About the Library

The CSI Library is committed to providing equitable access to information and services to all faculty, staff, students, and members of the College of Southern Idaho community. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), library staff will make good faith efforts to accommodate reasonable requests for assistance in obtaining, accessing, and making use of library resources, materials, and services.

Wheelchair Accessible Computer Station
The CSI Library has one electric lift wheelchair accessible computer station. There is a switch in the front of the station that students can use to raise the table as needed. There is a clearly visible sign identifying the wheelchair accessible station.

Students in wheelchairs always have priority on the use of the electric lift station. When all other computers are used in the library, and we do not have a student with disability needing to use the computer, other patrons can use the wheelchair accessible station. If a student in a wheelchair needs the computer, non-disabled patrons must yield the station promptly.

Service animals are the only animals allowed in the library. The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. The term service animal does not apply to personal pets or emotional support animals.

The College of Southern Idaho Library expects Library users to behave in a way that is conducive to learning and respectful of the needs of others. It is the expectation of the CSI Library that all users will abide by the directions of Library staff. The Library expects compliance with all College of Southern Idaho policies including but not limited to those dealing with sexual harassment, computer usage, and disorderly conduct, as outlined in the College of Southern Idaho Student Code of Conduct.

Students in the Library are expected to act in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. At the discretion of staff, users in violation of CSI Library policy may be asked to change their behavior or leave the Library. In some instances, Campus Safety may be called to handle the situation.

Gathering petition signatures and other forms of solicitation are prohibited within the Library. Solicitation or any other activity that disrupts or interferes with normal Library functions or with employees’ or patrons’ ability to pursue normal library-related activities are prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Any soliciting, polling, selling, or conducting surveys inside Library facilities
• Any distribution of printed material or other items, whether handed to Library patrons or placed on counters, desks, tables, etc.

Individuals may check out library materials if they have a current library card. CSI students, faculty and staff must register at the Library by completing a Library registration form at the circulation (front) desk. CSI Students, faculty and staff use their CSI ID card as their Library card. 

The College of Southern Idaho Library recognizes the importance of equitable access to information and resources for all individuals within the taxing districts that financially support CSI. In order to promote inclusivity and support lifelong learning, the library offers free library cards to adults (18+ years) residing within the counties of Jerome and Twin Falls. 

To obtain a free library card, individuals must present a photo ID and a valid proof of residency within one of the designated taxing districts. Accepted forms of proof may include a driver's license, state-issued identification card, utility bill, lease agreement, or any other official document indicating the individual's name and address within the eligible counties. Applicants will be required to complete a library registration form, providing necessary personal information and agreeing to abide by the library's terms and conditions.

Library cardholders are fiscally responsible for any materials borrowed on their card and are expected to adhere to the library's borrowing and usage policies. Cardholders must promptly report any loss or theft of their library card to the library staff. Any change in personal information, such as address or contact details, must be promptly communicated to the library staff to ensure accurate record keeping. Library cards are non-transferable and can only be used by the individual to whom they are issued. Loaning library cards to others is strictly prohibited.

Loan Periods

Books, DVDs, Playaways, board games and periodicals may be checked out for 4 weeks at a time. There is no limit on the number of these items that may be checked out. Video games and Library of Things items may be checked out for a 2 week period. These are limited to 3 items at a time. 

Overdue and Non-Returned Items

Library patrons will be sent notices for overdue items via email. The first notice is sent when the item is overdue by 7 days. A total of 4 notices will be sent.

If items are not returned by the end of the semester, a hold will be placed on the account through the CSI Business Office. Library patrons will be billed for the cost of unreturned items in addition to a $10 excessive late fee per item. A letter will be sent via certified mail informing the patron of the overdue items and the total amount due. 

Holds may be placed on items that are currently not available. Items may not be renewed if a hold has been placed on it. Holds can be placed in person, over the phone or via e-mail. To place a hold contact us at 208-732-6500 or library@csi.edu. 

Current CSI students have first priority on using computers in the library. All current CSI students are assigned a username (CSI email) and password which is used to log in to the computers. Each currently enrolled student has access to free printing. 

The computers are primarily for student use. Visitors may use a computer, if one is available. They must sign in and out at the front desk, and must yield the computer to students if another computer is not available. Children under the age of 18 cannot use CSI Library computers unless they are enrolled as students. 

All computer resources are the property of the College of Southern Idaho. Computer usage may be monitored by CSI computer support staff (this includes e-mail and Internet usage). All computer users must abide by rules set forth in the CSI Computer Use Policy. Library users must adhere to the provisions of state and federal copyright laws and regulations. Illegal or unauthorized access, display, performance, reproduction, duplication, distribution or modification of copyrighted materials is strictly prohibited. The person using the computer is liable for any infringement.

The Library makes purchases and adds donated materials to its collection based on its Collection Development Policy. The Library therefore reserves the right to decide whether or not a donated item will be added to the collection. An item that is not added may be a duplicate of a book or other material that is already in the Library, and of which additional copies are not required; out-of-date or obsolete; not of an informational content or level that is needed by our users; or in poor physical condition marked, or damaged. 

Donated books and other materials that are useful to the Library are integrated with the general collections. Useful but unneeded gifts, may, at the discretion of the Library, be offered to other libraries, agencies, CSI students, faculty and staff who may want them or be discarded.

Library patrons may bring snacks into the library. However, individuals may only bring in drinks that are covered. Food items must not be messy or aromatic. Small snacks such as vending machine snacks are permissible in the Library as long as they are consumed in a respectful manner. Strong-smelling, greasy, crunchy or overly messy foods are not allowed in the Library. Users eating foods that disturb other patrons will be asked to put the food away. Anyone refusing to put food away will be asked to leave the Library. No food deliveries are allowed in the library. However, students may have food delivered to the building and consume it in the lobby. Library-sponsored events and meetings may involve catered items.

Patrons must clean up after themselves. Patrons are responsible for taking drink and food containers with them when they leave the library, or for disposing of them in trash receptacles in the building. Food and drinks left unattended or in unapproved containers may be confiscated and discarded.

Food and drinks still pose a risk to Library collections, equipment, and furnishings, but we hope that CSI Library users will be considerate and responsible when consuming food and drink in the Library in order to continue this privilege. Please notify Library staff of any spills or mishaps.

In addition to following CSI's Smoke Free Campus Policy, the Library does not allow the use of chewing tobacco, or vapor or e-cigarettes, on the premises.

The College of Southern Idaho Library upholds the principle of intellectual freedom for all library users. This means that all library users may conduct their research with the confidence that CSI will not create a permanent record of your online or analog research, and no restrictions will be made on the content of inquiries. However, if you use a networked computer or CSI’s wifi your Internet activity can be viewed by Information Technology staff. The CSI Library is also equipped with cameras that record video (but not audio) of the main building and study rooms. Internet browsers, as well as any other software you may use while on a CSI computer have their own privacy and cookies policies, and we encourage you to read them in their entirety. The information from CSI network or wifi Internet use and video recordings is kept secure within the College of Southern Idaho and is shared with third parties only to the extent necessary to conduct official college business or required by law.

We may disclose all of the information we collect with nonaffiliated third parties that are acting on our behalf or are acting jointly with us, as permitted or required by law such as responding to subpoenas and other legal processes, and those with whom you have requested us to share information. We share information within CSI so that our offices can work together to meet your needs. It is the intent of the College of Southern Idaho to adhere to federal and state privacy laws and regulations. Access to a student’s education record is regulated by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

In the event of an intellectual freedom-related concern, library staff will take the following steps:

1. Library staff will listen to the concern respectfully and privately.
2. Staff will provide an explanation of the library’s policy, or introduce the patron to another library staff member who may be better equipped to address the concern.
3. If after discussing the policy no resolution has been reached, the staff member will direct the patron to the library director.
4. If the issue is still unresolved, the Director will forward the concern the appropriate CSI administrative leader who can address their particular concern.

Interlibrary Loan is the borrowing of library materials from other libraries across the country. If there is an item that the CSI Library does not have, we can try to borrow it from another library. Anyone with a current CSI Library account may request to borrow items through Interlibrary Loan. 

How to make a request?

• For book requests, provide the title, author, and publication date.
• For journal articles, provide a full citation including the article title, author(s), journal title, publication date, journal volume and number, and page range. 

Patrons are responsible for any fines resulting from loss or damage of the item while in their possession. These charges will be decided by the lending library. Renewals can be made by emailing library@csi.edu. Renewals are case-by-case, depending on the lending library's policies. Borrowed item's due date is dependent on the loaning library and may not be the same amount of time as items borrowed from the CSI Library. 

The CSI Library is funded by student fees and is primarily for the use of CSI students, faculty and staff. CSI students must present their CSI ID card to check out materials from the library. All students taking at least one class for credit are entitled to a CSI ID card. 

CSI students in need of a student ID card may come to the Library or go to the Taylor Building. Each student will receive their first ID card for free; however, replacement cards are $3.00.

Students must complete a CSI Library registration form before checking out items. Forms must be completed at least once each school year and at any time when the student's address or contact information changes.

CSI staff, faculty, and administration may use their CSI Employee ID card as their library card to checkout materials from the library.

Any adult (over 18 years of age) residing in Twin Falls and Jerome Counties is eligible for a CSI Library community card. The applicant must present an official picture identification and official proof of address. Patrons must complete a CSI Library application form before checking out items. The form must be completed at each renewal of the card.

The statement below explains the steps that College of Southern Idaho Library takes to respect and protect your privacy when you use library resources.

CSI Library has a deep-rooted commitment to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of library users. This commitment is in compliance with local, state and federal rules and is consistent with the American Library Association's Code of Ethics.

Privacy and confidentiality practices

A. Notices and openness: CSI Library posts its privacy and confidentiality practices on the library website and regularly reviews them with library staff, and student workers. The library avoids creating unnecessary records and retains records in conformance with applicable records retention regulations.

B. Gathered and retained information: Information gathered and retained may include the following:

• Students and CSI employees: Information required to have a library account is provided through CSI Student Identification Cards or the CSI Faculty and Staff Directory. That information is not retained when a student or employee leaves CSI once the account is in good standing and the prescribed retention period has been completed.
• Community users: Information is retained as long as the user has an account with CSI Library.
• Records of material checked out, charges owed, payments made.
• Electronic access information.
• Requests for interlibrary loans, or reference service.

C. Choice and consent: If you provide personally identifiable information to CSI Library, it may retain your private and personally identifiable information. If you provide CSI Library with personally identifiable information, the library will keep it confidential and will not sell, license, or disclose personal information to any third party without your consent, except agents working on behalf of the library or unless CSI library is legally required to do so.

D. User access and responsibility: You are entitled to view your personally identifiable information and are responsible for keeping your information accurate and up-to-date. The library will explain the process for accessing or updating your information on its website or in person, upon request.

E. Data integrity and security: CSI Library takes reasonable steps to ensure data integrity and protects personally identifiable information by electronically purging or manually shredding data once the prescribed retention period has been completed. When CSI provides aggregate summary data for which personally identifiable information is not needed, CSI removes personally identifiable information.

F. Third-party security: CSI Library ensures that the library’s contracts, licenses, and offsite computer service arrangements reflect library policies and legal obligations concerning user privacy and confidentiality. Library agreements address appropriate restrictions on the use, aggregation, dissemination, and sale of that information. When connecting to licensed databases outside the library, the library releases only information that authenticates users as registered CSI Library borrowers. Nevertheless, users must be aware, when accessing remote sites, that there are limits to the privacy protection the library can provide.

G. Cookies: Users accessing the library’s website will need to enable cookies in order to access a number of resources available through the library. Library servers use cookies solely to verify that a person is an authorized user in order to allow access to licensed library resources and to customize web services to that user’s specification. Cookies sent by library servers containing authorization information will disappear soon after the user’s computer browser is closed.

H. Security measures: Library procedures limit access to data and data for unauthorized purposes. CSI Library limits access through use of passwords.

I. Staff access to personal information: Library staff may access personal data stored in the library’s computer system only for the purpose of performing their assigned library duties. Staff are prohibited from disclosing your personal data to any other party, unless required by law or to fulfill your service request. The library does not sell, lease, or give users’ personal information to companies, governmental agencies, or individuals except as required by law or with a user’s authorization.

J. Enforcement and redress: If you have a question, concern, or complaint about CSI Library’s handling of your information, you may file written comments with the Library Director. CSI Library will respond in a timely manner and may conduct a privacy investigation or review of practices and procedures. The Library Director is custodian of library records and is the only party authorized to receive or comply with public-records requests or inquiries from law enforcement officers. The Director may delegate this authority to designated members of the library’s staff. The Director may confer with the Director of Public Safety, or the Executive Vice President before determining the proper response to any request for records. CSI will provide state, federal, or local government authorities with personally identifiable information only when it is legally required.

K. Illegal activity is prohibited and not protected. In accordance with CSI Policies, library users may not use CSI resources to commit illegal actions. Nothing in this statement prevents the library from exercising its right to enforce its behavior rules, protect its facilities, network, and equipment from harm, or prevent the use of library facilities and equipment for illegal purposes. The CSI Office of Institutional Information & Effectiveness can electronically monitor public computers and external access to its network and reserves the right to do so. Staff is authorized to take immediate action to protect the security of library users, staff, facilities, computers, and network. This includes contacting law enforcement authorities and providing information that may identify the individual(s) perpetrating a violation.

CSI Faculty and staff may place personal, departmental, or Library items in the Reserve Collection. Information that must accompany items when being placed on Reserve includes:

• Course title
• Instructor
• Lending parameters – which may range from library use only to four week checkout 
• Length of time the item should remain on Reserve - faculty may indicate when they would like the items returned or if they would like them left on Reserve for the entire semester. 
• If there are restrictions concerning student access to the item, a list of students must be provided at the time the item is placed on Reserve.

Checkout of Reserve items is restricted to faculty, staff, and students.

To place an item on reserve, email the above information to library@csi.edu.