Borrowing Policy

Concordia ID cards are issued to Concordia faculty, staff, and currently registered Concordia students. Concordia University Library Guest Cards are issued to the following groups:

• Southern California Theological Library Association (SCATLA) Membership in SCATLA allows graduate students in the School of Theology circulation privileges at other member institutions. SCATLA cards for Concordia students are available through Bob Park.
• Vanguard University students with current ID cards.
• Residents of Concordia Housing.

Alumni and other guests may purchase a $25 CU Library Guest Card which is good for one year.

Circulation Policy

To check out books from the library, present your current CU identification card or a CU Library Guest Card (see Borrowing Policy) and the materials to the library staff member at the Circulation Desk. They will put a date due card in the book pocket. The last date stamped on the card is the last date you can bring the book back without a fine. (Remember you MUST present your current Concordia ID or guest card to check out any materials from the library.)

The Library limits the number of materials you can check out to 10 items at any time. If you already have 10 items checked out, you will be required to return some before you can check out any others. (This includes reserve materials). The table below shows loan periods.

All items checked out on your card become your responsibility, even if you lend any to someone else. Lost or damaged items will incur a replacement charge of $60.00.

*Materials may be renewed once, if no one has requested it.

Renewals

If you wish to keep the material(s) longer than four weeks, you must RENEW the material(s). The library does NOT accept phone renewals, but you can renew the materials yourself using the library catalog [see instructions below] or by bringing the items to the library. There is only one renewal per material. If additional use is necessary, the material must be checked in and then checked out again. Checking out materials can only be done in person! If you do not return the materials by the date stamped on the date due card, they will be overdue.

To renew online:

1. Point your browser to the library catalog.
2. Click on the User Services button.
3. Click on Renew Materials.
4. Type in your User ID (the nine digit letter/number combination on the back of your ID card).
5. Type in your PIN (the password you received during registration).
6. Click on the List Charged Items button.
7. Put a checkmark before the items you want to renew.
8. Click on the Renew Selected Items button.

Overdue Policy

Our goal is to encourage the timely return of library materials and provide for optimal sharing of the collection. Patrons are responsible for returning or renewing items by the due date. Billing for overdue library materials can be easily prevented by returning materials on time. This policy is not meant to be punitive.

Materials are considered overdue if you have not returned the item or renewed the item within the allotted time. HINT: most books can be kept for 28 days; most video tapes, audio tapes, and CDs can be kept for 14 days. The CU Library charges 25 cents a day PER item checked out. The fines for materials on reserve are substantially higher, $1.00 a day PER item. Fines are incurred every day that the library is open, whether or not school is in session. Fines are not tallied until the material has been returned. Patrons MUST take the responsibility for returning materials on time.

There is a grace period of three days (for non-reserve items only) during which no fines are charged. On the fourth day, fines become retroactive to the first overdue day.

If three or more items are overdue, or unpaid fines of $10.00 or more have accrued, your borrowing privileges will be blocked until the matter is resolved.

Fines

If a fine is assessed and it is paid when returning the overdue material, the fine will be reduced by 50%.

Lost or non-returned items

If an item is lost or not returned to the library within, a replacement bill will be sent to Student Accounts. When the billing has been forwarded to Student Accounts, then the library can no longer accept payment. The patron must present a receipt from Student Accounts in order to reinstate library privileges.

If you believe you returned the item(s) but it is still checked out to you, please fill out a Claimed Returned (missing book) form either online or in person at the Charging Desk.

You may contact the library if you wish to appeal a fine. Appeals may be made only during the month the charges/fines accrue. Appeals can ONLY be made in writing at the Circulation Desk or through the online form.

Note that the library does not benefit directly from fines. The money collected as fines or processing charges are turned over to general university funds.

Donation Policy

The resources of the Concordia University Library have been developed through judicious purchase of materials and the acceptance of many valuable and useful gifts. We will continue to be grateful for the kind of support that has been shown in the past. Because of the nature of a university library collection, certain conditions need to be observed when receiving gifts.

The CU Library welcomes gifts of materials appropriate to our university mission, or funds for the purchase of such materials, recognizing that gifts may provide valuable additions to the collection. Gifts allow material to be added to the collection for little or no initial cost. However, gifts ultimately are not free; they must be catalogued, processed and housed. To keep such expenses to a minimum, tight control is needed.

Most gifts involve monographs, back runs of series, sponsored subscriptions or money. Ordinarily the Library does not collect realia. Final decisions on the retention and disposition of gifts are the responsibility of the Director of Library Services.

Guidelines

These are intended as guidelines to inform prospective donors of the most beneficial types of gifts and the circumstances under which the Library accepts them.

• Donated materials are expected to meet the same standards of quality and relevance to the collection as new titles. They should support the curriculum and the mission of the library as well as meet the collection development guidelines and policies, in regard to physical condition, format, language, etc.
• Donated works by faculty and/or alumni authors are always welcome and will be added to the collection, unless these works do not meet collection development guidelines and policies or are otherwise inappropriate for an academic library.
• The Library adheres to all federal regulations governing Internal Revenue Service gifts-in-kind.
• The CU Library follows the recommendations of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association, in regard to the appraisal of gifts or resources:
  • To protect the donor and the University, the Library, as an interested party, does not establish values of gifts or resources. If the donor desires an appraisal, it is the donor's responsibility to estimate values or employ the services of an independent consultant.
  • The acceptance of a gift which has been appraised by the donor or a disinterested party does not in any way imply endorsement of the appraisal by the Library.
• Gifts must be brought or mailed to the Library. We do not maintain a vehicle to pick up gift items nor liability insurance to cover personnel for such activities.
• Materials which bear the ownership markings of another library or institution and do not have any indication of being withdrawn from that institution's collection will not be accepted.
• The Library strongly discourages gifts of outdated or superseded textbooks, law or science/engineering publications; items in poor physical condition; condensations; old newspapers; clippings, etc. Such items are usually of limited usefulness and are generally rejected.

The following concerns should be addressed before judging a gift acceptable for the library collection:

• Is the item appropriate to the library collection? If the item is outside of the collection development guidelines and policies of the Library, the gift should not normally be accepted. Exceptions are made when collections are offered that may provide a catalyst to developing new teaching or research interests.
• Are there significant technical processing costs involved? If gifts of marginal value to the collection would involve considerable technical processing, their value to the collection may not be worth the cost of adding them. It is important to remember that the purchase price of any item is only a part of the cost of placing that item on the library shelf.
• Is shelf space available in an appropriate location? The Director should be consulted before large collections are accepted.
• Are there significant maintenance and up-dating costs? Careful consideration of the costs, versus the value to the collection, is needed when acceptance of a gift would involve the Library in providing preservation or other significant investment of time and effort, or ongoing purchases to maintain currency.

Disposal of unwanted gifts

The Library reserves the right to make decisions about the disposition of gifts of materials or funds. The Library also reserves the right to dispose of any gift materials that do not meet the library's collection needs and policy guidelines. Gifts not retained by the library may be given to academic departments, other libraries, sold at book sales, or otherwise given away or discarded.

Acknowledgment of gifts

All donors will receive an acknowledgment letter from the university with the number of titles donated. If requested, a gift plate can be attached to the donated material.