Appeals for the exception to the established refund practice must be made in writing to the designated university official. Appeals will be considered up to 90 days after the close of the semester/session for which the student is claiming a refund. For a typical semester/session, the dates are no later than March 31 (for Fall), August 31 (for Spring), and November 30 (for summer). University academic appeals committees hear appeals on academic matters and have no authority to authorize refunds.
Campus Policy
Study Away Course Policy
To receive credit at UMFK for academic work to be completed at another institution requires approval prior to enrolling and completing the study away course.
- Away courses must transfer into the student’s major/minor at UMFK or count towards the student’s degree requirements.
- Away courses will not be approved if an equivalent UMFK course is available during the enrollment period the student is wishing to enroll.
- Away Forms must be filled out and submitted prior to the end of the add/drop period of the respective semester in order to be counted toward the overall enrollment level for that semester.
- A separate Away Form must be completed for each course being taken elsewhere.
- The student completes the Away Form, selecting Joyce Plourde from the lookup.
- Joyce will forward the form on to the Academic Dean where the away course is housed for a decision.
- The Academic Dean will return the Away Form to the Registrar’s Office with information on the approval or denial of the request.
- The Registrar’s Office will notify the student of the decision of the dean’s decision.
- UMFK financial aid refunds will only be transferred to another University of Maine System (UMS) Away school with an approved Away Form. Payments cannot be made to colleges and universities outside of the University of Maine System.
Things to Know:
- Students wishing to take a course “away” must first fill out and submit an Away From requesting approval of the Away course before they register for the Away course.
- The student will be notified by the Registrar’s Office if the request has been approved or denied.
- Students should not enroll in the Away course until notified by the Registrar’s Office that the course has been approved by the dean.
- At the completion of the Away course, the student must have an official transcript for that course sent to the UMFK Registrar’s Office.
- For timely processing, it is advisable, that students submit the Away Form at least one month prior to the student’s attendance at an “Away” institution. This is recommended to allow for timely processing.
- The Away Form is available online at: https://tdx.maine.edu/TDClient/2624/Portal/Requests/TicketRequests/NewForm?ID=Tlb-63A68p4_&RequestorType=Service
Important Away Course Information
Once all approvals are finalized, the Away Form will be provided to the UMFK Financial Aid Office. For financial aid purposes, approved Away credits are usually considered as part of a student’s total semester enrollment and may have a direct impact on a student’s financial aid award.
Disbursement of Financial Aid, if applicable:
If you are a financial aid recipient, and if there remains a credit balance on your account after all UMFK charges are satisfied, then the UMFK Business Office will forward to the University of Maine AWAY school as much of that credit balance as is needed to pay your bill at the UMS AWAY school, up to the full amount of the credit balance. If your AWAY school is not a University of Maine System school, then it is your responsibility to pay the AWAY school. If UMFK issues you a refund, your refund can be used to pay your AWAY school.
For Schools Outside the University of Maine (UMS) System:
If your classes are being taken at an AWAY school outside of the UMS and if you are a UMFK financial aid recipient, the UMFK Financial Aid Office will send a Consortium Agreement to your AWAY school. This Agreement must be signed by the AWAY school and returned to the UMFK Financial Aid Office before any further action can be taken. (If you are attending a UMS campus, this step is not necessary.)
Transferring credits to UMFK:
Upon completion of the course at your “AWAY” campus, you are responsible for requesting an OFFICIAL academic transcript of your completed work at the AWAY school to be sent directly by the AWAY school’s Registrar’s Office to the UMFK Registrar’s Office. This is required for transfer credit evaluation and to document a student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Inez Day
Purpose: To outline the goals and objectives of the Inez Day collection and delineate the scope of the collection.
I. Introduction
To define further the conditions set forth in the establishment of the Inez Day Richards Fund in order to in order to insure this fund will effectively augment the existing collection and best benefit the patrons of this library.
II. Text of the Last Will and Testament of Daniel T. Richards Regarding the Inez Day Richards Fund
“Paragraph 6. d. – one-fifth (of my estate) to the Library of the University of Maine, Fort Kent, to establish an endowed book fund to be known as the INEZ DAY RICHARDS FUND, in loving memory of my paternal grandmother; the annual income from the FUND shall be used for the purchase of books in music and American poetry;”
III. Philosophy
Although this fund has specific subject focuses, the over-arching criterion for materials’ selection is support of the curriculum, as stated in the Blake Library Collection Development Policy.
IV. Definitions
A. “Books in Music”: “Books in Music” may mean any bound volumes or media equivalent relating to music, including, but not limited to the following: score, libretti, sheet music and non-fiction works on topics such as musical theater, composition, music history, ethnomusicology, and biographies of musicians and composers.
B. “American”: For the purposes of this Fund, “American” works will be defined as works produced in the United States, works originally published in the United States, works about the United States, or works produced by United States citizens, either at home or abroad.
C. “Books in American Poetry”:
- “Books in American Poetry” may mean any bound volumes or media equivalent relating to American poetry, including, but not limited to the following: anthologies, original poetic works, criticism and analysis, ethnopoetics, and translations by American poets.
- It is intended that the collection should include contemporary and traditionally under-represented poets, and the established poets of the literary canon.
V. Administration
A. A list of volumes purchased with the Fund will be generated annually and kept on file at the Blake Library.
B. This collection shall be dispersed among the general Blake Library collection. It shall not become a special collection housed separately from the stacks. This collection is also subject to the same guidelines established in the Blake Library Collection Development Policy.
C. Each book purchased and processed through the Fund will bear identification acknowledging it as a part of this collection.
Library Property Rights Guidelines
Blake Library follows the UMS legal counsel and the University of Maine at Fort Kent’s Academic Affairs recommendations for the protection of student work as follows. These guidelines are not meant to dissuade faculty from using student work, they simply provide the legal means by which student work may be used as teaching resources in the future.
Property Rights Regulations:
- Coursework is owned by the student/individual creating the work and may not be made public or otherwise utilized without written consent.
- Students may not be required to donate their works (writings, artwork, interviews, etc.) as a condition of a course or program.
- A faculty member may not obtain property releases from students as long as the faculty member has power over the students/creators of the works. Students must voluntarily consent to the release of their work once the course is completed and faculty have turned in their grades. Another party, i.e., library staff, should obtain written consent if the student chooses to release his/her work.
- Blake Library will enforce The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy which states in part:
- A school must have a student’s consent prior to the disclosure of education records;
- A school must ensure that the consent is signed and dated and states the purpose of the disclosure.
Blake Library staff adheres to copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and Fair Use guidelines. Copyright exemptions include:
- §108 limitation on the right of reproduction (non-profit educational libraries can make limited copies).
- §109 limitation on the right of distribution (once a lawful copy is obtained, one may distribute that copy through loan, rental or sale).
- §110 limitation on the right of public performance and display (non-profit, educational institutions can perform or display some works in the “face-to-face” classroom and virtual classroom situtations).
Fair Use guidelines (§107) are as follows:
- The Purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
- The Nature of the copyrighted work;
- The Amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
- The Effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
Procedures:
- In the case of student-conducted interviews: Interviewers must follow IRB (Institutional Review Board/Human Subjects Committee) guidelines for obtaining informed consent with respect to conducting interviews and/or collecting and utilizing data (permissions, confidentiality, etc.), but the works that are created from the interviews/materials are owned by the author/creator. The “interviewee” has no property rights with respect to what he or she says (he or she may have other rights, but not property rights).
- With respect to making student work available as a sample or guide for future work, this is a commonly accepted practice and should not be discouraged. In order to respect students’ rights, it is recommended that faculty members recommend or ask interested students to voluntarily turn the work in to a third party (library staff, division clerical support, etc.) and have the third party obtain a signed release from each student. Student work that is not picked-up within a reasonable length of time after a semester may also be used as sample student work as long as >all< identifying information and/or references are removed from the materials prior to making them public.
Library Special Collections
Purpose: To outline the goals and objectives of the Special Collections.
Overview
I. Introduction
A. The Blake Library Collection Development Policy provides guidelines for acquiring materials collection-wide. The collection as a whole is primarily intended to support the curricula of UMFK programs. Special Collections serves a similar purpose, albeit with a more narrowly defined focus.
B. The Collections covered by this policy include: Rare Materials Collection, State of Maine and Aroostook County Collection, University Collection, Dickey-Lincoln Collection, and the St. John Valley Collection (held cooperatively with the Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes).
II. UMFK Community and Goals/Objectives of the Special Collections
A. Faculty and Students: The Special Collections augment the classroom needs by providing primary sources and specialized materials. Also, the University Collection honors the UMFK’s history and its alumni, and creates for students and faculty a sense of an enduring community.
B. UMFK Staff: The University Collection is also important for staff; it provides historical perspective on events and establishes a collective memory. This collection also serves as a resource for historical materials helpful for grant writing and press releases.
C. St. John Valley Community: The collections housed here provide materials of interest to the community concerning local matters such as the Dickey-Lincoln project. The Maine and Aroostook County Collections also provide local history materials.
D. Acadian Archives: The Library works collaboratively with the Acadian Archives and endeavors to support its mission to the University and St. John Valley Community.
III. Priorities and Limitations
A. Formats: The library will collect materials in a variety of formats. As a general rule, the library does not accept artifacts. The forms the library does accept include, but are not limited to:
1. Print materials
2. Microform materials
3. Audio-visual materials
4. Sheet maps and aerial photographs
5. Kits and manipulatives
B. Language: The Library will primarily collect English language materials, with some emphasis placed on French with regard to the Franco-American, Acadian and Canadian culture.
C. Dates of Publication: The Library does not have the capacity to purchase ‘rare books’ for investment, but may purchase items which relate directly to the scope of the Special Collections.
D. Duplication: Although the scope and interest of the Library’s collections may overlap, the Library will avoid exact duplication of materials, except in cases of circulating copies. Also, in order to maintain the uniqueness of the Special Collections, the library also avoids duplicating the exact qualities of other libraries’ Special Collections.
E. Donations/Gifts: Gifts are always welcome by the Library staff, and will be accepted to the Special Collections only if they are within the scope of these collections. The Library staff will also consider the condition of the materials and determine if the Library has the capacity to preserve and maintain them. Only in extremely rare instances will Blake Library consider acquiring a collection that would be maintained intact or be archival in nature.
F. Controversial Material: The Library adheres to the principles set forth in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, particularly as they apply to censorship (Appendix I). Materials will not be refused on the basis of controversial content, but instead will be selected within the context of patrons’ needs and the collection’s parameters. The Library does not endorse the views of the material it holds, but allows patrons to determine the worthiness of those materials for their own particular usage.
The Collections The following collections will be housed in the Special Collections Room. These collections do not circulate.
I. Rare Materials Collection
A. This is a collection of materials on a variety of subjects, which serve as primary sources for research.
B. Rare materials are accepted on the same terms as other materials in the general collection. The library does not actively collect in this area, but gladly accepts gifts according to the collection levels noted in the current Collection Development policy.
II. State of Maine and Aroostook County Collection
A. This collection covers materials related to Maine State history, specifically to the land and communities of Aroostook County.
B. The library actively collects the works of local authors/illustrators from Aroostook County and specifically the St. John Valley.
C. In an attempt to avoid duplication of materials between the Special Collections and the Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes, this collection will collect only published works about the St. John Valley.
III. University Collection
A. The Library collects materials related to the Madawaska Training School, Fort Kent Normal School Fort Kent State College of the University of Maine and the University of Maine at Fort Kent.
B. The collection includes but is not limited to: yearbooks, student handbooks, course catalogs, and other University publications. Unfortunately, the library does not have the capacity to house the University archives, and therefore cannot accept business records or other such materials.
Administration and Patron Services
I. Budget
A. The Special Collections does not currently have a budget. Therefore, purchases for these collections must come from the general fund for the item in its format (book, periodical, audio-visual).
B. Any repairs or preservation initiatives should be undertaken with great consideration. Due to the lack of budget, the moneys for such work would have to come from another fund.
Library Reserve
Purpose: To outline the scope of the Blake Library Reserve Services available for faculty.
Overview
I. Introduction
Reserve services, handled by the circulation department, allow faculty to place commonly used items in one location for multiple students to use. Faculty may contact library staff by phone or in person to place items on reserve. A form is also available online for both regular reserve items and electronic reserve items.
II. Submissions Faculty members need to submit all materials to the library staff before each semester. If circumstances arise which require special submissions during the semester, please provide us with the reserve request according to the following format if possible:
A. Hardcopy: at least forty-eight hours before reserve time.
B. Electronic: at least one week before reserve time if the item needs to scanned or 48-hours for items already digitized.
III. Reserve addressing
Hardcopy reserve materials are shelved or filed by the professor’s last name. If more than one professor is teaching a course, one professor will be named.
IV. Access All articles or other small documents will automatically be placed on electronic reserve.
V. Copyright
Single electronic copies will be placed on electronic reserve for an entire article, chapter, or poem in a password protected location.
A. the amount of material should be reasonable in relation to the total amount of the material assigned for one term of a course taking into account the nature of the course, its subject matter and level, 17 U.S.C. [section] 107(1);
B. the material should contain a notice of copyright, see 17 U.S.C. [section] 401;
C. the effect of photocopying the material should not be detrimental to the market for the work. (In general, the library should own at least one copy of the work.) 17 U.S.C. [section] 107(4).”
Dukelow, Ruth H. The library copyright guide. Washington, DC: Copyright Information Services, 1992.
Library Exhibit
Purpose: To define the intended use of the exhibit area and insure fair and equitable access.
Overview
I. Philosophy and Scope
A. The Library welcomes exhibits from a variety of sources, specifically any groups or individuals engaged in educational, cultural, or intellectual activities.
B. Just as the Library does not endorse the views presented in the various materials held in the library collection, neither does the Library endorse the views of those groups or individuals whose exhibits are installed here.
II. Administration
A. Interested parties should arrange use of the exhibit area with the Reference Librarian. The Library provides this space on a first-come first-served basis. However, in the event of a scheduling conflict, Library staff will make the final decision.
B. The Library cannot be held responsible for materials installed in the exhibit area and cannot guarantee their safety. The University’s insurance policy, however, may cover losses under its general policy. Exhibitors who wish to insure their exhibit items while they are displayed on campus must provide the appropriate information to the Reference Librarian prior to the exhibit installation date.
C. Exhibitors are responsible for the installation and the removal of their materials in a timely fashion. If the Library must install or remove items in the Exhibitor’s place, either at the Exhibitor’s request, or due to the Exhibitor’s failure to remove items, the Library cannot be responsible for any accidental damage done to the items. Exhibitors should work with the Reference Librarian to insure that the gallery space can accommodate the materials in the exhibit.
D. Exhibitors are responsible for publicizing their exhibit. The University Public Relations coordinator may choose to cover the event, but the Library cannot guarantee such coverage.
Library Electronic Reference
Purpose:
To outline the goals, objectives, and scope of the Blake Library Electronic Reference Service.
(Adapted from “The New York Public Library – Ask Librarians Online” pages)
Overview
I. Introduction
Blake Library’s Ask-A-Librarian service allows the university and community patrons to obtain help from a librarian through either the chat service or email service. It is the library staff’s intention to help guide users in the quest for information and independent use of research methods.
II. Description of Services
A. Chat : Chat services allows for real-time interaction and is the most immediate form of electronic reference help.
B. Email: Email service provides a means for patrons to send questions at anytime and Library staff responds within a reasonable time of receiving the message.
III. Who can use the service
Both the live and email modes of Ask-A-Librarian are available to the University of Maine at Fort Kent community, the Valley community, and UMFK’s distance learners. All others may be referred to the patron’s local library if reference staff is unable to answer the question.
IV. Types of questions answered through both modes
A. Ready reference (quick research and answer).
B. Instruction and answer questions in the use of the online catalog, indexes and databases, Brightspace, IT, library services, etc.
C. More in depth questions are handled through email mode only.
V. What is not answered through either mode
A. Medical or law related advice
B. Product evaluations, appraisals, etc.
C. Any other question asking for personal advice or opinions.
VI. Days and Times of Service
Available hours are typically the same during the fall and spring semester. Hours may change according to need. Service will not be available during holidays, school closings, or other circumstances the library staff determines necessary. Evening hours will be available during fall and spring semesters only. Refer to the Ask-the-Librarian page for a current schedule.
Library Curriculum Collection
Purpose: To outline the goals and objectives of the Curriculum Collection and delineate the scope of the collection.
Overview
I. Introduction
The Blake Library Collection Development Policy provides guidelines for acquiring materials collection-wide. The collection as a whole is primarily intended to support the curricula of UMFK programs. The Curriculum Collection Development Policy addresses the needs of the Education Program in particular.
II. UMFK Community
A. Faculty: The Curriculum Collection provides education faculty with resources for their class preparation.
B. Students: Education students, a sizable proportion of the UMFK student population, use the Curriculum Center for their assignments and preparation for student teaching.
C. St. John Valley Community: Educators in the area may use the collections for their class preparation needs and personal development. UMFK provides this resource to them in a spirit of outreach to the educators, and ultimately for the benefit of their students.
III. Priorities and Limitations
A. Duplication: The Library endeavors to avoid duplication of materials, except in rare cases of high demand.
B. Donations and Gifts: Donations and gifts are always welcome by the Library staff, and will be accepted into the Education and Curriculum Center collections insofar as they are within the scope of this collection.
C. Controversial Material: The Library adheres to the principles set forth in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, particularly as they apply to censorship (Appendix I). Materials will not be refused on the basis of controversial content, but instead will be selected within the context of patrons’ needs and the collection’s parameters. The Library does not endorse the views of the material it holds, but allows patrons to determine the worthiness of those materials for their own particular usage.
The Collection
I. Scope of the Collection
A. Subject Matter: Materials will be collected to support curriculum development for elementary and secondary education. Curriculum materials will be collected to align with the academic offerings of the Education Program.
B. Language: The Library will primarily collect English language materials. With some emphasis placed on French in support of the French Education Program.
C. Geographic Area: The focus of this collection is on the standards, tradition and practice of education in the United States. Materials published in other countries, particularly Canada, will be selectively collected.
D. Related Materials: The library also provides access to educational theory and history collection as well as a young adult and juvenile materials.
II. Collection Formats
The library will collect materials in a variety of formats. The forms the library will accept include, but are not limited to:
1. Print materials, including Reference materials
2. Audio-visual materials
3. Kits and manipulatives
4. Periodicals
5. Electronic
I. Administration
The Library is responsible for managing and collecting for the Curriculum Center collections with active participation from appropriate faculty members.
II. Budget
The Library does not have a separate budget for the curriculum collection. All purchases are made from the Library’s materials budget.
III. Circulation
A. Community Borrowers and Students: have a loan period of one week with a one week renewal.
B. Faculty and Staff: have a loan period of one semester with no renewals.
C. No materials in this category may be requested online through URSUS. Other libraries may request these materials through interlibrary loan.
Library Collection Development Policy
Introduction
The Collection Development Policy Statement provides a general set of guidelines for the development and maintenance of the Library collection. It is meant to insure a systematic and balanced building of the collection. The Policy Statement will inform library staff, users, administrators, and others about the scope of the existing collection and the plans for continuing development of resources, thus providing information that will assist in the budgetary allocation process. It will also serve as a guideline for continued participation in the UMS shared library system. The Library Collection Development Policy Statement should be reviewed at regular intervals to insure that changes in defined goals, user needs, and priorities are recognized, and that changing budgetary situations are confronted.
Preliminary Information
The University of Maine at Fort Kent is the northernmost campus of the University of Maine system. Its students follow curricula of liberal arts and professional preparation in baccalaureate and associate degree programs. The holdings and services of Blake Library support and promote the University’s mission and educational objectives.
Clientele
• Faculty and students: The primary goal of collection development in Blake Library will be to meet the classroom needs of faculty and students. Research interests may be supported where they clearly relate to instructional programs.
• UMFK staff: The Library collects materials, such as directories, handbooks, manuals of written style, and other materials necessary to provide basic information for support services personnel at UMFK.
• Fort Kent and the St. John Valley: Because of its location in a rural area, the Library must help meet the information needs of Fort Kent and residents of the outlying communities, including those on the Canadian side of the St. John River.
General Subject Boundaries
Blake Library will develop its collection in the liberal arts and in those areas of professional preparation supported by the curriculum. The Library will give first priority to purchasing materials directly related to academic programs and requested by faculty or observed in the requests of students. The library staff will follow the library’s mission statement in collecting other materials supporting a diverse collection.
User Needs Supported
• General Collection: The first priority of library collection development will be to acquire materials that are necessary to support the regular curriculum of UMFK. These materials will be selected as appropriate for student use in course work and in independent study within areas addressed by the curriculum, paying particular attention to the needs of the faculty in the classroom.
• Reference: Blake Library will develop a comprehensive collection in all subject areas in support of the UMFK curriculum. The Reference collection includes a small print collection with the majority of the works being accessed online.
• Special Collections: A collection of special materials will be maintained, providing limited access to rare or unusual materials in the library’s collection. It will be the primary location of all materials pertaining to the St. John Valley and the University of Maine at Fort Kent. A separate collection development policy statement has been written to address the specific goals of Special Collections.
• Other Collection Considerations: To meet the reading needs of a geographically rural campus and to encourage the use of libraries, Blake Library will provide a basic collection of selective fiction and nonfiction in areas of high interest, e.g. sports, outdoor activities, cookery, and travel.
General Priorities and Limitations
• Form: The library will collect informational materials in those forms best suited to the use of that information, e.g. audio-visual materials, digital information resources.
• Language: The Library will collect primarily English language materials, except for those materials needed to support regular instructional needs in foreign language programs and those materials related to Franco-American, Acadian, and Canadian culture.
• Duplication: The Library will add duplicate copies of works when needed to assure access to items normally placed in non-circulating locations.
• Donations/Gifts: Gifts are appreciated but can only be accepted with the integrity of the collection in mind. Acceptance of gifts is made with the understanding that there are no limiting conditions or restrictions regarding their disposition; ownership is held exclusively by Blake Library. Only in extremely rare instances would Blake Library consider acquiring a collection that would be maintained intact or be archival in nature. Acceptance or rejection of gifts is based on the same criteria as purchased material, following the above selection guidelines of this policy. Blake Library cannot offer collection appraisals, nor estimate the value of a gift once accepted.
• Textbooks: Blake Library will collect textbooks only where these items would benefit UMFK programs, e.g. nursing, education; however the Library will not purchase current course textbooks.
Cooperative Collection Agreements
Blake Library is a member of the URSUS consortium which shares the URSUS electronic catalog and a number of electronic resources. The URSUS Council stresses cooperation and has worked to develope a shared collection and policies that promote a shared collection strategy.
In addition, Blake Library is a member of the Maine Shared Collections Strategy – a state-wide collection management project.