Rensselaer Libraries

Books and certain other materials from the Rensselaer Libraries' general collections may be borrowed by persons who are in compliance with Conditions of Loan and who meet one of the following identification requirements:

• Rensselaer ID Card - Issued by Auxiliary Services to faculty, staff and students and to their dependents and spouses, Guests of the Institute, and Rensselaer retirees of all Rensselaer Campuses.
• Rensselaer Libraries' Research Card - Issued by the Libraries to unaffiliated researchers for an annual fee.
• Rensselaer Libraries' Courtesy Card - Issued to alumni and Friends of the Folsom Library.
• Rensselaer Professional & Distance Learning students -- must be currently enrolled in courses to request books using the Library Catalog's REQUEST function. (See information about Library PINs to use this and the Check Your Library Record functions.)
• CDLC Direct Access Card - Issued by other area libraries to area residents who are not affiliated with Rensselaer.

Circulating materials are loaned on condition that eligible borrowers must:

• Renew loans or return materials within specified time periods.
• Make materials available as a result of another patron's "Recall From Loan" request within 10 days from date of notification. (Vacations, intersessions, or other absences from campus or local addresses do not exempt borrowers from this stipulation.)
• Accept responsibility for payment of any subsequent fines for delinquent return of loans or for repair or replacement costs of library materials lost or damaged while on loan.

The Libraries make use of email extensively for overdue, recall and billing notifications. Rensselaer-affiliated users are expected to regularly check email and maintain current directory information via RPInfo's dirinfo or sis programs. Mailed notifications will be sent to unaffiliated borrowers who do not have email addresses.

The LIBRARY RESEARCH CARD Program offers professional researchers who are not affiliated with Rensselaer's Technology Park or Incubator Company Programs, but who need to make extensive use of the Libraries' circulating collections, with borrowing privileges similiar to those of Rensselaer faculty and graduate students.

However, interlibrary loan service, bibliographic instruction, and off-site electronic access to research databases are available only to Rensselaer students, faculty and staff.

HOW TO REGISTER

Borrowers may renew loans in person at Circulation Desks, by telephone, by mail, or by accessing their patron information page with their Library PIN. Loans will be extended provided that:

• items are not needed for Class Reserve or by another borrower;
• less than 10 days have elapsed since the expiration of the loan; or
• the borrower does not have other delinquent loans, unsettled fines, fees, suspended borrowing privileges, or has exceeded a renewal limit.

The Rensselaer Libraries' collections are a resource to be shared and used cooperatively by members of the Rensselaer community. When library users fail to comply with the libraries' lending policies, they are subject to loss of borrowing privileges.

Ten (10) days after the date of loan expiration or recall from loan, items on loan are OVERDUE; and borrowers may be billed for the full replacement cost plus a $10.00 processing fee for each unreturned item.

Borrowers also may be billed for the repair or replacement cost of library materials if the Circulation Unit finds library materials are damaged upon return from loan.

Replacement costs are generally obtained from library acquisitions data, Books in Print, The Bowker Annual, or specific publisher catalogs. Replacement costs may include an additional $150.00 search fee for out-of-print materials.

General borrowing privileges may also be suspended for individuals who

• do not return materials within specified time periods to the Rensselaer Libraries or to other libraries borrowed via the Capital District Library Council's Direct Access or the ConnectNY programs.
• owe the Libraries fines or fees; or
• fail to comply with other library conditions of access and use.

The Libraries allow a 10 day "grace" period following the expiration of loans for borrowers to return items or renew loans. Loans neither returned nor renewed during this time are subsequently considered OVERDUE, and borrowers become subject to billing procedures and loss of borrowing privileges.

The Rensselaer Libraries' collections are a resource to be shared and used cooperatively by members of the Rensselaer community. When library users fail to comply with the libraries'lending policies, they are subject to the following actions.

Loss of Borrowing Privileges

Payments and Billing Adjustments

Ownership of Library Materials

Inquiries and Appeals

All loans are subject to recall by the Libraries. Materials needed for Class Reserve may be recalled from loan at any time. Materials will be recalled from loan only for borrowers with Rensselaer affiliation (including Incubator and RTP affiliates, alumni, and retirees).

Materials needed by another borrower are recalled not earlier than 21 days from date of original loan. Borrowers failing to return recalled loans within specified time periods will be billed for replacement costs plus processing fees.

Library users have 10 days after notification to claim ON HOLD items from the Circulation Desk. Borrowers returning recalled loans may place "Holds" on the same items. Items with outstanding "Holds" are restricted to single 3 week loan periods.

Rensselaer library materials should be returned directly to the Folsom or Architecture Library Circulation Desks. Materials may also be sent to the Libraries by Campus Mail or returned to the Folsom Library via a book-drop located outside of the Main Entrance. However, the Libraries assume no responsibility for materials returned by these indirect methods. Receipts for return of Rensselaer Libraries' materials may be requested.

Materials borrowed directly from other area libraries with a CDLC Direct Access Card, Interlibrary Loan or ConnectNY may also be returned to the Folsom Library, but the library accepts no responsibility regarding these items.

The Circulation Unit will assist borrowers to look for materials in the stacks that they claim to have returned to the library. Fines and replacement costs associated with CLAIMED RETURNS, however, are not automatically waived.