EC’s Library principally serves the current students, faculty, and staff of the college, who may check out any circulating library materials. The library serves other patrons, including community borrowers, who may obtain a library card by completing a library application form and paying a $10 fee. The library is open to all who use it in a responsible manner.

Checking Out Materials

All patrons must present a current EmmanuelCollege identification card to check out materials. Current students, faculty, and staff must obtain their ID card through the Business Office. Community borrowers will be issued a card at the library’s Circulation Desk upon registration and payment of the $10 fee.

Library patrons may check out materials only with their own ID and may not check out materials for someone else.

Loan Periods, Renewals and Recalls

Different loan periods are established according to the type of patron and the type of material being circulated.

Students and community patrons may check out books for 14 days. Reference materials, periodicals, CDs, videos, DVDs and Reserve Materials are for in-library use only. Park passes for students, faculty and staff are a two-day checkout (with a $1 per day fine). Item loans can be renewed by telephone, visit, or e-mail to the library. Most books may be renewed up to three times. Community borrowers may renew items only once and are limited to a maximum of 10 books. Items which have been requested by another patron cannot be renewed.

As for recalls, a ll materials are subject to recall if another borrower needs them or if a faculty member wishes to place them on reserve for a course. The Library may recall immediately any material needed for reserve use. Recalled items should be returned within one week or by the date specified in the recall notice. Your cooperation is appreciated in the prompt return of materials that have been recalled.

Library staff cannot provide faculty with information regarding another patron’s circulation record, according to Georgia state law.

Library borrowers are responsible for knowing when the materials charged to them should be returned. The library’s circulation staff will stamp or write the date due on the item and/or inform the borrower of the due date. Materials should be returned to the library’s Circulation Desk by the item’s due date to avoid fines.

Full-Time Faculty

Recognizing that faculty use library resources differently than students, our circulation policy applies to their needs. Faculty has an extended borrowing privilege and suspension of late fees.

All faculty bear the responsibility for returning borrowed library material. Items checked out on a faculty card are the responsibility of that faculty member. All book items are checked out for a 45 day period with one renewal. All books are due at the end of the semester. Any renewals past the end of a semester must be approved by the Director of Library Services. Media items (CDs, videos, DVDs) and Reference books have a seven-day check-out with one renewal. A periodical may be checked out for a maximum of three days for photocopying. Items that are significantly late or not returned will be declared lost and become the financial responsibility of that faculty borrower. Loans are limited to a maximum of 50 items.

Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct faculty are afforded the same privileges as full-time faculty with the exception that all materials must be returned prior to the end of the semester. No extensions beyond the semester in which an adjunct faculty member is teaching can be given.

Fines and Lost Book Charges

Fines for overdue materials are 10-cents per day. Reserve materials and Park Passes are $1 per day. A maximum fine is set per item and does not exceed the total cost of the item. Fines for recalled items which are not returned by the recall date are increased to $1 per day.

Items that are not returned or renewed will be assumed to be lost and the borrower will be billed for their replacement. For lost materials borrowers are charged for the replacement cost of the item ($35 per item, on average) plus a $5 processing fee. The bill for a lost item may be adjusted if the actual cost of replacement can be determined.

Enforcement

Borrowing privileges may be suspended for patrons with obligations for materials charged to their account. Students may not check out additional materials if they owe a fine from a previous semester or still have books checked out. Community borrowers may not check out additional materials if they owe any amount in fines or lost book charges.

Mutilation, theft, or other deliberate abuse of library materials or facilities is prohibited and will result in disciplinary action or cancellation of borrowing privileges.  The borrower is responsible for materials returned in a damaged condition. Charges for damaged materials may include either repair or replacement costs.

Inter-Library Loan

Books not available at EC’s Library may be requested through Inter-Library Loan. This service is available only to current student, staff, faculty, and administration. A form is available online on the Library Web site and at the Circulation Desk.