Overarching Statement of Policies Affecting Our Work
In addition to the local policies listed on this page governing our work and our services, the College Libraries are bound by additional policies, laws, and codes. These include:
American Library Association Code of Ethics
Society of American Archivists Code of Ethics
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)
Copyright laws of the United States, specifically Title 17 of the United States Code and laws amending it.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998 (Adobe PDF) is a specific amendment worth mentioning.
SUNY Potsdam Copyright Policy
SUNY Potsdam Campus Operating Policies
SUNY Potsdam policies and procedures listed in the Faculty Handbook
SUNY Potsdam Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy
Additionally, many librarians are guided by S. R. Ranganathan’s 5 Laws of Library Science, which form a philosophical core for our profession:
- Books are for use.
- Every reader his [or her] book.
- Every book its reader.
- Save the time of the reader.
- The library is a growing organism.
