Circulation and Reserve Services
For Samford Undergraduates, Graduate Students, and Staff
Checking out books and other materials
To check out library materials you will need to present your Samford I.D. at the Library circulation desk.
Due dates
Loan periods vary by the type of item that you check out. Use the table below to determine the loan period for your items:
| Loan Periods for Undergraduates, Graduate Students, and Staff | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regular Circulating Books and Printed Scores | 28 days 1 renewal | |
| Government Documents | 28 days 1 renewal | |
| Multimedia: CDs, Records, Videos | 7 days 1 renewal | |
| Reference, Periodicals | No checkout | |
| Reserves: In-Library Use | Varies: 1, 2 or 3 hours Note: Renewals must be requested in-person | |
| Reserves: | Varies: 1, 3 or 7 Days Note: Renewals must be requested in-person | |
Renewing materials
The University Library allows renewals according to the table above. Reserves, and other special materials may not be renewed. Interlibrary loan renewal requests must be made through Interlibrary Loan or 726-2983.
Overdues and fines
Fines for overdue materials will accrue according to the following table:
| Overdue Fines | |
|---|---|
| Regular Circulating, GovDocs, and Juvenile Books |
.20¢ per day per item; $10.00 maximum per item |
| MultiMedia | .20¢ per day per item; $10.00 maximum per item |
| Reserves | .25¢ per hour per item; $100.00 maximum per item Unauthorized Removal Fine: $10.00 per item |
| Equipment | $5.00 per hour per item; $100.00 maximum per item |
When materials are returned late and fines have accrued, the user is billed. Bills should be paid within 30 days and can be paid at the University Library. At the end of each semester, unpaid bills are referred to the University Bursar's Office for collection. Library privileges are suspended and students are barred from registration, graduation and other University-wide privileges until the account is settled.
Accounts that have not been referred to University Bursar's office may be cleared at the Library Circulation department by returning the items and paying the fines. If the account has been referred to the University Bursar's Office, payment must be made there (Samford Hall). Payment for materials found and returned within 90 days of payment will be refunded. Prompt response to bills from the Library will avoid referral.
Replacing lost or damaged materials
When materials are not returned and become long overdue the user is billed for replacement cost and library privileges are suspended. This includes use of Special Collection and Interlibrary Loan Services. If materials are not returned or paid for within 30 days of billing, the bill is referred to the University Bursar's Office for collection. This action bars students from registration, graduation and other University-wide privileges.
Replacement costs are as follows:
| Replacement Costs | |
|---|---|
| In-print materials | Replacement cost as listed in Ulrich's, Whitaker's, etc. plus processing fee. |
| Out of print books | Price listed by out-of-print book dealer, or average cost of Samford Library titles purchased in the subject area plus processing fee. |
| Interlibrary Loan | Replacement charges are set by the lending institution. |
| Other materials | Original cost or actual cost of comparable item plus processing fee. |
Accounts that have not been referred to the University Bursar's Office may be cleared at the Library Circulation department by returning the items and paying the fines. If the account has been referred to the University Bursar's Office, payment must be made there (Samford Hall). Payment for materials found and returned within 90 days of payment will be refunded. Prompt response to bills from the Library will avoid referral.
Reserves
Reserve items are located at the Main Desk on the First Floor in the University Library.
Each professor determines the loan period for his/her items. A professor may place an item
on Room Reserve (1, 2 or 3 hour limits), or the professor may choose to allow the item
out of the library for 1-, 3-, or 7-day checkouts. Room reserve, without a set hour
limit, indicates that the item may be checked out until the library closes but must
not be taken out of the building. Reserve Fines are as follows:
Overdue fine: .25¢ per hour; $100.00 maximum per item
Unauthorized Removal Fine: $10.00 per item
Borrowing materials from other libraries
With their Samford student ID, Samford students may borrow materials from the other Birmingham-area libraries with whom Samford University Library has a cooperative borrowing agreement. These libraries are:
- Bessemer State Tech
- Birmingham Southern College
- Covenant Theological Seminary
- Faulkner University
- Jefferson State
- Judson College
- Lawson State Jr. College
- Miles College
- New Orleans Seminary Extension Center
- Samford Extension Division Tuscaloosa
- Southeastern Bible College
- Spring Hill College (Birmingham Extension Center)
- University of Alabama in Birmingham
- University of Montevallo
Interlibrary Loan
Students may also request materials from other libraries via Interlibrary Loan (ILL). To use this service, you do not need to know where the materials are located; we will locate them for you. Please fill out an online request form for the materials you need. For more information, please email or call 726-2983.
Books and articles from journals, either obtained via ILL or located in our library, can be delivered to the departmental office of staff via the Resource Retrieval Service. The Resource Retrieval Service is available only to faculty and staff of Samford University.
Contact the circulation department
Telephone: 205 726-2748
E-mail: library@samford.edu
Hours hotline: 205 726-4015
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