Library Use Guidelines

Table of Contents

  1. General Library Use
  2. Phones, Quiet Areas, and General Conduct
  3. Computer Use
  4. Printing
  5. Food and Drink
  6. Circulation of and Access to Library Materials
  7. Reference and Information Services
  8. Collection Development
  9. Lost and Found
  10. Missing Items
  11. Locker Checkout

1. General Library Use

We support the health information needs for ECU Health Sciences, and provide access to information essential to quality health care delivery, education, and research across eastern North Carolina.

Our Users

  • East Carolina University students, faculty and staff
  • Health professionals practicing in the Eastern Area Health Education Center catchment area
  • Students, faculty, and staff from UNC System schools
  • Select community college students, faculty, and staff (see list of schools)
  • ECU Health employees
  • Persons with a health information need

Building Use

  • ECU Health Sciences Campus is a Smoke Free Campus. Smoking and vaping are not allowed in or around the library including on the 4th Floor outdoor terrace.
  • A valid 1Card is required to access the library after 5:30pm Monday-Thursday and from 5:00pm Friday – 7:30am Monday. No library services are available from 10:00pm-Midnight Sunday-Thursday and from 5:00pm-8:00pm Friday-Saturday.
  • Users under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Parents must keep children with them at all times while using the library and to be responsible for keeping them quiet and generally prevent them from disturbing other library users.
  • All physical collections are available for use in-house by any library user. Online access to some resources is not available for the general public, in which case consultation with a librarian is required. (See Computer Use below)
  • All personal transport/mobility devices are prohibited from use inside University buildings, including Laupus Library. Personal transport/mobility devices include hoverboards, skateboards, bicycles and similar items. Wheelchairs and other medically required devices are permitted.

2. Phones, Quiet Areas and General Conduct

Phone Use

  • Phones and all mobile or electronic devices with ringers and/or audible alerts should be set to silent. Phone calls should be taken outside the library or away from other library users. Library users whose phones, mobile electronic devices, or phone conversations are disruptive will be asked to take measures to quiet them.

Quiet Areas

  • The 3rd and 4th floors have designated Quiet Study Areas as indicated with signage. All users in Quiet Study areas, including study rooms are expected to maintain low noise levels.
  • The 2nd floor Service Desk and Reference Commons area is a collaborative space designed to allow users to talk freely and work together. As a result, these areas are not quiet study spaces.

General Conduct

  • All users are expected to conduct themselves in a way that is non-disruptive and respectful of other library users. Users are responsible for staying with and monitoring the behavior of any accompanying children (under 18 years of age) at all times.

3. Computer Use

  • The computer workstations are primarily for use by East Carolina University students, faculty and staff.
  • Priority is given to users doing research on healthcare related topics and/or class related work. Those using computers for purposes other than healthcare related research and/or class related work may be asked to give up their workstation if other users are waiting.
  • Non-ECU users (those not having an ECU login) must be 18 years old, provide a photo ID, and agree to the computer use policy before being logged into a computer by a Laupus Library employee.
  • Individuals under the age of 18 who are not ECU students* must be accompanied by an adult. Adults who bring children or minors into the library are responsible for monitoring their activities and regulating their behavior. *exceptions may be made for area community college students enrolled in health related programs or other groups/individuals having prior approval of Outreach Services.
  • Accessing, viewing or downloading offensive or objectionable material such as pornography is prohibited. See North Carolina statute GS 14-190.1
  • Use of the computers on the Reference Floor are subject to our computer use policy.

4. Printing

  • All students have access to Black/White and Color printing.
    • B/W = $0.02 per page
    • Color = $0.10 per page
  • ECU Students – a print quota is provided for ECU Students each semester by the office of Information Technology & Computing Services (ITCS).  After the quota is exhausted ECU students must add money to their accounts online and pay per page at the rate set by ITCS (https://itcs.ecu.edu/). Laupus will not accept cash, credit or debit payment from ECU Students for printing.
  • ECU Faculty/Staff & Non-ECU Users receive 10 free pages of printing per day and will be charged $0.10 per page after. Printing must be paid for at our service desk on the 2nd floor prior to printing. Laupus does not accept cash but does accept debit and credit cards.

5. Food and Drink

We allow food and non-alcoholic beverages in the facility under prescribed conditions:

  • Drinks should be in spill-proof containers.
  • Foods must be kept away from library owned computers, printers, scanners, and similar equipment.
  • Trash should be disposed of properly and spills should be reported to library staff immediately. Our goal is to clean up the mess quickly, not to get anyone in trouble.

Eating and drinking are not permitted in the History Collections Reading Room on the 4th floor.

6. Circulation of and Access to Library Materials

All physical collections are accessible for use within the library by all library users.

Consult our circulation policies for specific information on which material is available to which user groups.

Electronic resources require an ECU Pirate ID login, or consultation with a librarian in order to gain access to our network.

The Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery service provides access to books and journal articles from other libraries should the material not be available at ECU. Rules for this service can be found on our Interlibrary Loan service page

7. Reference and Information Services

Our Information Services department provides professional librarian assistance for a variety of information seeking needs.

  • Liaison librarians each serve as a liaison to a College or School within ECU Health Sciences. These librarians are the primary contact for the students, faculty, and staff to whom they are assigned.
  • Instruction Librarians provide library skills classes both in person and online. Classes can be scheduled by contacting a liaison librarian. Topics for classes typically include, but are not limited to: General Orientation to Library Services and Resources, RefWorks: Citation Management Tool, Finding Full Text Articles, Finding Evidence-Based Articles, and Getting Started with Research.
  • One on One consultations are available in person, over the phone, or online to accommodate specific information or instructional needs. Consultations can be arranged by contacting a liaison librarian.
  • Librarians are available Monday through Friday 8am-5pm, and Saturday 9am-5pm. You may contact a librarian by calling the library, using our chat service, or by sending us an email. Email responses generally take no longer than 2 hours, except on nights and weekends.
  • ECU faculty and researchers can consult with a liaison librarian to set up an in-depth search of the professional literature for journal articles on specific research topics. These searches can be performed one-time or set up to run automatically at set time intervals.

8. Collection Development

View our Collection Development Practices document

The selection of neuroscience materials is defined in the Neuroscience Collection Development Policy and is shared with Joyner Library.

9. Lost and Found

The general lost and found is located at the Service Desk (2nd floor). If you have misplaced a personal item in the Library, please stop by the Service Desk or contact Access Services. Library Security will turn abandoned items over to ECU Police periodically.

There is also a lost and found located in the Library computer lab.

10. Missing Items

If you are looking for an item (book, journal, audiovisual) with a checked-in status and cannot locate it on the shelf, the item is considered missing.

You can notify us that the item is missing in one of two ways:

  • Online: Send us an email detailing the item you are looking for.
  • In-Person: Fill out a Lost/Missing Item form at the Service Desk.

11. Locker Checkout

For your convenience, the Library has lockers available on the 4th floor that can be used to store your belongings. Locker keys may be checked out from the Service Desk, and are due back at the end of each semester (actual due dates vary by program of study). Items found in lockers will be taken to Lost and Found at the Service Desk (2nd floor).