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Policies & General Information

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Study at the Library
Circulation Distance Education Miscellaneous
Computers Food/Beverages Photocopier
Course Reserves Interlibrary Loan Quiet Areas

Study at the Library

The Library is committed to providing a welcoming environment that is conducive to research and study. Library staff reserve the right to address any circumstances seen as disruptive.

The main and upper levels of the Academy’s library are available for studying. Most of the upper level is a designated silent study floor, with the “Chart Room” available for quiet conversation. The main level is noise-friendly.

Reserve a Study Space

Please click here to reserve a study space. Room 106 on the main level seats up to 8; three study pods seat four each. Reservations are strongly recommended as reserved use of these spaces is given priority over drop-in use.

Library Study Policies

  • With the exception of the Chart Room, the upper level is a silent study area. Please do not hold any conversations on this floor or use devices without headphones.
    • Headphones are available for checkout at the front desk.
    • Conversation and group work are encouraged on our main level and in the Chart Room!
  • Enter and exit the building through the front entrance; all other exits are for emergency use only.
  • Reservable study spaces are limited to bookings of up to 2 hours; students can make up to six study space reservations per week.

24-Hour Study Lounge

The lounge is available for student use 24 hours a day year-round, and includes study tables and soft seating, a reservable 4-seat study pod, a microwave, and a vending machine. There is a security camera installed in this space.

While the lounge space is exclusively available for student use when the rest of the Library is closed, it may be reserved for Library events during the building’s open hours, when study space is available elsewhere in the building.

All students should be able to access the lab with their Academy ID card. Please contact Campus Safety if you are unable to access the Lounge with your MMA ID card.

Computer Lab

The computer lab located on the lower level of Platz Hall (B-100) seats 20 and is available for student use 24 hours a day when not reserved for a class via the Registrar’s office. The lab is equipped with a black-and-white printer.

All students should be able to access the lab with their Academy ID card. Please contact Campus Safety if your ID card is not allowing access to the lab space.

Circulation

Maine Maritime Academy students, faculty, and staff must present an Academy ID card in order to borrow library materials. Non-Academy borrowers who are Maine residents may request a library card. Renewals are allowed if there have been no other requests for the materials. Reference books, journals (single issues or bound volumes), and materials in Special Collections do not circulate.

All loans outstanding on the last day of classes of each term will be subject to billing. A fine of $50.00 per item, or the actual cost if more than $50.00, will be assessed for lost or damaged materials.

A refund of such charges may be issued for materials returned after billing, under the following circumstances:

  • replacement copies have not already been purchased
  • items are returned before the end of the fiscal year (June 30)

Any student, faculty, or staff member can obtain a University of Maine library card. Most UMaine materials may be borrowed through MaineCat, but if you are interested in checking out materials directly through Fogler Library, speak with a librarian.

Books check out to students for four weeks at a time, and DVDs/CDs/Blu-Rays check out to students for one week.

Books check out to faculty for the entirety of a semester. At the end of each semester, we require that faculty return their items to the library for inventory purposes. The items can be checked back out to the faculty member unless another patron has placed a hold on said item. DVDs and other media check out to faculty for four weeks.

Non-Academy Borrowers – Unreturned Materials Policy

Patrons of the library should be aware that its first responsibility is to serve the Academy community; all holders of courtesy library cards are required to return materials on time, and also to promptly return items recalled for use by Academy students, faculty and staff.

Non-Academy patrons of the library will receive two notices requesting the return of any overdue/recalled materials. The first notice will result in the suspension of borrowing privileges until items are returned. If a second notice is necessary, it will contain the following warning:

Failure to return materials within ten days of the date of this notice will result in a bill. This bill will consist of a charge of $50.00/item (or actual cost if more than $50.00) plus a $25.00 service charge. If you then return your overdue items, the bill will be canceled, but you will be responsible for the service charge. Borrowing privileges will be suspended until all accounts are settled.

Bills will be sent after the ten-day period has passed without the return of the library materials in question.

Interlibrary Loan

Books or articles from journals that are not owned by the library may be obtained from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan; click here for information on how to place ILL requests. The library provides this service for Academy students, faculty, and staff.  Users may request books themselves online through the MaineCat System link on the library web site. Delivery of books or articles via ILL generally takes 5-10 days. ILL books that are damaged or not returned will result in bills for the borrower set by the lending library, plus a non-refundable NML fine of $25.00. Please note: the borrower is responsible for any ILL materials lost or damaged in transit to the library.

Students are allowed a maximum of ten MaineCat/Interlibrary loan books at any one time. Faculty and staff are allowed a maximum of twenty.

MaineCat items, per the policy of the consortium, cannot be renewed. WorldCat (OCLC) renewals vary according to the policy of the lending library.

Course Reserves

Materials placed on reserve for courses will be held at the Library’s reference desk and are for in-Library use only unless otherwise designated by the instructor. Borrowers must present an Academy ID to use reserve materials. Loan periods for reserve materials are determined by the instructor.

Quiet Areas

With the exception of the Chart Room, the entire upper level of the library is a designated silent study area. Please do not hold conversations or use devices without headphones in this space.

Computers

There are numerous computers available for use by members of the Academy community and the general public. The library provides use of a printer/copier/scanner and a microform scanner.  Wireless network access is available for MMA students, staff and faculty.

Food/Beverages

Food and beverages may be enjoyed in the Library. We encourage the use of spill-proof containers for beverages.

Printing, Copying and Scanning

The Library offers a color printer/scanner/copier on the main level, as well as an additional black and white printer in the 24-hour computer lab. All users are subject to copyright regulations.

Miscellaneous

Alcohol and tobacco use of any kind are not permitted anywhere in Platz Hall. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.