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Student/ Staff Lending Policy
A lending policy is designed to provide maximum use of the University's collection, while simultaneously insuring its availability for all current and future generations of students and faculty. We want you to use the collection, but not lose it. Checking IDs and requiring you to renew and return items helps to prevent loss. The rules also help to ensure that every campus borrower has equal access to individual items and that items not being used by some are on the shelf ready for you to find.
How do I check out something?
For everyone's protection, all borrowers must present a barcoded ID to check out materials. This insures that only your record will be called up on GALILEO and not the record of someone else with a similar name. We advise you never to loan you ID to someone else or to check out materials for another person. You are responsible for all items checked out on your ID. If you lose your ID, please notify a Circulation Manager promptly so we can invalidate the lost barcode.
What can I borrow? How long is the loan period? How many can I take?
You can have a total of 75 items checked out at once. Loan periods vary with material type, but all loans terminate with the expiration date of your record (usually the academic semester).
Books, CD-ROMs, Government publications: 28 days. GALILEO indicates which are for "Library Use Only."
Reserve Materials: (4 types) 2-hours--No Overnight; 2-hours--Overnight; 3 Days, 7 Days. These options are set by the professor who puts the materials on reserve.
Videotapes, DVDs, LPs, musical CDs, non-musical audiotapes: 14 days
Reserve Videos: 3-Hours--Overnight
Pamphlets, annual reports, Reference books, periodicals, maps, microforms, and books marked "Non-Circulating" or "Reference": May be borrowed only under very special circumstances with the permission of the librarian in charge of that collection.
Musical audiotapes, Rare books, and Archival collection materials: May not be borrowed.
Equipment loans, Interlibrary loans: See their separate policies.
Media Equipment Loans Interlibrary Loans
What if I need it longer?
All loans may be renewed for the same time as the original loan period, provided no other campus borrower has requested the item. You may perform two renewals yourself, using the GALILEO option View Your Own Record. For further renewals, items must be presented at Christopher Center. We do not allow renewal by phone or by letter. Remember: items with holds or recalls may not be renewed.
What is the best way to return things, protecting the collection and my record?
Return books to the book drop at the Christopher Center Circulation Desk. Hand Reserve materials to a Circulation Desk attendant for prompt check-in. Do not put them in the slot or leave them on the Desk counter. If Christopher Center is closed, return books and overnight Reserves to one of the overnight book drops, located outside the 1st-floor entrance on the east side and by the staff entrance on the southwest side.
Return LPs, CDs, DVDs, videotapes, audiotapes, and CD-ROMs only when the library is open, handing them to an attendant in the Media Services area or at the Main Circulation Desk. Never put them in one of the overnight book drops.
Media Library equipment on loan should be returned to the Media Services area during the hours it is open.
Are there other things I can do to help me keep track of what I borrow and return things responsibly?
Use the "View Your Own Record" option on GALILEO regularly to check your record. This will tell you what you have checked out and when it is due. If the list does not correspond to the items in your possession, talk to a Circulation Manager immediately. Check to see if the holds placed in your name are correct, and cancel any holds that are no longer needed.
Make sure your GALILEO record has your current address. Call a Circulation Manager (464-5366) if it does not.
Never loan your ID to anyone. Do not check out items for another person. If someone else wants to use something checked out in your name, encourage that person to initiate a recall from GALILEO, and then return the item to the library.
Talk to us when you have a problem using the collection. We will try to help as much as we can, keeping in mind our role to preserve the collection for the future while encouraging current use.
How do holds and recalls work?
Christopher Center reserves the right to recall any borrowed item, and borrowers are expected to comply willingly. This ensures that every campus borrower has equal access to individual items and that students have what they need to complete assignment. Therefore, items needed for class reserve may be recalled at any time. Items with 28-day loans may be recalled two weeks after being checked out. Items with 14-day loans may be recalled seven days after being checked out.
Campus borrowers may initiate recalls on GALILEO by displaying the record for the desired item and selecting "Request Item." GALILEO automatically adjusts the due date for the minimum two-week loan and prints a recall notice on the following business day. (A Circulation Manager may place a hold without initiating a recall at your request. This allows the original borrower the full length of the current loan, but prevents them from renewing the item.) The item is set aside when it is returned and you are notified when it is available. You have seven days to pick it up before it is offered to the next person on the hold queue or returned to the shelves. If you no longer need it, you may cancel the request from GALILEO by selecting "View Your Own Record."
What happens if I don't respond to a recall?
When an item is recalled, you receive a notice indicating the new due date. If a second notice is required, you are fined $1 per day from the new due date until the item is returned. Failure to respond to a recall is a serious matter. It shows unwillingness to share University resources equitably and disrespect for the scholarly work of others. All borrowers are expected to respond to recalls and are fined equally if they don't respond.
Ouch! That's pretty steep! Are there other fees I should know about?
Like recalls, failure to return a Reserve item is a serious matter. Fines on Reserves and recalls will not be reduced. Reserve fines are assessed according to the loan period.
2-hours--No Overnight $1 per hour until the item is returned. After 3 days, you are billed for the cost of the item, plus the accrued fines.
2-hours--Overnight $1 per hour beginning 1 hour after the library opens until the item is returned. After 3 days, you are billed for the cost of the item, plus the accrued fines.
3 Days $1 per day until the item is returned. After 3 days, you are billed for the cost of the item, plus the accrued fines.
7 Days $1 per day until the item is returned. After 7 days, you are billed for the cost of the item, plus the accrued fines.
What happens if I'm late returning other things?
When an item is overdue, you receive one notice reminding you to renew promptly. If you fail to renew promptly, we assume the item is lost and bill you for its replacement value plus a processing fee of $5. There are no additional fines, but if the cost of the item is excessive, GALILEO prevents you from borrowing additional items or placing recalls.
If you still want to renew after receiving a bill, you may do so, but you may have to bring the item to the library so we know that it is not truly lost. Once you renew, charges are dropped and GALILEO removes the block on your borrowing privileges.
If you still fail to return something, you will receive monthly statements from Christopher Center until your account is turned over to the Finance Office. If the charges are excessive, we may place a hold on your grades, diploma, and/or transcripts.
What if I lose something and can't afford to pay for it right away, but I really need to borrow something from Christopher Center?
If that happens, talk to a Circulation Manager (464-5366). We are reasonable people. If you are making a good faith effort to find something, or are willing to make a partial payment, we can manually override the system block for limited loans to you.
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