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Policies: Circulation

Policies: Circulation

Macalester Students

Current Macalester students may check out an unlimited number of books, and up to ten sound recordings and four DVDs at a time. The loan period for books is six weeks. The loan period for sound recordings and DVDs is one week. Books may be renewed, unless another patron has placed a hold on an item, or the item has reached maximum renewals (two). Recalled items must be returned immediately. Up to seven items may be requested each day. All current Macalester students have Interlibrary Loan (ILL) privileges.

Macalester Faculty and Staff

Current Macalester faculty and staff may check out an unlimited number of books, and up to ten sound recordings and four DVDs at a time, with exceptions granted for materials needed for class sessions. The loan period for books from the general collection is 365 days. No renewals unless the book is brought in and checked out again. This does not include books from the Reading Room, Wood Room, or other special collections. Books may be recalled by library staff as needed (i.e. if not readily available via ILL). The DVD and CD loan period is 7 days.

All current Macalester faculty and staff have Interlibrary Loan (ILL) privileges.

Alumni and Community Members

Macalester College alumni and community members are eligible to have access to the Library building. They may access the Library building from opening until 8 pm each evening so that we can prioritize Macalester students’ use of our space and resources. View hours for the Macalester Library before visiting as hours may vary.

Alumni and community members will need to register for an ID card to have access to the building. A fee of $25 will be charged to offset the cost of the card creation and delivery. Once you have obtained your new ID card, if you wish to be able to check-out items from the Macalester Library collection please stop by the Library Service Desk to set-up your account.*

Macalester alumni and community members may:

  • Check out up to ten items at a time.
  • Borrow books for six weeks.
  • Borrow sound recordings and DVDs for one week.
  • Renew books, unless another patron has placed a hold on an item or the item has reached maximum renewals (two).
  • View and renew items currently checked out with your Macalester WorldCat Discovery account.

Recalled items must be returned immediately. Alumni and community members may not check out equipment or reserve items, and do not have ILL privileges.

*Please note:

  • Graduating seniors receive one free year of access to the library and the Leonard Center, and may continue to use their existing student ID cards during that year.

  • A paid for Leonard Center membership and ID card will grant access to the library building.

Retired Faculty/Staff

Retired faculty and staff need to register for an ID card through the Leonard Center in order to have access to certain campus facilities, including the library.

Overdue Notices

As library materials become overdue, the library will send you several reminder notices via e-mail or regular mail, asking you to either renew or return your materials. These notices are intended as a courtesy.

Billing Notices

When a book is one month overdue, or a sound recording is one week overdue, it reverts to lost/billing status. A standard charge of $65 will be applied for books, $125 for video recordings, and cost-of-item for other equipment. For interlibrary loan materials the charge is $115. Students may receive a billing notice via email, and the charge may be sent to the student accounts office. If the item is later returned, $55 will be credited to the student’s account. $10 will remain as a mandatory processing fee. Faculty, staff, alumni, neighbors and family will have the $65 charge remain on their library record, and will not be able to check out any additional materials until the item is returned, or the fee is paid. Alumni and neighbors will owe a mandatory $5 late fee once the item is returned. Refund of money paid for overdue/lost ILL items is contingent upon the policy of the lending library.

Renewals

Students may renew books up to two times, unless another patron has placed a hold on the book. Renewals are not allowed for faculty and staff. Sound and video recordings and reserve items may not be renewed.

Books may be renewed: