The Circulation Department, a part of the Library's Public Services area, aims to be both welcoming and helpful to all, striving to do our best to support the information and research needs of our primary constituency-the current students and employees of Messiah College-as well as visitors, as we are able, and attempt to establish policies for circulation that take into account the needs of our many users.
The Circulation Department provides information regarding library policies and borrowing privileges. It is responsible for checking items in and out of the Library, and for managing and maintaining the library's collection through shelving and shelf reading. Reserve items, Holds, and Interlibrary Loan materials also circulate from this area. You must have a valid Messiah ID or Community Card to borrow library materials. (For more on Community users' borrowing, click HERE.
Right to Privacy: To protect the patron's right of privacy, library staff may not legally disclose who checked an item out. Please do not ask for this information
.
When checking items out of the Library the patron is essentially entering into a "contract" or an "agreement" that the items they are borrowing will be returned in a timely manner (i.e., by the due date) and in the same condition as when they were initially checked out. We encourage patrons to use their materials and return them so that they are available for others. The Library's loan policies have been established to be of the most use to the greatest number of patrons.
There is no limit on the number of items that may be borrowed at one time.
Borrowing DVDs and videos: The Library's collection of DVDs and videos can be searched in the Library's catalog. However, they are in "closed stacks" and must be requested by call number from the Media Services desk on the lower level of the Library and checked out there.
NOTE: Media Services desk hours are more limited than the general Library.
- Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Phone: Extension x6033
- Videotape and DVD borrowing periods: 2 days with one renewal.
Click
HERE for chart of loan periods by status of user (e.g., student, faculty).
Library items may be renewed once. Please call x3860, or stop by the Circulation Desk for assistance. You may also renew your library items online if the renewal request is initiated before the item's due date. If the item is overdue, you must call or stop by the circulation desk. Click HERE for instructions for online renewals.
We expect patrons to adhere to due dates and respect the interests of other patrons who may be waiting for items to be returned. If borrowed items are not returned by the due date, they are overdue and our library online system automatically blocks the patron from checking out additional materials until overdue item(s) are returned or renewed.
Fines. We do not charge per-day overdue fines. However, if an overdue item is not returned or renewed by the time the renewal period lapses (e.g, the same length of time as the original circulation period), the patron is charged a flat $10.00 overdue fine.
Example: A book checks out for 3 weeks; its renewal period would be 3 more weeks. A compact disc checks out for 1 week; its renewal period would be 1 more week.
Fees. If an item is overdue 60 days after the original due date, our library online system automatically considers it lost. At that point, the patron is charged the replacement cost plus a non-refundable $20.00 processing fee for each item lost. Further, if items are damaged or defaced while checked out to a patron, the patron may be assessed repair/replacement fees and the non-refundable $20.00 processing fee.
Paying Fines and Fees:
Student - Student library fines and fees are billed through the student business office account, and may be paid at the business office.
Employee - Employees are not fined for overdue library materials. However employees are charged replacement and processing fees for items that are 60 days or more overdue and/or for items which have been lost or damaged.
Community - Community users' library fines and fees should be paid at the circulation desk in the library, or you may send a check to Murray Library, c/o Circulation Desk, PO Box 3002, One College Ave. Grantham, PA 17027. Please have a current phone number on your check and indicate that you are paying for fines on your account.
Any patron needing a book already checked out should call x3860, or stop by the Circulation Desk and have a staff person place a "HOLD" on the item so that, when it is returned, the requesting patron will be next to get the item. If the need is urgent, a patron may request a "RECALL" of the item. A Recall is subject to the approval of a supervisor or librarian, as it shortens the loan time of the patron who currently has the item checked out. Patrons will be notified by mail when items they have requested are available for pick up from the Circulation Desk Hold shelf. Items will be held for one week, after which they will be returned to the Library stacks.
Please note: Items that the system says are "On shelf" will not be pulled and placed on Hold. Patrons will need to go to the shelves and check the items out on a first come, first served basis.
Online Holds: Messiah students and employees can also place a Hold online. (To set up your account, click here. To place an item on Hold online, go the Library homepage, click on the Library Catalog, and search the item you would like to place a hold on. Select the item and click on the red "Request" button across the top of the page. It will ask for your 6-digit ID card number, a PIN number (please call x3860 or ask at the Circulation Desk if you need a PIN number) and your last name. Click "Login" after entering your information. In the next window, "Type of Request" should say "Hold"; click "OK." In the Request window, please enter your 6-digit ID card number and then click "Submit request". The system will then indicate whether or not your request was successful. If unsuccessful, please contact the circulation desk. Please note: Patrons who have overdue items are not able to place Holds.
Reserve materials are processed and circulated by the Circulation Department. Patrons wishing to borrow reserve materials should request items by their call numbers at the Circulation Desk.
To search for an item on class reserve, please go to the Library homepage, click on the Library Catalog, and then click on the red tab "Course Reserves". You may search for your class reserve by "Instructor", "Department", or "Course". Note the call number of the item(s) you need and ask for the item by call number at the circulation desk.
Please note: We recommend searching by the course number as it narrows search results to your specific class.
Reserve items check out for a limited loan time of either 2 hours or 24 hours. There are no renewals on reserve items. Please be aware of the due time and return all reserve items promptly. Because of the demand for reserve items (often by a whole class), fines for reserve items are $10.00 per item if not returned on time.
For questions regarding reserve materials, contact Joanna Matlak (x7020), or call the Circulation Desk (x3860).
