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. You are responsible for all transactions on your card, so if you check something out for a friend, and they don't turn it in, you get charged. 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

You can keep most books checked out for 21 days and keep most videos checked out for 7 days. If a book or video is on reserve for a class, the loan period may be shorter. If you need a book for longer than 21 days, you can usually renew it.

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. To see what you have checked out, when it is due, and renew online, you will need 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 professor 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 have to return it to the library for them to use.

Overdues and Fines

The overdue fine for books that are not returned or renewed by the due date is 10 cents per day. The overdue fine for videos is $1.00 per day. The fine for overdue reserve items is $1 per HOUR (see Reserves below). The library sends out overdue notices, but that does not mean items are not due until you receive a notice. If for some reason you do not receive a notice, you are still obligated to return items on time or pay overdue fines. Students who do not return items after 70 days will be billed for the estimated cost of the item plus a $15.00 replacement processing fee. Students who do not return items and pay fines or charges incurred may be barred from checking out additional items, registering for classes, receiving a diploma, and requesting transcripts.

Reserves

Reserve materials for classes are kept behind the Circulation Desk. You can check what is on reserve by course number or professor using the Reserves Menu in Alcuin. Professors can choose to place items on reserve for one, three, six, or twenty-four hours, or for three days. Since other students often need to use the items on reserve, it is important for them to be returned on time, so the fine for overdue reserve items is $1 per HOUR.

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, the College of Charleston, the University of South Carolina, and Wofford. In order to check books out 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 check books out in these libraries using your Palacard. If you check books out from these libraries, you can bring them to the main library at Furman and we will ship them back for you.

Furman students can get free library cards for the Greenville Public Library System. Take your Palacard, driver's license, and a piece of mail you received at your Furman address (to confirm your address). The main library is downtown; the Berea and Traveler's Rest branches are near campus.

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.