The basis for our circulation system is the Lawrence University Honor Code, which applies to the misuse of Library materials as well as to plagiarism and cheating. The Code states, in part, that a student shall not "in any way intentionally limit or impede the academic performance or intellectual pursuits of fellow students."
Circulating Materials
You may check out any book in the general collection as well as government documents and music scores. The loan period is for approximately four weeks. Music CDs and audio cassettes circulate for 14 days. Videos may be checked out for 7 days. Please keep in mind that all materials leaving the library must be checked out at the circulation desk. If you wish to keep an item longer than the circulation period, and if no one else has asked for it, please bring the item or its call number to the desk for renewal and a new due date. Renewals by telephone and through the web version of our catalog are accepted; however, these materials will not show a valid due date stamp and will be picked up by circulation desk personnel if left in library study areas.
Recall
If the book you are looking for is not on the shelf, please check at the circulation desk. It has probably been checked out. If it has been out to one person two weeks or more, we can recall it for you and it will be back in two days or less. Videos and music CDs can be recalled after they have been out for three days. The converse is also true--if you have an item which someone else wants, and if you have had it for two weeks (or three days for CDs and videos), we will notify you and you must return it within two days. Materials recalled for reserve use must be returned immediately.
Search
Occasionally an item cannot be found in its proper place. In this case our staff will search all the logical places where it might be. Many items show up in this process. Sometimes it happens that an item cannot be accounted for at all. In this case we continue periodically to search for it. Some of the materials turn up, some can be reordered, but if it is out of print, it may be lost to us forever. You may use Interlibrary Loan for a book that is missing.
Reshelving
Books that have been left in carrels or on reshelving shelves will be picked up every day. If, however, you want to keep a book in a carrel for several days, check it out at the circulation desk. Checked out books bearing a valid due date will not be reshelved until they are returned to the circulation desk or become overdue.
Overdue Books
If overdue books are still needed for your academic work, please renew them. If not, in order to make them available to others and to fulfill your obligation to the Honor Code, please return them at once. All overdue library materials must be returned prior to registration.
Non-Circulating Materials
Some materials should not be removed from the library. These are primarily heavily used items which do not require a long time to use. These include reference books, periodicals (both bound and current), maps, newspapers, microforms, and college catalogs. If you wish access to Archives, the Civil War Collection, or the Special Collections in the Heritage Room, please contact a librarian. These materials must be used in the library.
Townspersons
If you are not a member of the Lawrence student body, faculty, or staff, please inquire at the circulation desk concerning circulation privileges.