Access and Borrowing Privileges

General Circulation Policies

Fine Policy

Renewing Materials

Interlibrary Loan

A primary goal of the library is to support the curricular needs of students enrolled at the University.  The library provides service primarily to North Park students, faculty, and staff.  As resources permit, services also are provided to alumni, members of the cooperative networks, and clergy.  Librarians of North Park develop policies governing access and borrowing.

All patrons of Brandel library are subject to a security check before exiting the building.  This may involve a search of personal property.  Library staff reserves the right to terminate privileges without notice.

Access & Borrowing Privileges

• North Park University students, faculty, staff, emeritus employees, board members, alumni, and special campus guests such as parents and guest lecturers.  Access for research is permitted for children of students, faculty and staff provided they are over the age of 14. Children who have not completed eighth grade may not be in the library without direct adult supervision.  Parents are responsible for the conduct of their children in the library.

• Covenant Offices, Covenant Press, and Swedish Covenant Hospital  employees.

• I-SHARE, LIBRAS, and ACTS  institutions – colleges.

• SCUPE students.

• Bearers of Brandel Library Guest Card, valid when issued by a librarian for:

o    Board and employees of the Centers for International Students.

o    Board and employees of the Swedish American Historical Society.

o    Chicago area pastors.

o    Approved applicants who pay an access and borrowing privilege fee of $200.00 per year.

• The following have access but not borrowing privileges.

o     ALA Infopass users

o     Guest researchers in topics that North Park holds unique resources.

o     Von Steuben High School students enrolled in North Park classes.

o     Other visitors by appointment: jobbers, vendors, service personnel, and    consultants.

General Circulation Policies

I. Circulation of collections

          A. General collection

• All materials in the general collection classification, including the general collection of music scores and the curriculum collection, circulate for 28 days to all patrons, except faculty and staff.
• All materials in the general collection classification, including the general collection of music scores and the curriculum collection circulate to part time faculty and staff for 8 weeks and to full time faculty and staff for 16 weeks.

          B.  Reference collection

These resources do not circulate out of the library.  Exceptions may be made with the permission of one of the librarians for limited time out of the library.

C.  Serials collection

These materials do not circulate out of the library.  Exceptions may be made with the permission of one of the librarians for limited time out of the library.

 

D.  Media collection 

• Media materials include videotapes, audiotapes, compact discs, and long playing disks designated as “Media” by the library.
• Media materials circulate to faculty and staff for 7 days.
• Some Videos & CDs circulate to students for 7 days.
• Any of these types of materials classified as General collection circulate the same as a book in the General collection.

E.   The “Locked Scores” collection circulates to faculty only.  

   

F.  Archives and Special Collections do not circulate to anyone.  Materials are  accessible through the Director of Archives and Special Collections

 

G.  Permanent reserve collection.  Items vary and are marked for specifics.

 

H.   Class reserves

• Reserve materials in this classification circulate to students enrolled in classes at North Park University according to the time periods prescribed by the instructor.                     
• The circulation periods are:
• Library use only. (Two hour circulation, but never leave the library.)
• 3 Hour.  (Materials may be used for 3 hours and may be taken out of the library.)
• Twenty-four hour. (Materials due the same hour on the following day.)
• Two, three and seven day. (Materials due by closing hour of second, third or seventh day from date of check out.)

II. Renewals

All patrons have priority use of a circulated item for 28 days and it cannot be recalled for another patron within the 28 days.  The single exception to this is class reserve status. Circulating collection materials, including music scores and curriculum materials, are renewable twice, providing another patron has not requested the material.  Third time renewals must be approved by the circulation librarian.  (Phone renewals are encouraged, to avoid overdue materials and fines.)

How to renew a book.

III.  Recalls

• A “recalled” item is one that is out of the library on loan but wanted by another patron or for class reserve.  A borrower generally has priority use of an item for 28 days.  Once this period has elapsed, any legitimate North Park patron may request a recall.  The initial borrower must then return the material by an agreed upon date.  Failure to do so will result in a fine, not to exceed $7.50 per item. 

• Materials recalled for class reserve are due back immediately.  Failure to comply will result in the maximum fine of $7.50 per item. 

IV.   Material Returns

All materials are due by 12 o’clock midnight on the due date, except for reserve items that are due by the specified date and hour.  All materials are to be returned to the circulation department.  Materials that will not be damaged may be returned to a book drop.  An inside book drop is provided at the circulation desk for quick and easy drop-offs. An outside book drop is provided for materials returned after library hours.  The outside book drop is emptied once a day, soon after the library opens. 

V. Identification

• All patrons should carry and, upon request, present identification from North Park University Brandel Library or a barcoded identification card from one of the cooperating institutions.  Failure to provide one of the above results in the refusal of materials and the possible removal from the premises.

• All authorized guests will be given a pass indicating name and date(s) of admission.

   

Fine Policy

All authorized patrons who receive a due date when borrowing non-reserve materials, books and scores and who return materials past the due date are charged a fine at the rate of twenty five cents a day for each day the library is open for patron access.  The library extends a grace period for three days past the due date, as of the fourth day the fine begins with a $1.00 charge.  The Access Services Librarian may establish longer grace periods for special circumstances, such as extreme weather, computer problems or the last week of a term.  The maximum fine per item, per single circulation is $7.50.

The late return of reserve materials, circulated to students registered in a class, accrues a fine at a special rate: “Library Use Only,”  “3 Hour” and “24 Hour”  loans are $1.00 for the first hour and $.25 per hour thereafter. “2, 3, & 7 Day” are $1.00 per day.  The maximum fine per item, per single circulation is $7.50.

The late return of videos and CDs are charged at $1.00 per item, per day, up to 7 days maximum fine of $7.50.  Any video or CD 7 days overdue may be charged for replacement.

Library fines accrued by students who do not voluntarily clear their record at the library are sent to the Student Accounts Office.  The library notifies all other patrons of fines incurred, most often by mail.  Failure to pay within a reasonable amount of time results in loss of circulation privileges for the patron.

Any material not returned thirty days past the due date is considered lost and incurs replacement and service charges for the borrower.  The Library sends these fines to the Student Accounts Office who then charge the student.  Other patrons lose access and borrowing privileges.  The library of the institution with which North Park has reciprocal privileges is notified that the patron has lost privileges at North Park.

Failure of North Park students to pay library charges at North Park, ILCSO, LIBRAS institutions, or ACTS schools may result in withholding of transcripts and diplomas.

North Park University faculty and staff are generally not charged for overdue fines.  However, materials out for more than one year which are not returned upon the request of the Access Services Librarian or Director of the library will be considered lost and will incur replacement and service charges.  

Special Patron Policy

Brandel  Library grants access and borrowing privileges to approved applicants who pay a $200.00 annual fee.  The Director of the Library approves an applicant for the Special Patron status.  

The Library issues Special Patron Passes clearly indicating the name, address, and expiration date to each Special Patron.  The Access Services Librarian verifies current address information.

Special patrons must abide by all library policies or lose privileges.  All fees are nonrefundable.

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary loan is a service offered by the library that attempts to obtain books, periodical articles, other documents, scores, recordings, videos and other formats from other libraries when these items are not available from the collection owned by the Brandel Library. Patrons should first try to obtain such materials (other than journal articles) on their own through the I-Share catalog for the quickest service.

The service is limited to currently enrolled students, faculty and staff employed by the university.  The service is offered at no charge to the patron.  Requests are normally processed Monday through Friday. Forms (book / journal) are available in the library and on the North Park Library website.  All requested  information on the forms must be filled out for processing.  The library notifies patrons when materials arrive at the library.  Patrons are responsible for their own follow-up on requests, as notification of unavailable materials is not always possible with the amount of work maintained in the ILL office.  Distance learning students may request materials to be sent and/or faxed to them at no cost to the student.

Brandel Library uses the OCLC international database service to locate requested materials.  Moreover, requests and loans are processed through the OCLC-ILL module. 

North Park University is located in a large city rich with various types of libraries.  This means that materials are often readily available. Further enhancing service, North Park belongs to several consortia, which promise to its members considerate and speedy ILL reciprocal borrowing.  The library cannot assure patrons of an item’s attainability, or of an item’s attainability within the time the patron wants the material.

As do all other institutions, North Park University participates in reciprocal borrowing to the extent its resources allow.  Usually, materials from the General Collection are the only materials loaned.  The Brandel Library does not loan materials from the reference, rare book, or special collections, or any complete journal.  Generally, materials from the score, media, and curriculum collections do not circulate through Interlibrary loan.  Librarians may decide on an individual basis concerning these collections.  Brandel Library does not charge for lending. However, charges for shipping may apply when deemed necessary.