Circulation Policies

DO I NEED A LIBRARY CARD?

Your college ID card is also your library card. You must have your ID with you each time you use the library even if you are only using reserve materials.

You are responsible for all materials borrowed on your ID. To meet this responsibility, do not loan your card to others and check your Patron Record often (see more on Patron record below).

HOW LONG CAN I CHECK BOOKS OUT OF THE LIBRARY?

Students, Staff, Alumni, ASPEC, Friends, Elderhostel guests, St. Pete Theological Seminary, and USF Bayboro cardholders may check books out for three weeks (21 days). However, all books will be due at the end of each semester or term even if it is less than three weeks away.
ELS students may check books out for three weeks or until the Wednesday prior to the end of the term whichever is shorter.
Elderhostel guests may check books out for one week or until the Friday departure whichever is shorter.
There are some items in the library that have different loan periods: Videos - 3 days with no renewal, McNaughton Browsing Collection - 21 days with no renewal, Reference books, journals, magazines, theses, and most CD-ROM's may not leave the library.

HOW MANY BOOKS CAN I CHECK OUT AT ONCE?

The central mission of the Eckerd College Library is to support the curricular and research needs of Eckerd College Students and faculty. In light of this mission, it is the library's responsibility to ensure that students and faculty receive priority when it comes to using the resources of the library. It is with this responsibility in mind that the following maximum checkout limitations are placed on non-Eckerd student/faculty borrowers
Alumni: 5 books, ASPEC members (not involved in teaching a course): 5 books, Friends: 5 books, Staff (including ELS and Elderhostel/Senior College Faculty): 5 books, ELS students: 3 books, Elderhostel guests: 3 books, and USF Bayboro cardholders: 5 books, St. Pete Theological Seminary: 5 books. Individuals wishing exceptions to these limits must apply to the Collection Management Librarian.
Students may have 25 items (including reserve materials) checked out at any one time.

CAN I RENEW MY BOOKS?

Students, Staff, Alumni, ASPEC, Friends, and USF Bayboro cardholders may renew an item twice. To renew a book, the book must be brought into the library and you must have your student ID card with you. The renewal period is for 21 days from the original due date of the item. After the second renewal due date the item must be returned to the library. A recall due date always supersedes the previous due date (see additional information on recalls).

IF I FAIL TO RETURN A BOOK BY THE DUE DATE, WILL I OWE A FINE?

The charge for overdue materials is 25 cents per day. However, as we are more interested in materials being returned or renewed than we are in fining library users, patrons will be given a grace period of 10 days in which to return overdue items. No fines will be assessed if the item is returned within this 10-day period. Once the grace period has passed, fines will be assessed and will accrue from the date the item was first due, i.e., on day 11 you would owe $2.75, with another 25 cent charge being added each day thereafter.
The library will issue a courtesy overdue notice three days after the due date. As this is well within the grace period, it is intended to help you avoid a fine. However, this is a courtesy, you are responsible for keeping track of your item due dates. A claim that a notice was not received does not constitute justification for failure to return or renew an item before fines are assessed.
Long overdue items are assumed lost. A replacement fee, which will vary depending upon the nature of the material, and a processing fee of $10.00 per item, will be charged to your student account. This is in addition to any applicable over due fines. The replacement fee is refundable if the item is returned before it has been reordered. The processing fee and the overdue fines are normally not refundable.
Patrons with excessive unpaid overdue fines or lost book charges may be barred from further borrowing. These privileges may be restored only upon payment of any fees owed or at the discretion of the library staff. Any questions relating to overdue fines should be referred to the Circulation Supervisor.

HOW CAN I DETERMINE IF MY BOOKS ARE OVERDUE OR IF I OWE FINES?

You can check the status of all your borrowed items from the library web page. To access the web page go to www.eckerd.edu/library or follow the links from the Eckerd home page. From the library web page, click on the catalog link and then on the Patron button at the top of the page. You will be asked for your student ID number, which appears on the front of your student ID, and your last name. Here you can view how many books you have checked out and when the books are due.
Fines and fees are billed to your student account. Information is available at the Business Office.

WHAT ABOUT FINES FOR RESERVE BOOKS AND VIDEO TAPES?

The fine for reserve materials is $1.00 per hour. Videotapes held beyond their three-day checkout period are subject to a $1.00 per day fine. The 10-day grace period does not apply to reserves or videotapes. It is important to know your due dates/times.

WHERE DO I PAY THESE OVERDUE CHARGES?

All fines will be charged to your student account and will appear on the fee bill you receive from the college. You should not pay any money directly to the library.

WHOM SHOULD I SEE IF I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FINES CHARGED AGAINST ME OR IF I HAVE LOST A BOOK?

Questions may be directed to the Circulation Supervisor whose desk is located in the circulation area. Report lost or damaged books to the circulation desk as soon as possible to avoid further late fees. You will be charged for the replacement costs and a processing fee for the book.

WHAT IF I NEED A BOOK THAT IS CHECKED OUT TO SOMEONE ELSE?

Books identified as "charged" in the catalog are currently checked out to another patron. You may request a recall of the item if it has been in the other patron's possession for more than 21 days. To request a recall you must click on the "request" button at the top of the catalog search page. You will be prompted for your last name and barcode number from the back of your ID. Selecting RECALL will immediately change the due date of the book. If an item has not been out for 21 days, you may still place a recall to be notified when the book returns.

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

A Recall means that another patron is requesting a book you have borrowed. This is only possible after you have had the book for more than 21 days. A Recall immediately changes the due date of that item, nullifying the original due date. There is no grace period for recalled items and the fines accumulate at the rate of $1.00 per day.

MY PROFESSOR ASSIGNED READINGS THAT ARE ON RESERVE, WHERE DO I FIND RESERVE MATERIALS?

Reserve materials are books, videos, and articles that professors make available for you to view. Most of the time reserve materials may not leave the library and are checked out for a 2-hour period. All reserve items are located at the circulation area and can be found by searching the reserve list notebook at the circulation desk or on the electronic catalog. The reserve list is arranged by the professor's name and the name of the course. It is also helpful to have your syllabus with you to help identify which materials you need.

CAN I TYPE/PRINT MY PAPERS AT THE LIBRARY?

The library computers are available to the Eckerd Community for research purposes only. The computers do not have word-processing programs. To type and print papers, please use the 24-hour computer lab located in the library.

CAN I SURF THE INTERNET AND CHECK MY EMAIL AT THE LIBRARY?

All library computers are connected to the Internet for use in research. Checking e-mail, using chatrooms, and playing Internet games on library computers is strictly prohibited. We also ask that you limit your printing to necessary research material, such as electronic journal articles.

CAN I BORROW BOOKS FROM OTHER LOCAL LIBRARIES?

Students have borrowing privileges at both the USF St. Petersburg and Tampa campuses. You may borrow up to five books and you MUST show your Eckerd ID card and proof of current registration (a copy of your current class schedule is sufficient). Students will be responsible for meeting all conditions of borrowing at USF, including payment of any fines and fees accumulated. Any such charges should be paid at either USF library. Should you fail to do so, USF will notify us and we will add these charges to your Eckerd student account - with an additional $10.00 fee per item to handle processing and billing costs.