Borrowing Items

Policy

To support the information needs of its students, faculty and staff as well as other users of the Clayton State University Library, it is the policy of the Clayton State Library to circulate eligible library materials to users who have authorized borrowing privileges.

• Library User Groups
  • • Fully authorized library users:
      • • Clayton State University students, faculty, staff, and emeritus faculty[1] with a current LakerCard.
        • University System of Georgia students, faculty and staff with a current ID card from their home institution.
    • Partially authorized library users:
      • • Clayton State University retirees, alumni, continuing education students and regional community members with a current community borrower’s card[2] AND a valid email address on file that can receive library notices.
        • ARCHE consortia students, faculty and staff with a current ARCHE card[3].
        • Georgia Department of Archives staff with a photo ID.
    • Visitors
      • • Community borrower’s card holders without a valid email address on file.
        • Any other user who is not an authorized library user as defined above.

• Library User Responsibilities
  • • Users are responsible for the prompt return of library materials at the end of the loan period. Materials must be returned in good condition.
    • Users should safeguard their ID and may not borrow items under another user’s ID.
    • Users must have a current signed laptop agreement form on file before borrowing a laptop
    • Users must have a current signed VR headset agreement form on file before borrowing the VR headset.

• Borrowing Limits
  • • Fully authorized library users
      • • Generally no limit on the number of books or other circulating items
        • Limited to 2 pieces of equipment and 1 laptop
    • Partially authorized library users
      • • Limited to 5 books
    • Visitors
      • • Visitors have no borrowing privileges

Loan Period

The time period for which items may be borrowed is dependent upon the type of material and user group. The due date for materials borrowed near the end of a semester defaults to the patron’s expiration date (usually the day after finals end) which may shorten a standard loan period.

• Books
  • • Clayton State University faculty, staff and emeritus faculty may borrow books for the length of the semester. The due date will be updated 28 days prior to the end of the current semester to reflect the next semester’s end of term date.
    • Clayton State University students; University System of Georgia students, faculty and staff; users with a community borrower’s card; and ARCHE consortia students, faculty and staff may borrow books for a 28-day loan period.
• Audiovisual
  • • Clayton State University faculty, staff and emeritus faculty may borrow for the length of the semester.
    • Clayton State University students may borrow for a 7-day loan period.
    • These items are not available for loan to other users.
• Course Reserves
  • • Course reserves have restricted circulation based on faculty request. These items are expected to be in high demand by students in a class.
      • • Clayton State University students may borrow for a 2-hour, 1-day or 7-day loan period.
        • These items are not available for loan to other users.
• Equipment
  • • Laptops and VR headset
      • • Clayton State University students, faculty, staff and emeritus faculty may borrow for a 4-hour loan period.
        • These items are for in-library use only.
    • Small equipment
      • • Includes headphones, adapters, chargers, webcams, wireless presenters, stands and study room supplies.
        • Clayton State University students, faculty, staff, emeritus faculty and community borrower’s card holders with a valid email address on file may borrow for a 6-hour loan period.
    • DVD Players
      • • Clayton State University students, faculty, staff and emeritus faculty may borrow for a 7-day loan period.
    • Except where noted, equipment items are not available for loan to other users.
    • Reference Collection
      • • Clayton State Students, faculty, staff and emeritus faculty may borrow for a 7-day loan period.
        • These items are not available for loan to other users.
    • Legal Research and Periodical Collections
      • • Clayton State University students, faculty, staff and emeritus faculty may borrow for a 2-day loan period.
        • These items are not available for loan to other users.
• Returning Items
  • • Books can be returned to the interior book returns at the Circulation Desk on the lower level or the Information Desk on the upper level.
    • Books can also be returned to the exterior book drops at the University Center entrance or Library Building courtyard entrance.
    • Audiovisual items should be returned to the interior book drops at the lower level Circulation Desk or the upper level Information Desk.
    • Course Reserves should be returned directly to library staff at the upper level Information Desk.
    • Equipment
      • • Return study room supplies and most other equipment to library staff at the lower level Circulation Desk or upper level Information Desk.
        • Return laptops and VR Headset directly to library staff at the Information Desk on the upper level.
        • Do not leave equipment in the exterior book drops.
• Renewing Items
  • • Most borrowed items are automatically renewed twice for fully authorized users in good standing.
    • Partially authorized users are not permitted to renew loans.
    • In-person renewals for equipment are permitted but depend on availability.
    • Items belonging to course reserves, reference, legal and periodical collections are not eligible for renewal.
    • After the renewal limit is reached, items must be returned at which time the item can be borrowed again if not needed by another patron.
• Overdue and Lost Items
  • • An item is considered overdue if it is not returned or renewed before its due date.
    • Users will receive email reminders about overdue items.
    • A circulating book or non-print material is declared lost at 30 days overdue.
    • Equipment and Course Reserve materials are declared lost at one day overdue.
• Penalties
  • • Users may not borrow items if their account has been blocked by overdue items, lost items or outstanding library fees.
    • Users with lost items may be charged replacement and processing fees if the items are not returned in good condition [4].
    • The library reserves the right to block equipment use privileges to anyone who is repeatedly late in returning equipment or who has exhibited a pattern of misuse of equipment.

Related Policies

1. Retiree Access to Library Resources
2. Community Users Policy
3. Issuing ARCHE Cards
4. Library Fees Policy