However, due to staffing constraints, the Libraries do not currently offer in-person classroom library instruction.  The Libraries do offer a robust online library instructional module InfoLit, and also assist individual students and researchers with specific research questions, either via email or at the library.  Additional campus assistance includes the Center for Global Communication+Design and the Advising & Learning Assistance Center.

The table below summarizes lending and usage policies for the Architecture and Folsom Libraries including the Institute Archives & Special Collections.

*Rensselaer Community - Active Rensselaer faculty, staff, and students; visiting researchers; visiting scholars; Alumni; retirees; Friends of Folsom.

Additional information regarding loans, renewals, and billing is available in the sections below.

Renewals

You may renew your loan in one of the following ways:

• With your personal library account - if item is not overdue.
• In person at the Service Desk
• By email
• By telephone (Folsom 518-276-8310, Architecture 518-276-6465)

Renewal loans will be extended provided the following conditions are met:

• Items are not needed for Course Reserves or by another borrower.
• It is less than ten days since the the loan expired.
• The borrower does not have other delinquent loans, unsettled fines, or suspended borrowing privileges.

Recalls and Holds

• All loans are subject to recall by the Libraries, at any time for Course Reserve or three weeks after date of loan when needed by another borrower.
• Replacement costs, plus a processing fee, will be charged for recalled items not returned within the specified time period.
• When a recalled item has been returned, the requester will receive an email notification, and the item will be held at the Service Desk for ten days pending pick-up.

• A borrowed library item becomes overdue ten days after it is due or has been recalled.  Borrowers may be billed for the full replacement cost, plus a $20.00 processing fee for each unreturned item.
• Replacement costs are obtained from library acquisitions data and other professional sources, and may include an additional $150.00 search fee for out-of-print materials.
• Borrowers will be billed for the repair or replacements costs of any library materials that are returned damaged.

Payment and Billing

• Unsettled Rensselaer student library fines are considered delinquent 30 days after issue.  These fines will be billed to the student’s Bursar account, and may be paid at the Bursar’s Office.
• Bills to all other borrowers must be paid by check, at the Libraries' Service Desks, by mail, or charged to a departmental account.
• Ownership of billed library material resides with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Payment of replacement costs and/or other charges does not transfer ownership.
• Borrowing privileges may remain suspended until billed materials are returned to the Library, regardless of the payment status of bills.
• Billing inquiries should be directed to the Folsom Service Desk Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, or to the Architecture Service Desk Monday through Friday between 8:30 PM and 4:30 PM.
• Any borrowers who believe a billing or record-keeping error has occurred may appeal loss of borrowing privileges and/or bills by writing to Tanis Kreiger, Manager of Public Services.

 Loss of Borrowing Privileges

• General borrowing privileges will be suspended for individuals who owe fines or who have overdue ConnectNY or Interlibrary loan books.
• Borrowing privileges may remain suspended until billed materials are returned to the Libraries, regardless of any bills’ payment status.

Access the Course Reserves database directly or from the Rensselaer Libraries homepage. Use of some resources is restricted to Rensselaer faculty, staff and students in order to comply with copyright law and various licensing agreements.

Search by instructor’s last name, course name, or department.

Architecture course reserve materials are available at the Architecture Library.

Request items kept behind the Service Desk by specifying the course name and item number as displayed in the Course Reserve database. Library-owned materials must be requested by call number.

Some listed items may only be available electronically.

Deposit of acceptable positive identification is required: Rensselaer or other college ID card, Rensselaer Libraries' Courtesy Card, or current driver's license.

Loan periods and the number of items one person may use at one time vary depending on the type of material and current demand.

Usage is usually limited to three (3) items. However, loan periods for class-assigned materials are determined by Library staff in consultation with faculty.

Loan of Course Reserve materials stops 15 minutes before the Service Desk closes.

Materials are restricted to "Building Use Only".

Public Access
The libraries are open to the general public. A Rensselaer ID card is required to open the front doors of Folsom library. Those without an ID card may enter by using the intercom button immediately outside the doors, and may be asked to show a picture ID upon entry.

Computers
Library computers are provided in support of Rensselaer's educational and research missions. Use of this equipment for other purposes is not permitted. All library users are expected to adhere to Rensselaer's policies on Electronic Citizenship . Access to library computers by members of the Rensselaer community takes precedence over access by the general public.

Access Rules

• Individuals may be required to show or deposit an acceptable form of identification. This may be
  • An unexpired Rensselaer or other college ID
  • An unexpired driver's license
• Minors 16 years of age or under must be accompanied by an adult.
• A quiet study atmosphere is expected in study and meeting rooms, reading and stack areas at all times.
• The third and fourth floors are geared toward individual study. Group study is more appropriate on the first and second floors
• Individuals are expected to leave promptly at closing time, in emergencies, and during evacuation drills.
• With the exception of guide dogs, no animals are permitted inside library facilities.

Emergency Evacuation and Fire Drills
An electronic horn signals emergency evacuations. All library users and staff are required to exit library buildings by the nearest designated exit. New York State law requires periodic fire drills.

Security Alarms
Library materials are protected by an electronic security system. When the system's alarm sounds, the person exiting must return to the Service Desk. If unauthorized library materials are discovered, the incident is reported to the appropriate administrative authority for disciplinary action. Such action may include, but not be limited to, loss of library privileges, disciplinary warning, disciplinary probation, expulsion from the Institute, or legal prosecution.

Closing Time Signal
Notice is given 30 minutes before closing, signaling the return of group study room keys and class reserve materials. Users have 15 minutes until the Service Desk closes to borrow library materials.

Late Night Study Hours
No desk services are available during late night study hours when only Building Safety Monitors are on duty. A public announcement is made by Public Safety 5 minutes prior to closing directing everyone to exit the building.

Requests for Exceptions to Standard Access to Folsom Library
Access to the Folsom Library is established with the issuance of a valid Rensselaer ID. Visiting scholars, visiting researchers and visiting faculty will be granted access to the library during the hours that the building is open.

Changes to the level of access, or for access not previously granted, must be requested from the library in the form of an email from the requestor's department. The request must include the individual's name, RIN, start date, end date, and reason for request. Departments requesting access prior to the building opening must provide justifications for the request. Access to the library prior to the regular opening-time constitutes a security issue and will be approved as deemed appropriate at the discretion of the library.

Approved requests will be signed and forwarded to Public Safety for processing. The requesting department will be notified of any requests not approved.

Designated individuals granted access to the building prior to opening are not to allow anyone else to enter with them. Failure to comply with this policy will result in the loss of early access to the library.

Two Group Study Rooms located on the 3rd floor of the Folsom Library are available for up to 3 hours' use each day by any Rensselaer-affiliated group of 2 or more persons on a first-come, first-assigned basis. The Service Desk is responsible for the assignment and administration of these rooms. There are small group study rooms located on the 1st, 3rd and 4th floors that are left unlocked for both individuals and groups to use on a first-come, first-use basis. Near the end of semesters, some of these rooms can be reserved in advance to accommodate the needs of groups to finish class projects.

How to Apply

• Reservations by student groups made in person at the Service Desk on the day of intended use.
• Reservations by faculty and staff made in advance by contacting the Library's Administration Office 518-276-8300.
• Reservations for room use for interview purposes may be made in advance by contacting the Service Desk 518-276-8310.
• Library staff may request that the names of all occupants be identified on the Group Study Reservation slip.

Claiming and Extending Reservations

• Reservations not claimed within the first 10 minutes of a reservation period will be reassigned.
• Extension of reservation periods may not be requested until the end of the initial reservation period.
• Extensions, limited to 1 hour increments, will be granted only when demand for meeting rooms is low.

Group Study Room Keys

• Issued 5 minutes before the start of the reservation period
• Registrants must present Group Study Reservation slip with 2 current Rensselaer IDs
• May not be taken from the building
• Must be returned within 5 minutes of reservation expiration
• Must be returned to the Service Desk at 11:30 for reservations expiring after that time - the room may continue to be used until building closing
• Late return of a key will result in a $10.00 fine
• Loss of a key will result in a $25.00 fine plus a $10.00 processing fee

Conditions of Group Study Room Use

• The individual registering for a group assumes full liability for any subsequent repair costs arising from damage to a room or equipment during the reservation period.
• Meeting Rooms must be left clean and orderly. Please dispose of waste properly.
• Furniture and equipment may not be moved into or out of a Meeting Room without the permission of the Service Desk Staff .
• The Libraries' assume no responsibility for the loss of or damage to personal property left in a room at any time.
• Conversations must not disturb other library users.

Individuals in blatant or repeated violation of the above Conditions of Use may lose room registration privileges for the current semester.

The Rensselaer Libraries will:

• Accept the offer of gift books and other research materials
• Evaluate, and use or dispose of gift items as appropriate
• Not appraise gifts due to IRS regulations

Contact John Dojka, Coordinator of Collection Development, by email or phone (518-276-8341) regarding potential donations to the libraries..

Student Club Collections

The Rensselaer Libraries:

will attempt to provide space for informal reading collections provided by student clubs recognized by the Rensselaer Union in accordance with the below guidelines. Initial inquiries about starting or adding materials to a collection should be made at the Service Desk.

Book Guidelines

• The Libraries have sole discretion in determining if club-offered collections can be accepted.
• All accepted materials become property of the Rensselaer Libraries.
• Location and size of collections are determined by the Libraries. (Recommended maximum collection size is 100 hardcover and 250 softcover books.)
• The Libraries are not responsible for replacement of damaged or lost items.
• Clubs must designate a liaison person who will be responsible for maintaining the collection in consultation with a designated member of the library staff.
• Clubs must periodically review materials in order to replace or update items.
• Items to be removed from a collection will be de-accessioned by the libraries.
• All materials will be available strictly on an "honor system."
• We do not accept textbooks. Textbooks may be placed on the Folsom Library's Second Chance Bookshelf located on the first floor of the library, or, they may be donated to Better World Books, an organization that will reimburse postage of mailing the books to them, and that helps fund global literacy initiatives.
• We do not accept unsolicited eBooks.

Magazine and Newspaper Guidelines

• Clubs must reimburse the library for subscription costs of newspapers and magazines.
• Issues must be received directly by the Rensselaer Libraries at the following address:

Serials Dept.
Richard G. Folsom Library
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th St, Troy, NY 180-3590

• Issues will be property stamped as library property and shelved in a designated area.
• Issues will not be retained for more than 1 year, and the Libraries are not responsible for replacement of damaged or lost issues.

The primary mission of the Rensselaer Libraries is to support Rensselaer’s educational and research endeavors. The following policies have been adopted in order to promote this mission and to foster a vibrant intellectual and social collaborative place on campus. We ask that our patrons self-police these policies.

Quiet

• The first and second (main) floors are open, collaborative spaces
• The third and fourth floors provide an environment where discussions should be subdued - both in open study areas and study rooms
• Library users whose study is disrupted by noise are asked first to consider approaching those who are noisy to remind them to be more quiet.
• If necessary, individuals may contact library staff at the Service Desk for assistance.
• Individuals or groups who fail to comply with library etiquette regarding disruptive behaviors will be asked to leave the building.

Food & Drink

• Non-messy snack foods and drinks in closed containers are permitted throughout the library with the exception of the Fixman Archives.
• Please dispose of waste properly.
• Messy foods (e.g. pizza, soup, chili…) and open container drinks should be restricted to the Library Café on the 2nd/main floor of Folsom Library.