Library Policies & Procedures: Community User Procedure

Document Title:                              Community User Procedure     

Applies to:                                         All Community Users

PURPOSE

To provide the community with access to an academic library’s resources at a reasonable cost and to provide households of Faculty and Staff access to an academic library’s resources free of charge.

CONSIDERATIONS

Classifications:

• Community users residing within the Greater Omaha Area (including Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders, and Washington counties in Nebraska; Pottawattamie county in Iowa), who are able to provide proof of residence can purchase library access at two tiers:
  • Community User Basic (Household or Individual): $50.00 annual fee
    • Allows users to check out physical materials, including books and media. Excludes Kindles.
  • Community User Plus Online (Household or Individual): $100.00 annual fee
    • Allows users access to Community User benefits, plus full online database access and interlibrary loan services. Excludes Kindles and Gartner database access.
• Applicants outside the Greater Omaha Area who have not yet begun class are eligible for individual cards only.
• Inactive students outside the Greater Omaha Area who have not yet completed their degree are eligible for individual cards only. Inactive Bellevue University students may only become Community Users for 2 consecutive years without re-enrolling in classes.
• Households of Faculty and Staff of Bellevue University have access to Community User Basic at no fee.
• Current full-time staff members of Bellevue Public Library have access to an individual Community User Basic card at no fee.

Note: Community Users will have the fee credited to their student account if they register for classes within a year of paying the fee and present the library receipt to the Student Accounts office.

PROCEDURES

Considerations and Criteria:

Community Users are encouraged to first exhaust the resources of their local public and school libraries before purchasing the Bellevue University Library Community User card. Community Users are welcome to use Bellevue University Library’s facilities, services, and collections within the limitations described in this procedure and must follow all other Library procedures.

Community users residing within the Greater Omaha Area must initially visit the library in person, provide a picture ID and list all members of the household they wish to have borrowing privileges. If current address is not listed on picture ID, proof of current residence is required (i.e. mail with current address listed, lease, bill, etc…). Privileges expire after one year, with the option to renew.

Community users residing outside the Greater Omaha Area may obtain an individual card:

            A) In person, by visiting the Circulation desk, providing a picture ID, and proof of residence

B) Via email, by contacting the library staff at library@bellevue.edu

C) By phone, by calling the Bellevue University Library at 402-557-7314

All Community Users (Household or Individual) have the same physical borrowing privileges as students (with the exception of Kindles), outlined in the Circulation Procedures. Community Users are also subject to the same billing process outlined in the Patron Account Billing Procedure, found on the Library Policies & Procedures LibGuide.

Suspensions of Borrowing Privileges:

Households of Faculty and Staff will have their privileges cancelled when the Faculty or Staff member ends their employment with Bellevue University.

Community Users who have not returned overdue materials and / or have outstanding fines and fees in excess of $1.00 will have their borrowing privileges temporarily suspended until their account is cleared.

Exceptions to these procedures are granted only with the permission of the Senior Director, Library Services.

Supporting Documentation:      Circulation Procedures, Patron Account Billing Procedure

Keywords:                                 community user, cards, inactive students, households, Greater Omaha Area, borrowing, agreement, library

                                                Responsible Office:                    Library

Contact Information:                  Library 

                                                  402-557-7314

Approved by:                             Robin Bernstein

                                                  Senior Director, Library Services

Effective Date:                           June 28, 2019

Review Cycle and Dates:           This procedure document supersedes previous versions dated June 14, 2018, March 22, 2018, and October 2, 2013.

APPROVED: Robin Bernstein, Sr. Director, Library Services     June 28, 2019