The Learning Resource Center (LRC) stands as a cornerstone for educators, parents, and individuals dedicated to supporting students, especially those with disabilities. Access to our extensive collection of learning resources, engaging events, and essential production services is granted through an LRC membership. This membership is your key to unlocking a wealth of educational materials and opportunities designed to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
Gaining Access: Understanding Your LRC Membership
Membership at the LRC is designed to be accessible and beneficial for those actively involved in education. To become a member and fully utilize our learning resource offerings, please note the following key criteria:
- Age Requirement: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to apply for membership.
- Individual Membership: Memberships are granted to individuals and are non-transferable. Each person seeking access must complete their own application.
- Eligibility: LRC membership is open to parents, educators (including in-service and pre-service), and individuals who are actively serving students with disabilities. This ensures our resources are available to those directly impacting educational outcomes.
- Membership Agreement: By becoming a member, you agree to receive email communications from the LRC and to adhere to all established LRC policies. This helps us keep you informed about new learning resources, upcoming events, and any policy updates.
- Membership Duration: Your LRC membership is valid for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance, allowing you consistent access to learning resources throughout the year.
Navigating the LRC: Utilizing Your Membership and Respecting Guidelines
Upon entering the LRC, members are required to sign in using their membership number. This helps us maintain security and track resource utilization, ensuring we continue to offer valuable learning resources to our community.
We warmly welcome families; however, to ensure a productive and safe environment for all users of our learning resources, we have established guidelines regarding children within the LRC:
- Adult Supervision: Children must be accompanied and closely supervised by an adult member at all times while in the LRC.
- No Childcare Services: Please note that the LRC does not offer childcare services.
- Limited Duration for Children: We discourage members from bringing children for extended periods. The LRC is designed as a learning resource center for adults, and prolonged visits by children can be disruptive.
- Restricted Access to Materials and Equipment for Children: For safety reasons, children are not permitted to operate equipment or use certain materials such as scissors, permanent markers, or sharpies. Crayons are permitted for children’s use.
- No Play Policy: The LRC is a learning environment, and playing is not allowed within the center.
- Addressing Disruptive Behavior: LRC staff are authorized to ask parents to leave with children who are behaving disruptively to maintain a conducive learning atmosphere for all members.
Borrowing and Accessing Learning Resources: Circulation Policies
Your LRC membership enables you to borrow a variety of learning resources to support your educational endeavors. Our circulation policies are designed to ensure fair access to these valuable materials:
- Borrowing Limit: Members can borrow up to six (6) items at a time.
- Loan Period: The standard loan period for borrowed materials is three (3) weeks.
- Renewals: Materials can be renewed once for an additional three (3) weeks. Renewals can be done in person, by phone, or conveniently online through your Patron Account on our online Researcher platform.
- Renewal Assistance: When renewing materials by phone, please have your LRC membership number ready to expedite the process.
Managing Borrowed Resources: Overdue, Lost, and Damaged Materials
We understand that managing borrowed materials requires responsibility. Please familiarize yourself with our policies regarding overdue, lost, and damaged items to maintain your borrowing privileges and support the LRC’s resource pool:
- Overdue Fines: A nominal fine of five cents ($0.05) per working day is charged for each overdue item, with a maximum fine of two dollars ($2.00) per item.
- Overdue Notifications: As a courtesy, email notifications are sent to members regarding overdue materials.
- Suspension for Extended Overdue Items: If resources are overdue for 30 days or more, membership privileges may be suspended. Members may also be responsible for covering the full replacement cost of the overdue items.
- Suspension Consequences: Suspended members will not be able to access any LRC Network services or events at any location until the issue is resolved.
- Responsibility for Borrowed Materials: Members are responsible for all materials borrowed under their membership. This responsibility extends to materials used by students or colleagues.
- Lost or Damaged Item Fees: If materials are lost or returned damaged, borrowers may be charged a repair or replacement fee. This applies even if the damage was caused by another individual.
- Determining Fines: Fines for damage are assessed by the LRC and can range from repair costs to the full replacement value, depending on the extent of the damage.
- Borrowing Privilege Restrictions: Members who repeatedly demonstrate a pattern of overdue, lost, or damaged items may have their borrowing privileges restricted at the discretion of the LRC administration.
By understanding and adhering to these guidelines, you contribute to the effective management and availability of learning resources for the entire LRC community. We encourage you to take full advantage of your membership and the wealth of educational materials available to support your professional and personal development in education.
For a printable version of these policies, please refer to the Learning Resource Center Patron Policies. (Updated 2024)
