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Visiting Our Library
Visitors are welcome to wear face coverings.
We are open to the following patrons, with proof of identification:
- Members of the New College and USF Sarasota-Manatee academic communities
- Students, staff, or faculty at our academic affiliates: Ringling College of Art, Ringling Museum of Art, State College of Florida, and the University of South Florida
- Students, staff, or faculty at any of the Florida State Colleges or Universities, and any academic institution with appropriate school/college/university identification.
- Members of the community with an academic need, with the Dean’s approval and a community borrower card.
- New College of Florida alumni are eligible for community borrower cards
Contact Us
Library Spaces
Work together, work alone. Make some noise, be quiet. Bring your laptop. Use a whiteboard. Come for a workshop. Share a reading. It is all here at the Cook Library.
Carrels
Carrels are open use. Please use extreme care with food and uncovered drinks in the carrels.
Col-lab
Looking for a place to work together? The Col(laboration)-Lab is located on the first floor of the Cook Library, next to the Quantitative Resource Center and Writing Resource Center. No need to check out a key; the lab is open to New College and USF Sarasota-Manatee students.
Dr. Helen N. Fagin Room
Named in honor of Holocaust survivor and New College supporter Dr. Helen Fagin, the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Collection holds materials related to the Holocaust, genocide and human rights. The Fagin room can be reserved for occasional small meetings connected with the collection. Please contact libraryadmin@ncf.edu to reserve the room or for more information.
Silent Study Room
Located on the first floor of the Cook Library, the Silent Study Room is a comfortable, quiet space for VERY QUIET study.
Group Study Rooms
Group project or group study? Six Group Study Rooms are located on the first floor of the Cook Library. One to two people can use Group Study Rooms 143,144,145, 146, and 147. Four to eight people can use Group Study Room 134. Each room can be used for up to an hour and a half and may be renewed. Study rooms do have whiteboards and markers. Group Study Room keys are checked out on a “first come/first served” basis from the Service desk on the first floor. The Service desk staff can answer any questions you may have about the Group Study Rooms. Please keep in mind that the group study rooms are not soundproof.
Workshop Room
The Workshop Room, LBR 141, is available by reservation for use by NCF/USF SM faculty and staff for workshops, brown bags, lectures, etc. The Workshop Room is not a group study room. To request a reservation, please e-mail libraryadmin@ncf.edu with the date, time, length of session, and intended use. After your reservation is confirmed, you can check out a key just before your event at the Service Desk on the first floor of the library. Technology/AV for the room: LBR 141 has a computer (pc), a VCR, and a region-free DVD player connected to a big screen monitor, as well as wireless access. If additional technology/AV is needed, or there are any problems with the technology, please contact ETS (edtech@ncf.edu) — note that there are no staff available to troubleshoot technology/AV during evenings or weekends.
About the Library
Jane Bancroft Cook was involved with and substantially supportive of New College from its formative years to her death in 2002. She was one of the founders of New College, served as a trustee, and provided significant financial support to the college. The decision to name the library after her was not based on her financial contribution for its construction, which was funded through state funds, but because of her overall record of support for the institution (Dunkelberger, 1988). The library was completed in 1986 and in 1988 a bill was passed to name the building after her. The idea to name the library after Jane Bancroft Cook was designed as a surprise for her. The idea was initially proposed by Senator Johnson, Bob Benedetti, and General Heiser as a way to recognize her for her many contributions to the college over the years. (Rolland Heiser, personal communication, March 31, 1988). The Library Collection, New College Archives (Box 4, Folder 10), New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL.
Reference: Dunkelberger, L. (1988, April 26). House OKs New College library name. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The Library Collection, New College Archives (Box 4, Folder 6), New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL.
LIBRARY USERS CODE OF CONDUCT
The Jane Bancroft Cook Library is the center of research, learning and scholarship for the New College and University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee communities. The Library is a safe and smokefree/substance-free environment that fosters interaction among students, faculty, librarians, staff, information resources and services. The following policy has been established to help achieve that purpose. Cook Library policies are guided by the American Library Association Code of Ethics.
Policy
- Food is permitted in the Library; we recommend that drinks be in spill-proof containers, because individuals are responsible for any damage. Food and drink are not permitted while using Archival or Special Collection materials, and other designated materials.
- Smoking and use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., vaporizers, vape pens, hookah pens, electronic cigarettes, and e-pipes) are prohibited in the Library, as well as the outside portico areas.
- Cell phones should be silenced. Except in areas designated for collaboration, conversation and any other noise should be held to a minimum, in the Library as well as the outside portico areas.
- Service animals are the only animals allowed in the building. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities; emotional support animals and comfort animals are not service animals (see Revised ADA Requirements: Service Animals).
- Library resources, equipment and space are intended for nonprofit educational use. Other uses are expressly forbidden without permission of the Dean.
- Children age 16 and under who are not enrolled in New College and/or USF programs or activities must be chaperoned by a parent or guardian.
- All New College and USF Sarasota-Manatee policies and regulations apply to the Library.
- No solicitation of any kind is permitted in the Library.
- Any flyers or other marketing materials must be approved by the Dean prior to display in the Library.
- Bicycles and other vehicles, other than wheelchairs and other assistive devices are not permitted in the Library.
- Observe Copyright and Fair Use restrictions. (See the Association of College and Research Libraries Code of Best Practice in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries).
- Violations of the Library Users Code of Conduct may lead to disciplinary action according to the New College Student Code of Conduct, the USF Sarasota-Manatee Student Code of Conduct, and relevant policies and laws.
Anyone engaged in disruptive behavior will be asked to stop the behavior or leave the building and the adjacent portico area. Continued disruptive behavior may result in disciplinary action, banning from the library and/or campus, and/or arrest and by Campus Police and criminal prosecution.
Read the Library Circulation Policy and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Access and Policy here.
Cook Library events are held to contribute to the intellectual and cultural environment of the affiliated institutions and the greater academic community.
Library exhibits are held to promote the library and its resources, contribute to the discussion of important issues or events by the campus community, or promote the educational activities of campus organizations.