Miller Library Distance Education Policy

 

Distance Education Mission

In accordance with the 2000 ACRL Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services and the library's own mission statement, the Miller Library of Cornerstone University is committed to helping the distance education community acquire knowledge by offering access to, instruction in, and interaction with information resources. Services offered may be different from, but equivalent to the services offered to the on-campus community.

 

Definition

Individuals eligible for distance education library services are those Cornerstone faculty, staff, and students who do not regularly attend or teach class at the Grand Rapids campus of Cornerstone University. This would include individuals who might come to campus a few times a year, but would not consider their visits frequent.

Services Available

  1. Circulation
    • While visiting the Grand Rapids campus, distance education patrons have circulation privileges as stated in the respective Miller Library patron or faculty/staff handbooks.
  2. Document Delivery
    • The Document Delivery department will provide materials from the Miller Library collection requested by distance education patrons. Items will have the normal circulation period (see handbooks). Return postage is the responsibility of the borrower and must be postmarked by the due date to avoid any fines. Returnable items will only be sent within the United States, but non-returnable items may be sent internationally.
  3. Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
    • Distance education patrons may request materials owned by other libraries by contacting the ILL department. Returnable items will be ordered and sent to patrons only within the United States. These items will have the circulation period assigned by the lending library. Return postage is the responsibility of the borrower. Renewals may be available by contacting the ILL department. Non-returnable items may be sent internationally.
  4. eResources Access
    • The Miller Library provides off-campus access to most on-line resources for all students, faculty, and staff. Directions for how to use this service are available on the library website.
  5. Michicard
    • All Cornerstone students, faculty, and staff are eligible to participate in the Michicard program which allows patrons to borrow materials from other Michigan Michicard libraries. If Michicard registration does not take place during orientation sessions, distance education patrons may register through the Miller Library circulation department. The patrons will then be sent a Michicard sticker in the mail. Michicard registration may take place during orientation sessions.
  6. Research Assistance
    • Distance education patrons can find help and support from library staff. Contact information is available on the library web-page and in the patron handbooks.
  7. Information Literacy
    • Information literacy training is available on-line through the Miller Library web page and through class presentations from a librarian.