Palmer College of Chiropractic West

Library

Library Handbook
 

Goals And Objectives

The Palmer West Library endeavors to support the goals of Palmer West by offering services, materials, skills and equipment necessary to the curriculum and educational needs of the College, as well as the advancement of the philosophy, science and art of chiropractic.

The main objectives of the Palmer West Library are:

• Teach skills of discovering, organizing, presenting and using information and knowledge relevant to the study and practice of Chiropractic and instructional use of the health sciences literature.
• Provide courteous, accurate, efficient and appropriate services for all patrons.
• Make materials readily accessible, while protecting their physical condition and security.
• Assist in the location and use of needed information and materials located elsewhere, including inter-library loans, and referral to other libraries.
• Develop a comprehensive collection of materials related to health care and chiropractic, including archival and rare materials.
• Serve as a reference resource for the profession and its local practitioner community.

Book Collection

The Palmer West Library houses nearly 10,000 volumes. Books are classified using the Library of Congress classification system. They are arranged alphabetically and numerically on shelves by the call number found on the spine of the book. The Library's on-line patron computer provides immediate information regarding availability of books and journals. The Library subscribes to more than 300 periodical titles. There are more than 900 bound journals held in the Library. The collection also includes pamphlets, article reprints, plus a growing number of audio-visual materials. Currently there are nearly 1,000 videos and nearly 100 carousels of slides. Anatomical bones, skeletons, and spines are also available.

General Library Circulation Procedures

To check out any item in the Library requires showing identification of the person checking out the item. Palmer West students need to have their student ID card in order to check out materials from the Library. If a student does not have a student ID card and is in the Clinic, verification of a student's status can be found in the binder with the student enrollment list for the current quarter. For patrons who do not possess an ID card, a valid driver's license may be used for in-library use of materials.

The Library collection is divided into several circulation categories and each has its own circulation procedure:

• Anatomical Models
  • Anatomical models, including skeletons and spines, are checked out for two hours. Checking out these study aides requires leaving an ID card at the front desk. Skeletons may not leave the Library without approval from the Library Director.
• Audio-Visual Resources
  • Videos and tapes may be checked out overnight, beginning one hour prior to closing, with some exceptions.
• Reference Books
  • Reference books are not available for general check-out without special permission from the Library Director. Reference books are located in the main reading area, near the front of the Library.
• Reserve Books
  • Reserve books circulate for two hours, but may be checked out over night beginning one hour prior to the Library closing. Reserve books that are checked out must be returned by the time the Library opens the next day. Reserve books typically include required text for class; suggested supplementary books; and the Library's entire collected of books specific to the subject of chiropractic. The collection of reserve books is maintained behind the check-out counter of the Library.
• Two Hour Items
  • The following items are considered two hour items: instructor notes; models; chiropractic college catalogs; books from instructors for supplementary reading; all chiropractic books. The same rules governing use of Reserve books apply.
• Two Week Books
  • Most books are due back in the Palmer West Library two weeks from the day they are checked out. Two week books are identifiable by a white card in the check-out pocket. Palmer West's two week collection currently holds nearly 10,000 tittles.

When an item is checked out by a student, these steps are followed:

• Student signs check-out card and shows ID.
• Appropriate date/time is stamped on the item and check-out card.
• Two-week books are desensitized; reserve items leaving the Library are desensitized.
• Check-out card is counted on the Daily Circulation Sheet before filing.

Reserve items can be checked out overnight beginning one hour before the Library is scheduled to close. Reserve items are due back when the Library opens on the following day of classes.

Circulation Procedures For Palmer West Alumni And Local Chiropractors

All professionals may use materials in the Palmer West Library. An alumni card or valid driver's license must be presented to check out a Reserve item. Reserve items may not leave the Library without special permission from the Library Director. A two-week book may be checked out by a Palmer West alumnus who leaves their alumni card. Any chiropractor may check out two week books, but must leave a check for the full value of the book they are borrowing.

Articles

Articles are kept in the file cabinet behind the circulation desk and are filed in alphabetical order by subject, followed by the author's name. If the article is to be photocopied, it may be checked out for two hours. If someone wishes to borrow the article, it may be checked out for one day.

Board Reviews

Board Review materials are study guides for examinations conducted by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. They are kept in the Reserve area and are not listed in the card catalog. Individual Board Review materials may be checked out for two weeks.

Card Catalog

The card catalog is divided into two sections. The author and title section is on the left; the subject section is on the right. Subject cards are identified by having the top line in uppercase letters. Reserve book cards are covered in clear plastic and designated with the word Reserve written in red at the top of the card. Reference book cards are covered in clear plastic and designated with the word Reference written in green at the top of the card. The College has also recently installed an online patron computer system, which provides immediate information regarding availability of a book or journal in the Palmer West collection.

Case Discussion Rooms

The four Case Discussion rooms in the Library are designated for group study of four to five students. Case Discussion rooms, which have white boards and audio-visual accessibility, may be reserved for periods of up to 90 minutes. The Library allows two Case Discussion room reservations per day; however, students may not reserve the room for consecutive 90-minute sessions. Case Discussion rooms are reserved at the Circulation Desk.

Chiropractic Books

Books specific to the subject of chiropractic are kept behind the Circulation Desk with the reserve books. The Library of Congress numbers for these books begin with the letters RZ. These books may be checked out on the blue Reserve card for two hours or overnight, beginning one hour prior to when the Library is scheduled to close.

College Catalogs

The Library keeps an address list and current copies of catalogs from every chiropractic college. College catalogs may be checked out; reserve book check-out procedures apply.

Fines

Students and others who do not return items as scheduled are subject to overdue fines. Two week items are fined .50¢ for each day the book is late. Reserve items which are not returned by their scheduled due date are fined .50¢ each hour; with a maximum per day fine of $5. Videos which are not returned as scheduled are subject to a per video fine of .50¢ each hour with a maximum per day fine of $5. Overdue items are searched each week and notices are mailed. All fines are paid to a Library staff person. When an overdue noticed has been mailed, that notice must be marked paid with the date of payment in order to release the hold on the student's registration status. Fines not paid by the end of the quarter are sent to the Registrar's office. All books must be returned and all outstanding Library fines must be paid before a student can register for classes in the following quarter.

Holds

A student may place a hold on a reserve item by writing their name and student identification number on paper which is attached to the check-out card. A reserve item may be held for 15 minutes past the time the item is due to be returned to the Library, unless the item is late. The Library allows one hold per book per day. The Library doesn't place Reserve books on hold for overnight or weekend use.

Overnights/Weekends/Breaks

Reserve books may be checked out overnight, on weekends, and during school breaks. Overnight reserves may be checked out of the Library beginning one hour prior to closing. They are to be returned no later than one hour after the Library opens the next day. Unless the Library is closed during the weekend, the same procedures apply for materials checked out on the weekend. On the day before a school break, two reserve books may be checked out until the first hour of the first day when classes resume following the break.

Book Renewal

Any reserve book in the Library may be renewed unless a hold has been placed on the book. All renewals are for two hours. There is a limit of two renewals per book.

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