Academics > Library > Library Information > Mission/Policies

Mission Statement
Censorship Statement
Collection Development Policy
Privacy Policy
Information Literacy Statement

Interlibrary Loan Policy


Mission Statement
Langenheim Library exists to support the Thiel College academic mission. We do so by providing materials and services supplementing the educational and research needs of the college community.
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Censorship Statement
Academic institutions are predicated on the search for knowledge. In research and inquiry, espousal and refutation, there should be no prohibited topics. We subscribe to the ALA Library Bill of Rights, especially Article II:
"Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval."
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Collection Development Policy
Responsibility for the selection of materials lies with both Thiel faculty, who recommend additions for their disciplines, and library staff, who maintain reference, databases, and general interest collections. The following factors are considerations in the recommendation of addition or removal of materials:

• Relevance to the curriculum
• Research needs of the students and of the faculty
• Literary quality and/or critical recognition
• Accuracy, validity, currency or timeliness, and reputation
• Cost and condition
• Diversity of opinion, global outlook
• Appropriateness to anticipated users in level and format
• Relationship to existing holdings

The Library holds primarily English language materials, although some items in other languages are available. Current textbooks may be added to the reserves collection at the request of an instructor.
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Privacy Policy
Langenheim Library respects our patrons' right to privacy and observes state and federal laws regarding the disclosure of personal information from library records. Confidential records include: registration files, circulation records, reference (print and electronic) searches, and interlibrary loan requests. Limited information may be shared with the Thiel Business Office.

State Law: Records related to the circulation of library materials which contain the names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of the State Library or any local library which is established or maintained under any law of the Commonwealth or the library of any university, college or educational institution chartered by the Commonwealth or the library of any public school or branch reading room, deposit station or agency operated in connection therewith, shall be confidential and shall not be made available to anyone except by a court order in a criminal proceeding. -- Pennsylvania law, 24 PS, Section 428

Federal Law: Sections 214-216 of the USA Patriot Act allow the FBI to obtain search warrants for library circulation records, Internet use records, e-mail, books, floppy disks, and computer hard drives. They need only to claim the records may be relevant to an ongoing terrorism investigation. It is illegal for librarians to disclose the existence of such warrants. The Patriot Act currently overrides state law.
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Information Literacy Statement
The library staff actively supports the positions taken by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and by the American Library Association.

According to the ALA, "Developing lifelong learners is central to the mission of higher education institutions. By ensuring that individuals have the intellectual abilities of reasoning and critical thinking, and by helping them construct a framework for learning how to learn, colleges and universities provide the foundation for continued growth throughout their careers, as well as in their roles as informed citizens and members of communities. Information literacy is a key component of, and contributor to, lifelong learning" and "Information literacy ... is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning. An information literate individual is able to:

• Determine the extent of information needed
• Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
• Evaluate information and its sources critically
• Incorporate selected information into one's knowledge base
• Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
• Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally." Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education." American Library Association. 2000.  http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/standards.pdf (Accessed 12 May, 2009)

In 1989, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education endorsed an information literacy initiative, which is now an important element in the Commission's statement of standards, Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2002). Commission philosophy and guidelines are further explained in Developing Research & Communication Skills: Guidelines for Information Literacy in the Curriculum (2003).
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Interlibrary Loan Policy

Langenheim Memorial Library will order no more than 5 books per student via Interlibrary Loan (ILL).  The first five books will be requested in the order they are received.  If we are unable to fill a request, another book may be requested.  If a student finishes and returns a book then another will be ordered to replace it.  All book requests will be suspended for any student with overdue ILL books.  This policy does not apply to nonreturnable ILLs, which are comprised mainly of photocopies.  Photocopy ILL must, however, follow the fair use tenant of no more than 5 articles from a single journal title.

Interlibrary Loan is a privilege.  The Director of the Library reserves the right to suspend individual ILL borrowing privileges if it is determined that the individual in question is placing Thiel College’s ILL standing in jeopardy.

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