Complete circulation policies and procedures are available elsewhere.
Circulating Items – Items found in the following collections circulate: general, children's, records, pamphlets, maps, DVDs, and videos. Also available for checkout are laptop computers, digital projectors, a digital video camera, and a digital still camera. Equipment circulates to TLU students, faculty and staff only. Equipment reservations should be made at least 24 hours in advance to ensure availability. Upon the request of a professor, students may check out equipment for classroom use. Users who wish to borrow equipment must sign an “Agreement for Use of Library Equipment” to ensure appropriate use and safe return of the equipment. A copy of the equipment loan policy, including replacement costs for lost or damaged items, is given to users who sign an agreement. The equipment loan policy is also available on the library’s web site.
Loan Period for TLU Students – Library books from the general collection have a circulation period of four weeks during the spring and the fall semesters. During the summer sessions the circulation period for student book loans is one week. The renewal period is one circulation period provided there is no hold on the book. Renewals will not be made by phone or mail. A current, valid TLU I.D. card is required for all transactions. There is no limit on the number of books that may be checked out. Equipment circulates for three days at a time and may not be renewed.
Loan Period for TLU Faculty and Staff – The circulation period for non-equipment items (including videos and DVDs) for faculty and staff is four weeks at all times. The renewal period is one circulation period provided there is no hold on the item. Equipment circulates for three days at a time and may not be renewed. Renewals will not be made by phone or mail. Faculty names must appear on the Provost’s roster of active or emeriti faculty. Staff members must hold a current TLU I.D. card. Faculty and staff are asked to bring their current TLU I.D. card with them when checking out items. There is no limit on the number of items that may be checked out.
Non-University Borrowers – Upon presentation of current identification (e.g., driver’s license), non-university users who are adult community members no longer in high school may purchase borrowing cards at the circulation desk. Free borrowing cards are available to TLU alumni, area ministers, and teachers in the greater Seguin community. The library also honors TexShare borrowing cards from other academic libraries. Non-TLU users may check out a maximum of four items at a time. The loan period on all items for non-university borrowers is four weeks with one renewal possible.
Overdue or Lost Materials (Non-Equipment Items) – Students are responsible for returning library materials on time. Overdue and lost item fees are charged to individual student accounts. The library assesses a late fee of $2 per overdue item; no daily fines are charged. Courtesy notices are sent before an item is due and then overdue notices are sent to students for items that are one week or more overdue. If items are not returned an additional handling fee of $2 per item is assessed, as well as a lost item replacement fee for each item not returned. Near semester's end the library sends a complete list of items still on loan to each student who has outstanding loans. If outstanding items are not returned before the last day of finals, all late fees, handling fees, and lost item replacement fees are forwarded to the Business Office. The lost item replacement fee will be credited to the student's account if the item is returned. However, the student is still liable for all late fees and handling fees incurred. Students who have overdue items or outstanding fees are not allowed to check out library items until the overdue and fees are cleared. Students who have outstanding library charges may not be allowed to register for classes. Graduates who have outstanding library charges may not be allowed to receive a transcript. Faculty members are not assessed overdue fees.
Damaged Items (Non-Equipment) – Charges for a damaged library item will be based on the extent of the damage and whether the item can be repaired or must be replaced. The charge for an item that can be repaired will be the cost of repair. If the item is also late, a processing fee not to exceed $4.00 per item will also be added. If a book, video or other non-equipment item must be replaced, the charge will be the replacement cost of the item, not to exceed $50.
Lost or Damaged Equipment – Equipment and/or peripheral devices that are lost or damaged will be charged to the borrower’s account according to the actual replacement costs stated in the replacement cost schedule that is provided to users who sign the “Agreement for Use of Library Equipment”.
Loss of Privileges – Library users who owe fees for late or lost items or who have overdue items may lose borrowing privileges. Privileges will be restored when good standing is re-established.
Searches – When an item cannot be located in the library and library records indicate that it is not checked out, a reader may request a search for that item at the circulation desk. The library will notify the reader when the item has been located and the item will be held for three (3) days, after which time unclaimed items will be returned to the shelf.
Holds – A hold will be placed on an item when a reader requests a title that is already in circulation. The library will notify the reader when the item is available and the item will be held for three (3) days; after three days unclaimed items will be returned to the shelf or held for another reader. Holds for items must be made in person.
Recalls – Any item on loan is subject to recall after two weeks upon request by another person; recalled books should be returned within 72 hours after notification. The library will not release the names of borrowers to other persons.
Class Reserves – Faculty members may place required readings on reserve in the library to ensure that all students in a course have access to the materials. Faculty members should bring such materials to the circulation desk and fill out a reserve slip for each item. For assistance please see the Circulation Assistant or the Instruction & Public Services Librarian. Materials are placed on two-hour reserve and may not leave the library (unless otherwise designated by the professor). Borrowers are limited to two (2) reserve checkouts at a time.
In-House Equipment – The following equipment does not circulate outside the library: overhead projectors, opaque projectors, and tape players. The library also has a non-circulating instructor’s workstation that includes a laptop, data projector, DVD player, and speakers. This unit is primarily used by faculty members who are teaching in the library’s Teaching Theater or Classroom A. Faculty may reserve the instructor’s workstation for in-library use. Faculty members should reserve this equipment well in advance, since it is heavily used. Reservations should be made at the circulation desk.
The library features 25 general use PC computer workstations on the main floor. TLU students, faculty and staff may log onto the campus network from any of these PCs. The campus wireless network extends throughout the library. The library’s workstations have the standard campus production software load (Web browser, MS-Office suite, and other student applications). Non-college users (governed by the same Computer Use guidelines university patrons must follow) are not given passwords, but they may access computers for research purposes by asking a circulation staff member to log them onto the network.