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St. Mary's Seminary & University

Policies

Library Privileges

Registered Seminary and Ecumenical Institute students, as well as faculty and staff, have full library privileges.  St. Mary’s also has reciprocal borrowing privileges with select area colleges.  The library is open for any visitors to use the facility on site.  Community members who wish may purchase a yearly library card to check out materials.

Access to the Library

Community patrons are asked to use the library entrance, on the far right side of the building, using the buzzer located by the door.  Durring class sessions, EI students are asked to use the main/front door entrance.  There is no entrance for the disabled directly into the library from outside; however, arrangements may be made to enter the building by previous arrangement.

General Regulations

Library Cards/Borrowing Items

Cards are issued at the circulation desk upon completion of a registra­tion form and verification of status. To borrow books, library patrons must have their card. Cardholders should not lend their card to others, since they are responsible for all materials checked out on their cards.

Loan Periods

Circulating books may be renewed if no one else has requested them. They may be renewed over the phone, or in person at the circulation desk, and in some cases online. All student materials are due back in the library by the close of each semester. Reserve books may be borrowed for use in the library for a period of three (3) hours unless the instructor has specified other terms. They may be renewed for an additional three-hour period if no one else has requested them. Reserve books do not leave the library unless the instructor personally has contacted the staff directly with such instructions.

Audio-visual items may also be renewed if there are no other patron requests.  Periodicals, reference works, theses, and items published prior to 1900 are not available for circulation.

Overdue Items

A fine of 25 cents per day per book is charged for overdue books; a fine of $1.00 per day is charged for A/V or CD-ROM works. Fines are paid at the circulation desk. Non-payment of fines will result in suspension of library privileges. One notice will be sent for items about to become overdue, and two notices (over two weeks) will be sent once items are past their due date. If items are not returned within the two weeks following the final notice, a bill will be sent for replacement costs. The library does not assume responsibility for receipt of notices. The names of students with outstanding books and/or fines will be sent to the Registrar at the end of the semester. Grades will not be available and registration for a new term will not be processed until the bill and/or fines are paid. Students with outstanding library books or fines may not graduate.

Lost Items

Lost books are the responsibility of the patron on whose card the books were charged out. The cardholder responsible for lost books will be charged the replacement cost per book plus overdue fines and a processing fee. The replacement cost for out-of-print books will be $100.00 or replacement cost of the book plus fees.

Care of Library Materials

Borrowers will be charged for materials which are returned damaged.  Borrowers may not write in books, turn down page corners, attach post-it notes, highlight, or underline in books or journals.  Borrowers will be financially responsible for loss or damage to materials while checked out, including replacement costs if necessary.

Photocopying

A photocopier is available for use in the library. Personal copies may be made through the use of change, bills, or a copy card. Change and copy cards may be obtained at the circulation desk. Copies are 10 cents per page. Although change is available for bills of small denominations ($10.00 or less), change for bills of larger denominations cannot be guaranteed. Patrons are responsible for obeying copyright laws.

Computers

Eight computers are located in the reading room for student use. The computers permit access to the library catalog, the Internet, and a variety of reference tools. All computers are also equipped for word processing. Wi-fi is available in the library for students with laptops. The library staff will gladly advise and guide students in the use of electronic research resources; they cannot, however, assist with word-processing matters. At busy times, the staff may limit the time a student may spend on the computers, in order to assure that others may use them.

Access to the Catalog and Research Datbases

Knott library offers a number of electronic research resources located on the library’s website. Because of licensing restrictions, remote access to databases is limited to registered students, faculty and staff. However, remote access to the online catalog is available through the internet.

Interlibrary Loan

St Mary’s students and faculty may request materials from other libraries via interlibrary loan. The service is free, but if the lending library charges a fee, it will be passed on to the patron. Patrons should provide as much information (author, title, date of publication) as possible when filling out the online ILL form. When requested materials arrive, the staff will notify the patron. Materials may be picked up at the Circulation Desk. They should be returned directly to a member of the staff with the statement that the items are on interlibrary loan. The due date for books on loan is determined by the lending library.