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Library Policies & Procedures: Circulation Procedures

A listing of library policies and procedures

Circulation Procedures

Document Title:                           Circulation Procedures                

Supports Policy Number:            PS 2301: Library Holds Policy

Applies to:                                     All Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, Community Users, & Reciprocal Borrowers

PURPOSE

The purpose of the procedure is to establish guidelines for circulating materials; including but not limited to: components of the circulation operation, the identification of materials, patrons, and transactions, combined with the fee structure. 

CONSIDERATIONS

Bellevue University Library patrons are responsible for returning all borrowed items on or before the due date in the same condition as they were received.

PROCEDURES

Classification:

  1. Bellevue University Students, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff.
  2. Community Users
  3. Reciprocal Borrowers

General Borrowing Regulations:

  1. Patrons should present a valid Bellevue University identification card in order to borrow materials. In cases of forgotten or lost cards, patrons must show photo identification to borrow materials.
  2. Borrowing privileges are not transferable.
  3. All borrowed materials are subject to recall and should be returned by the specified date.
  4. Borrowers are responsible for materials checked out until it is returned to the Library.
  5. Books, Audio Books, DVDs, Special Equipment and Games may be renewed twice.  
  6. Students, alumni, community users and reciprocal borrowers may not check out any items if there are overdue items on their accounts.  
  7. Students, alumni, community users and reciprocal borrowers may have a maximum of fifteen items checked out at a time (faculty and staff are exempt from this policy and may check out more than fifteen items).

Holds:

Bellevue University students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community users may place a hold on material that is checked out on eCatalog or by contacting the circulation desk. Patrons will be notified when the material has been returned and is available for checkout.

Courtesy Reminder and Overdue Notices:

  1. Courtesy reminders are emailed to patrons three days before material is due.
  2. First notice of overdue material is sent when an item is one day overdue.
  3. Second notice of overdue material is sent one week after the first notice.
  4. Third notice of overdue material is sent two weeks after the first notice.
  5. Final notice of overdue material is sent three weeks after the first notice.
  6. Senior Circulation Assistant with contact patron by phone.
  7. Invoices are sent by the Student Accounts office for overdue items after one.

Lost or Damaged Material:

  1. Lost or damaged material must be paid for or replaced by the borrower.
  2. See “Lost Library Material Procedure.”

BOOKS

Book Loan Periods:

  1. Books are checked out to students, community users, alumni, and reciprocal borrowers for twenty-one (21) days.
  2. Books are checked out to outreach students for twenty-eight (28) days.
  3. Books are checked out to faculty and staff for sixty (60) days.
  4. Books may be renewed twice if:
    1. Books have not been recalled.
    2. Books have not been renewed twice.
    3. Books are not on hold for another patron.

AUDIO BOOKS

Audio Book Loan Periods:

  1. Audio Books can be checked out to students, staff, faculty, community users, alumni, and reciprocal borrowers for twenty-one (21) days.
  2. A maximum of three Audio Books can be checked out.
  3. Audio Books may be renewed once if:
    1. Audio Books have not been renewed once before.
    2. Audio Books have not been recalled.
    3. Audio Books are not on hold for another patron.

DVDs

DVD Loan Periods:

  1. DVDs can be checked out to students, staff, faculty, community users, alumni, and reciprocal borrowers for seven (7) days.
  2. A maximum of three DVDs can be checked out.
  3. DVDs may be renewed once if:
    1. DVDs have not already been renewed once before.
    2. DVDs have not been recalled.
    3. DVDs are not on hold for another patron.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

(TV Remote, Headphones, Dry-erase markers, Computer Mice, Webcams for laptops)

Equipment Loan Periods:

  1. Special equipment can be checked out to students, staff, faculty, community users, alumni, and reciprocal borrowers for 4 hours.
  2. Special equipment is not allowed to leave the library area, unless permitted by the Senior Director, Library Services. 
  3. Special equipment may be renewed once if:
    1. Special equipment has not already been renewed once before.
    2. Special equipment is not on hold for another patron.
  4. Special equipment should always be returned to the circulation desk.

GAMES

Game Loan Periods:

  1. Game are checked out to students, community users, and alumni for 7 days.
  2. Games may be renewed once if:
    1. Games have not been recalled.
    2. Games have not been renewed previously.
    3. Games are not on hold for another patron.
  3. Games cannot be sent to Lozier or out on ILL or Outreach or borrowed by reciprocal users.
  4. Games cannot be returned to the Book drop.
  5. Patrons can only check out one game at a time.
  6. Complete board games in good condition may be donated to the library and assessed for circulation.

Game Charges:

  1. A charge will be assigned to the most recent borrower for any missing pieces.

Lost or Damaged Material:

  1. Lost or damaged material must be paid for or replaced by the borrower.
  2. See “Lost Library Material Procedure.”

LIBRARY OF THINGS

Library of Things Loan Periods:

  1. LOT items are checked out to currently registered Bellevue University students, faculty, staff, community users, and alumni for seven days.
  2. A LOT item may be renewed once for seven days if:
    1. LOT item is no more than one day late.
    2. LOT item is not overdue.
    3. LOT item is not on hold for another patron.
    4. LOT item has not already been renewed.
    5. LOT item has not been recalled.
  3. A LOT item cannot be sent to Lozier, out on Interlibrary Loan, or on Outreach.
  4. A LOT item cannot be returned to the book drop.
  5. Patrons may only check out one LOT item at a time.

Library of Things Charges:

  1. A charge will be assigned to the most recent borrower for any damaged or missing pieces.

Lost or Damaged Material:

  1. Lost or damaged material must be paid for or replaced by the borrower.
  2. See “Lost Library Material Procedure.”

Procedures

Considerations and Criteria:

  1. Everything contained in the box will be counted and recorded on the inside of the box lid and pieces will be stored in Ziploc bags behind the counter while the boxes are on display.
  2. The box and bags will need to be checked on both check out and return to make sure that all pieces are present.

LOCAL AREA PASSES  

Lauritzen Gardens

  1. Pass is checked out to Current Bellevue University Students, Staff, Faculty, Alumni, and Community Users for 7 days.

Durham Heritage Museum

  1. Pass is one time use only pass, it will not need to be returned. The library has 30 passes.

Fontenelle Forest

  1. Pass is checked out to Current Bellevue University Students, Staff, Faculty, Alumni, and Community Users for 7 days.

Considerations and Criteria:

  1. Passes cannot be sent to Lozier or out on ILL or Outreach.
  2. Patrons can only check out one pass at a time.
  3. Passes can be reserved 3 days in advance.
  4. Holds can be placed on passes.
  5. One day after the pass has gone overdue the Senior Circulation Assistant will contact the Patron to inform them of their need to return the pass.   

Lost or Damaged Material:

  1. Lost or damaged material must be paid for or replaced by the borrower.
  2. See “Lost Library Material Procedure.”

Suspensions of Borrowing Privileges:

"At the discretion of the Senior Director, Library Services, repeated or excessive abuse of this overdue policy may result in the permanent suspension of borrowing privileges."

Exceptions to this policy are granted only with the permission of the Senior Director, Library Services.

STUDENT GRADES, TRANSCRIPTS AND/OR DIPLOMAS ARE WITHHELD FOR OVERDUE MATERIAL NOT RETURNED, AND LOST OR DAMAGED MATERIAL NOT PAID.

Copyright Laws and Fair Use Guidelines:

It is our policy to conform and adhere to existing United States Copyright laws and to maintain the highest possible ethical standards in our use of copyrighted materials for instructional purposes. Copies of the law and guidelines are available in the Library.

Supports Policy:                               PS 2301, Library Holds Policy

Supporting Documentation:       Lost Library Material Procedure, Library Holds Policy

Keywords:                                          circulation, holds, books, audio books, DVDs, special equipment, loan periods, overdue notices, renewal, library

Responsible Office:                        Library

Contact Information:                     Library

                                                          402-557-7314

Approved by:                                  Robin Bernstein 

                                                          Senior Director, Library Services

Effective Date:                                April 21, 2022

Review Cycle and Dates:              This procedure document supersedes previous versions dated   

                                                         March 22, 2018, May 28, 2010, June 14, 2018, July 19, 2019, April 28, 2020, and August 31, 2020

APPROVED:                                    Robin Bernstein, Senior Director, Library Services      April 25, 2022