Library Information
 
   Access Policies | Circulation Policies | Library Home Page
Library Records and Confidentiality | Reserves | Collections
Catalogs | Reference Services | Printing | Using a Laptop in the Library
Media Services | Specialized Collections
Library Locations | Library Hours | Staff Directory

CIRCULATION POLICIES
(212-854-3846)

Most non-reserve books circulate for four weeks and may be renewed unless requested by another patron.  Books may be  renewed at the Circulation Desk (first floor), or by using the "My Library Account" tab in CLIO.  A book may be recalled for another reader after the present borrower has had it for two weeks.

Periodicals, reference books and material from the media collection do not circulate.

Commuters who have difficulty meeting the above requirements may discuss their particular situation with the circulation desk supervisor.  Readers are responsible for any materials charged out to them and borrowing privileges may be blocked if patrons disregard circulation policy and procedure.

A fine schedule for overdue materials is available at the Circulation/Reserve Desk, or click here for the Library Fines page.

 

LIBRARY RECORDS AND CONFIDENTIALITY

Barnard Library adheres to the Columbia University Libraries Policy on Confidentiality of Library Records (see http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/services/confidentiality.html).  In order to maintain confidentiality and comply with New York State law, requests for information about your library record must be made in person or in writing.  We regret that questions relating to your current or past library records (e.g. books charged out, fines/fees, holds) cannot be answered over the telephone.

Written requests must include your signature and should include the following:

1. your name, and any other name you used at Barnard;
2. your dates of attendance or date of graduation;
3. your social security number or college identification number;
4. the address to which you wish the information sent;
5. your return address (if different than 4);
6. your signature.

You may send your request by mail to Barnard College Library, Access Services Department, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027-6598, or fax your request to the Library's Access Services Department at 212-854-3766.  Please be sure to sign the fax.  No information will be released without your signature.

 

RESERVE POLICIES
(212-854-3846)

Reserve books and other printed materials required for course reading are located on the first floor of the Library.  Listings of items on reserve are available in the Course Reserves section of CLIO.

Reserve materials must be requested at the Reserve Desk and are subject to limited circulation.  Non-circulating copies may be borrowed for two hours at a time; circulating copies may be taken out of the Library overnight.

Readers are responsible for any materials charged out to them. Borrowing privileges may be blocked and faculty may be notified if students disregard reserve policies and procedures.

A fine schedule for overdue materials is available at the Circulation/Reserve Desk.

For more information, consult the information page for students and the FAQs for faculty. 

 

COLLECTIONS

The circulating book collection serves the curricular needs of the undergraduate students at Barnard. Books are arranged by Library of Congress call number on the second and third floors. (Books with call numbers beginning A-N are on the third floor, those with call numbers beginning P-Z are on the second floor.)  Check CLIO - the Library’s online catalog - first when looking for books.

Journals and magazines are shelved alphabetically by title in the periodical stacks on the second floor.  Current issues of frequently used periodicals are kept in the magazine display racks.  The Library receives over 350 current magazines and journals.

Microforms and a microform reader/printers are located on the second floor. There is a charge of $.10/exposure to print.

 

CATALOGS

CLIO, Columbia Libraries Information Online, is an online catalog containing the holdings of the entire Columbia University Library system, including Barnard. 

CLIO lists information about books and journals (but not the titles of articles in journals), electronic resources, and most of the non-print holdings such as CDs, DVDs and tapes.  For pre-1981 musical scores, libretti, and recordings check the music card catalog (third floor).

CLIO is accessible from any computer connected to the Internet.  Most of the Library's PCs are in the Reference area, but several are also located opposite the Reserve Desk on the first floor and one is available at the third floor Media Desk.

Library materials not available at Barnard or any Columbia University library may be requested online.  From the Library's home page, click on Interlibrary Loan & BorrowDirect (Request It). From CLIO, click on the Recall/Other Requests tab.

 

REFERENCE SERVICES
(212-854-3953)

The Reference section, located on the second floor, contains approximately 6,000 reference books, primarily in the social sciences and the humanities. Reference librarians are available during daytime, evening and weekend hours to provide assistance in finding information through printed and electronic sources.

The Columbia Libraries provide electronic access to a multitude of subscription databases and other e-resources in a wide range of subject areas.  Databases include ProQuest, which provides access to scholarly journals, newspapers and magazines; Lexis-Nexis, a news, legal and business resource; Contemporary Women's Issues, a database of multidisciplinary articles on topics related to women worldwide; and a variety of dictionaries, directories and encyclopedias.

In addition to these resources, full access to all of the resources of the Internet and World Wide Web is available on computer workstations in the Reference area.

Research Consultations are available to students undertaking a research paper or thesis. Contact Reference to arrange an appointment.

Library tours are conducted as part of the orientation program at the beginning of each semester.

 

PRINTING

There is one printer located on the second floor of the library and there are two in the computer lab on the first floor. Barnard is part of the controlled printing system called NINJa, which is used throughout the Columbia campus. Controlled printing means that Barnard and Columbia students and faculty have a weekly allotment of pages that they can print from a library PC, while staff and other library users have to pay to print from all library PCs. Pages printed at either Barnard or Columbia count toward the weekly quota. The goals of this system are improved support for printers, contained costs, and less wasted paper.

  • Weekly printing quotas for students and faculty are:
    - 100 sheets/week for undergraduates (College, SEAS, General Studies, Barnard)
    - 20 sheets/week for graduate students ("Basic Account")
    - 100 sheets/week for faculty

  • The printers in the library are set to print on both sides of the paper ("duplex") and each two-sided sheet is charged to your account as one page

  • Unused pages in your quota are not carried over from week to week; you have until Saturday at midnight to use them

  • As you print, pages will be deducted automatically from your weekly quota; additional pages may be purchased for $.10 a sheet

  • Pages may be purchased online via credit card 24-hours a day, seven days a week ($5 minimum).  Cash purchases may be transacted at the Columbia Computing Support Center (102 Philosophy).

  • Purchased pages carry over from week to week, as long as your computer account remains valid.

  • Graduate students may purchase an “Extended Account” for the reduced rate of $35/semester that increases the weekly print quota to 100 pages/week

  • To check how many pages you have left:
    1) At www.columbia.edu/acis/accounts/create/current.html, click on “Purchase Printing Pages,” type in your UNI login & password and a screen will display showing your available pages OR
    2) Sign on to your CUNIX account and type "pages" at the $ prompt

  • For more information on NINJa printing, go to www.columbia.edu/acis/facilities/printers/

 

USING A LAPTOP IN THE LIBRARY

Students who wish to use a laptop computer in the Library, and do not require an electrical or network connection, may sit at any of the reading tables or carrels on the second and third floor, or in the first floor Reading Room. Laptops may also be used in the West Wing of the Lehman Computer Center, which adjoins the Reading Room at the South end.

In order to insure the safety of both library users and laptop equipment, laptops may not, under any circumstances, be plugged into any outlet that results in the power cord trailing across a space where people walk.

There are two options for connecting to the network:

Wireless Access

  • Wireless connectivity is available on the Broadway side of both the second and third floors of the Library and in the first floor Reading Room.

  • Your laptop must be equipped with a built-in wireless capability or a wireless network card.

  • Your computer will automatically locate and connect to an available access point when you first use an internet application, like a browser. For the most reliable signal, however, be sure you are connected to the "Barnard College" network. See http://www.barnard.edu/resnet/wirelessXP.html

  • Wireless connectivity is not secure because the information sent and received is not encrypted.  It is possible, although unlikely, for someone to spy on unencrypted traffic, for example, logins to e-mail. 

Wired (Ethernet) Access

  • Your laptop must have a network (Ethernet) card installed.
    - If your card is not yet set up (configured) go to http://www.columbia.edu/acis/access/ for instructions

  • You must bring and use your own network cable.

  • Active network jacks are available for use in these locations:
    - second floor, far north end: three jacks/no electrical outlets
    - second floor, Reference area: two jacks + electric outlets
    - third floor, carrels along Claremont side of the floor: six jacks/two electrical outlets

  • Never unplug a Library computer from the network in order to use a jack.

 

MEDIA SERVICES CENTER
(212-854-5427)

The Media Services Center, located on the third floor of the Library, houses the Library's collections of DVDs, videos, CDs, records and audiotapes and provides facilities and equipment for their use.  The majority of the collection is limited to in-library use.

The media collection includes over 3,000 instructional DVDs and videos and more than 8,000 music and spoken recordings.  The Center also maintains an archival collection of dance and theater productions videotaped at Barnard from 1974 to the present.

 

SPECIALIZED COLLECTIONS

Archives (212-854-4079) is located on the tunnel level of Lehman Hall in room 23.  It is a collection of official and student publications, photographs, letters and other material that documents Barnard’s history from its founding in 1889 to the present day.  The Archives welcomes students and other researchers by individual appointment.

Our Rare Books include the Overbury Collection, the personal library of Nobel prize-winning poet Gabriela Mistral, and a small collection of other rare books.  The Overbury Collection consists of 3,300 items, including special and first edition books as well as manuscript materials by and about American women authors.  Alumnae Books is a collection of books donated by Barnard alumnae authors.

 

OTHER

FOOD AND DRINK are allowed in the Library, within reasonable limits.

  • Drinks must be in closed containers, preferably containers with spill-proof tops.

  • Do not bring aromatic or messy foods into the Library; limit yourself to snacks, not entire meals.

  • Please clean up spills or crumbs.

  • Dispose of any trash - waste baskets are available throughout the Library.

Eating and drinking are not permitted in the Archives nor when using material from Special Collections.

COPIERS are located on the first and second floors.

PHONES are located in the lobby.

CELL PHONES may not be used in the Library.

NO SMOKING in the Library (in accordance with New York State Law).

RESTROOMS: first floor UNISEX
                   second floor WOMEN
                   third floor MEN

COMMENTS and NEW BOOK REQUESTS are welcome; use the forms available on the Library's Web page: http://www.barnard.edu/library/forms/bookreq.htm

LIBRARY USERS WITH DISABILITIES: The library has ramped front-door access at the main campus-level entrance.  A wheelchair accessible unisex bathroom is located in the Reserve Reading Room (first floor) of the library.

HOURS

STAFF DIRECTORY

Last updated 5/16/08 
 

 Barnard College Library | Lehman Hall, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 | 212-854-3846