Library

Your college ID card is also your library card. You must have your ID with you each time you use the library even if you are only using reserve materials.

You are responsible for all materials borrowed on your ID. To meet this responsibility, do not loan your card to others and check your Patron Record often (see more on Patron record below).

Students, Staff, Alumni, ASPEC, Friends, St. Pete Theological Seminary, and USF students (St. Petersburg and Tampa campuses) may check books out for 30 days with two renewals. However, all books will be due at the end of each semester or term even if it is less than three weeks away. ELS students may check books out for 10 days or until the Wednesday prior to the end of the term whichever is shorter. There are some items in the library that have different loan periods:

• DVDs – 3 days with no renewal
• Reference books, journals, magazines, and theses may not leave the library

The central mission of the Eckerd College Library is to support the curricular and research needs of Eckerd College Students and faculty. In light of this mission, it is the library’s responsibility to ensure that students and faculty receive priority when it comes to using the resources of the library. It is with this responsibility in mind that the following maximum checkout limitations are placed on non-Eckerd student/faculty borrowers:

• Alumni: 5 books
• ASPEC members (not involved in teaching a course): 5 books
• Friends: 5 books
• Staff (including ELS and Elderhostel/Senior College Faculty): 30 books
• ELS students: 3 books
• USF St. Petersburg and Tampa students: 5 books
• St. Pete Theological Seminary: 5 books.

Individuals wishing exceptions to these limits must apply to the Collection Management Librarian. Students may have 30 items (including reserve materials) checked out at any one time.

Students, Staff, Alumni, ASPEC, Friends, and USF St. Petersburg and Tampa students may renew an item twice. To renew a book, the book can be brought into the library (you must have your student ID card with you) or you can renew online. The renewal period is for 30 days from the original due date of the item. After the second renewal due date the item must be returned to the library. A recall due date always supersedes the previous due date (see additional information on recalls).

The library will issue a courtesy overdue notice three days after the due date. As this is well within the grace period, it is intended to help you avoid a fine. However, this is a courtesy, you are responsible for keeping track of your item due dates. A claim that a notice was not received does not constitute justification for failure to return or renew an item before fines are assessed.

Long overdue items are assumed lost. A replacement fee, which will vary depending upon the nature of the material, and a processing fee of $10.00 per item, will be charged to your student account. This is in addition to any applicable overdue fines. The replacement fee is refundable if the item is returned within 100 days of the final due date.

Patrons with excessive unpaid overdue fines or lost book charges may be barred from further borrowing. These privileges may be restored only upon payment of any fees owed or at the discretion of the library staff. Any questions relating to overdue fines should be referred to the Circulation Supervisor.

You can check the status of all your borrowed items from your My Account page in the library catalog. To access the web page click here and then on the MyAccount tab at the top of the page. You will be asked for your student ID number, which appears on the front of your student ID, and your last name. Here you can view how many books you have checked out, when the books are due, and select books to renew.

Fines and fees are billed to your student account. Information is available at the Business Office.

The fine for reserve materials is $1.00 per hour.  The 10-day grace period does not apply to reserves. It is important to know your due dates/times.

All fines will be charged to your student account and will appear on the fee bill you receive from the college. You should not pay any money directly to the library.

Questions may be directed to the Public Services Supervisor whose desk is located behind the Information Desk in the circulation area. Report lost or damaged books to library staff as soon as possible. You will be charged for the replacement costs and a processing fee for the book. The lost item replacement fee is refundable if the item is returned within 100 days of the final due date.

Books identified as “charged” in the catalog are currently checked out to another patron. You may request a recall of the item if it has been in the other patron’s possession for more than 30 days. To request a recall you must click on the “request” button at the top of the catalog search page. You will be prompted for your last name and barcode number from the back of your ID. Selecting RECALL will immediately change the due date of the book. If an item has not been out for 30 days, you may still place a recall to be notified when the book returns.

A recall means that another patron is requesting a book you have borrowed. This is only possible after you have had the book for more than 30 days. A recall immediately changes the due date of that item, nullifying the original due date. There is no grace period for recalled items and the fines accumulate at the rate of $1.00 per day.

Reserve materials are books, movies, and articles that professors make available for you to view. Most of the time reserve materials may not leave the library and are checked out for a 2-hour period. All reserve items are located at the Information Desk and can be found by searching the reserve list notebook at the circulation desk or on the electronic catalog. The reserve list is arranged by the professor’s name and the name of the course. It is also helpful to have your syllabus with you to help identify which materials you need.

The library Dell computers all have Office 2016 and may be used for word processing. PaperCut is a service used on campus to allow for managed printing. Print requests can be sent from anywhere on campus by logging into PaperCut and using the web print feature and then releasing the job in the library copy room or lab for the actual print. Printing can also be done directly from any of the computers in our library.

Students have borrowing privileges at both the USF St. Petersburg and Tampa campuses. You may borrow up to five books and you MUST show your Eckerd ID card and proof of current registration (a copy of your current class schedule is sufficient). Students will be responsible for meeting all conditions of borrowing at USF, including payment of any fines and fees accumulated. Any such charges should be paid at either USF library. Should you fail to do so, USF will notify us and we will add these charges to your Eckerd student account – with an additional $10.00 fee per item to handle processing and billing costs.

At this time, Eckerd Library is no longer accepting donations from the public due to the time required to evaluate and process items.

Questions concerning donations may be directed to Library Director, Lisa Johnston, by emailing johnstln@eckerd.edu or calling 727-864-8206.