Loan Periods 

Reference, reserves, and songbook (music) collections are in library-use only materials. Scanning and copying is permitted. 

Patrons checking-out Reserve materials will need to give their AMDA ID card to Library Staff while using the material. Once materials are returned, the patron will be given their ID. 

Current AMDA community members may borrow physical and digital material from the library using their AMDA-issued ID card. Faculty may borrow up to 10 items at a time, and have materials on loan for 14 days, with a one-time option to renew per item.Students may borrow up to 5 items at a time, and have materials on loan for 7 days, with a one-time option to renew.  

Proxy Borrowing

Faculty members may designate a student to pick-up their library materials for them. The faculty member must contact a library staff member before the student will be allowed to do this. 

Online Collections

On-Campus Access

All AMDA Community members have access to the Library’s databases while on-campus and connected to the AMDA network. 

If problems occur please contact library staff for assistance. 

Off-Campus Access

Current AMDA students, faculty, and staff have access to our online collections while off-campus by using their current AMDA ID. Due to vendor contracts, alumni do not have access to these collections while off-campus. 

Holds

Holds may be placed through the Library Catalog on items. When the book is ready for pick-up, the patron will receive an automated message letting them know the item is available. After receiving this message, the book can be checked-out at the Circulation Desk. 

Renewing Items

Items may be renewed once by a patron unless a hold has been placed on the item by another member of the community. 

To renew library materials online, log-in to your library account through the Library Catalog at the top right corner of the screen. From here, checked out items are visible. Select renew to extend your loan. 

If you would like to renew your items in-person, please visit the Circulation Desk and a library staff member will help you. If you are unable to come to the library and need to renew your items, please send us an email or call the library for assistance. 

Returns

Please return items to the Library Circulation Desk or the Library book drop. 

Fines

The AMDA Libraries are fine-free. Overdue materials that are returned will be taken off the patron’s library account. If materials are lost, the patron is responsible for the replacement cost of the item plus a $5 processing fee. 

Community members will be emailed six overdue notices before an item is designated as lost. A block will be placed on their account if the item is not returned by the end of the semester. 

Damaged Items

Library materials may not be marked or defaced in any way. Library staff will evaluate damage to materials on a case-by-case basis. If returned materials are deemed beyond repair and unusable, the library may issue a bill to the patron. This may occur even after an item has been checked-in through the library system. 

Whether issued for lost or damaged items, patrons will be responsible for the current cost to replace the item plus a $5 processing fee.

Account Blocks

At the end of each semester, students must return all Library materials. Any unreturned items will result in a block being placed on the student’s Library account. When a block is in place, students will not be able to check out any Library materials or access online materials (including the Special Collections through Vitrium). The block will be removed once the issue is resolved.

Upon graduation, for any student/graduate with unreturned items a block will be placed on their AMDA school account resulting in a delay in receiving their diploma/certificate. The block will be removed once the issue is resolved.

Collection Guidelines

 1. Collection Responsibilities 

     a. Making changes to the current library holdings is the primary responsibility of the AMDA librarians or full-time library staff. The Education department provides the library a list of required readings and textbooks used at AMDA for the librarians to assess. 

     b. AMDA Community members including faculty, staff, students, and alumni may fill out an Acquisitions Request Form for materials they would like to see added to the existing collection. 

2. Gifts and Donations are accepted at the discretion of the AMDA librarians. Published materials or materials with ownership transferred to the Library are taken into consideration. Please see our Gift and Donation Policy here. Donors are asked to fill out a Gift in Kind Form and to provide an itemized list if possible. If requested, a tax/donation receipt will be given. 

3. Formats

     The AMDA Libraries acquire both physical and electronic items. We select the format of materials based on need and availability. 

Collections

 Scope

The AMDA Libraries primarily collect works that relate to the curriculum of undergraduate and graduate programs offered at AMDA. Materials needed for research beyond course needs may also be collected. Textbooks will not be purchased through library funds. Duplicate copies will be added to the collection at the discretion of library staff. 

1. Areas of Knowledge [from AMDA 2023 Course Catalog]

   • Arts & Humanities

   • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

   • Foundational Communication (Oral & Written)

   • Foundational Critical Thinking

   • FoundationalPhysical and Biological Sciences

   • Foundational Quantitative Reasoning

   • Information and Digital Literacy

   • Social and Behavioral Sciences

2. Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

   • Written Communication

   • Oral Communication

   • Critical Thinking

   • Information Literacy 

   • Quantitative Reasoning

   • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

   • Technological Literacy 

   • Historical Perspective

3. Areas of Study

   • Acting (Studio)

   • Acting for Camera : Film and Television Arts

   • Dance Theatre

   • Music Theatre

   • Theatre Arts

   • Performing Art

 Add / Reorder  

Special Collections

The AMDA Special Collections consist of donations primarily from AMDA faculty and alumni who have shared materials from specific, authorized productions with which they were contracted, or of which they have created, to contribute to student enrichment at AMDA. The Libraries accept donations for the Special Collections with the understanding that these items are exclusively for the AMDA Community, and consist of original, primary content. Photocopied materials and/or materials with explicit instructions not to disperse will not be accepted. 

Assessment 

1.  General considerations are as follows:

   • Current availability, format of item, usage, historical value, availability via interlibrary loan, physical condition, and space

   • Conduct yearly evaluations on physical and digital material

2. Physical Collection 

   • Performance material: keep all physical items, if condition permits

     • Scores  

     • Libretti

     • Plays 

   • Non-performance material

     • Items that are ten years past publication may be reviewed for withdrawal  

     • May be limited to one copy

     • Consider the acquisition of digital format in place of physical copy

3. Digital Collection

   • OverDrive

     • Zero checkouts for items older than 2 years (date added)

     • duplicate copies (with low usage)

     • <5 checkouts for years prior to last 2 years (date added)

   • Digital Holdings through Library Database Subscriptions

     • Review usage reports sent by vendors

     • Review individual title usage for digital holdings through Ebsco’s Flipster and Overdrive

Music Available through Individual Composers

The libraries are unable to purchase materials that the creators have expressly  chosen not to commercially publish. their music and have opted instead to sell the music individually through their website. For this reason, it is not available for institutional purchase, and as such, is not legal or ethical for the Library to purchase the material for our collection.

You can respect the artists' creative and business decisions by purchasing the music directly from them.