Circulation Policies

Patrons || Loan Periods || Renewals || How to Renew Online || Reserve Materials || Holds || Fines || Reading Room Guidelines

Patrons

Any person welcome on campus is also welcome within the Library. However, all borrowers who wish to check materials out of the Library must have either a current Gordon-Conwell ID or a Library Guest Card. Guest Cards cost $30.00 per year, but are free for some categories of borrowers.

Loan Periods

The following guidelines apply to current Gordon-Conwell students and staff.

• Circulating books: 25 items, 28 days (includes Microform & Vertical File items)
• Reserve items: 3 items, 2 hours (overnight - 2 hours before closing until 2 hours after opening the following day)
• Videos & DVD's: 5 items, 7 days (Maximum of 3 videos and 2 DVDs out at any one time)
• Cassettes & CD's: 5 items, 7 days (Maximum of 5 out at any one time)
• Reference, Periodical, Thesis Collection, Archive and Rare Book Room materials: for use only in the Reading Rooms
• Inter-Library Loans: determined by the lending library
• Thesis loans: Students writing approved theses may check out circulating books for 6 months. After the first 28 days, the books may be recalled by another patron.

Renewals

Renewals of Goddard Library items may be requested by e-mail or by phone (glibrary@gcts.edu / 978.646.4074). You will need to provide the circulation staff with a list of all items to be renewed, along with their call numbers. You can also renew your books online (instructions given below). Please note the following renewal periods:

• Circulating books: up to three renewals of 28 days each if book has not been recalled
• Reserve items: unlimited renewals unless book has been requested by another person
• Videos & DVD's: NO renewals
• Cassettes & CD's: 7 days
• Inter-Library Loans: determined by the lending library. See ILL policy.
  To renew Inter-Library Loans, contact ill@gcts.edu at least five days before the due date given.
• Thesis loans: two renewals of only 28 days each.

How to Renew Online

1. Go to the Library Catalog: http://onlinecatalog.gordonconwell.edu
2. Click the "My Account" link.
3. Enter your Patron / Alternate ID Number (this is typically your GCTS student ID).
4. Enter your PIN (by default the last four digits of your GCTS student ID).
5. Click the Submit Request button.
6. Click the "Current Loans" button in the left menu to display a list of items you have checked out.
7. Review the list of items you have out and put a check next to the ones you would like to renew.
8. Click the "Renew" button at the top of the list.
   The screen will reload, indicating the new due dates, and showing the message "Item(s) have been renewed."
9. If you receive an error message, or if you have any difficulties, contact the Circulation Desk at glibrary@gcts.edu.

Reserve Materials

Items professors deem important are placed on reserve. These materials are kept behind the circulation desk and need to be requested for check out. All items are listed on the library catalog (see here) and can be viewed in a reserve notebook kept at the circulation desk. Items are listed by professor and class. When making your request for reseve materials, please have the call number(s) ready.

Holds

A hold may be placed on an item that has already been checked out by another patron. When a hold is placed, the library contacts the current borrower, asking them to return the item as soon as possible. The current borrower is under no obligation to return the until the end of their first loan period. Placing a hold will, however, prevent the current borrower from renewing the item. All items are subject to immediate recall after they have been in a borrower's possession for 28 days. Items that are needed for course reserves are subject for immediate recall regardless of how long they have been in the borrower's possession.

Only current students, faculty and staff may place a hold. Hold request forms are available at the circulation desk for those who qualify. Eligible patrons can also place hold requests online. To monitor or cancel a hold, log into your Library account. (See above for log-in instructions.)

Fines

• Circulating Books: $.25 per day per item
• Reserve items: $.50/hr or $3.00/day per item
• Videos, DVD's, CD's & Audio tapes: $1.00 per day per item
• Inter-Library Loans: $.50 per day per item
• Overdue Recalled Item: $.50 per day per item
• Keeping a Reference, Reserve or periodical overnight in a carrel:$3.00 per item
• Keeping an unchecked book overnight in a carrel: $1.00 per book
• Leaving the reading rooms with an unchecked item, Reference book or periodical: $10 per item.

  When a patron's fine balance reaches or exceeds $10.00, borrowing privileges will be suspended until the balance is paid down. If an individual fine exceeds $50.00, a borrower may appeal to the Director for a reduction.

Reading Room Guidelines

General behavior and conduct should comply with the Community Life Statement found in the current GCTS Student Handbook.

• Do not re-shelve items. Return items with which you are finished to the Circulation Desk (whether they have been checked out or not). Return Reference books and bound periodicals to the designated area(s) in the reading room. Current periodicals may be left on the round tables in upstairs Reading Room.
• Do not have more than 6 Reference books in your possession at a time. This will provide other persons an opportunity to use limited resources.
• Do not leave books on tables, at the end of shelves, or on the floor.
• Do not leave personal items in the library overnight, except at an assigned carrel.
• Do not leave unchecked books, Reference books or periodicals in a carrel overnight. Fines apply! (See above.)
• If you remove books from a shelf, push in the bookend so the rest of the books don't fall over. Do not borrow library bookends for your office or carrel.
• If you move furniture, return it to its original location when you leave.
• The library has a liberal policy of allowing coffee, water, juice, etc. in the reading rooms in closed and non-spillable containers. IF you spill a beverage, please report it to the Circulation Desk immediately so the stain can be treated early.
• Keep cell phone and computer noises turned off while in the Library. If you need to answer a cell phone, step outside of the reading rooms to talk.
• Maintain a clean study area for the next student by throwing your trash in the wastebasket, removing any drink containers, and pushing in your chair when you leave.