Food & Drink
Food is permitted in the Matas Library. Drinks should only be in covered cups, spill-proof mugs, or similar containers. No canned beverages or open cups are allowed. Please place your trash in trash receptacles. If you observe a spill, please notify a staff member right away. Thank you for helping to preserve your resources.
Mobile Phone Use
Many people come to the library to find a quiet place to read and to study. Please respect others' need for quiet and observe these guidelines for mobile phone use in the library. Please turn ringer off or switch to vibrate mode upon entering the library. When discussing a medical case please consider the privacy of the patient and their family when in an public area or elevator. Please use a low voice when using a mobile phone in the acceptable areas of the Matas Library (the information desk area or in the Library Commons). The library reserves the right to ask patrons to move to a more acceptable place in the building if they are using mobile phones in restricted areas or disturbing others in any area of the library.
Please refrain from making mobile phone calls in the 24/7 Quiet Area. There are three house phones in the Matas Library: one in the Commons area near the magazine rack, one in the 24/7 area near the after-hours entrance/exit (available at all hours), and one in the Mezzanine Computer Lab. Please follow the same guidelines as for mobile phone use. The Library house phones do not allow calling outside of the 504 area code. The 24/7 Quiet Area phone available for emergencies; but as this is also a quiet study area, please be considerate and use this phone sparingly and in a considerate manner. The Library desk will also page physicians and students as needed. Please call the desk at
(504) 988-2403.
Printing
PRINTING Rudolph Matas Library has a University-wide networked printing system (PHAROS). Problems with the printer should be reported to the Library Desk. Paper jams and printing problems are handled by the Matas Library Desk. Problems with access with Splash Cards (university ids) or purchased cards should be reported to Card Services
(504) 865-5629.
PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS ■ When you are ready to print, proceed to the Print Station in the 24/7 Quiet Area. ■ At the Print Station, run your card through the card reader and select your print job. That's it. Note that the system tells you how much each print job will cost as well as how much value is available on your card.
COST Print costs are kept to a minimum at 10 cents per page for black and white printers. The color printer is 50 cents per page.
WHO CAN PRINT Tulane Students, Faculty, and Staff can use the printing system with their University IDs (Splash cards). Some departments may have a print credit, but the Library does not control the print credit process. Contact your home department is you think you may have a problem with a print credit. Funds may be added with cash at vend stations (black box) in the library (24/7 area between the double glass doors). Visitors to the library may purchase a card at the vend station ($1.00 for the card which may be reused).
ALTERNATIVES TO PRINTING ■ Scan documents ■ Save documents to a flash drive or cloud storage ■ E-mail documents to yourself. ■ Citations and call numbers can still be easily written with free pens and scrap paper provided in the library
Computer Use
Library computer users must abide by Technology Services' university-wide policy on computer and network use and other applicable Technology Services policies. The following list characterizes some, but not all, unacceptable uses of computers in the Library: ■ Repeated use for non-academic purposes ■ Attempting to install software on Library computers ■ Attempting to alter files or modify the configuration of any Library workstation or peripheral ■ Violations of the Library computer security or network integrity, including attempts to bypass network security, obtain passwords, share passwords with others, or the unauthorized use of passwords ■ Destruction or damage of computer equipment, or the removal of any part of the Library computer workstations ■ Use of two or more library computers simultaneously ■ Copying any copyright-protected digital content ■ Any illegal activity Anyone using the computers inappropriately will be required to cease the activity. Repeated violations by students, staff or faculty will be referred to the appropriate campus disciplinary body. Violations by non-affiliated users will be referred to the Department of Public Safety. Violators may be removed from the campus.
Guests (Non-Tulane Library Users) A limited number of computers are available for guest use in the Commons area. We ask that visitors bring a letter stating their need to pursue academic research on letterhead from the business, firm or from their library. The School of Medicine Building is not open to the public, therefore prior arrangement may be required with Security, especially on nights and weekends. We reserve the right to limit guests' computer time. Visitors using online resources should be able to handle their own research, email or printing process and not require staff assistance. Rudolph Matas Library offers document delivery service for fee with a contract.
Food and Drink Drinks in covered containers are allowed, but please be careful near computer equipment. Users are responsible for damage from spills. Food is not allowed in the Matas Library. See the food and drink policy above for more information.
Quiet Study
The library should be a place conducive to study, but its space limitations and lack of study rooms often make it difficult to find a quiet spot to study. Therefore the
Mezzanine Level of Rudolph Matas Library is designated as a quiet study area. The 24/7 Quiet Area is also intended to be a quiet study area. Groups may meet in the group study areas, but still need to be considerate of those studying nearby and sound carries outside of the group meeting areas. Basic Guidelines: ■ Patrons should refrain from talking or working in groups in 24/7 area or in the stack area on the Mezzanine. ■ Students who wish to work in groups should use the designated group study rooms available. Groups of three or more take precedence in the study rooms. The rooms may be reserved for groups of three or more 24 hours in advance by using the online form. ■ Please refrain from disrupting others with mobile phone rings or by talking on the phone in the quiet areas. ■ Library patrons who fail to abide by the quiet study policy will be asked to leave the quiet area. Please be considerate of those studying.
Public Access
Public Access Policy Rudolph Matas Library is a private library in a restricted-access building, whose primary mission is to serve the students, faculty and staff of Tulane University Health Sciences programs. Rudolph Matas Library does welcome those with a specific need related to the library holdings and collections. We ask that a letter stating the need and purpose be provided from the business, firm or library referring the user. Researchers should contact the Library Services Desk for an appointment, especially when planning a research trip from out of town. Researchers planning to work in the Matas Library on nights and weekends should also plan in advance so that the security desk will allow them entrance to the building. A related Computer Use Policy (see above) applies to the computers provided for library research and as a means of access to the Library's online catalog and digital resources.
Other User Groups The Matas Library welcomes LSU Health Sciences Center graduate students and faculty with valid LSUHSC IDs. We have reciprocal borrowing agreement with John P. Ische Library at LSU Health Sciences Center. LSUHSC users must be registered users of the Ische Library and must register with the Matas Library to charge materials (and vice versa). Physicians and health practitioners may check out materials by registering with the Matas Library and providing a copy of their medical license.
Tulane Affiliates Tulane students, faculty, and staff are given priority assistance. Tulane students, faculty and staff affiliated with programs supported by the Tulane libraries on the uptown campus, such as undergraduate programs, business and law are entitled to all services and privileges except Interlibrary Loan. Tulane health sciences alumni in health sciences practices are entitled to most services except Interlibrary Loan, document delivery, and off-campus access to research databases.
Visiting Researchers For use of the Matas print collections, visitors and special borrowers may expect basic assistance that includes a brief introduction to searching the local catalog and/or another resource most appropriate to the visitor's needs. For use of the unique materials at Special Collections, visitors and special borrowers should pre-arrange a visit. Contact Rudolph Matas Library so that needed assistance with materials in the historic collections may be scheduled as staff time permits. Visitors and special borrowers served by other local libraries are expected to use their home library for in-depth instruction or detailed help with research topics.
LoansomeDoc and Research Services for Outside Patrons LoansomeDoc is an available document delivery service for unaffiliated physicians or other outside patrons, including alumni that do not have a library needing PubMed journal articles or searches. A contract with the Matas Library is required and there is a fee per request.
Use of the Library by minors below the age of 14 unaccompanied by an adult is not permitted at any time.
Security
In an emergency call 55555 from any Health Sciences Center campus phone. From phones not on the Tulane University Health Sciences Center system, you must call (504) 988-5555 (911 is also an option off-campus). For non-emergencies call (504) 988-5331. There is 24-hour Security Desk on the first floor of 1430 Tulane Avenue near the main entrance of the Hutchinson Building/School of Medicine. All visitors must check in with Security upon arrival. Access to the building is by Tulane ID card. Tulane uptown campus library users who wish to use the Matas Library should make prior arrangements with Card Services to insure access to the building. Please call the Matas Library at
(504) 988-2405 if you have questions or to make arrangements to enter the Library. Upon request at all hours, TUHSCPD officers provide foot and/or vehicle personal safety escorts within the New Orleans Regional Medical Center (NORMC) area for anyone associated with Tulane. Please consider contacting Safe Ride at
(504) 314-7233 (SAFE) when leaving Rudolph Matas Library after dark.
Click here for the Tulane University Police Department's recommended walking paths between primary Tulane downtown locations. Click here for the Tulane University Health Sciences Center Police Department web page.
24/7 Access - Building Access
A valid Tulane University ID (Splash Card) is required to enter the 24/7 Quiet Area of the library after normal business hours. Simply swipe your Splash Card at the entrance/exit. The Library study space, computers, printing, scanning and VTS system (to purchase or add money to a print card) are available after hours. Problems with your Tulane Spash Cards should be reported to Card Services at
(504) 865-5629 or go to the Security Desk on the first floor of the Hutchinson Building/School of Medicine.
Group Study
There are five group study rooms and one computer lab/classroom that are available for group or class use in Rudolph Matas Library. Library seminars or curriculum-related events receive scheduling priority. Each group study room is equipped with a whiteboard, network connections, power outlets, and a table and chairs. Two of the group study rooms are located on the 2nd floor of the Library in the 24/7 area: Room 2228 (6-8 people) and Room 2230 (10-12 people). Three additional group study rooms are located on the Mezzanine Level: Rooms M201 (4-6 people), Room M203 (4-6 people) and Room M205 (4-6 people). The Mezzanine Computer Lab/Classroom (M207) is for hands-on computer usage and accommodates up to 18 people with individual desktop computer access. Library Classes and Seminars take precedence over other classroom use.
To reserve a room 24 hours in advance you may: ■
Use the online form ■ Call the Matas Information Services Desk at
(504) 988-2403 ■ Stop by the Information Services Desk in person
Please abide by the room use and reservation policies: ■ Rooms may be scheduled
for groups of three (3) or more, at the Information Services Desk
at least a day prior to the requested time. ■ Curriculum-related events take precedence over individual use of the conference rooms. ■ Groups always take precedence over individual use of the conference rooms. ■ Groups with reservations take precedence over groups without. ■ Unreserved conference conference rooms are available on a first come first serve basis. ■ If a group fails to show up within fifteen minutes of its reservation or leaves the room unattended for more than fifteen minutes, use of the room is forfeited. ■
Do not leave personal items in a group study area when you leave the room. Your items may be moved if others need this area. It is risky to leave laptops and bags in an unsupervised area for even a short period.
The Library is not responsible for personal items left unmonitored anywhere within the Library.
Gifts & Donations
The Matas Library appreciates the offer of Tulane memorabilia, photographs of Louisiana physicians, health science institutional information and photographs from Louisiana, historic and rare medical books, especially those authored or published in 19th century Louisiana and early works on yellow fever or tropical medicine. Please provide a listing of the books, (include the title, editor/author and the date of publication for each item) to the library staff so that we may check to determine if the content is appropriate for our historical collection. We also appreciate the offer of current medical books and texts not currently owned by the library, especially those that were Tulane authored or have Tulane contributors. We are not able to accept the medical supplies and instruments at the current time. We are in the process of determining the future direction of the Matas Library which includes the archives and historical collections with the guidance of our Director, Neville Prendergast. Our space is very limited at present and we do not have an archivist or librarian to manage our historical materials. We prefer not to accept materials that we are not in a good position to care for properly. We wish we had the resources and space to maintain a larger collection of textual materials from the 19th- 20th century. We are hoping that funding for an archivist position along with more suitable archival storage, will be available sometime in the near future. Donors are requested to sign a copy of the Matas Gift Policy prior to delivery of books or other gifts in kind. Donors may also be interested in the information regarding IRS substantiation. Records of all gifts to the Matas Library are reported to the Tulane Office of Development. We appreciate your interest in Tulane and especially for your interest in the historical collections of the Rudolph Matas Library.
Rudolph Matas Library Gift Policy (for donor signature) IRS Substantiation Requirements
Tulane University 