Lab Access and Use

1. Introduction and Purpose

The Kent State University School of Library and Information Science maintains electronic facilities to support the instructional efforts of the School's faculty, the independent learning activities of the School's students, and faculty research. The primary role of these facilities is to support classes and workshops offered by the School. The School's computer laboratory and digital classroom facilities are not open facilities for general use by the University community. General policy for use of electronic facilities is established by the School's Technology Committee in consultation with the Director and Systems Specialists. Specific rules for use of electronic facilities may be formulated by the Systems Specialists with approval of the Director.

2. Availability

Use of the computer laboratory and digital classroom facilities is usually restricted to the students, faculty, and staff of the School. While all SLIS students may use the lab facility of the school, students in courses which place an emphasis on technology may be required to pay an additional fee. Requests by individuals or groups may be approved by the Director of the School.

The computer laboratories will usually be open whenever the School's offices are open. Access during evening and weekend hours will be provided as staffing considerations allow. Evening and weekend access will not usually be provided during intersession, break, or holiday periods. A schedule of expected hours during which the labs will be open is posted at the beginning of each semester and summer session. Hours are subject to change without notice.

Digital classroom facilities are designed primarily to support group educational experiences. Access to digital classroom facilities for individuals may be provided during scheduled lab hours when the facilities are not in use for courses, workshops, or other scheduled group use. A schedule of expected hours during which digital classroom facilities will be available for individual use is posted at the beginning of each semester and summer session. Hours are subject to change without notice.

Advance sign-up for use of the computer laboratory and digital classroom facilities may be required.

Group use of electronic facilities for purposes other than scheduled courses and workshops must be approved by the Director and may require payment of a use fee.

3. Appropriate Use

Use of the School's electronic facilities is a privilege, not a right. The computer laboratory and digital classroom facilities are intended primarily to support the direct instructional purposes of the School's faculty. Priority will be given to completion of assignments, exercises, and projects necessary for completion of the requirements for courses and workshops. The School strongly encourages individualized and informal learning; electronic facilities will be made available for such experiences as resources allow.

Use of the facilities is governed by the policies of the School and the University; local, state, and federal laws; and the Code of Professional Ethics of the American Library Association. The use of School facilities for purposes that violate School or University policy and that are illegal or unethical may result in temporary or permanent loss of privileges or imposition of other sanctions.

The School reserves the right to establish policies and rules as needed for all aspects of use. Specific rules for use of computer laboratory and digital classroom facilities are listed below.

• Consumption of food or drink in computer laboratory or digital classroom facilities is prohibited at all times.
• Installation and use of software not provided by the School is allowed only with explicit permission of and direct supervision from a Systems Specialist.
• Reconfiguration of software is prohibited.
• Reconfiguration, rearrangement, and removal of hardware are prohibited.
• Reproduction of copyrighted software is prohibited except within the accepted definition of fair use.
• Excessive printing is prohibited; faculty, staff, and student employees of the School have authority to determine excessive printing on a case-by-case basis.
• Use of the School's facilities for commercial purposes or personal gain is prohibited.
• Users of the School's electronic facilities must comply with directives from faculty, staff, and student employees regarding appropriate use of facilities. If, at any time, any of the staff feel that an individual is behaving in a disruptive fashion, the staff member or student employee may insist that the individual leave the premises. If refused, campus security will be summoned to escort him or her out of the building.

 

4. Staff Support

The School provides staff support for computer laboratory and digital classroom facilities in two ways.

Systems Specialists are responsible for assisting in policy-making and resource allocation decisions; setting up and installing hardware and software; trouble-shooting and repair; and providing general technical support for faculty, staff, and students for services available in the school. They are available for point-of-use instruction, question answering, individual problem solving, and consultation as their schedules allow.

Student lab assistants are responsible for general assistance in the basic use of hardware, software, and system documentation. The are not expected to have a comprehensive understanding of all hardware and software operations or options. Lab assistants are not responsible for hardware repair or software configuration. Lab assistants may not install or configure software, except as directed by a Systems Specialist.

Neither the System Specialists nor the student lab assistants will provide direct assistance for class assignments or homework.

 

5. Use of Electronic Facilities by External Groups

Group use of computer laboratory and digital classroom facilities for purposes other than support of the School's courses and workshops requires advance approval of the School's Director. At the discretion of the Director, a fee may be charged for use of facilities by an external group. Fees, if any, will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

6. General Security within the Lab

Individuals who make use of the lab computers are expected to pay reasonable attention to network security. Since access to the SLIS lab and network is based on generic or personal ID and password, leaving a computer logged in and unattended for extended periods of time provides unauthorized users with access to the environment. This defeats the purpose of ID/password security.

Individuals who persistently neglect to log out after using the network will find their access to the lab restricted until they speak in person with the Lab Administrator. Continued neglect may result in more permanent loss of access.