172.1 Library Patron Access

172.1 Library Patron Access

A. Background

The highest priority of the Furman University library system is to meet the informational needs of Furman students, faculty, and staff. However, the Furman Library extends select privileges to other patron groups. Some services may require prior arrangements with appropriate library personnel. As a U.S. government Documents Depository, the library provides access to patrons using those collections.

B. Policy

Patron access is based on four levels of priority and library resources will be allocated accordingly.

C. Guidelines

Reflecting the different priorities current faculty, administrators, and professional staff having the highest priority. Patrons and their specified level of access are as follows:

1. Patron Group A

• Current Furman faculty
• Current administrators and professional staff
• Retired full-time faculty

Borrowing privileges:

• General collections-extended loan, subject to recall
• Media-normal loan
• Reference books-limited loan
• Bound periodicals-limited loan

Reference services:

• Reference assistance (as needed)
• Information fluency instruction-as needed
• Interlibrary Loan-no charge

2. Patron Group B

• Furman students
• Furman staff

Borrowing privileges:

• General collections-normal loan
• Media-limited loan

Reference services:

• Reference assistance-as needed
• Information fluency instruction (as needed)
• Interlibrary Loan-no charge

3. Patron Group C

• Alumni
• Dependents of faculty and staff
• Major contributors identified by the President's Office
• Students with the Statewide Borrower’s Card or valid Ids from cooperating educational institutions. (The agreement accepting responsibility for collecting fines and replacing lost or damaged materials)
• Visiting Scholars

OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute)

Borrowing privileges:

• Two general collection books at a time-normal loan period

PC access restricted to two hours after registration for visiting login.

Reference services:

• Reference assistance (as needed)
• Interlibrary Loan available for government documents only (cost recovery basis)

4. Patron Group D

• General Public

Borrowing privileges:

• None (in-house use only)

Reference services:

• For Government Documents and Baptist Historical Historical Collection only
• Interlibrary Loan available for government documents only (in-house use; cost recovery basis)

NOTES: As a Federal Government Documents Depository Library, the documents collection and supporting book, periodical, and reference collections are pen to the general public for in-house use, as mandated by Title 44 U.S. Code.

School teachers or librarians must make prior arrangements with the Associate Director of Libraries before directing students to use the Furman Library.

Most information needs of the general public can and should be met by the public library system. The purpose of extending in-house service to these patrons is to provide access to special research materials-such as Government Documents and Special Collections-that would otherwise be inaccessible. Furman participates in PASCAL Delivers and the OCLC interlibrary loan network, so material available only at Furman (except for most items in Special Collections) can be borrowed by placing a request with the interlibrary loan department at their local public library.

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