Exam Proctoring

Library staff will serve as proctors for exams taken by distance learners within the following guidelines:

  • Proctoring is a free service for residents of Summit, property-owners or patrons who work or go to school in Summit.
  • At the discretion of the Director, the Library will accept appointments for proctoring for non-residents in extenuating circumstances for which a fee of $25.00 will be charged.
  • Exams are administered by appointment only, and requests for proctoring must be submitted at least two weeks in advance. The library cannot honor requests for a particular proctor.
  • Exams will be scheduled during normal library hours of service. The exam must be scheduled to be completed no later than one hour before closing. An exam session constitutes no more than 3 hours per day.
  • Proctoring consists of:
    • Checking identification of student taking the exam.
    • Noting the time that an exam was started and completed in the Library.
    • Signing the required school supplied documentation.
    • Direct supervision during the exam is not provided but staff will check on the test-taker intermittently. The exam will be taken on the honor system. The test-taker may be returning the exam to a librarian other than the one who issued the exam.
    • Examinations will be taken in a quiet study room, if available, or in another quiet area of the library but the test-taker and the examining institution should be mindful that the library is a public building and cannot guarantee complete quiet or privacy.
    • The exam proctor will be the librarian at the information desk at the time the exam is taken or other staff member, as assigned.
  • All test taking requirements must be received from the issuing educational institution before any tests are taken.
  • The Library cannot proctor online exams that require public access computer settings to be modified.
  • Staff will seal the envelope of the completed exam and place in library outgoing mail or e-mail/FAX, as requested.
  • The library will not incur any costs for administering or returning exams.
  • The Library does not keep copies of completed exams.

Student responsibilities:

  • It is the student’s responsibility to confirm that this proctoring policy meets the requirements of the institution giving the examination.
  • The service must not involve any direct cost to the Library. Students or the administering institution will be responsible for providing postage and any other expenses incurred.
  • It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the library’s computing resources are adequate for their test taking requirements. SFPL accepts no responsibility for Internet connections.
  • Completed exams will be returned to the testing institution via the U.S. Postal Service in postage paid envelopes provided by the student or institution or by e-mail or FAX.
  • Provide a valid driver’s license or photo ID for verification, as well as any other credentials required by the examining institution.
  • To arrive promptly at the agreed-upon time, prepared to take the exam. If the test-taker is late, we cannot guarantee a proctor will be available.
  • To contact the library at least one hour prior to the scheduled exam time if unable to make the appointment. A test-taker who is a “no call or no show” may not be permitted to use the library as a proctor again.
  • Exams may be taken on the test-taker’s personal laptop, provided it is approved by the examining institution. The test-taker will then be responsible for any software that is needed.

Responsibilities of the Examining Institution:

  • Be aware of and agree to the guidelines set forth in the library’s exam proctoring policy.
  • Prior contact between the testing institution and the proctor is required so that credibility and testing requirements can be verified.
  • The institution should not require the proctor to provide any personal information such as social security number, date of birth, etc.
  • Responsible for informing the test-taker on any exam guidelines, instructions, and any pre-exam requirements.