All are welcome at the West Library, with our primary patrons being Texas Wesleyan students, faculty, and staff. In order to create a welcoming and comfortable environment conducive to teaching, learning, and research, we ask for your cooperation with the following Library and University policies and in accordance with local, state, and federal law.
Library building policies protect library users and staff, access to resources, and the facilities. Users engaging in disruptive or prohibited behavior may be asked to leave the library and/or have their library privileges revoked.
Starting at 8:00 PM, only the campus community is allowed in the building, with admittance through the front doors. A current Wesleyan ID must be presented to enter the building. At all times, minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Library hours change at different times of the academic year. Please see the library calendar for current hours of operation.
The third floor is designated the "Quiet Floor" with individual study carrels. Conversations, cell phones, and group study are prohibited on this floor.
Group study spaces are located on the first and second floors and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Library Instruction Center on the first floor and the West Conference Room on the third floor can be requested and scheduled via the EMS system.
There are three classrooms on the second floor that can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis for group study when they are not being used for university classes.
Food and drink are permitted in the library. Please clean up after food and drink and dispose of all trash. A coffee & tea bar is located on the first floor for patron use. Coffee pods are $0.50 each; tea is free. A microwave is available for student use and is located next to the coffee & tea bar.
Cell phones should be placed on silent mode or turned off while in the library. The use of cell phones are discouraged within the study areas of the building. Calls should be conducted in the lobby or outside.
Any person who intentionally damages library property will be subject to paying a fine, loss of library privileges, and to appropriate administrative action by the University.
At all times, minors must be accompanied by an adult. Adults are responsible for the behavior of the minors accompanying them.
Borrowers are responsible for any materials checked out on their library account, including materials from other libraries. This includes returning items in the condition in which they were borrowed.
Patrons are not charged for normal wear and tear on library materials. However, the following conditions do not constitute normal wear and tear and may result in replacement charges:
Borrowers are responsible for any materials checked out on their library account, including materials from other libraries. This includes returning or renewing materials by the due date and time and being accountable for overdue fines or fees.
Library materials that are not renewed or returned will be declared lost by the system at 21 days overdue.
If materials are not returned to the library, a hold will be placed on your University account. You will not be able to access your University records, including grades or transcripts. Holds will be released once all library fees and/or missing materials are resolved.
If you believe you have already returned an item that was declared lost, please contact the Circulation Department so staff can search for the item.
Many materials in the library have multiple pieces, such as educational kits, media equipment, music scores, and media. It is the patron’s responsibility to return all pieces. If an essential piece is broken or lost, West Library will charge the patron for the replacement cost of the piece. Essential pieces are those that are necessary for materials to be usable or educationally meaningful.
If the item requires an essential piece and that piece is lost and not replaceable, the patron will be billed for the replacement cost of the entire item. For example, parts of music scores are often very hard to replace, and a new score must then be purchased.
Items are thoroughly checked by library personnel upon each return, so missing or damaged pieces will be billed to the last borrowing patron upon discovery. It is highly recommended that each patron verify that all pieces are present upon check-out and return.
Each library user is responsible for all materials checked out in their name. Library borrowing privileges are suspended with outstanding fees or overdue items. Holds are placed on the student's university account until all library fees and/or missing materials are resolved.
There are no late fees for overdue materials, with the exception of strict reserve items. If materials are not returned to the library, there will be a hold placed on your account. You will not be able to access your University records, including grades or transcripts.
Strict reserve items are high-demand materials that can be checked out for two hours at a time. Late fees for strict reserve items are charged at $0.50 per 30 minutes.
All patrons are liable for replacement fees on lost, non-returned, or damaged items while checked out to the patron.
Replacement fees are calculated as follows:
The purpose and commitment of the Eunice and James L. West Library is to support the mission of Texas Wesleyan University. The collection development policy governs the acquisition, disposal, placement, and access of materials to the Wesleyan community. Adherence to this policy seeks to serve the students, faculty, and staff of the Wesleyan community by building and maintaining a collection that meets present and future information needs.
The West Library adheres to the American Library Association's policies and statements on intellectual freedom, including the Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read Statement, and the Intellectual Freedom Statement.
This policy applies primarily to the print and digital aspects of the General Collection of the West Library. Other collections that generally fall under this policy include Reference, Test Prep, Juvenile, Joe Brown Theater, Twyla Miranda, Game, and Audio/Visual collections. The degree to which other collections fall under this policy is determined by the Collection Management Librarian and the Library Director and may be subject to change based on the needs of the West Library.
Other collections within the West Library may be developed or maintained by other library departments and may have their own collection development policies in place. For information on the collection development policies of those collections, contact the department assigned to them:
The primary goals of collection development at the West Library are to:
The University determines regular funding for the West Library yearly and is subsequently allocated to library departments according to the Library Director. These allocations are made based on the current needs of the West Library and are subject to change as determined by the Library Director. The budget is intended to support the missions of both the University and West Library. Expenditures of the allocated budget are primarily determined by the Collection Management Librarian, though the final responsibility lies with the Library Director. Additional funding may be provided through the use of endowments as determined by the University, and these allocations are subject to change based on the current needs of the University. Portions of the Prothro Perkins Endowment and the Eunice and James L. West Endowment are traditionally allocated to the Library for this purpose.
The growth and management of the General Collection is delegated to the Collection Management Librarian; however, the final responsibility lies with the Library Director.
University Librarians will liaise with University Faculty/departments in selecting proposed materials and resources, though recommendations are welcome from any member of the Wesleyan Community. It is the responsibility of the University Faculty and their corresponding University Librarian liaison to communicate the selection of proposed materials for acquisition to the Collection Management Librarian. Acquisition of each recommendation will be given equal consideration but shall ultimately depend on the selection guidelines outlined in the next section of this document.
It is the duty of the West Library to provide reasonable access to materials and resources in all formats and subject areas, as well as reasonable means of discovery. The selection process of the West Library shall endeavor to implement, enrich, and support the educational programs offered by Texas Wesleyan University. Materials must serve both the breadth of the curriculum and the needs and interests of individual members of the Wesleyan Community (primarily students.) It is the obligation of Texas Wesleyan University and the West Library to provide for a wide range of abilities and to respect diverse points of view. To this end, the principles of selection must be placed above the selector's personal opinions, biases, or prejudices. Criteria taken into consideration when selecting materials and resources are listed below; note that this list is not exhaustive, and additional considerations may be made on a case-by-case basis as determined by the professional estimation of the Collection Management Librarian and the Library Director:
Deselection, or “weeding,” of the General Collection is delegated to the Collection Management Librarian, though the final responsibility lies with the Library Director. The deselection guidelines cover all materials within the General Collection, including print and digital materials and resources that have been purchased or gifted. This process does not apply to materials that are rare or considered to be of high value or that are within the jurisdiction of other Library departments and their collections. Criteria taken into consideration when deselecting materials and resources are listed below; note that this list is not exhaustive, and additional considerations may be made on a case-by-case basis as determined by the professional estimation of the Collection Management Librarian and the Library Director:
Materials and resources that are deselected will be disposed of at the discretion of the Collection Management Librarian. This may include but is not limited to, donation, selling to a third-party vendor, recycling, submission to Special Collections and Archives for assessment, storage, or general disposal.
The West Library supports the curriculum of the university as well as the ability of students and faculty to explore topics in depth. Consequently, the library seeks to select materials representing all sides of various issues, and some materials in its collection may be considered controversial by certain groups or individuals. To request an official review, patrons may submit a Request for Item Reconsideration Form, which the Library Director and the Library Materials Reconsideration Committee will review. The complainant will receive a written copy regarding the decision of the challenged material.
Gifts and donations are accepted by the West Library upon the following conditions:
The evaluation of gifted and donated items shall be consistent with the above specified Selection Guidelines and Deselection Guidelines.
This document gives guidelines and departmental policies for providing reference services in order to promote a high-quality uniform standard of service. It is intended for both Library staff and patrons.
The Reference Department's purpose is to:
Reference services are for the following groups:
The service philosophy of Reference Department relies on principles and guidelines of library organizations plus university policies in the following areas:
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The American Library Association’s (ALA) documents on intellectual freedom, diversity & inclusion, and ethics. This includes, but is not limited to, |
Behavioral Attributes of Reference Librarians
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The Reference Department adheres to the behavioral attributes of reference librarians, as identified in RUSA’s Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers |
Professional Competencies for the Reference Department
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Reference staff follow the ALA’s Professional Competencies for the Reference & User Services Librarians and the Library Code of Ethics. |
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The Reference Department staff adhere to all privacy policies of the University in the following documents. In addition to the above University policies, the library staff adhere to the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association regarding privacy. All reference sessions are kept confidential. Reference transactions are maintained for use by library staff for reporting purposes and improving service. |
Distance Learning
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West Library supports the Distance Education policy of the University by offering virtual reference services. Contact CETL (817-531-6563) or cetl@txwes.edu to read this document. |
Virtual Reference Services
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Access to Resources
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The reference department facilitates access to digital and print library collections and content to support the instructional needs of the University. Users with a current RamID and password may log-on to use the Library Catalog, electronic databases, the Internet, or Office365 programs on the library computers. A public computer near the reference desk with access only to the Library Catalog and electronic databases is available to anyone. Referral and cooperative reference: As members of the TexShare and Amigos consortia, Texas Wesleyan community members may be referred to other libraries and/or services for resources. |
Reference Services do not include
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