Library Policies

This policy summary statement outlines the privileges and responsibilities of Fuller library patrons. The policy attempts to provide the greatest possible access to the collection for our primary constituencies, while at the same time preserving the integrity of the collection, and balancing the needs of a diverse constituencies who may want to use the same resources.  To this end, the policies provide access to the collection, and incentives for the prompt return and responsible sharing of resources.

• Present a valid library card in order to borrow materials.
• Keep track of all items borrowed and know their due dates. 
• Return or renew materials on or before the due date; the borrower is responsible for the safe return of all borrowed material until the time of check-in.
• Return recalled items immediately.
• Exercise care in handling library materials, returning books to the library without evidence of defacement, mutilation, degradation, or water damage.
• Maintain custody of library materials until their return on due date, not lending these books to others.
• Avoid letting others borrow books with your library card.
• Notify the Library immediately if your address changes, so that you will be able to receive notices for your requests, recalls, overdue items, etc.; returned mail may result in a temporary suspension of privileges.
• Notify the Library immediately regarding stolen or lost library cards.
• Respond to library notices, and pay fines and other charges as stipulated in library regulations.
• Return books to the library before graduation and moving, or make arrangements for their safe return.

Applying for library privileges. Your Fuller ID Card will function as your Library Card, provided that you are currently registered.  By receiving the library card, the borrower agrees to comply with all library regulations.  We strongly recommend that you apply for library privileges during the Seminary’s normal office hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm). A required part of the application process is verification of your current status with the Seminary. This verification sometimes involves the assistance of other Seminary offices. Evening and weekend applications may need to be postponed until the following business day.

Documentation required: Fuller ID card, obtained from the Registrar, and confirmation of registration (ID card validation, or receipt of tuition paid). You must complete registration and acquire or validate their Fuller ID prior to applying for library privileges at the Circulation Desk. At the discretion of the Circulation Department, if you lack an I.D. card, but bring proof of registration (receipt of tuition payment) and a valid photo ID (such as a driver's license), you may be given a temporary library card. Circulation staff will ask each applicant for personal information necessary to maintain an accurate borrower database. By receiving the library card, the borrower agrees to comply with all library regulations.

Expiration and renewal of library privileges. The valid registration period for most library users is one year (365 days) from the original date of library registration. Renewal of library privileges and verification of current address occurs annually, and is contingent upon a user’s eligibility and payment of bills and resolution of any blocks on the borrower's record.  Your Fuller ID card has campus-wide functions, and its usefulness does not end when your library privileges expire.  Please protect your card and report its loss immediately to the Registrar and the Library.

Checking out a book. Books and other library materials are checked out at the Circulation Desk on the main floor of the Library. Present both your library card and the materials you wish to check out to the Circulation staff. At the time of checkout a receipt is printed that lists the books and due dates. Please review this receipt and due date, since loan periods differ depending upon the type of material borrowed.

Loan Periods and Due Dates. Though due dates are established at the time of checkout, these due dates may be changed and superseded by new due dates, if the borrowed material is recalled. The length of loan depends upon borrower category and material type.

All students: books could be used in the Library for 2 hours during the day. Beginning at 8:00p.m., reserves may be checked out overnight and are due at 8:30a.m. the next day.

Some materials do not circulate (for example, Rare Books, archival materials, special collections, etc.). 

Recalls

All library materials are subject to immediate recall if they are needed for Reserve.  Items needed by other borrowers are subject to recall after they have been checked out for three weeks.

Since any borrower may recall books from you at any time, please do not leave your mailing address for more than one week without first returning all books, or arranging for someone else to check your mail for library messages and return books on your behalf.

New due date: When a book is recalled, a new due date is given that supersedes the original due date. Ordinarily, the new due date is 7 days from the date of the recall. Failure to respond to recalls in a timely fashion will result in substantial penalties, and suspensions of borrowing privileges.

To recall a book: Please come to the Circulation Desk to initiate this service. The recall privilege is not available to external borrowers.

Fines for recalled books: Because deadlines and assignments are critical in an academic community, prompt response to recalls is imperative. To this end, the recall fine rate is $5.00 per day per book, calculated from the new due date.

Requests or Holds. If the book you want is currently checked out, you might place a request or hold for the book.  This request prevents the book from being renewed.  If multiple borrowers request the item, requests are honored in the order received, except that Faculty Reserve has ultimate priority.  You will be notified when the book is available, and it will be placed on a hold shelf for 7 days at the Circulation Desk. Unclaimed items are issued to the next borrower in queue, or returned to the stacks.

To place a book on hold: You can request the book yourself using the online catalog, or get some help from our Circulation staff.  There is a limit on the number of requests that can be placed.  At an online catalog workstation, bring up the record of the book you want, and press the Make Request button.  You will be prompted for your ID number.  The hold privilege is not available to borrowers in external user categories. A request or hold is not to be confused with a recall, which forces a return of the book, sometimes before the original due date.

Please return books to the Circulation Desk, or the book drop in the event that the Library is closed.  Materials continue to be the borrower’s responsibility until the book is received at check-in.

Books may be renewed on or before the due date, with the following exceptions:

Renewals cannot be processed under any of these circumstances: the book is overdue, the borrower has outstanding fines, overdue books or other blocks, the item is on hold or has been recalled, the borrower has reached the maximum number of renewals, the item is a Reserve book, or it is to be placed on Reserve.

Fines and blocks must be resolved before an item can be renewed.

There are three ways to renew a book.

• Self-renewal: you may renew your own books at the online catalog. Select "Borrower Information" on the menu, and enter your student ID number. You will be able to view the books you have checked out, their due dates, and you can initiate a renewal.
• In person: you may renew the books in person, by bringing the books and your library card to the Circulation Desk.
• By phone: you may renew by phone during normal business hours (626-584-5218). 

Renewal loan period: the new loan period will equal the length of the original loan (e.g., a book on 3-week loan will be renewed for another 3 weeks). The new due date is calculated from the date of renewal.

Number of renewals: Maximum renewals for student categories are as follows (at least one of these renewals must be made in person, with book in hand):

Replacement charges for lost or damaged books are $60.00 per book, minimum, billed 30 days after due date.  Books from certain collections, as well as books that are particularly expensive, or that will require considerable effort in acquisition or cataloging, will be billed at a substantially higher rate.

All items borrowed must be returned in good condition. If an item that you checked out needs to be replaced because it was damaged while in your care, or during a return mail shipment, then you would be assessed replacement charges at the above rate.

Overdues and unpaid fines and fees will result in a temporary block on a borrower's record, preventing further checkout, until the problem is resolved. In extreme cases, privileges will be revoked.

Library notices regarding overdue items, fees, recalls, and availability of materials are typically delivered via campus mail, or through the U.S. mail. Borrowers are responsible for return of materials, even if notices were not received. The Library is not responsible for the non-receipt of notices due to address changes, postal system failures, or a borrower's absence from town.

Damage, Theft, and Mutilation

Destruction or theft of library materials will be handled according to the Seminary's Statements on Community Standards and Policies

Missing items

If you cannot find a book in the collection, it is possibly in use, mis-shelved, in-process, or lost. You may request that a search be undertaken to locate and/or replace the missing item.  Please give the Circulation Department the bibliographic details of the item in question.  At least three attempts will be made to trace this item. If it is still missing after a reasonable amount of time, the Library will attempt to order a replacement copy.

Confidentiality

Information about each borrower will be maintained in the library database. The Library honors the confidentiality of these records. In addition, the Library will not disclose the identity of the borrower of a specific book. The Library will not release personal information about any borrower, unless required by law or by compelling institutional need.