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Policies and Standards

Patron Circulation

Students can check out 20 scores, books and learning DVDs for three week and 10 DVDs and CDs for two weeks.

Faculty can check out 20 scores, books, and learning DVDs for one semester and 10 DVDs and CDs for two weeks.

Staff can check out 20 scores, books, and learning DVDs for four weeks and 10 DVDs and CDs for one week.

For Alumni circulation policy, click this FAQ link.

Items can be renewed by logging into your library account.

Reserve items can circulate for two hours and are not renewable.

Fines

Overdue Fines

As of Spring 2019 semester all Berklee libraries will charge a $5 a day overdue fine for items that are:

  • Reserve
  • Conservatory performance library
  • Conservatory chamber reserve

Non-reserve books and scores will not incur overdue fines.

Processing & Replacement Fees

All items, reserve and non-reserve, will still be subject to lost fees if not returned after 30 days (48 hours for equipment) from check out date, or for being returned in a damaged condition. For each lost or damaged item the fees are:

  • a processing fee of $15
  • a replacement fee of $50 or higher for expensive items

Click this FAQ link for information on how to pay your fine

Research Help

Reach out to our librarians for help with your research projects, our services include:

  • Live chat support during operating hours via "Ask Us Live!" button
  • One-on-one consultations, by appointment
  • Help with literature searching or reviews
  • Training on advanced research skills
  • Help with special research projects
  • Find items in the Berklee Archives, including materials that document the history, activities, and contributions of Berklee and Boston Conservatory’s academic and administrative departments, faculty, students, and alumni, with additional special collections in jazz and popular music. Physical archival collections are accessible by appointment (archives@berklee.edu) during regular operations.

Online Resources

The library makes available newspaper, magazine, and academic peer-reviewed articles from many leading publications and reference sources, some of which are available in full text. These databases cover a range of topics in the humanities and music. These resources can be accessed on and off campus via the A-Z List of Databases page, linked from our main website. Off-campus access will require sign-in with a Berklee username and OnePass password when prompted.

The library also provides access to audio and visual streaming databases, including: African American Song, Classical Music Library, Contemporary World Music, Naxos Music Library, Opera in Video, Smithsonian Global Sound, Jazz Music Library and Naxos Jazz Library. These can be accessed through the Online Streaming Services page as well as the A-Z Databases page.

Interlibrary Loan, Holds & Renewals

Interlibrary Loan

If our libraries don’t have the item you need, you can request it from another library by filling out this Interlibrary Loan form or emailing libraryill@berklee.edu. Most items arrive within a week or two, but others may take longer depending on the lending institution.

Holds

Students are  able to place holds through the library website by logging into their library account. Holds can be placed on all non-reserve media, books, scores or learning videos.

Renewal

  • Stan Getz Library (Berklee College of Music)

    Students may renew a book, score, DVD, CD, or learning DVD online through the library website by clicking on "Login" in the upper right corner, then selecting "Stan Getz Library Account." Once you are logged in, you will find an option to renew your items under the "items checked out" tab. Questions? Ask us

  • Albert Alphin Library (Boston Conservatory at Berklee)

    To renew items from the Alphin Library please login to your account in Koha and click on the items you wish to renew under the list that displays your checked-out items. You will see the number of renewals permitted for each item. If you have any difficulty with renewing your library items please contact bcblibrary@berklee.edu.

Faculty Services

Faculty Support

We work with faculty to craft our collections, services, and instructional resources that will best support research, classes, and the Berklee community.

Contact us at askalibrarian@berklee.edu or email one of our team members for help with:

  • Finding resources for classes (including requesting a purchase)
  • Scheduling a librarian class visit
  • Requesting library instructional content for students (e.g. study guides, videos)
  • Course reserves

Faculty Reserve Requests

Faculty who wish to check out reserve materials should first check if the item is available digitally in our collection. If it isn’t, they should contact askalibrarian@berklee.edu with their request. Faculty needing to place items on reserve for their classes should submit their request via our Course Reserve Materials Order form.

Acquisitions

Faculty are encouraged to suggest print and media items to add to the library collection. To do this, please Recommend a Purchase for the Library​ using our online form or email askalibrarian@berklee.edu. We will consider purchasing item(s) that are not already owned by the library and that support the curricular and educational goals of Berklee College of Music.

Events and Displays

The Library host several events each semester highlighting various topics of interest or areas of learning. These often include film screenings, discussion panels, information searching workshops, music presentations or lectures, and displays. We welcome all faculty input and collaboration—please email uswith any event or display ideas

Posters and Flyers

  • Flyers/posters will ONLY be displayed on the bulletin boards at both the Stan Getz and Albert Alphin Libraries and must not be hung on glass doors, walls, windows, pillars, tables or in any other location.
  • Only one poster/flyer per event or organization which will be taken down after three weeks if no date is mentioned.
  • Posters/flyers must not be larger than 8.5" x 11" however with proper and advance notice, special permission may be granted for larger flyers and other types of displays for special campus events.
  • No flyers/posters from organizations unaffiliated with Berklee College of Music are permitted to be posted in the Library without permission.

Technology Services

Workstation Rules

  • You are a currently-enrolled hybrid student, faculty and/or staff with a valid Berklee ID. (No other forms of ID will be accepted.)
  • Photo, name, and barcode on ID must be readable. 
  • No food or drinks will be allowed in The Library labs. You must leave your drink in the trays located outside of each lab.
  • Phone calls are prohibited in The Library labs. Step out to make a phone call.
  • The Library workstations may not be used to access offensive materials including but not limited to pornography, violence, and hate speech/crime.
  • Users are not permitted to download/install any programs without a The Library staff member's permission.
  • Downloading torrent files is prohibited. Downloading commercially available files (software, music, video, etc) is not only against The Library/Berklee policy but also against U.S. Federal law.
  • Use of acoustic or semi-acoustic instruments is not allowed in The Library labs, if you need to record at a workstation please use an electric instrument and be considerate of those working around you.
  • Please be courteous of those working around you. Do not sing, hum, or tap along with your music.
  • The Library is not responsible for items brought with you to The Library. Please be aware of your personal items.
  • The Library is not responsible for items saved on the iMac hard drives. These files could be erased at any time.
  • Lab Monitors are available for support. Please use the "Ask Us" chat on the library website for assistance. If the questions are longer and deal with learning the programs, Remote Peer Training sessions are available for sign up.
  • The Library is not responsible for the repercussions of personal email, bank, or other accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. being left open on lab computers. Please make sure to log out of these accounts before leaving the station as any changes made by unauthorized parties cannot be monitored.

Printing

Information about Student Printing can be found on Berklee's Student Printing Page, or by contacting Technology Training and Support.

Item & Equipment Circulation

  • Scores, books, and learning DVDs that are not on reserve can be renewed and placed on hold if no copies are currently available. All non-reserve media items may be placed on hold, regardless of their current availability.
  • Library fines will be charged for overdue, lost, or damaged items and actual amount varies.
  • All Berklee libraries will charge a $5 a day overdue fine for items that are Reserve, Equipment (including some accessories), Conservatory performance library and Conservatory chamber reserve.
  • All items, reserve and non-reserve, will be subject to lost fees if not returned after 30 days from check out date, or for being returned in a damaged condition. For each lost or damaged item the fees are: $15 processing fee; replacement fee of $50 or higher for expensive items.
  • Annex requests may take 24 to 48 hours to process.
  • Amplified music in The Library is not allowed.
  • Please refer to the complete Berklee College of Music User Policy and the Berklee College of Music Student Conduct Policy.

Peer Training Regulations

  • Peer Training sessions are not recurring. Once you have the session, you will need to sign up again if you want more training.
  • If you sign up for a peer trainer and you can't make the session, please make sure you cancel it via the link sent to you in the confirmation email.
  • If you miss a session without notification, you will not be allowed to sign up for more peer training sessions without having your suspension cleared by The Library lab manager after discussing the matter.
  • A student can have only one scheduled peer training session at a time and up to 3 in a seven day period.

Training Session Regulations

  • If you sign up for a session and need to cancel for some reason, please cancel via the link sent to you in the confirmation email.
  • If the training sessions do not occur during a time that is suitable for your schedule, you may discuss this with a The Library staff person and try to make other arrangements.

Violating The Library regulations may result in a loss of privileges in the use of The Library. This includes, but is not limited to, loss of privileges for a specified period of time. Please refer to the complete Berklee College of Music Student Code of Community Standards, the Berklee College of Music Policy Handbook for Students and Berklee's animal policies