General Policies

Nazareth College is a private institution that allows the public in-library use of most collections and services. If you wish to borrow materials, you will need to get a Community Resident library card.

If you live in the area and are not currently enrolled in any other college, university or school, and you are 18 years of age or older, you are eligible to get a library card.

We charge a $5.00 annual fee for Community Resident cards.

(The library reserves the right to exclude admission and/or to revoke privileges of any individual whose behavior impacts the quality of service to the college's primary library clientele: the presently enrolled students and current faculty and staff of Nazareth College.)

Book Circulation

Borrowing

Your Community Resident card is required to check out books. Books may be borrowed for three-weeks (21-days) from the date of check-out. You are limited to a maximum of 15 books checked out at a time.

Books are never due on a day the library is closed. If the borrowing period ends on a day that the library will be closed, books will be due on the next day the library is open.

Renewals

Books may be renewed for an additional three-week period from the date of renewal as long as no one has requested the book. You may renew books a maximum of three times.

Books may be renewed in person, online, or by phone (call 585-389-2129). Please have your Community Resident card with your library barcode ready when you are renewing books. In compliance with state and federal privacy laws, we cannot discuss information in your library record without proper ID. By phone, the only identification we can accept is your library barcode.

Overdues

There is a 5 cent per day per book overdue charge. If a book checked out is not returned, the account it is checked out on will be billed for the replacement costs plus a $10.00 processing fee per item.

Overdue books may be recalled by other library users. If you have a recalled overdue book, you will not be able to renew or check any other materials until the recalled book is returned.

Holds

If you are unable to find the book you are looking for, or if it is currently checked out, you may place a hold on it at the Circulation Desk if you have registered for a Community User borrowing card and paid the $5.00 annual fee. Once a hold has been placed, the current borrower will not be able to renew the book. You will be notified as soon as the book is returned.

If a book is listed in the Library Catalog with the status message "Check Shelves", but is not on the shelf, please notify a library staff member.  We will search for the book, and let you know in a timely fashion whether or not the book has been found.

Research Help and Electronic Resources

A librarian is available for consultation at the Information Desk near the computer area on the Main Level most of the hours that the library is open.  Trained library student workers are also available at the Information Desk to help you get started. 

Reference librarians also staff the Ask a Librarian service linked to the library's home page, which offers many different ways to ask for help with research, including online request forms, e-mail, chat, telephone and text.

Off-campus access to our web-based electronic services is not available to community residents due to licensing restrictions.  However, the following resources are freely available to the general public over the web:

ERIC - For Education research from early childhood through higher education, and related fields, from community services to psychology, from public policy to social work.

PubMed - Biological Sciences, especially medicine and related fields, including the full spectrum of health sciences occupations and therapies.

In addition, you may wish to investigate settings on Google Scholar and WorldCat.  Both can be set to flag resources available through libraries in your area.

Your local public library is also a valuable resource.  The Monroe County Library System offers access to numerous databases with a public library card.

Magazines, Journals, and Newspapers

Most journals, magazines, and newspapers owned by the library are held in electronic format.  Due to licensing restrictions, community resident access to electronic journals is restricted to on campus use only. 

A few hundred titles are available in paper and/or in microfilm.  Paper and microfilm periodicals are housed on the Lower Level of the library. 

Periodicals in paper and microfilm formats are available for in-library use only.  However, equipment is available for scanning to e-mail or to a USB drive at no charge.

Media Resources

Media Resources services are provided for college-related purposes to current Nazareth College faculty, staff and students only.  Use of the collection for community residents is restricted to in-library use only.

Photocopy Services

Photocopy machines are available on the Main Floor near the entrance, as well as on the Lower Level.  The photocopiers are self-service.   Photocopy charges are posted.  Users are responsible for adherence to copyright laws.

Color printing from a USB (flash) drive can be done at the photocopy machines.  Charges apply and are posted.

Interlibrary Loan

We do not offer interlibrary loan services to Community Residents.  For interlibrary loan services, please contact your local public library. 

If you are a student at another school, your home school should be able to assist you with interlibrary loan.  If you are a college or university student, check your school's library home page for online interlibrary loan services.

In certain job settings, you may have interlibrary loan support available to you as an employee - such as a medical library network or through BOCES.  Inquire at your place of employment.