provided via the Internet with unrestricted access to information for which the creators have formally asserted a statement that the information is licensed under open content standards, such as a variety of Creative Commons licenses; and Resources that are freely available via the Internet, that meet standards of quality and value as described in the Selection Guidelines portion of the general collection development policy, and that are otherwise known or assumed to be under copyright. Selection Responsibility Primary responsibility for selection of open access and born-digital materials rests with the Collection Development Department. Secondary responsibility rests with the subject liaison librarians. Faculty are invited and encouraged to recommend for inclusion in the collection any open access or other born-digital resources in the fields of their particular expertise. Students and staff may recommend appropriate materials as well. Recommendations may be submitted by contacting the the Collection Development Department or by completing an online form. Selection Guidelines The Collection Development Policy of the University of North Texas Libraries provides an over-arching framework that establishes the primary goals of all collection development decisions. Selection of open access and born-digital resources shall conform to these guidelines. Web-based resources should meet the same criteria that apply to resources traditionally purchased in tangible formats (for example, the resource supports or enhances the study, research and instructional needs of the students and faculty; the resource is of a scholarly nature or is likely to advance scholarly research or university programs). In addition to the Selection Guidelines portion of the general collection development policy for all materials (especially related to the lasting value of content, strength of present holdings, reputation or authoritativeness, and currency), the following evaluative criteria should be used in selecting open access and born-digital materials: Quality – the information in the resource logically pertains to the resource’s apparent subject; the information is reliably accurate, demonstrably factual, and reasonably comprehensive or complete; indicators of quality can include peer reviews or librarian reviews of site and/or site content, the presence of an authoritative author or publisher, a professional look and feel, or evidence of continuing support of the resource such as archives; contact information is available for the author and publishing authority; Authoritativeness – the credentials of the author and publisher are clearly identifiable, the legitimacy of the publishing domain of the source is apparent (e.g. .edu, .gov, .org or .net are preferred to other types of domains), and the publishing agency is recognized as reputable and likely to persist; Objectivity – the information is provided in a circumspect manner that is open to verification and validation, with minimal advertising or other nuisances that distract the user from the primary information in the resource; Currency – the publication date of the information is recent (within the parameters of the subject), clearly stated, and/or updated regularly as stated on the resource; and Functionality – any citations or links are correct and functional; no (or minimal) additional software beyond a standard web browser is needed to view the resource; the resource does not require fees for access, and there is a preference that registration for access not be required; and if at all possible the resource offers options for viewing text only, for by-passing frames, or for changing the display for better viewing. Access All materials within the scope of this policy shall be cataloged and findable by conducting a search of the UNT Libraries catalog for the title, subject, author or publisher. Entries for serial titles shall be added to the e-journals index, and entries for databases shall be listed in the databases index. In addition, the article-level content of serial items, when available, shall be included in article discovery service indexes. Once identified by searching the UNT Libraries catalog, materials shall be accessible from the discovery record, via the Internet without fee and with minimal or no barriers. Additional access points for open access and born-digital materials shall be provided via subject guides and class pages published by the various subject liaisons. Copyright Compliance The University of North Texas Libraries adheres to all applicable copyright laws of the United States and the UNT Copyright Compliance Policy. When the Collection Development Department certifies that a freely-accessible open access or born-digital online resource has value in supporting the curricular and research needs of the University and its communities, the Collection Development Department shall ensure the creation of a record that refers researchers to the resource from the Libraries’ discovery systems. Because such referral does not reproduce the resource, prepare derivatives of it, distribute it, perform it or display it, no licensing or permission to provide a discovery record is deemed necessary. For collections of digital resources that are acquired by the UNT Digital Library, see Collaborative Efforts with the Digital Libraries Division, below. Collection Maintenance In the interest of ensuring that open access and born-digital materials are relevant to the support of the UNT curricula and research needs, the collection of open access and born-digital materials shall be regularly reviewed for accessibility and on-going appropriateness. The primary purpose of periodic review efforts is to ensure that URLs link to the expected resource. Secondary purposes of periodic review efforts include evaluation of resources for suitability and continued relevance to the curriculum of the university. Because of the research status of the UNT Libraries, weeding, or withdrawal, of materials shall be performed on a very limited basis. Any weeding from the collection will be the responsibility of the Collection Development Department. Examples of types of materials to be considered for withdrawal include superseded works, resources that have become obsolete, resources that are no longer available under the aegis of fee-free open access, and resources that have vanished from the landscape without successors, identifiable archives or other means to reestablish their viability as research resources. Collaborative Efforts With the Digital Libraries Division The Digital Libraries Division provides a wide variety of digital content from multiple partners, contributors and online information sources. From mass digitization projects and large-scale harvests of web sites to targeted subject collections of digitized and born-digital materials, the Digital Libraries Division offers state-of-the-art infrastructure, management, storage, access, and preservation services for digital knowledge. In support of the UNT Libraries’ strategic plan purpose of advancing the research value of its collections, the Collection Development Department may designate subject areas for intensive collection development by the creation of digital collections of open access and born-digital materials. The decision to locally host targeted subject area content that is created by agents other than the Libraries shall be negotiated between the Digital Libraries Division and the Collection Development Department, taking into consideration factors such as storage capacity, indexing capability, staffing and the importance of the collection to fulfill the research needs of the anticipated users or to complement subject areas for which a gap has been identified. Creation of digital collections for specific subject areas may involve the establishment of creative partnerships with content providers and collaborative arrangements in which the UNT Digital Library acts as a hosting, discovery and preservation agent for content that is collected. When the UNT Libraries collect copies of electronic resources, under negotiated agreements with the authors and publishers of open access or born-digital content, the resources shall be added to the UNT Digital Library and shall conform to the UNT Digital Library’s specifications and other requirements. Access to these resources shall be through a search of the Libraries’ resource discovery systems and of the gateway to the Digital Library. Sources Consulted Bailey, Charles W., Jr. 2006. What is Open Access? https://www.digital-scholarship.org/cwb/what-is-open-access.pdf. Accessed December 2012, May 2013, December 2024. Cornell University Library. Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages. https://guides.library.cornell.edu/evaluating_Web_pages. Accessed December 2012, December 2024. Derived from: Kapoun, Jim. “Teaching undergrads WEB evaluation: A guide for library instruction.” C&RL News (July/August 1998): 522-523. Grahame, Vicki, and McAdam, Tim. 2004. Managing Electronic Resources. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries. Hood, Anna K. 2007. Open Access Resources. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries. Dates Approved: 11/15/13 Revised: 03/05/20 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Collection Development Policy for the UNT Libraries' Digital Collections 8 minute read.

Collection Development Policy for the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections.

Collection Development Policy for the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections. Summary Collection Development Policy for the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections. Policy Scope This document describes the policies governing the acquisition, curation, and management of materials in the UNT Libraries’ (UNTL) Digital Collections. UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections Mission Statement In support of the UNT Libraries Mission, the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections is dedicated to the long-term collection, production, maintenance, delivery, and preservation of a wide range of high-quality digital resources and services for the UNT Community and users throughout the world. Guiding Principles The UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections are maintained in accordance with the following guiding principles: Provide unified digital access to resources of value to the UNT Community Make access to these digital collections easy and transparent Sustainably manage the digital collections in perpetuity UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections Purpose Under the umbrella of UNTL’s mission, the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections exist to: Acquire, preserve, and provide access to digital resources required by the UNT community to successfully execute the mission of UNT as a major public research university deeply committed to advancing educational excellence and preparing students to become thoughtful, engaged citizens of the world Provide an optimum research environment to faculty, staff, students, and community members by enabling open access to significant research collections Support open access to and long-term preservation of the scholarly output of UNT to the best of its ability Encourage long-term preservation of content contributed by partners, researchers, and institutions Provide digital preservation support for non-UNT community organizations in Texas who otherwise do not have access to preservation support Audience The UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections have a broad audience interested in utilizing the digital resources, including: The UNT Extended Community (comprising students, faculty, staff, alumni, and administrators) Contributing partners and their constituents The larger academic community and researchers The general public throughout the world Collection Scope The UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections are comprised of three publicly-facing interfaces: The Portal to Texas History, the UNT Digital Library, and The Gateway to Oklahoma History. The digital holdings within these three interfaces are owned by the UNT Libraries or contributing partners. It should be noted that these resources are different in scope from “Electronic Resources,” which are resources purchased from and managed by third party vendors. The Portal to Texas History The Portal to Texas History includes materials collected and curated by institutions throughout the State of Texas. Most often these resources align in some way to the subject of Texas history, the geography of Texas, or are somehow related to resources useful to users of The Portal. While the majority of the resources in The Portal relate to Texas history, the subject matter is broader and encompasses resource collected and held by institutions and private individuals in Texas. The Portal to Texas History contains collections from partner institutions across the state. Collections that have received significant support either internally or externally include: The Texas Digital Newspaper Program provides access and preservation to digitized and born-digital newspaper issues from the earliest days of Texas until the present. The Texas Register is a partnership with the Office of the Texas Secretary of State, Texas Register Section, providing free access to all issues of the Texas Register from Volume 1, No. 1 (January 6, 1976). to the present. Texas Laws and Resolutions Archive embodies a collection of legislative bills that were filed with the Office of the Texas Secretary of State - Statutory Documents beginning with the 78th Legislative Session. All bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions passed by the Texas Legislature, including those vetoed by the Governor. In partnership with the Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Texas State Publications includes digitized Texas documents distributed to the UNT Libraries by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) as part of the Texas Depository Library Program. In addition this collection contains Web-harvested documents from Texas agencies which fall within the scope of the UNT Libraries Texas State Documents Collection. UNT Digital Library The UNT Digital Library is a centralized repository for the collections held by the libraries, colleges, schools, and departments at the University of North Texas. This system provides access to a wide range of collections from partners around campus. Collections of note include: UNT Scholarly Works: This collection serves as the UNT institutional repository, housing materials from the UNT community’s research, creative, and scholarly activities. UNT Data Repository: This collection is a central archive for research data outputs of the UNT community. The UNT Data Repository works in conjunction with the UNT Scholarly Works institutional repository to ensure accessibility to the full range of research outputs from UNT. UNT Theses and Dissertations: This collection houses theses and dissertations created by masters and doctoral students in the degree-seeking process at UNT. CyberCemetery: This collection is an archive of government websites that have ceased operation. The CyberCemetery features a variety of topics indicative of the broad nature of government information and in particular, websites that cover topics supporting UNT’s curriculum, and particular program strengths. Technical Reports and Image Library (TRAIL): This collection includes hard-to-find reports published by various government agencies. The publications in this collection contain reports, images, and technical descriptions of research performed for U.S. government agencies prior to 1975 and covering a broad range of topics. The Gateway to Oklahoma History The Gateway to Oklahoma History is a portal to resources housed at the Oklahoma Historical Society and is made available in partnership between the Oklahoma Historical Society and the University of North Texas. Collections of note include: Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program: This collection houses digitized newspapers from throughout the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Publishing Company Photograph Collection: The Oklahoma Publishing Company is the parent company several newspapers in Oklahoma. This collection features a wide-variety of photographs taken for stories in these newspapers. Selection Criteria The UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections make available collections that support research and scholarship according to the needs of the UNT Extended Community. For inclusion within the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections, objects must meet all Level One criteria and at least one of Level Two criteria. Level One criteria cover objective standards such as copyright, extent, and format issue. Items must meet all of the criteria in Level One to be eligible for addition into one of the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections: Each item must: Be in the public domain, or have documented, non-revocable permission granted by the copyright holder, or be allowed by Section 108 (17 U.S.C. §108) Be intended for public viewing and use Be complete, such as an entire publication, article, etc., and not a “part” such as an abstract, forward, or title page Meet the standards required for long-term digital curation Be in a standard format accessible through current file viewers or have a documented conversion path to move the format into a standard format Be intended for permanent storage in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections Level Two criteria cover subjective elements requiring review, assessment, and the professional judgment of UNT Digital Libraries’ librarians and staff in collaboration with subject experts. Items must satisfy at least one criterion from these categories: Utility - the items support the University of North Texas’ Extended Community goals: Research Scholarship Teaching Demand - items meet anticipated or demonstrated community demands: Departmental priorities Citation frequency Digital item usage Commitment - items meet an obligation or requirement established by external means: Institutional archives Legal requirements Contracts or MOUs Retention And Evaluation All objects included in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections are intended to be retained permanently upon acceptance into the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections. The UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections will not be used as a temporary storage facility for digital items. Collection Curators The UNT Libraries provide curators for their digital collections who exercise intellectual and administrative stewardship responsibilities for digital objects stored in the UNT Libraries’ Digital collections. The Digital Collection curator is a role rather than a specific individual, and it is understood that, over time, many different individuals will play this role for a specific collection. Each Digital Collection Curator will ensure sound stewardship of the collection and will appropriately manage these digital objects over the long-term through standard digital management practices, which include the following: Intellectual property rights managing the legal rights necessary for all services over time, and where necessary, obtaining legal clearances for the right to make copies for backup purposes, make derivative copies, and distribute publicly Metadata - follow the UNT Libraries Metadata Guidelines, to support the design of appropriate descriptive, administrative, technical, and structural metadata are created for each object Discovery and access - ensure that metadata, or descriptions of objects are publicly available Access and Usage Some materials may have restrictions on access and/or usage. See the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections Usage and Feedback Policy, sections 2. Access and 3. Rights/Terms of Use for complete guidelines. Review Cycle This policy will be reviewed and updated as needed with a full review every two years to assure timely revisions as technology progresses, collection focus changes, and digital library collections mature. Dates Approved: 09/16/15 Revised: 01/12/17 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Government Documents Collection Development Policy 7 minute read.

Governs the acquisition and maintenance of the UNT Libraries government information collections.

Governs the acquisition and maintenance of the UNT Libraries government information collections. Summary This policy governs the acquisition and maintenance of the UNT Libraries government information collections, which include federal, state, and local government information resources; legal materials; and maps. These collections are currently housed in the Sycamore Library at Sycamore Hall. Federal Depository Library Program The UNT Libraries was designated a Federal Depository Library in 1948. The Federal Depository collection currently serves the 13th Congressional District of Texas, which includes the Texas Panhandle, parts of Texoma and northwestern parts of North Texas. The primary clientele of the federal depository are the residents of the 13th Congressional District and the students, faculty, and staff of UNT. The Sycamore Library is responsible for the Government Documents collection. Staff follow the guidelines and instructions for selection and disposal set forth in the Legal Requirements and Program Regulations of the Federal Depository Library Program. When questions arise over the interpretation of these guidelines, the Government Information Librarian consults with the Regional Depository Librarian at Texas Tech University. Acquisition The majority of items in the collection are obtained through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP); the majority of items currently selected are born digital publications, although tangible materials are still received. Staff and librarians monitor the FDLP eXchange and request materials to supplement the collection as needed. To complement the depository collections, privately published materials are purchased selectively, after consideration of relevance to the curriculum, and space and budget constraints. Language English language materials are primarily collected, but other languages may also be considered. Selection Guidelines The UNT Libraries bases its depository item selection on the curriculum and research needs of the campus as well as the government information needs of the 13th Congressional District. The UNT Libraries selection profile includes the FDLP Basic Collection. General publications and data are selected when appropriate and relevant to academic disciplines and research as well as local constituencies. The geographic focus of the collection includes some international emphasis; the U.S. as a whole; the five-state region: Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas; Texas; the counties comprising the North Central Texas Council of Governments (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant, and Wise); and the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Below is a separate collection development statement for maps. A collection development policy is also available for General Collection Research Data. Preservation Steward The UNT Libraries, through Memoranda of Agreement (MOA), serves as a Preservation Partner to the Government Publishing Office (GPO). By agreeing to retain print collections of value to the FDLP and the local UNT community, the UNT Libraries serves as a Preservation Steward. Additionally, materials within scope of the FDLP are accessed and preserved in the UNT Digital Library, extending this partnership to include Digital Preservation Steward. As a Preservation Steward, the UNT Libraries is committed to preserving the following materials: Statistical Abstract of the United States Area Handbook Series Indian Reading Series Department of the Army Technical Manuals Annual report of the Bureau of Ethnology/Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletins, Bureau of Ethnology/Bureau of American Ethnology Handbook of North American Indians War Department Technical Manuals U.S. Congressional Serial Set Comics & Graphic Novels Coloring Books & Activity Books Digitized U.S. government publications from a variety of agencies Texas State Publications The UNT Libraries has been a Texas State Publications Depository since the program’s inception in 1963. Documents received prior to 2011 are cataloged and housed at the Sycamore Library. Materials distributed since 2011 are digitized for inclusion in The Portal to Texas History (see Digital Collections). Digital Collections The UNT Libraries serves as an Affiliated Archive of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and a Digital Preservation Steward in the FDLP by committing to make publicly accessible digital resources within scope of the FDLP at no fee. Digital collections within scope of the FDLP include digitized content as well as harvested web content. These collections are accessible through the UNT Digital Library and The Portal to Texas History. The selection guidelines listed above, as well as our official partnerships with the U.S. Government Publishing Office and NARA guide our acquisition of born-digital government publications and conversion of tangible materials. The UNT Libraries serves as host for the Texas Register by agreement with the Texas Secretary of State. The UNT Libraries digitizes and makes discoverable Texas State Publications distributed by the Texas State Library and Archives. These collections are available in The Portal to Texas History. Legal Materials The purpose of the UNT Libraries’ Legal Collection is to provide access to legal materials in support of the UNT curriculum. The collection is intended to be a resource for the academic community, as well as for local and regional community members. The Legal Collection, as referred to in this policy, consists of legal materials located in the Sycamore Library as well as items available via subscription databases. The Sycamore Library staff provides reference assistance and access to the collection. The Government Information Librarian, in consultation with subject librarians, requesting faculty, and Collection Development librarians, is primarily responsible for selection of the collection. Acquisition The current collection consists primarily of legal databases with historical materials available in print. Materials obtained through the Federal Depository Library Program and the Texas State Publications Depository Program, such as the United States Reports, Code of Federal Regulations, United States Code, U.S. Statutes at Large, and the Texas Administrative Code, are considered supplements to the Legal Collection. Language English language materials are primarily collected. Collection Areas The print collection is no longer kept current, with the exception of Vernon’s Texas Code Annotated and a few other select materials. Historical collections include primarily U.S. federal and Texas state laws. Some foreign government and international law materials are purchased from departmental allocations. UNT Libraries subscribe to databases that provide expanded access to legal materials, including materials relevant to the legislative process, and current and historical Congressional documents, and information about past and current members of Congress. Databases provide access to statutory, regulatory, legislative and case information for the U.S. federal government, U.S. states, Canada, and some European countries not found in the print collection, as well as numerous law reviews and legal news publications. Other UNT Libraries databases provide access to legal forms, legal dictionaries, and legal periodicals. Maps The purpose of the UNT Libraries Map Collection is to provide access to cartographic materials in support of the UNT curriculum. The collection is intended to be a resource for the academic community, as well as for local and regional community members. The Map Collection consists primarily of flat maps with dimensions that prevent them from being stored in regular library stacks. Folded maps may also be included in the collection, depending on dimension and/or anticipated usage. The Map Collection is maintained as a part of the government information collections and is housed in the Sycamore Library and offsite at the Library Annex. Sycamore Library staff provide reference assistance and access to the collection. The Government Information Librarian, in consultation with subject librarians, requesting faculty, and Collection Development librarians, is primarily responsible for selection, maintenance, and storage of the collection. Acquisition Maps will be purchased selectively, after consideration of relevance to the curriculum and size and space constraints. All requests for additions to the Map collections will be reviewed by the Government Information Librarian to assure appropriate storage options are available. Language English language materials are primarily collected, but other languages may also be considered. Collection Areas (Geographic Area & Coverage) Denton County: All scales and subjects. DFW Metroplex [includes Denton, Dallas, Tarrant, and Collin counties]: All scales; transportation, political, demographic, relief, geologic. Texas: All scales; transportation, political, demographic, relief, geologic, including historical materials. 5-State Area [Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Arkansas]: All scales; reference and thematic maps, natural resources. Southwest U.S.: Reference and thematic maps. United States: Reference and thematic maps, including historical materials. Mexico: Reference and thematic maps, including historical materials. World Reference and thematic maps of Earth as a whole, continents, regions, and nations, including historical materials. Excluded Materials Aerial photography, aeronautical charts, nautical charts, and maps larger than 41” x 51” are generally not collected. Dates Approved: 07/03/12 Revised: 05/07/20, 08/13/24

Media Library Collection Development Policy 4 minute read.

Addresses the collection development policies of the UNT Libraries and describes the methods of acquisition and selection in the Media Library department.

Addresses the collection development policies of the UNT Libraries and describes the methods of acquisition and selection in the Media Library department. Summary This policy addresses the collection development policies of the UNT Libraries and describes the methods of acquisition and selection in the Media Library department. Purpose The Media Library department acquires and licenses audiovisual and gaming resources to enhance research and instruction in support of curricula and interdisciplinary research in all undergraduate and graduate programs. Audience The Media Library’s primary audience is the students, faculty, and staff of UNT. Due to the nature of these resources, requests for access or use of physical and digital collections outside of the university community are considered on the basis of availability and intended use. Scope Of Coverage Visual Formats Physical visual media formats are preferred for purchase when available. Encoded disc formats will be purchased in North American or All Region formats and include closed captions when available. Video and audio cassette formats may continue to be purchased under certain circumstances for instructional purposes, but other obsolete audiovisual formats will not be considered for acquisition. Digital / Streaming Formats Streaming formats for instruction, education, and research will be considered for purchase on the basis of the title’s availability, cost, and licensing terms. Requests to license streaming formats for instructional use will consider the nature of the course, number of students enrolled, and frequency that the course will be offered. Game Formats Board games, video games (PC, console, handheld, vintage) and equipment will be collected in contemporary and obsolete formats to support students and faculty interested in games and gaming as a recreational and research area. New Formats Media Library staff will maintain an awareness of new formats and will plan for collection growth and the purchase of equipment to support emerging formats. Selection Guidelines Responsibility UNT Faculty, Subject Liaisons, staff, and students are encouraged to recommend materials in the fields of their expertise to support the curriculum and research mission of the university. The Media Library Head, Media Arts and Digitization Librarian, and Games and Education Librarian are responsible for developing and maintaining the Media Library’s collections to provide sustainable access and support to the curriculum and research interests of the university, its faculty, students, and staff. Selection Criteria The Media Library collects Film and Game resources that support the curriculum and research interests of faculty, staff, and students. Films are selected on the basis of quality of content including lasting value, currency, accessibility, awards recognition, technical quality, aesthetic appeal, cultural impact, enhanced editions, and bonus features. Games are selected on the basis of use, creation, and impact to gaming. Materials in all languages will be collected. English language subtitles are preferred on all foreign materials. Dubbed films will be purchased only if no subtitled version can be obtained. All resources are acquired through objective selection and evaluation. The Media Library practices fair and unbiased selection and is opposed to censorship. Gifts Gifts will be accepted if they meet the scope and selection criteria of the collection. Materials must be legally acquired. All donors must agree to the UNT Libraries Gift Policy and must complete a University of North Texas Libraries Gift Agreement Form. Acceptance of a gift does not guarantee inclusion in the collection. Copyright And Licensing For Public Performance Only legally acquired materials will be added to the collection. Transfers Media items may be transferred from one format to another as needed and/or required with permission from the distributor. If permission cannot be obtained or the material cannot be purchased at a reasonable price, the Media Library follows the guidelines set forth in Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 108 of the U.S. Code. Public Performance Rights The UNT Media Library holds no public performance rights for many of its feature films. Educational materials will be purchased with Public Performance Rights when possible. The UNT Media Library holds no public performance rights for many of its feature films. Any public showing that is not part of face-to-face teaching may require a license. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring department or organization to request that permission be secured and to pay the licensee for any public showing. Public Performance Rights for other titles will be determined and negotiated on the basis of need. Dates Approved: 06/25/12 Revised: 01/12/17, 06/28/24

Music Library Collection Development Policy 2 minute read.

This policy addresses the Music Library collection development policies of the UNT Libraries.

This policy addresses the Music Library collection development policies of the UNT Libraries. Summary This policy addresses the Music Library collection development policies of the UNT Libraries. The Music Library, a department of the UNT Libraries established in 1941, collects and houses music-related items, including printed and manuscript music, sound recordings in all formats, as well as monographic and serial literature on music. In addition, the Music Library preserves, maintains, and provides access to rare and archival collections of various types of music materials. The Music Library is also responsible for selecting electronic databases related to music in several different formats. Purpose The Music Library serves to support the instructional and research programs of the UNT College of Music by providing materials for students enrolled in the UNT College of Music, and by supporting faculty preparation for these programs. In addition, the Music Library supports, as is possible, faculty in professional research, and serves as a resource for the musical interests of the University of North Texas community, and the musical community of the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex, and other scholars and researchers whose interest align with those of the Music Library’s collection strengths. Selection Guidelines Selection of materials is based primarily on the instructional and curricular needs of the students and faculty within the UNT College of Music, for artistic expression, performance, and scholarly study and research, in the following broad categories: Performing and pedagogical editions of music. Critical and scholarly editions of music, including collected editions and monuments of music. Scholarly literature on music. Musical sound recordings and video recordings. Electronic databases related to music. Historically, the focus of the collection has been on Western art music. This scope has changed as the College of Music curriculum has broadened to include musics of other cultures as well as popular and vernacular genres. Recent, expanded areas of interest include jazz, American music, world music, twentieth-century music, early music, video game music, and commercial music. Acquisitions New materials are most often acquired through the purchase of recently published titles available from commercial publishers. These support new and emerging curriculum in the College of Music and are based on profiles established with vendors as well as requests from students and faculty. Historic, archival, and rare materials are primarily obtained through gifts from donors. Audience The Music Library’s primary clientele is the UNT College of Music. With more than 1,600 undergraduate and graduate majors and nearly 100 full-time faculty, the UNT College of Music is a comprehensive college offering study at the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels within the following divisions: Composition Studies; Conducting & Ensembles; Instrumental Studies; Jazz Studies; Keyboard Studies; Music Education; Music History, Theory, and Ethnomusicology; and Vocal Studies. Centers within the College include the Center for Contemporary Studies in Music Education; Center for Experimental Music and Intermedia; Center for Schenkerian Studies; Texas Center for Music and Medicine; Center for Chamber Music Studies; and The MoUNTain Music Institute. Dates Approved: 06/27/12 Revised: 01/12/17, 07/08/24

Reconsideration of Materials 2 minute read.

Addresses information related to the reconsideration of materials acquired by the UNT Libraries through its collection development practices and policies.

Addresses information related to the reconsideration of materials acquired by the UNT Libraries through its collection development practices and policies. Summary This policy addresses information related to the reconsideration of materials acquired by the UNT Libraries through its collection development practices and policies. Background The UNT Libraries Collection Development Policy states that: The UNT Libraries have the goal of becoming a top tier research library. The goal is accomplished through strategic acquisitions of quality collections and resources. The aim is to create physical and virtual collections that support the scholarship and research activities of a top tier research institution. The UNT Libraries support instruction, research, and creative production with collections in a variety of formats housed in several locations. The Libraries strive to acquire, preserve, and provide access to all types of information sources necessary to meet the needs of its primary clientele. The Libraries must balance access to and ownership of information resources in accomplishing this goal. The UNT Libraries also subscribe to the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement, which states that: The freedom to read and write is almost the only means for making generally available ideas or manners of expression that can initially command only a small audience. The written word is the natural medium for the new idea and the untried voice from which come the original contributions to social growth. It is essential to the extended discussion that serious thought requires, and to the accumulation of knowledge and ideas into organized collections. Process Any person requesting reconsideration of any materials must complete and sign a Reconsideration of Library Materials Form. The completed and signed form will be reviewed by the appropriate subject librarian and the Head of Collection Development. The Subject Librarian and the Head of Collection Development will draft a recommendation concerning disposition of the challenged material to the complainant within four weeks of receipt and forward to the University Librarian along with the original Reconsideration of Library Materials Form for review. The University Librarian has the responsibility and liability for the final decision. The Head of Collection Development has the responsibility of notifying the complainant as to the decision regarding the materials. The complainant shall be notified within three months from the date of receipt of the signed form, except in unusual circumstance (i.e. overlapping annual leave, transition of personnel, etc.) All decisions are final. Once validated by the process, materials shall not be eligible for further reevaluation as each challenged item has been through a rigorous review. An updated file listing the title, date challenged, date resolved, disposition, will be kept by the Head of Collection Development and provided to anyone who requests the list. Dates Approved: 01/15/13 Revised: 01/12/17 Reviewed: 03/05/20, 07/08/24

Special Collections Collection Development Policy 5 minute read.

This policy describes the methods of acquisition and selection criteria for collections in the Special Collections department.

This policy describes the methods of acquisition and selection criteria for collections in the Special Collections department. Summary This policy describes the methods of acquisition and selection criteria for collections in the Special Collections department. Purpose The Special Collections department acquires and preserves rare and unique materials to support scholarship, teaching and learning. Audience Special Collections’ primary audience is students and faculty of UNT. Due to uniqueness of the materials in our collections, we also strive to meet the needs of a wider constituency by providing access to collections on-site as well as through digital platforms. Collection Policy Special Collections collects and preserves rare and unique materials including rare books, oral histories, university archives, archives and manuscripts, photography, visual materials, art and artifacts. Collections are preserved for use by students and faculty of the University of North Texas and by the scholarly community at large. At the discretion of the department head, Associate University Librarian - Special Libraries or University Librarian and Vice Provost, the Special Collections department may collect materials, in any format, that support our mission. Acquisitions are made through active collection development initiatives as described below, through donations, and occasionally through purchases. Donations to Special Collections are considered on a case-by-case basis. Donations must be accepted by the department, and all donors must complete a Gift Agreement Form. University Archive The University Archive contains documents, photos, artifacts and audio/visual recordings related to the history of UNT. Materials in this archive are composed of both official university records and donations from students, faculty and alumni. The major series in the University Archive are: Official Records: university publications (including Campus Chat and NT Daily), student publications and Presidents’ papers UNT Theses and Dissertations produced prior to 1999 the University Photography Collection Faculty papers Alumni collections Rare and Distinctive Books The category of rare and distinctive books is categorized by two levels of collecting interest. Primary areas of interest include examples of printed matter and printing technologies from the period 1451-1840 (spanning the earliest printed materials in the Western world through the era of the hand press); artists’ books; miniature books (defined as books 3” or less in spine height), Texana and Texas publishers (including Texas city and county histories), Victorian literature and periodicals, fashion and costume history, and acquisitions in support of faculty and teaching at UNT. Requests for purchases to support teaching will be given first consideration over requests which will typically only support faculty research interests, although both categories of requests are regularly considered. Secondary collecting interests include: facsimiles, children’s books, children’s games and folklore, books and ephemera related to World’s Fairs, pop-up books, modern first editions and Southern women writers. Special Collections may also accept materials from the UNT Libraries’ general collection in cases where an item is valued at over $300 or in cases where the fragility of an item warrants additional protection. Photography and Visual Materials Collections The Photography and Visual Materials Collection documents the history of photography and other visual media through the works of both traditional and vernacular artists. The collection includes fine art photography, studio and commercial work, specimens of early photography and other types of visual art such as paintings, posters, illustrations, sculpture and folk art. Primary collecting interests are samples of early photography (cased photography, carte de visite and cabinet cards), historical photographs of Texas, collections of notable regional photographers, posters and broadsides, and examples of illustration techniques and processes. Archives and Manuscripts Special Collections seeks to collect other primary sources of enduring value that broadly represent a diverse and inclusive history of people in Texas and beyond. Collections may include a variety of formats of primarily unpublished materials including, but not limited to: correspondence, personal papers, literary manuscripts, business records, diaries, “grey literature,” still and moving images, electronic records, digital photography and artifacts. Primary collecting interests include Latina/o history, LGBTQ history, and other collections of high evidential, information and intrinsic value that document significant people or events at a national, regional or statewide level. Particular attention is given to collections in this area created by people or organizations which serve people who are currently underrepresented in archival collections, such as women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrant communities, and non-English speaking populations. Secondary collecting interest includes military history, business history, and collections that document significant people or events at a primarily local level. Electronic Records and Web Archives Special Collections accepts collections which may be partially or wholly comprised of electronic records, including documents, photographs, moving images, audio recordings, and other types of records. Electronic records are appraised and processed by archivists according to the same procedures as physical materials. Special Collections utilizes the UNT Digital Library and The Portal to Texas History for long-term digital preservation and access to electronic records. Special Collections actively pursues web archives both as independent collections as well as supplements to existing collections. Web archive collections include domain-specific web crawls which are curated based upon existing collection development interests of the department. Whenever possible web archive initiatives will target the most ephemeral types of web-based information including social media, forums, blogs and micro-blogs. Oral History The Special Collections department serves as the repository for recordings and transcripts produced through the UNT Oral History Program. Oral histories produced outside of the UNT Oral History Program may be considered for inclusion in Special Collections, however, we require any incoming oral history donation to include proper documentation of permissions from both interviewer and interviewee. We may require the donor of an oral history to produce a transcript or pay the cost of transcription before an oral history is accepted. What We Do Not Collect There are exceptions to every rule; however, in general these are items that fall outside of our collection scope or that we are otherwise not interested in receiving: single issue, limited run, or commemorative newspapers cookbooks yearbooks (from UNT or other schools, colleges, or universities) student coursework or transcripts trophies or plaques photocopies of original materials materials requiring extensive conservation Dates Approved: 07/23/20 Reviewed: 07/08/24

UNT Libraries Gift Policy 4 minute read.

Addresses accepting gifts of books, journals, videos and resources in other formats offered to UNT Libraries in support of teaching and research information needs of University students and faculty.

Addresses accepting gifts of books, journals, videos and resources in other formats offered to UNT Libraries in support of teaching and research information needs of University students and faculty. Summary This policy addresses accepting gifts of books, journals, videos and resources in other formats offered to UNT Libraries in support of teaching and research information needs of University students and faculty. Purpose The UNT Libraries will review gifts of unique and archival collections in support of the academic teaching and research mission of the university. The UNT Libraries are not currently accepting donations of monographs for the general collections. Material Donations Upon receipt donated materials become the property of the Library. Accordingly the UNT Libraries are under no obligation to discuss retention decisions with the donor or other parties. Gift materials that the Library keeps and catalogs are added to the collections. We solicit the following types of materials for consideration to add to the collections: Materials that support the teaching and research needs of UNT students and faculty. Works published within the past three years. Scholarly treatments of topics. Works in the following languages: French Hebrew Italian Latin Spanish Japanese Monetary donations Gifts of funds in support of the UNT Libraries are also appreciated. Such gifts may be designated to support acquisitions in a specific subject area, or may be for the unrestricted use of the Library. Refer such gifts to the Director of External Partnerships (See CONTACTS). Restrictions Gifts are accepted at the discretion of the Head of Collection Development, the Head of Archives and Rare Books, or the Head of the Music Library with the understanding that there are no conditions attached to their disposition. Gifts to which the donor has attached conditions, such as those concerning retention, housing, or classification, may not be accepted for inclusion in the collections, nor can the UNT Libraries impose restrictions on use that will negatively affect access to the materials. (These restrictions do not apply to personal papers and archival materials that are governed by a separate policy administered by the Library’s Special Collections Department.) SEE CONTACTS. Gifts that will require commitment of funds or special facilities must be approved by the University Librarian and Vice Provost or his/her designee. Offers to donate books from organizations should be referred to the Head of Collection Development (See [CONTACTS]CONTACTS.). Tax Deductions Federal tax law generally allows individual donors who give non-cash gifts to the University to claim a charitable contribution deduction for the fair market value of the gift. Donors are encouraged to consult legal, tax accounting, or other professional advisors about the current IRS regulations (www.irs.gov) governing non-cash charitable contributions. The UNT Libraries are not permitted by the IRS to give donors an estimate of the value of gifts. Donors are responsible for meeting the appraisal requirements of the IRS for any contributions claimed. Appraisal fees must be borne by the donor. For IRS reporting purposes, it is important to note that it is the responsibility of the donor to keep accurate records describing the individual items donated and the value attached to each item. The Libraries do not supply itemized lists of donations. The donor indicates on the Gift Acceptance Form whether they will claim the donation as a tax deduction. If so, the donor will: Indicate the value of the donation that they are claiming. If they are reporting a value between 500 - $4999, they must attach an IRS 8283 form (this does not require an appraisal). Please see the 8283 form here and the IRS information regarding the 8283 form If they are reporting a value of $5,000 and over, they must attach an IRS 8283 and have an appraisal. Contacts To offer a gift to the Libraries, or to obtain further information, please contact: Todd Enoch Head of Collection Development University of North Texas Libraries 941 Precision Drive Denton, TX 76207 phone: (940) 565-2516 e-mail: todd.enoch@unt.edu To offer rare books, archival materials, genealogical primary materials or personal papers, please contact: Morgan Gieringer Head, Special Collections University of North Texas Libraries 1155 Union Circle #305190 Denton, TX 76203 phone: (940) 369-8657 e-mail: morgan.gieringer@unt.edu To offer gifts to the Media Library, please contact: Jenn Washburn Head, Media Library University of North Texas Libraries 1155 Union Circle #305190 Denton, TX 76203 phone: (940) 565-4832 e-mail: jenn.washburn@unt.edu Susannah Cleveland Head, Music Librarian University of North Texas Libraries 1155 Union Circle #305190 Denton, TX 76203 phone: (940) 565-2859 e-mail: susannah.cleveland@unt.edu To offer monetary donations, please contact: Dreanna Belden Director of External Partnerships University of North Texas Libraries 1155 Union Circle #305190 Denton, TX 76203 phone: (940) 369-8740 e-mail: dreanna.belden@unt.edu To offer donations to The Spark, please contact: Judy Hunter Director of Facilities and Operations University of North Texas Libraries 1155 Union Circle #305190 Denton, TX 76203 phone: (940) 369-7462 e-mail: judy.hunter@unt.edu Dates Approval: 06/19/12 Revised: 09/18/18 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Computing

Computer, Software, and Network Use Policy 2 minute read.

Outlines and describes a policy regarding appropriate use of technology resources, stipulating user authentication requirements, prohibitions on personal device repairs and unauthorized installations, and emphasizing the importance of saving work securely, with penalties for non-compliance.

Outlines and describes a policy regarding appropriate use of technology resources, stipulating user authentication requirements, prohibitions on personal device repairs and unauthorized installations, and emphasizing the importance of saving work securely, with penalties for non-compliance. Summary The University of North Texas Libraries provides technology resources for students, faculty, staff, and official visitors to provide access to the library’s collection and in support of academic endeavors. This policy is intended to ensure that resources are used appropriately within all governing UNT policies as well as applicable state and federal laws. User who are not in compliance with these policies may be subject to penalties. Penalties can range from a verbal warning, loss of access, financial responsibility, to legal action depending on the severity of the infraction. User Authentication User authentication is required to access workstations, printing, and wifi network access. Current UNT students, Faculty, staff and authorized guests may use their university assigned EUID to access computers, software, and network resources. The library does provide guest access to a limited number of workstations, with no access to restricted resources or applications. Personal Computing Devices Library employees are not able to repair or work on patrons’ personal devices. Patrons are not allowed to bring personal computing devices and plug them into the facilities wired network. All personal devices i.e. cameras, USBs, etc., are used at your own risk. Hardware / Software Installation of personal hardware or software onto the library computers is not allowed. Only hardware and software installed by the technical support group for the library or available through software center on Dell and Self Service on MAC will be maintained. A list of supported software can be found on our Software List page. Applications have also been made available from UNT for students through MyLab as well as . Video for assistance with My Lab and Citrix One Drive and Document Saving As with any technology, the computers in the library can have occasional hardware and/or software failure. It is important to save your documents to your OneDrive. Workstation are a shared resource and rebooted, reimaged, and cleared regularly. It is important to email yourself a copy of your work or upload it to your OneDrive account prior to leaving the computer. Virus Protection In order to protect the Libraries operating environment, all workstations are equipped with virus scanning utilities and will automatically scan external media for any computer viruses that may be present. Disclaimer This list is not inclusive of all UNT Student Computing policies. Dates Approved: 07/04/12 Revised: 01/12/17, 8/12/24

Applying Copyright Section 108(c) to the UNT Media Library Collection 6 minute read.

Covers creating preservation copies of audiovisual materials from the UNT Libraries collections.

Covers creating preservation copies of audiovisual materials from the UNT Libraries collections. Summary The following are the UNT Media Library’s policies and procedures for creating preservation copies of audiovisual materials from the UNT Libraries collections. Purpose Preservation copies will become part of the library collection and are not to be made for the purpose of supplying a patron with a personal copy of an item. These policies and procedures are based on the Copyright Section 108(c) with guidance from the 2012 report “Video At Risk: Strategies for Preserving Commercial Video Collections in Libraries” produced by the NYU Libraries. Copyright Section 108(c) reads: 17 USC § 108 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Reproduction by libraries and archives (c) The right of reproduction under this section applies to three copies or phonorecords of a published work duplicated solely for the purpose of replacement of a copy or phonorecord that is damaged, deteriorating, lost, or stolen, or if the existing format in which the work is stored has become obsolete, if— (1) the library or archives has, after a reasonable effort, determined that an unused replacement cannot be obtained at a fair price; and (2) any such copy or phonorecord that is reproduced in digital format is not made available to the public in that format outside the premises of the library or archives in lawful possession of such copy. Steps In Determining 108 Eligibility Materials will be considered for preservation under 108(c) if they can no longer be viewed properly (due to obsolescence, damage, deterioration, lost, stolen) and if an unused replacement copy cannot be obtained at a fair price. Defining obsolescence, damage deterioration, lost and stolen Obsolete formats: Obsolescence is defined as “the machine or device necessary to render [the work] is no longer manufactured or reasonability available in the commercial marketplace”. (Video At Risk, p. 8) The following formats may reasonably be considered obsolete: LaserDisc, filmstrip, U-matics, S-VHS. The item is damaged: Visible and/or otherwise perceivable deterioration of the video or audio signal prohibits the work from being viewed in its original condition. This could include: noticeable visual dropout noticeable audio dropout noticeable repeated disruption in the video RF signal color loss or alteration or other degradation or distortion of the content that would impair viewing. For tape and film based media, a work could be considered damaged if a significant amount of the material has been physically damaged and spliced out of the total work. For tape based media, if the carrier has sustained significant damages that affects playback then an attempt should be made to put the AV in a new unused carrier before moving forward with a 108 determination. The item is deteriorating Visible and/or otherwise perceptible deterioration of the video signal prohibits the work from being viewed in its original condition. This could include: noticeable visual dropout noticeable audio dropout noticeable repeated disruption in the video RF signal color loss or alteration or other degradation or distortion of the content that would impair viewing. Only perceptible deterioration will be considered. “Imminent loss” with no perceptible deterioration will not be the determining factor in creating a 108 copy. The item is lost. The item has been identified by library staff as missing or lost and standard procedures to locate the item have not led to its return. The item is at least 6 months overdue and standard procedures to contact the patron and retrieve the item have not led to its return. If the original item is returned after a 108 copy has been made, that copy should be removed from circulation while a new 108 evaluation is made. The item is stolen: The item has been identified by library staff as stolen and standard procedures to locate the item have not led to its return. If the item is returned after a 108 copy is made, the copy should be removed from circulation while a new 108 evaluation is made. Defining a reasonable effort to locate an unused replacement copy at a fair price “Fair price” will be defined as at or near retail price of the work when new. Media Review Digest or other similar resources may be used to research original pricing. Reasonable efforts will include reviewing or contacting the following resources to determine if an unused copy is available for purchase: Worldcat Amazon.com IMDB Google search Publisher/ Distributor of published work Videolib listserve inquiry “Classics Not On DVD” wiki Copyright Office online records of registration (1978 – present only) All research and contacts will be tracked in a central spreadsheet. Creating a Replacement Copy Once an item has been determined to be eligible for replacement, the following steps will be taken in creating and providing access to the copy: Source material for copying: Obsolete/Deteriorating materials - use the item from the Media Library collection to create the replacement copy. If a deteriorating item is not physically suitable to copy, a copy will be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan. Lost/Stolen/Damaged/Deteriorating materials – borrow a copy of the item through Interlibrary Loan in order to create the replacement copy. Making the copy The item will be copied to DVD format. Current inhouse digitization standards will be used. Access: New copies will be made available for inhouse use in the Media Library for all patrons (faculty, students, community members, researchers, etc) Materials will be made available to current UNT faculty for research and instructional uses outside of the Media Library. Members of this group will receive their normal non-reserve checkout period (7 days). Bibliographic control of the copy A new library catalog record will be created for the preservation copy with the following specifications: Item = czmrs/ Inhouse Use Only 500: This preservation copy was made in accordance with Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright Code. Transferred from (CALL NUMBER or LENDING LIBRARY) on (DATE). 500: NOTICE: Campus use only. Not available for ILL. A new holding will be added to OCLC. Bibliographic control of the original item Obsolete/Deteriorating items - the original item will be removed from circulation, but will not be discarded. The holdings will be removed from Worldcat. The bib and item records will be suppressed and the following note will be added to the bib: 500 A preservation copy was made of this film in accordance with Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright Code. Transferred to (CALL NUMBER) on (DATE). Lost/ Stolen/ Damaged – the original item will be removed from the collection and processed as a discard. This includes deleting the bib & item records and removing the holdings from Worldcat. Challenges to 108 Copies If a rights holder has an objection to a 108 copy being created they should contact the Media Library to make an objection in writing via print or electronic format (print letter or email). If an objection is made the Media Library will cease circulation of the copy while the objection is being investigated. Dates Approved: 08/22/13 Revised: 01/12/17 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Library Printing Guidelines 1 minute read.

Printing Policies for UNT students at the Library.

Printing Policies for UNT students at the Library. Summary Printing Policies for UNT students at the Library. Locations of Student Funded Printers The Library currently runs a bank of student funded printers in Willis Library on the 1st floor, with additional student funded printers available on the 2nd floor, 4th floor and one in Sycamore Library. Printing Credits UNT students printing is a print credit system. Currently-enrolled UNT students receive a printing credit each semester which is valid for any student funded printer. Print to meet your academic needs. Check your print credit balance at printing.unt.edu. Get a fresh print credit at the start of each semester. Be GREEN – print responsibly. Additional information regarding printing credits is available at computerlabs.unt.edu. Printing Policies Printing will be provided only to currently active UNT students There is a 20 page limit per print job. Large print jobs (i.e. thesis or dissertation) must be broken into 20 page increments Lab managers have the authority to restrict printing and/or access from any user who abuses printing policies. Lab Managers have the authority to grant special printing requests. All documents will be printed duplex (on both sides) by default. This can be changed if necessary. Please note Color printing is available for a fee. Copiers both color and black & white are available in the facility for a fee. Dates Approved: 07/04/12 Revised: 07/09/21, 07/08/24

Media Library Copyright Policies 1 minute read.

Covers The Media Library’s adherence to the face-to-face classroom exemption for use of media materials, as outlined in the Copyright Act (U.S. Code, Title 17, Section 110).

Covers The Media Library’s adherence to the face-to-face classroom exemption for use of media materials, as outlined in the Copyright Act (U.S. Code, Title 17, Section 110). Summary The Media Library follows the face-to-face classroom exemption for use of media materials, as outlined in the Copyright Act (U.S. Code, Title 17, Section 110). General Policy Information The Media Library follows the face-to-face classroom exemption for use of media materials, as outlined in the Copyright Act (U.S. Code, Title 17, Section 110). The Media Library also follows the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia. Classroom Use Under these guidelines, most classroom uses of films and videotapes are permissible, provided that the showing is by instructors, guest lecturers, or students and is done in connection with face-to-face teaching activities. Public Performances Films and videos from the Media Library collection may not be shown at a public event and may only be shown outside the classroom if the film is licensed for public performance. Not all film purchases include public performance rights. See this page for more information on public performance rights. Off-air Taping The Media Library will tape off-air television or cable programming at the request of faculty members and course instructors for purposes of instruction and research. See Off-Air Recording Requests Off-Air form. Dates Approved: 07/11/12 Revised: 01/12/17 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Digital Libraries

General Digital Collections Policies (Government Publications) 2 minute read.

Concerns copyright, reproduction permission, purchase, appraisal, and modification of content in digitally archived government publications.

Concerns copyright, reproduction permission, purchase, appraisal, and modification of content in digitally archived government publications. Summary Digital Collections policies for government publications, concerning copyright, reproduction permission, purchase, appraisal, and modification of content in archived government publications. Reproduction Permissions Regarding all government documents digital collections: The UNT Libraries cannot grant or deny permission to reproduce these images, as we are not the copyright holders for the original documents. Many, but not all, government documents are in the public domain. You may check the original and/or digital versions to check for a copyright symbol and author name(s). If you use a digital image from one of our collections, we request that you credit us as a source by including our institution name and the object’s URL. Please do this regardless of whether you publish the image in print or online. For example: [image] University of North Texas Libraries The URL of the Resource Archival-Quality Images Regarding all government documents digital collections: Many of these documents are already available for download in a variety of sizes We may provide high resolution files of images if they are available and only if advance notice is given. We do not have instant access to the majority of the images contained in the UNT Digital Collections. Appraisal of Original Posters/Documents Regarding all government documents digital collections: The UNT Libraries do not provide appraisal services. However, many books describe estimated prices for posters and documents. Titles you may wish to consult are listed in the Government Posters and Prints guide. If you have a document, poster, or collection for which you would like to determine the value, you should contact a specialist dealer. Purchase of Original Posters/Documents or Print Copies Regarding all government documents digital collections: We cannot print copies of these images for the general public. You may be able to purchase either an original poster or a reproduction by contacting an independent dealer (listed in the Government Posters and Prints guide). Modification of Archived Content The UNT Libraries have a policy regarding redaction and removal of content from digital collections. Per the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government Publishing Office, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the University of North Texas Libraries: The UNT Libraries shall “provide no fee, unrestricted public on-line access to the electronic Government information products.” The UNT Libraries cannot “significantly modify the structure of the information content of or access software related to the specified Government information products.” Dates Approved: 07/03/12 Revised: 01/12/17, 07/08/24

Library Data Retention 1 minute read.

The UNT Libraries is committed to making library-generated data broadly available in the UNT Data Repository. When possible, deposited datasets will be made available with the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication (CC0) license and are generally intended to be completely in the Public Domain.

The UNT Libraries is committed to making library-generated data broadly available in the UNT Data Repository. When possible, deposited datasets will be made available with the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication (CC0) license and are generally intended to be completely in the Public Domain. Summary In alignment with the UNT Open Access Policy and the Denton Declaration of May 2012, the University of North Texas Libraries is committed to making library-generated data broadly available in the UNT Data Repository. When possible, deposited datasets will be made available with the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication (CC0) license and are generally intended to be completely in the Public Domain. Policy When possible, deposited datasets will be made available with the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication (CC0) license and are generally intended to be completely in the Public Domain. The data collected and stored therein will have all personal identifying information removed, as prescribed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and in alignment with the core value of the library profession related to privacy and confidentiality. The data will attribute creators and sponsors (UNT Libraries) as appropriate. The library data to be shared in open formats include but are not limited to: Facilities data (door counts, computer logins, hours of operation, etc.) Integrated Library System (ILS) data (search strings, catalog records, circulation counts, etc.) Website data (page analytics, click-through information, etc.) Digital Libraries data (metadata editing information, metadata change data, etc.) References Denton Declaration: An Open Data Manifesto University of North Texas Data Repository University of North Texas Policy 06.041 Code of Ethics of the American Library Association American Library Association Policy on Confidentiality of Library Records Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) UNT Libraries Open Source Software Policy CCO 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication Dates Approved: 05/19/15 Revised: 01/12/17 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Locally Created Cataloging and Metadata Records Rights Policy 1 minute read.

As a way of supporting Open Access and the free dissemination and reuse of knowledge, the UNT Libraries makes its contribution of cataloging and metadata records available as Public Domain resources.

As a way of supporting Open Access and the free dissemination and reuse of knowledge, the UNT Libraries makes its contribution of cataloging and metadata records available as Public Domain resources. Summary As a way of supporting Open Access and the free dissemination and reuse of knowledge, the University of North Texas Libraries (UNTL) makes its contribution of cataloging and metadata records available as Public Domain resources. Policy All locally created cataloging and metadata records by the UNTL are Public Domain and are available under the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication (CC0). The UNTL, as creator of bibliographic and descriptive metadata records, has waived all rights to them worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. A bibliographic or descriptive metadata record for some resources, such as theses and dissertations, may contain an abstract created by the author of the work. Copyright law may still apply to the abstract in the bibliographic or descriptive metadata record. Dates Approved: 05/19/15 Revised: 01/12/17 Reviewed: 07/08/24

Open Source Software Policy 4 minute read.

Regarding the use of, contribution to, or creation and release of Open Source Software in or by the University Libraries in support of open scholarship at the University of North Texas.

Regarding the use of, contribution to, or creation and release of Open Source Software in or by the University Libraries in support of open scholarship at the University of North Texas. Summary The UNT Libraries issues the following policy related to the use of, contribution to, and creation and release of Open Source Software in order to support open scholarship at the University of North Texas by building upon the efforts of the UNT Open Access Policy for scholarly publishing and the Denton Declaration for releasing and managing data. Definitions Contribution is a tangible product created by individuals that help advance an Open Source Software project. Examples of contributions include: programming, bug fixes, issue reports, feature suggestions, and documentation. Contribution is a tangible product created by individuals that help advance an Open Source Software project. Examples of contributions include: programming, bug fixes, issue reports, feature suggestions, and documentation. Contribution is a tangible product created by individuals that help advance an Open Source Software project. Examples of contributions include: programming, bug fixes, issue reports, feature suggestions, and documentation. Contribution is a tangible product created by individuals that help advance an Open Source Software project. Examples of contributions include: programming, bug fixes, issue reports, feature suggestions, and documentation. Use Open Source Software When Applicable The UNTL supports using Free and Open Source Software for its business operations whenever open source solutions meet business needs. Contribute to Existing Open Source Software Development Projects The UNT Libraries encourages librarians and staff members to contribute to projects for the Open Source Software that they use. Suitable projects should have a clearly documented license approved by the Open Source Initiative. The UNT Libraries encourages librarians and staff members to contribute to projects for the Open Source Software that they use. Suitable projects should have a clearly documented license approved by the Open Source Initiative. The UNT Libraries encourages librarians and staff members to contribute to projects for the Open Source Software that they use. Suitable projects should have a clearly documented license approved by the Open Source Initiative. Create And Sustain Open Source Software Projects Software created in-house may be released under an Open Source License approved by the Open Source Initiative when possible. Software created in-house may be released under an Open Source License approved by the Open Source Initiative when possible. All software released by the UNT Libraries will include current contact information for the maintaining person, unit, or other entity, and a license statement. The BSD Three Clause License (see below) is recommended. Abide By Best Practices For Open Source Software Development The author of, or contributor to, an Open Source Software project will adhere to common codes of conduct within shared version control repositories and will address issues and other communications with the public in an timely, professional manner. If there are situations that are not covered by this policy or if there are questions about the policy in general, please contact the Associate University Librarian - Digital Libraries. Suggested BSD 3 Clause License Template Copyright © 2024, Regents of the University of North Texas All rights reserved. Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. Neither the name of the University of North Texas Libraries nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS “AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. Dates Approved: 04/17/14 Revised: 01/12/17 Reviewed: 07/08/24

UNT Libraries' Digital Collections Usage and Feedback Policy 10 minute read.

This document describes the policies governing the interaction of external users with materials in the UNT Libraries’ (UNTL) Digital Collections.

This document describes the policies governing the interaction of external users with materials in the UNT Libraries’ (UNTL) Digital Collections. Summary This document describes the policies governing the interaction of external users with materials in the UNT Libraries’ (UNTL) Digital Collections. Scope This document describes the policies governing the interaction of external users with materials in the UNT Libraries’ (UNTL) Digital Collections. Access UNTL acquires, manages, and preserves digital resources so that they remain accessible to its constituents over the long term. Although the UNTL supports open access and endeavors to make its digital resources accessible to all users, some items may have certain limitations on access due to legal, donor, and/or other restrictions. The designation of access for a resource does not imply that the resource is in the Public Domain as many of the items in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections are still covered under copyright. It is up to the user to investigate the usage limitations for items they are interested in reusing for the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections. Categories of Access The four categories of access currently utilized by the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections include: Public Access Resource is available via the Web to the public around the world with no limitations on who can access the resource. (All public domain items and Federal Government Documents fall into this category.) UNT Community Resource is available to anyone on the UNT Denton Campus, or by a current UNT Community member with use of a valid EUID when off campus. UNT Community Strict Resource is available only to current UNT Community members who are required to authenticate using their EUID before each use, no matter their physical location. Physical Premises Resources do not require authentication, but are only available in the physical buildings of the UNT Libraries, on computers connected to the Local Area Network (note WiFi cannot connect to these resources). Embargoes In some cases, materials are included in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections under embargo, which is essentially a pre-release state. While the embargo is in effect, the digital resource is not available to any users, regardless of location or affiliation. When the embargo date passes, the digital resource automatically becomes available under the stipulated access level. Generally, materials become publicly accessible when the embargo expires, however, it is possible for items to have restricted access and be available to only the specified user group at the end of the embargo period. Whenever possible, contact information will be included so that users can request a copy directly from the creator(s) while the embargo is in effect. However, we cannot guarantee that contact information is correct, or that a copy will be provided. Rights/terms of Use All materials in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections are subject to specific terms of use. Copyright Statement Items in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. The contents of the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections are made publicly available by our contributing partners for use in research, teaching, and private study. Although the nature of archival and manuscript collections sometimes makes it difficult to determine the copyright status of an item, it is the end user’s responsibility to use it according to all applicable terms. Please contact the contributing partner for additional information regarding copyright status of a particular digital image, text, data set, or sound or video recording. The UNT Digital Libraries will make contact information for contributing partners publicly available. Conditions of Use By using the digital images, texts, data sets, audio and video recordings, and other materials in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections, you, as user, agree to follow these conditions of use: UNT Libraries does not have authority to grant or deny permissions to use images or content from resources that are in the public domain or items covered under a Creative Commons License. Responsibility for any use of these materials rests exclusively with the user. Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by copyright law requires the written permission of the copyright owners. When using items from the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections, users should give proper credit to the contributing partner and the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections system from which they retrieved the item. User Privacy Surveys and Assessments Information and data obtained by the UNT Libraries in support of assessment of services, collections, resources, etc., or in support of research related to depository services, are considered confidential and will not be shared except in aggregations or with the express permission of participants, to protect privacy. Logging The UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections access systems (i.e., The Portal to Texas History, the UNT Digital Library, and The Gateway to Oklahoma History) frequently track or “log” the actions performed by users of those systems using mechanisms common to Web server technologies. Information from transaction logs are aggregated for reporting on types of use and use of materials. For this purpose, information regarding individual identities are removed. These transaction log files are retained as a research dataset by the UNT Libraries for use in research, system modeling, or the identification of errors. If a valid research request for these log files is accepted by the UNT Libraries, only an IP anonymized version of the files is provided. Authentication The UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections makes use of the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as a mechanism to allow individuals who are affiliated with UNT to authenticate into the UNT Digital Library. Google Analytics The UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections uses Google Analytics, a Web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”) to help understand how the site is being used and to improve our interface and services. Google Analytics operates through the use of a “cookie,” which is a text file placed on a user’s computer that contains information about their use of the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections. The information stored in the cookie (including IP addresses) will be transmitted to and stored by Google. The UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections uses this information for analytical and feature-improvement-related purposes only. We do not transmit any information to other third parties. For more information. A user can choose to opt out of this tracing by using one of the following methods: Turn off cookies in the browser preferences setting Install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on Personally identifiable information in items in the repository See Redaction Policy below. Redaction And Removal Requests Policy The University of North Texas Libraries work to acquire, preserve, provide access to, and disseminate recorded knowledge in all its forms. Library staff may not remove content, in whole or in part, from our digital holdings without significantly affecting the quality and usefulness of our collections. Removals and redactions, no matter how small, create inconsistencies between the original materials and the versions preserved and presented by the Library. These inconsistencies hinder the trustworthiness and scholarly value of our collections to the detriment of our users worldwide. We will not redact or remove portions of previously-published content from our digital library collections. Previously-published content includes newspapers, magazines, journals, books, archived websites, and newsletters. Exceptions to this policy will be considered for content that contains certain types of protected information including health information, student records, financial information, and personally identifiable information, such as Social Security and driver’s license numbers. When submitting a request for removal of published content, please specify how the content falls into a class of protected information. Requests for removal and redaction of materials which have not been previously published, such as content contained within collections of archival documents or photographs, will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Some records generated by the University of North Texas may fall under the jurisdiction of the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Sec. 552). These records include, but are not limited to, UNT Board of Regents’ meeting information, annual budgets, and publications such as North Texan magazine. These publications are considered state records and may not be redacted or removed from the digital library. As a result, examples of content that UNT Libraries do not redact are: Public announcements (e.g., marriage, death, or birth records) Materials added under valid, signed digital rights agreements Information generated in a public forum Information in the public record Information in the public domain Intellectual Property or Copyright Challenge Policy If a digital object is identified as being online without sufficient rights provided to the UNT Libraries by the rights holder, the UNT Libraries will work with the rights holder to remedy the situation. The expected steps involved in the process include: UNTL is alerted to a copyright or intellectual property challenge UNTL suppresses the record and access to the digital object during the review period A review of the resource, the partnership or rights agreements associated with the item or collection, and the issues brought up by the rights holder is conducted by UNTL staff UNTL communicates with the rights holder the findings of the internal review, and if in error works with the rights holder to hopefully restore access to the resource. If an agreement is not made, then the resource remains suppressed from public access. User Feedback The UNT Digital Libraries receives a variety of comments, questions, and requests through various means, including: Forms submitted from The Portal to Texas History, UNT Digital Library, or Gateway to Oklahoma History websites Forms submitted through the UNT Libraries website, such as the “Ask Us” form Direct contact via e-mail or phone calls with staff members Responses UNT Digital Libraries staff members answer feedback questions as received, within a reasonable amount of time, dependent on staff availability. In some cases, UNT Digital Libraries staff members may forward queries or comments to more appropriate subject experts instead. Staff members will not answer questions that appear to be automated spam, questions that do not include an e-mail address for reply, or questions that contain inciting comments rather than relevant questions. All requests for permission to use materials from the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections or to acquire high-resolution copies of image files must be directed to the contributing partner (see Rights/Terms of Use above). Examples of Services Not Offered by Digital Libraries Staff The UNT Digital Libraries do not: Provide access to embargoed or restricted materials to persons outside the designated community Provide appraisals for materials Provide research assistance including genealogy research, or other services that do not directly pertain to the maintenance or usage of the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections Provide technical support or guarantee the functionality of sites that are not operated or maintained by the UNT Digital Libraries Directly sell copies (digital or physical) of materials in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections In some specific instances, the UNT Digital Libraries provide links to third-party services that sell a particular item, however, UNT does not maintain responsibility for those sites Buy physical or digital items from individuals for inclusion in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections Provide legal advice in any form Review Cycle This policy will be reviewed and updated as needed with a full review every five years to assure timely revisions as technology progresses, expectations related to access, and digital library collections mature. Dates Approved: 09/16/15 Revised: 01/12/17 Reviewed: 07/08/24

UNT Libraries' Digital Preservation Policy Framework 20 minute read.

This policy addresses preservation of digital collections and resources for which the University of North Texas Libraries (UNTL) is the primary custodian.

This policy addresses preservation of digital collections and resources for which the University of North Texas Libraries (UNTL) is the primary custodian. Summary This policy addresses preservation of digital collections and resources for which the University of North Texas Libraries (UNTL) is the primary custodian. Definitions Access: The process for the retrieval of data and information from storage media, through the use of catalogs, indexes, and/or other tools. Acquire: To take physical and legal custody of data and information. Analog: Data and information in a format that must be digitized to make it digitally accessible. Aubrey: Framework developed by the UNT Libraries to provide end user access to digital collections in for the University of North Texas Libraries. Bit-Level Preservation: Minimum digital preservation standard; the goal is to maintain the integrity of the original bit-stream of a digital object. It is accomplished by maintaining backup copies (onsite and/or offsite), the periodic refreshing of those copies to new storage media, and conducting fixity checking. Born-Digital: Data and information created and maintained in a digital format. Coda: Archival management system created by the UNT Libraries for registering, storing, replicating, and verifying fixity of preservation files. Collection: A group of materials assembled by a person and/or organization, with one or more unifying characteristic. Curation: Activities related to managing data and information throughout its lifecycle, ensuring that data are properly appraised, selected, and securely stored, while appropriately maintaining logical and physical integrity and authenticity. Further, that data is made and remains accessible and viable in subsequent technology environments. Data Sets: Collections of data. The data formats include, but are not limited to, flat file tabular data, relational databases, text corpora, qualitative data in field notes, scholarly editions and thematic research collections. Digital Assets: Digital objects (e.g., text, image, audio-visual files) owned or managed by an institution (or person). Digital Collections: The collective digital library interfaces operated by the UNT Digital Libraries comprising The Portal to Texas History, the UNT Digital Library, and The Gateway to Oklahoma History. When used in the capitalized form it is meant to refer to the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections. Digital Object: An entity in which one or more content files and their corresponding metadata are united, physically and/or logically, through the use of a digital wrapper. Digital Preservation: Comprehensive set of managed activities that are necessary to provide continued access to digital objects, beyond the limits of media failure or technology change. At minimum it should include bit-level preservation. Digital Rights Agreement: A legal document that provides the UNT Libraries a non-exclusive license to preserve and provide access to resources owned by the rights owner for digital content in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections. Digital Wrapper: A technology that encapsulates administrative, technical, preservation, descriptive, or structural metadata and possibly content files into a specified format for serialization or transmission. An example of this is the Metadata Encoding & Transmission Standard (METS). Digitized Materials: Analog materials that have been transformed into digital form, especially for storage, access and use in a computer environment. EUID: “Enterprise UserID” is the local terminology for the unique identifier given to students, faculty and staff at the University of North Texas as part of the authentication framework in use by the university. Institutional Records: Data or information in a fixed form, regardless of medium, that is created or received in the course of institutional activities and maintained as evidence of that activity for future reference. Object Fixity: The quality of a digital object to be stable and resist change. On-Campus: Physical UNT locations in Denton including the main campus and Discovery Park. Open Archival Information System (OAIS) Reference Model: A theoretical framework that describes the components and processes necessary for a digital archive, including six distinct functional areas: ingest, archival storage, data management, administration, preservation planning and access. (A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology, Society of American Archivists 2005) Full reference model and specifications: Reference Model for an Open Archival Information System (OAIS), Recommended Practice, CCSDS 650.0-M-2, Magenta Book, Space Communications and Navigation Office, NASA, June 2012 Partners: Person(s) or organization(s) that contribute materials to the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections, and who are usually the content owners or rights holders for the materials. Partnership Agreement: A legal document that defines the relationship between the UNT Libraries and a contributing partner as well as the various rights each retains to the digital content in the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections. Provenance: Information regarding the origins, custody, and ownership of an item or collection. (Richard Pearce-Moses, A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology, Society of American Archivists 2005) Reformatting: The process of creating a copy with a format or structure different from the original, for preservation and/or access; this may be accomplished via, transcription, xerography, microfilming, and/or digitization. Scholarship: Use of intellectual resources, such as those managed by the UNT Libraries, for research, teaching, and learning. Stewardship: The responsibility for overseeing and protecting materials and assets. Sustainable Access: The process of providing long-term resources (fiscal, human, and technological) necessary to maintain access to information and digital objects in a repository. Trusted Digital Repository: A repository whose mission is to provide reliable, long term access to managed digital resources to its designated community, now and in the future. “Trustworthiness” should be quantifiable via an assessment tool applied to a repository conceptual model (e.g. TRAC / ISO 16363 for for OAIS Reference Model). University of North Texas Libraries (UNTL): The library managing the digital collections discussed throughout the Digital Preservation policy documentation. UNT Community: Individuals and entities currently affiliated with the University of North Texas that have a valid/active EUID. UNT Digital Libraries: Administrative unit in the UNT Libraries that manages digital and web-based systems. UNT Extended Community: UNT students, faculty, staff, alumni, and administrators. Scope This policy addresses preservation of digital collections and resources for which the University of North Texas Libraries (UNTL) is the primary custodian. Although this policy only addresses digital collections and resources for which UNTL is the primary custodian, UNTL, to the best of its abilities, has responsibility for informing, consulting, and as appropriate coordinating with other units of the University of North Texas to ensure that UNT faculty, staff, and students will have adequate ongoing access to administrative, scholarly, and other digital resources created at UNT outside of the UNT Libraries. Further, UNTL personnel will also work externally through consortia (e.g., the Texas Digital Library (TDL), and Cross Timbers Library Collaborative (CTLC)), licensing agreements, etc. to ensure that UNT faculty, staff, and students will have adequate continuing access to all currently available digital resources locally owned and managed by the UNTL. UNTL, however, cannot guarantee preservation for materials that it does not own and manage. Purpose This document formalizes the UNTL’s continued commitment to the long-term stewardship for, preservation of, and sustainable access to its diverse and extensive range of digital assets. In alignment with the UNTL mission to create, acquire, organize, disseminate, and preserve digital content, this policy makes explicit UNTL’s long-term commitment to the University of North Texas (UNT) community as its trusted digital repository. The UNTL’s digital stewardship efforts contribute to UNT’s mission to: Build a world-class faculty Develop academic programs that define UNT as a leader in scholarship and artistic endeavors Improve the quality of the teaching and learning environment Enhance and better serve the student body Create a more diverse university community Help build Texas’ future by ensuring access to this corpus of information over time Objectives The primary purpose of digital stewardship and preservation is to collect and maintain the intellectual and cultural heritage important to UNT, while at the same time making sure that it is accessible and held in trust for future use. The objectives in this statement define a framework to: Identify, through systematic selection, digital assets to be preserved across new generations of technology. Maintain continuous access to reliable data at bit-stream level, the digital assets encoded in the bit streams, as well as access to the intended contextual and intellectual meaning of the digital assets. Include in the scope of the program materials that originated in digital form and those that were converted to digital form. Protect UNTL’s digital investments through a fully-implemented digital preservation program. Demonstrate organizational commitment through the identification of sustainable strategies. Develop a cost-effective program through means such as system-wide integration, shared responsibilities, and automating human-intensive efforts, when possible. Comply with prevailing community standards for digital preservation and access. Seek, expand, and develop digital preservation methods that are appropriate for UNT. Mandate UNTL’s mandate for digital preservation is five-fold: Scholarship : As an institution of higher education, UNT is obligated to support core functions such as scholarship, teaching, and learning. As more resources and services associated with these functions become digital, UNTL’s responsibilities must expand to include the identification, stewardship, and preservation of designated digital content. Institutional records: UNT has charged UNTL with maintaining the University Archives by collecting and preserving university records that best document the history of UNT, including those in electronic format. Legal obligations: UNT has mandated responsibilities to preserve and maintain access to certain digital collections, as well as responsibilities as a federal depository library. Some legal obligations derived from Federal and State laws require us to maintain files in an archival fashion. Organizational commitment: UNTL’s commitment to digital preservation is explicitly cited in the UNTL’s current strategic plan, which calls for UNTL to: develop and implement a cross-divisional plan for supporting curation, storage and dissemination of library-created or library managed digital content build a robust, reliable, secure technical infrastructure base including both human and technology resources. Consortia and contractual commitments: UNTL maintains commitments to partner institutions of the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections, including The Portal to Texas History, as well as contractual agreements to assume or share in the responsibilities for preserving designated digital content. Challenges Recognized challenges in implementing an effective digital preservation program include, but are not limited to: Rapid growth: Technology that enables the preservation and dissemination of a variety of formats changes rapidly. As different types of materials are submitted (e.g., data sets, complex digital objects), monitoring different needs of the materials (storage size, metadata, etc.) and maintaining procedures and policies based on these needs is necessary. Sustainability: A sustainable digital preservation model should be developed that will respond to technological and staffing changes as needed, without under- or overestimating the needs imposed by these changes. The need for good cost models and affordable programs is widely acknowledged, yet still not fully addressed on a wider public scale. UNTL requires sufficient funding for operations and major improvements for digital asset management, as well as designated library funding to sustain ongoing preservation efforts. Further, there are administrative complexities in ensuring cost-effective and timely action to implement preservation strategies. The scale of funding is based on the level of commitment, therefore the program should reflect reasonable expectations of requisite resources, i.e., UNTL should not promise more than can be delivered. Management: Moving from well-managed digital collections to preserved collections requires institutional effort, partnership development, and a financial commitment. UNTL should provide a thoughtful balance between access and preservation, while being mindful of preservation’s core role in maintaining access. Partnerships: UNTL must work with creators and providers of crucial content to employ appropriate maintenance prior to deposit that will facilitate future preservation. Flexibility: The digital preservation plan must continually review its abilities to respond to the evolving technological capabilities and changing user expectations without jeopardizing the ongoing care of the digital content. Expertise: UNTL must commit to continually updating staff expertise, where appropriate, as technologies change. Rights: There may be intellectual property and other rights-based constraints on providing access that impact digital preservation efforts. Privacy: As UNTL strives to make increasingly more digital collections openly available to the world, personal information might appear within these collections that violates the privacy of the people whom this information represents. Principles Guiding principles UNTL will use consistent criteria for selection and preservation as with other resources in the libraries. Materials selected for digital stewardship and preservation carry with them UNTL’s commitment to maintain the materials for as long as needed or desired. The Libraries are committed to the long term preservation of selected content. Digital preservation is an integral part of UNTL’s process. Processes, policies, and the institutional commitment are transparently documented. Levels of preservation and time commitments are determined by selectors and curators, in consultation with technical experts. UNTL will participate in the development of digital preservation community standards, practices, and solutions. Operating principles The Libraries will strive to: Develop a scalable, reliable, sustainable, and auditable digital preservation infrastructure. Manage the hardware, software, and storage media components of the digital preservation function in accordance with environmental standards, quality control specifications, and security requirements. Comply with the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) reference model and other appropriate digital preservation standards and practices. Ensure that the digital archive is as interoperable as possible by utilizing open source options whenever feasible. Ensure the integrity of the data within the digital preservation infrastructure. Secure metadata (e.g., administrative, descriptive, preservation, provenance, rights, and technical information) necessary for access to and the use of the digital assets. Comply with copyright, intellectual property rights, and/or other legal rights related to copying, storage, modification, and use of digital resources. Standards UNT is best served when distributed and disparate systems conform to standards and best practices that make communication between these storage systems possible. To utilize the OAIS Reference Model as the basis for developing and implementing strategies and tools for long-term digital information preservation and access. Categories of Commitment UNTL’s levels of commitment as outlined below recognize that developing solutions for “born digital” materials informs solutions for the other categories; it does not imply that these assets are inherently more valuable or important than any of the other categories and/or our traditional, analog materials. Born-digital materials: Rigorous effort will be made to ensure preservation in perpetuity of materials selected for preservation, both library resources and institutional records. Digitized materials (no available analog): Every reasonable step will be taken to preserve materials without a print analog, when re-digitizing is not possible or analog versions are located elsewhere. Also included are digitized materials that have annotations or other value-added features making them difficult or impossible to recreate. Digitized materials (available analog): Reasonable measures will be taken to extend the life of the digital objects with a readily available print analog. However, the cost of re-digitizing as needed will be weighed against the cost of preserving the existing digital objects. Commercially available digital resources: UNTL has responsibility for working externally through consortia, licensing agreements, etc. to assure that one party or parties provides the necessary infrastructure to provide for preservation activities so that UNT faculty, staff, and students will have adequate ongoing access to commercially available digital resources. If the resources are external to UNTL, there needs to be an articulated exit strategy in the event of the cessation of the consortia or licensing agreements. Particular emphasis should be given to resources which exist in digital form only. Other items and materials: No preservation steps will be taken for materials requested for short-term use, such as materials scanned for E-reserve and document delivery, or for content that does not meet the requirements of the Collection Development Policy for the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections Levels of Preservation UNTL adheres to the National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA) Levels of Digital Preservation developed by NDSA, as a tiered set of recommendations on how organizations should begin to build or enhance their digital preservation activities. to ensure secure, long-term integrity to its digital collections. Based on the current digital preservation standards, UNTL will apply the NDSA levels as a way of identifying gaps and improving its digital preservation infrastructure. NDSA Levels of Preservation   Level 1 (Protect Your Data) Level 2 (Know Your Data) Level 3 (Monitor Your Data) Level 4 (Repair Your Data) Storage and Geographic Location Two complete copies that are not collocatedFor data on heterogeneous media (optical discs, hard drives, etc.) get the content off the medium and into your storage system At least three complete copiesAt least one copy in a different geographic locationDocument your storage system(s) and the media and what you need to use them At least three copies in a geographic location with a different disaster threatObsolescence monitoring process for your storage system(s) and media At least three copies in geographic locations with different disaster threatsHave a comprehensive plan in place that will keep files and metadata currently accessible media or systems File Fixity and Data Integrity Check file fixity on ingest if it has been provided with the contentCreate fixity info if it wasn’t provided with the content Check fixity on all ingestsUse write-blockers when working with original mediaVirus-check high risk content Check fixity of content at fixed intervalsMaintain logs of fixity info; supply audit on demandAbility to detect corrupt dataVirus-check all content Check fixity of all content in response to specific events or activitiesAbility to replace/repair corrupted dataEnsure no one person has write access to all copies Information Security Identify who has read, write, move, and delete authorization to individual filesRestrict who has those authorization to individual files Document access restrictions for content Maintain logs of who performed what actions on files, including deletions and preservation actions Perform audit of logs Metadata Inventory of content and its storage locationEnsure backup and non-collocation of inventory Store administrative metadataStore transformative metadata and log events Store standard technical and descriptive metadata Store standard preservation metadata File Formats When you can give input into the creation of digital files encourage use of a limited set of known open formats and codecs Inventory of file formats in use Monitor file format obsolescence issues Perform format migrations, emulation and similar activities as needed Roles And Responsibilities UNTL has identified the following stakeholder categories for the digital preservation program. The terminology is adapted from the OAIS Reference Model (CCSDS 650.0-M-2 (2012)). Producer: is the role played by those persons or client systems that provide the information to be preserved. Producers include faculty, students, staff, alumni, collectors, creators of content, publishers, and others. Producers will be responsible for complying with established deposit requirements and working with the management of the digital archive to ensure a successful transfer. (expanded OAIS definition) Management: is the role played by those who set overall OAIS policy as one component in a broader policy domain, for example as part of a larger organization. UNTL’s Deans’ Council will be responsible for setting digital preservation policies and integrating them into broader organizational contexts. (expanded OAIS definition) Administrators: encompass content stewards (designated staff responsible for selection and for ongoing curation of specific collections), digital preservation specialists, and working teams (see appendix for list). Administrators will be responsible for the establishment of the digital preservation program and for day-to-day management of the digital archives. [Note: OAIS uses Administration Functional Entity: The OAIS functional entity that contains the services and functions needed to control the operation of the other OAIS functional entities on a day-to-day basis.] Co-operating Archives: includes those Archival Institutions that have Designated Communities with related interests. They may order and ingest data from each other. At a minimum, co-operating Archives must agree to support at least one common Submission Information Package (SIP) and Dissemination Information Package (DIP) for inter-Archive requests. At UNTL we think of this group as collaborators. Examples include: Texas Digital Library (TDL). Consumer: represents the role played by those persons, or client systems, who interact with OAIS services to find preserved information of interest and to access that information in detail. This can include other OAISes, as well as internal OAIS persons or systems. User Groups / Client Groups: include the various types of clients who use the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections Collaboration/cooperation UNTL acknowledges digital preservation as a shared community responsibility, and as such has long-standing and emerging partnerships with similarly committed organizations (e.g., TDL and MetaArchive) and is committed to collaborating with other institutions, in addition to units internal to UNT in order to: Advance the development of the UNTL digital preservation program. Share lessons learned with other digital preservation programs. Extend the breadth of our available expertise. Extend the digital content that is available within a broad information community to UNTL users through cooperative efforts. Generally, in working, cooperating, and collaborating with others, UNTL will strive to: Understand the goals, objectives, and needs of the communities of creators and the communities of consumers of its digital resources. Identify appropriate partners and stakeholders to contribute to national and international efforts in digital preservation . Help develop national and international strategies and initiatives that enable the distribution of collection, description, service delivery, digitization, and preservation activity. Work actively with creators of digital materials to encourage and promote standards and practices. Access And Use Criteria UNTL acquires, manages, and preserves digital resources so that they remain accessible to its constituents over the long term. Certain limitations may be placed on access due to legal, donor, and/or other restrictions; generally, to the extent that it is possible, UNTL endeavors to make its digital resources accessible to all users. Additional restrictions may apply to usage of items. See the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections Usage and Feedback Policy, sections Access and 3. Rights/Terms of Use for complete guidelines. Implementation Implementation of this policy framework is contingent upon the infrastructure (technical and human resources) provided by UNT and UNTL, the availability of cost-effective solutions, the adoption of standards, and the evolution of best practices and procedures. Review Cycle This policy will be reviewed and updated as needed with a full review every five years to assure timely revisions as technology progresses and preservation strategies and experience mature. Sources Consulted The following resources were consulted in the development of this policy framework: Cornell University Library Digital Preservation Policy Framework (December 2004) Ohio State University Digital Preservation Policy Framework (August 2013) Reference Model for an Open Archival Information System (OAIS), Recommended Practice, CCSDS 650.0-M-2 (Magenta Book) Issue 2, June 2012 Society of American Archivists A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology, 2005 Dates Approved: 09/16/15 Revised: 01/12/17 Reviewed: 07/08/24
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