Borrowing Books and Videos

You can check out books, videos, reserves and other materials from the main library and the music library using your Palacard. You MUST have your Palacard with you to check items out. Some items, such as periodicals, reference materials, rare books, etc., can only be used in the library. You can check Alcuin to determine if a particular item is "Available" for checkout or restricted to "Library Use Only." If you would like to see what you currently have checked out, you can check your record using the barcode number from your Palacard.

Due Dates

Staff members may keep most books checked out for 91 days. Leisure books circulate for 21 days; videos and books on tape circulate for 7 days. If a book or video is on reserve for a class, the loan period may be shorter. If you need an item for longer than the loan period, you can usually renew it. Staff members are not usually charged library fines, but are asked to return materials on time or renew them as appropriate. Staff members will be billed for items that are lost or damaged, including the base cost of the item plus a $15.00 replacement processing fee. Staff members who leave Furman must return ALL materials checked out before departing.

Renewing Books and Videos

If you need a book or video for longer than the normal loan period, you can renew it online, over the phone, or in person. You can see what you have checked out, when it is due, and renew online, using the barcode number from your Palacard. To renew by phone, you can call the main library circulation desk at 294-2265 or the music library at 294-3795 whenever they are open. Note that if a faculty member has put an item on reserve for a class, or if someone else has requested it during the time you have had it checked out, you cannot renew it, and you must return it to the library for them to use.

Borrowing Books from Other Libraries

You can search for books at other libraries using WorldCat and search for journals at other libraries using the Union Lists of Serials. You can also search the catalogs of other libraries individually if you prefer.

Furman has circulation agreements with most colleges and universities in South Carolina, including Clemson, Greenville Tech, and Wofford. In order to borrow books from another South Carolina college or university, you must FIRST come to the Circulation Desk in the main library at Furman and get a South Carolina Library Borrowing Card.

Furman also has circulation agreements with Davidson, Duke, and Johnson C. Smith in North Carolina. You can borrow books from these libraries using your Palacard. If you check books out from these libraries, you can return them to the main library at Furman and we will ship them back for you.

If you want to save yourself a trip and have a little time, the library can get books from any library for you via Interlibrary Loan. Interlibrary loan materials usually take 5-10 days to arrive.