The DeWitt Wallace Library is located at the heart of the Macalester campus, next to the Old Main building.

In addition to housing physical collections and providing a central access point to virtual collections, the library provides seating/study space for one-third of the student body at any one time.

A 24x7 study space is located in the "Link" which connects the Library to Old Main.

The library was designed as a community gathering space and hosts a variety of campus events.

Offices also located in the Library building include the Jan Serie Center for Scholarship and Teaching on Level Three.

Where Food is Allowed
Food is allowed on the main and lower levels of the library, on levels 2 and 3, in the Link, and in staff work areas.

Where Food is Not Allowed
Food is not allowed on level 4, at Public Service Desks, in Rare Books and Archives, and in the library instruction classroom (except for special event situations).

Drinks
Drinks are allowed throughout the building, with the exception of the Rare Books and Archives areas. The library respectfully requests the use of spill-proof, reuseable containers.

Please see also the Library's Responsible Use Policy.

Acquisitions

• Collection Donations (pdf)

Building & Facilities

• Emergency Closings
• Headphones
• Lockers
• Microform Printers & Charges
• Photocopiers & Charges
• Staffing During Severe Weather
• Study Rooms

Circulation

• Macalester Students
• Macalester Faculty & Staff
• CLIC School Patrons
• Alumni
• Retired Faculty
• Family of Mac Faculty & Staff
• Neighbors
• Overdue Notices
• Billing Notices
• Renewals
• Reserve Items
• Video/DVD Recordings
• Non-Circulating Items

Collection Development and Management Policy

Copyright Policy

Food and Drink

Harmon Room Use Policy

Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries

Interlibrary Loan

• Submitting Requests
• Book Requests
• Article Requests
• Dissertation Requests
• Video or Audio Recording Requests
• Requesting Other Materials
• Request Limits Per Day
• Blocked Accounts
• Charges
• Renewing Materials
• Borrowing Limits

Laptop Checkout (Faculty/Staff)

Laptop Checkout (Students)

Library Bill of Rights

Patriot Act

Reference

Reserves

• Circulation of Reserve Materials
• Copyright Policies
• Electronic Reserve
• Fines
• Holds
• Renewals
• Faculty and Staff Placing Materials on Reserve

Responsible Use

Security and Safety

Student Employment

Greening the Library

The DeWitt Wallace Library and its staff are committed to working toward a more sustainable Macalester community. The list below reflects some of our most recent efforts to conserve campus resources and model responsible green behavior.

Printing Awareness

Each year the library works with ITS and the Sustainability Office to raise awareness of printing on campus. Students are encouraged to take a printing pledge to try and print less, and information is shared on current amount of paper being used, along with alternatives and tips for cutting down, such as:

Sustainability Book Club

Partnering with the Sustainability Office we promote book discussions featuring one title per semester. For Fall, 2011 we are reading James Farrell’s The Nature of College: How a New Understanding of Campus Life can Change the World.

Onesies

The Library spearheads the production of “Onesie notebooks” (notebooks made from discarded single-side clean paper). Notebooks contain tips on smarter printing, and are available for purchase at the Circulation Desk, with proceeds going back into production costs. Paper is collected throughout the library, and the entire campus is invited to donate paper for this effort. For the past two years, all entering first year students have received a free onesie notebook as a way to welcome them to the library and sustainability efforts at Macalester.

Reduce Direct Mail Waste

The library has also begun a direct mail waste initiative. Library staff receive a lot of bulk mailings from publishers and others that often go directly to the recycling bin. We are embarking on a project to keep this mail from coming in the first place. Staff place unwanted mailings in a designated bin and, prior to recycling, student workers investigate and follow the necessary steps to remove names from mailing lists.

Promote Electronic Publishing

We promote and maintain the Digital Commons electronic publishing archive for the Macalester College community and are transitioning many of our reference and periodical collections from printed copies to electronic versions. The library also posts our internal documents in moodle.

Donations to Better World Books

Whenever possible, books weeded from library collections are donated to Better World Books, an organization promoting literacy initiatives worldwide. Books unable to be accepted by BWB are sent to a recycling facility.

Other Energy-saving Efforts

In addition to the above policies and projects, the library also uses automatic turn-off lights in the stacks to save energy, leaving only safety (perimeter) lights on overnight. Recently, all large-sized fluorescent bulbs were replaced with ones using slightly less energy. Signs are posted on restroom hand-dryers to remind students that these can be turned off manually.

The library recently added a flat-screen TV to staff training space, and encourages staff participation in "webinar" training and professional development opportunities. This reduces the amount of air travel by staff.

Many library staff are opting for laptops instead of desktop workstations when they are up for replacement computers. According to information shared at the Nov. 2009 Educause conference, laptops use up to 80% less energy than desktop workstations.

The library's sustainability team plans to build on the above successes and to continue to promote sustainability within our facility and across campus.

• Offering resources and innovative services for inspired scholarship
• Providing exceptional virtual and physical spaces for learning
• Fostering community and conversation
• Preserving and promoting the history of the college

Through our endeavors we enhance the transformational experience of a Macalester education, preparing individuals for global citizenship and lives that make a difference.

Vision statement 9/29/2006

Library Mission

The Library supports the mission of the College by providing the scholarly information services and resources essential to Macalester's educational program. Specifically, the Library:

• Educates and guides users in the research process.
• Enables users to identify and obtain needed information.
• Maintains a secure and supportive environment for the use and preservation of collections and delivery of services.
• Manages effectively the budget, processes, personnel and technology needed to accomplish Library goals.

Revised 1998