The purpose of this policy is to promote the responsible, respectful, legal and ethical use of SUSS’ electronic resources.

SUSS Library licenses a range of electronic resources (databases, journals, ebooks, streaming audio/video, etc.) from commercial publishers and vendors (“Licensors”) as part of its ongoing effort to support the intellectual endeavours of the SUSS community. Access to these electronic resources is restricted to primary affiliates of the University: current students, faculty, associates and employees. Guest affiliates are permitted to access electronic resources on-site.

Use of these electronic resources is governed by license agreements with Licensors as well as the Singapore Copyright Act 2021. Use of these electronic resources is strictly for non-commercial, non-profit, teaching, learning and research purposes (“Permitted Purposes”) and subject to University policies. It is the responsibility of all users to respect the intellectual rights of Licensors by using these electronic resources for the Permitted Purposes responsibly, respectfully, legally and ethically.

Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Sharing your library ID and password with others
• Allowing access to electronic resources by unauthorised users
• Copying and downloading substantial amounts of information from any of these electronic resources
• Using these electronic resources outside the Permitted Purposes
• Transmitting and sharing these electronic resources beyond the SUSS community
• Selling, distributing or making commercial use of these electronic resources
• Using systems and software programmes to mine these electronic resources
• Acts in violation of the Singapore Copyright Act 2021

Non-compliance may result in:

• Loss of library privileges and disciplinary action for the user
• Loss of access to the electronic resource(s) for the University community
• Civil and/or criminal proceedings against the user
• University breaching its license agreements with the Licensors and violating the Singapore Copyright Act 2021

The purpose of this policy is to promote the responsible, respectful, legal, and ethical use of SUSS Library’s physical resources.

SUSS Library holds a range of physical resources (including, but not limited to, books, journals, serials, audio-visual materials) as part of its ongoing effort to support the intellectual endeavours of the SUSS community. Access to these physical resources is restricted to primary affiliates of the University: current students, faculty, associates, and employees.

Use of Physical Resources:

(a)       is governed by the Singapore Copyright Act 2021.

(b)     is strictly for non-commercial, non-profit, teaching, learning and research purposes (“Permitted Purposes”) and subject to University policies.

Deemed fair use where reasonable portion of article copied for research or study

Making a copy of a literary, dramatic or musical work for the purpose of research or study is deemed to be a fair use if —

(a)      the work is an article in a periodical publication; or

(b)      no more than a reasonable portion of the work is copied.

In the following cases, a copy of a literary, dramatic or musical work contained in a published edition of the work is taken to contain only a reasonable portion of the work:

(a)      where the edition has 10 or more pages —

(i)     only 10% or less of the number of pages in the edition are copied in total; or

(ii)    if the edition is divided into chapters — the pages copied are all from the same chapter;

Use of Physical Audiovisual (AV) Resources:

All users must comply with the Singapore Copyright Act 2021 (see Use of Physical Resources).

Users may borrow physical AV materials based on designated loan limits and periods. AV materials comprise CD, DVD, Blu-rays etc.

By accessing SUSS Library’s spaces and collections, you agree to abide by the following library usage guidelines.

SUSS Library serves the SUSS community and provides a conducive and safe environment to accommodate different study, research, discussion, and engagement needs.

Users are expected to respect the library resources, property, and staff. This includes demonstrating honesty, integrity, responsibility, mutual respect, and consideration through the following:

• treat library resources, space and equipment with care
• use library’s collections only for one's individual study and research needs
• use library’s discussion rooms and call pods only for their respective intended purposes
• use library’s study spaces only for its intended purpose
• respect the rights of library staff and other library users
• inform library staff of misuse, loss or any other incidents
• refrain from illegal copying, downloading, distribution, transmission, reproduction, or exploitation of library resources (see: Appropriate Use of SUSS Library Physical Resources)
• refrain from professional filming and photography without seeking prior approval (see: Film and Photography Request Form)
• refrain from unauthorised removal and/or destruction of library materials or property
• only bottled water may be consumed within the library spaces – consumption of food and drinks (other than water) are strictly prohibited within the library spaces.
• smoking (including cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco) and/or controlled substances consumption are strictly prohibited within library spaces.
• only service animals may be brought into the library spaces
• refrain from leaving personal belongings unattended; the library will not be liable for any loss of, theft, or damage to, personal items and reserves the right to remove items that have been left unattended for any extended period of time
• maintain noise levels as far as possible
• set portable computers and other communication devices to be silent in operation except when using the same in discussion rooms or call pods
• if using library’s audiovisual materials, users shall also abide by the library’s Appropriate Use of Physical Audiovisual (AV) Materials guidelines (see: Appropriate Use of Physical Audiovisual (AV) Materials)

Library staff may ask users who fail to comply with any of the above guidelines to leave the library spaces and refer such users to the relevant University authorities for further disciplinary action.