Public Access to the Yocum Library

The Yocum Library is the main library of Reading Area Community College. Although RACC students, staff, and faculty are the focus of the library's resources and services, the library is open to the public.

Any patron over 18 years of age may use the library. However, children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, who is at least 18 years old and responsible for the child at all times.

Patrons who are not RACC students, staff, and faculty must be at least 18 years or older in order to use the Internet workstations.

Use of the library computers by patrons who are not affiliated with RACC is limited; there is a designated computer that may be used by adult patrons, but only when it is not needed for a RACC student, staff, or faculty member. When RACC classes are scheduled in the library, there is no public access to the computer. No children are allowed on the library computers at anytime.

The library honors Berks County ALIN consortium , but the The Yocum Library only issues adult library cards.

The library staff reserves the right to remove patrons whose behavior is wasteful, harassing, or which infringes on the rights of others.

Activity Zones in The Yocum Library

While the staff of The Yocum Library wants to provide an environment that is friendly and comfortable for our patrons, we must emphasize that the library is a center for learning. Some people need a quiet place to learn while others learn best through group collaboration. It is also a center for teaching because both faculty members and librarians instruct individuals and groups in the use of library resources and services.

In order to create an environment that serves both types of learners while also accommodating the library?s teaching function, we have divided the library into two distinct activity zones. Each zone has a different noise level expectation.

The Quiet Study Zone is intended to serve individual students who need to concentrate. In this zone only low-level talking is permitted. Cell phone ringers and conversations are not permitted in this zone. The 3^rd and 4^th floors are the Quiet Study Zones in the library. Nevertheless, some noise is to be expected in this zone during library tours and special events on the 4^th floor.
The Active Learning Zone is intended for instructional and/or collaborative learning experiences. In this zone moderate-level talking is expected, and quiet cell phone conversations are permitted. The 2^nd floor is the Active Learning Zone in the library.

Please contact a library staff member at the Reference Desk (extension 5052) or Circulation Desk (extension 6237 or 5056) if you have a concern about noise levels at a specific time.