Sanford Media Center Policies
User Policies
All users are responsible for knowing and abiding by these SMC use policies. All patrons must also abide by the University Libraries Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Policy. Failure to abide by any of these policies may result in loss of privileges in or expulsion from the SMC.
A training session is required in order to use the SMC studio or checkout any SLR resources. The SLR training is available online, sign up.
Only currently enrolled University of Alabama students may use the Sanford Media Center. This includes checking out equipment, using the computer stations, and/or consultations and training.
Anyone using the Sanford Media Center must have their own valid UA Action card. No other forms of ID will be accepted.
No proxy forms may be used. The SMC does not allow equipment to be checked out on behalf of other individuals, campus groups, units or departments. The student who checks out equipment or other resources is solely responsible for any and all fees and fines associated with the object(s).
UA faculty and staff who are also currently enrolled students can use the SMC for purposes relating to their role as UA students. All SMC activities will be assigned to a user’s student role. UA faculty and staff using the SMC will adhere to the same policies as all student users, including time limitations and fines and fees. Tasks that fall outside student use, such as faculty research and departmental projects, as well as preparations relating to teaching responsibilities, are not within the purview of the SMC and should be taken to other campus services.
Patrons cannot use any facilities, services or equipment from the Sanford Media Center to support work for a private company or a personal business.
Drink containers with closed, no-spill tops are acceptable. All other types of drink containers are prohibited in the SMC. Determination of acceptable drink containers is at the discretion of the SMC staff.
No food is allowed in the Sanford Media Center.
All patrons must wear appropriate clothing, including a shirt and shoes.
Reservation Policy
Patrons are encouraged to reserve instruction time and equipment. Priority will be given to patrons who have made a reservation in advance.
To make a reservation, please call (348-4651), the Sanford Media Center help desk, or use the reservation portal.
Back-to-back reservations cannot be made in advance.
When making multiple reservations, your request may be limited at the staff’s discretion if your request impedes the overall availability of resources.
Computer stations can initially be reserved for up to 4 hours and may be renewed at the end of your session in 2 hour increments if available. Initial reservations may not exceed 4 hours.
Equipment may circulate for up to 72 hours and may not be renewed. Once equipment is returned, it may be checked out again, if available.
After 15 minutes into a reservation, a late patron forfeits his or her reservation and receives a No Call/No Show.
After 5 minutes into a scheduled training time, a late patron forfeits his or her training slot, loses any reservations associated with the resource and receives a No Call/No Show.
Three No Call/No Shows within a given semester will result in the patron’s inability to schedule further reservations for that semester. These patrons will be allowed to continue to use the resources on a walk-in basis.
To cancel or reschedule a reservation, please contact the Sanford Media Center at least one hour prior to the appointed time.
Equipment Policy
Patrons may check out one of each type of equipment at a time, but cannot check out multiple items of the same type.
Patrons must check in/out equipment at the help desk located inside the Sanford Media Center during the center’s hours of operations. No exceptions will be made.
The late fee for equipment is $20.00 per hour, per piece of equipment. Late fees will be assessed from the time the equipment is due.
Equipment will remain checked out to the patron until all accessories (wires, cables, batteries, manuals, etc.) are returned. Late fees will accrue until all items are returned. If a patron decides to return an item without all pieces in order to avoid late fees, the cost of the missing piece(s), and shipping and handling for the order will be charged to the patron’s student account.
There is no grace period.
If equipment is declared lost, the total replacement charge (ranging from $50-$2,500), any late fees, and a lost processing fee will be billed to the patron’s student account.
Patrons are responsible for any damage done to equipment while checked out to their account and will be charged repair fees or a replacement fee, whichever is less.
Patrons will be charged a replacement fee if equipment is reported missing or stolen while checked out to their account.
There are fixed categories of replacement costs. Replacement charges will be between $50 and $2,500, depending on the item’s established category.
Applicable fees and fines will always be charged directly to the student account of the person who checked out the equipment. Payments cannot be made in the SMC.
Broken equipment must be processed through the University and will not be given to the patron responsible for replacement.
Computer Station Policy
Patrons must begin and end their station sessions by checking in/out at the help desk with their valid UA Action Card.
The Sanford Media Center staff may end a session without saving patron data if a patron has exceeded their reservation time and someone else is waiting for the station.
Saving work is the sole responsibility of the patron.
Non-system files will be deleted on a regular basis.
Patrons are responsible for any damage done to computers during their session.
File Storage Policy
The Sanford Media Center and the University of Alabama Libraries accept no responsibility for loss of or damage to patron files.
Saving work is the sole responsibility of the patron.
Before leaving the Sanford Media Center, patrons should store completed project files or in-progress session files to some form of external digital media.
Non-system files will be deleted on a regular basis.
You may save files locally to the SMC_PublicDrive, a public storage location that is unique to each computer. This space is provided on a first come, first serve basis. Files saved elsewhere will be deleted.
If a patron has a large project for an extended period of time, especially video, the Sanford Media Center recommends the patron purchase a personal external hard drive. The staff will provide support showing how to connect the external drive to the Center’s machines.
Revised February 15, 2016