Mission and Vision

Core Purpose: The Brandel Library empowers the North Park community for informed contributions to life’s essential conversations for God’s glory and neighbor’s good.

Core Value:

• Community
• Creativity
• Effectiveness
• Curiosity

Vision:
The Brandel Library will be a champion of curiosity, joy, and justice at North Park University.

Accessing the Library

Access Privileges
Our library is open to current students, faculty, and staff at North Park University. You must display a current North Park ID to enter Brandel Library. The library is not open to the general public, but will allow access in the following situations:

• NPU community members may bring 1 outside guest
• Students from other accredited colleges and universities with a current ID
• Current students and employees of institutions in the I-Share group with a current ID
• North Park alumni and retired staff and faculty in good standing with the library
• Clergy and others in ministry conducting theological research

Request Guest Access

• Alumni and retired faculty can email library@northpark.edu to request a guest library card.
• All others must apply for access through the Guest Access Form.

Borrowing Privileges

North Parkers
Students, faculty, and staff with a current North Park ID may use it to check out library materials.

Partner Schools
Anyone affiliated with ACTS, I-Share, or the ATLA Reciprocal Borrowing Program may use their school ID to borrow items from our library. I-Share members may also request to have Brandel Library materials delivered to their home libraries.

Alumni and Guests
North Park alumni and guests (including retired faculty, clergy, and employees of Covenant Offices) have a borrowing limit of 5 items. Alumni and retired faculty can email library@northpark.edu to request a guest library card. All others must apply for access through the Guest Access Form.

Loan Periods

• Books: 28 days (students), 8 weeks (staff), 16 weeks (faculty), 28 days (guests).
• Laptops: 6 hours (students), 3 days (faculty & staff).
• Cameras: 3 days (students, faculty and staff).
• Course reserves: In-library use only.
• Reference and periodicals: In-library use only.

Renewals

You may renew books up to three times. Log in to your library account to renew items.

Fines

• Lost items: We consider an item lost once it is overdue by double the loan period. A replacement fee may be charged if the item is not returned.
• Fine limits: $30 for students, $7.50 for guests. No borrowing privileges if limit is reached.

Library Lockers

Brandel Library offers two types of lockers—One-Day Use and Semester Use—available on a first-come, first-served basis to current NPU students, faculty, and staff (one locker per person).

One-Day Use Lockers

• Available for one day only.
• Keys must be returned before the library closes on the same day.
• All personal items must be removed before returning the key.

Semester Use Lockers

• Available for the duration of one semester (users provide their own locks).
• All items must be removed by the end of the loan period.
• Rental periods:
  • Fall semester: August 1–Friday before Winter Break
  • Spring semester: January 1–June 1
  • Summer term: June 1–August 1
• Rentals do not carry over into the next semester.
• A signed Locker Rental Agreement is required each semester.

General Policies (Both Types)

• Unauthorized locks may be cut, and belongings left behind may be discarded at the end of the loan/rental period.
• The library is not responsible for personal belongings.
• Failure to follow these policies may result in loss of locker privileges.

For questions, contact library@northpark.edu

Collections

Brandel Library Selection and Reconsideration Policy
Read the full policy here.

Brandel Library advocates for and protects the intellectual freedom of all library users. As an academic library, the library is responsible for providing resources that represent a wide range of differing points of view. The inclusion of a resource in our collection does not mean that the library or North Park University advocates nor endorses the ideas expressed in that resource. As such, material will not be excluded from consideration because of frankness of language, controversial approach, nor due to the political, moral, religious, sexual, social, economic, and/or scientific views expressed by the author. Language or methodology in an older work may not align with current academic approaches to their subjects, and this alone is not a reason for their deselection.North Park students, faculty, and staff may request the reconsideration of library material by completing and submitting the Request for Reconsideration form.Individuals may request that the library either; (1) remove an item because it is inappropriate to the scope and mission of our collection, or (2) add an item to balance the collection by providing an alternative perspective. The Library Director will acknowledge receipt of the request via email. A panel of librarians will consider the request and make a formal recommendation within 30 business days.

Donation Policy: We do not accept book donations but welcome book purchase suggestions. Send us the title, author, and publication year to library@northpark.edu. We carefully consider all book suggestions and reserve the right to not purchase a title at our discretion.

Conduct  

• Treat everyone with respect.
• Comply with requests made by Brandel staff.
• Be mindful of disturbing others when receiving cell phone calls.
• Listening to audio in public spaces is discouraged. Either use headphones (available for loan at the front desk) or reserve a private study room.
• Food and drink are welcome throughout Brandel, but you are responsible for cleaning up any mess and disposing of refuse. Vending machines, a microwave, and a water bottle filler are available on the first floor. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the North Park campus.
• There are two bulletin boards on the first floor of the library where you may hang Student Engagement approved signs advertising campus events. Fliers placed outside of the designated boards may be removed.
• The library reserves the right to refuse service and/or ask to leave any persons in violation of the above policies.