The university intends its libraries to serve all its students, faculty and staff members. Materials are to be shared for the common good, and we encourage you to use university property carefully so that future Cornellians may also enjoy it.

Lost, stolen, and missing books and other materials significantly damage our ability to provide the resources that students and faculty members need. Replacing items is expensive, and often it is impossible to buy even recent books and periodicals at any price. The seriousness of the problem will probably not be apparent to you until you make the unpleasant discovery that an item you want is no longer available in the collections.

To protect books and periodicals from theft, most libraries have installed security systems at exits and in other areas. Materials that are not properly checked out will set off an alarm. If the alarm sounds when you leave the library, you will be asked to return to the circulation desk and identify any library material you are carrying. Any CUL materials not properly checked out to you will be kept by library staff. As university officials, library staff have the authority to ask you for your identification and to search bookbags, knapsacks, or other containers for library materials. These procedures are in accordance with the CUL Library Security Policy, which is available at circulation desks in each library.

Members of the library staff are also conscious of the need to handle library materials with care. No one wants to discourage you from using the collections, but we ask you to join with the staff in protecting the collections from damage. Eating, drinking, and smoking are generally not permitted anywhere in the libraries. You can also help by being careful not to handle books roughly—especially older items and those that have brittle pages. Books taken out of the library should be protected from hazardous environments such as basements likely to flood or food preparation areas. Please do not get library materials wet in the rain or snow or leave them where they will be exposed to extreme temperatures. Patrons are asked to report damage to books without delay, especially books that have been damaged by water or fire.

Willful damage to library material by theft and mutilation denies information to others. Anyone involved in such activity, which is a violation of the Code of Academic Integrity, is subject to disciplinary measures as described in The Code of Academic Integrity and Acknowledging the Work of Others, available from the Office of the University Faculty, 315 Day Hall. Violations of the code include stealing materials from the library, not returning library materials promptly when asked to do so, hoarding scarce copies of material needed by others in order to advance one’s own position, deliberately damaging library material (for example, cutting pages out of books or magazines), and helping another person steal, hoard, or damage library material.