Circulation of Materials
Preus Library makes available materials for circulation to the general Luther community. Examples of items circulated include books, computers, audio-visual equipment, recorded audio and video, and other items. Policies covering the circulation of these items are determined based on the relationship of the borrower to the College.
Community Borrower Eligibility
All community patrons who wish to borrow books from the Luther College Library must apply for a Luther College library account. Only residents of northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota served by the Decorah telephone book are eligible to apply as community borrowers. Borrowers need to be seniors in high school or older.
Other people who wish to apply for a card should list their reasons under “Special Circumstances” on the Community Borrower Application form.
Application Forms
Application forms are available at the Circulation Desk. All applications must be reviewed by the Circulation Desk Supervisor prior to an account being created for a patron. Each application will be reviewed individually and the special circumstances taken into consideration.
Library Cards
After an application is approved, community patrons must complete the Community User ID Photo Submission form, and retrieve a Luther College community ID card through the Dining Services Office in the Union.
Due Dates
Books are due two weeks after they are checked out.
Renewals
Books may be renewed once by bringing them in physically to the Circulation Desk of the library or by telephoning the Circulation Desk at 563-387-1166.
Fines
Three notices are sent for overdue books.
- First notice: Reminder — no fine
- Second notice: $5.00 per book
- Third notice: Fine plus replacement charges. A charge of $40.00 per item will be imposed, plus a $20.00 handling charge.
- Community borrowers are blocked from further checkouts after books become overdue and/or there are outstanding fines.
Holds
Books may be held for community borrowers upon request.
Recalls
Books may not be recalled for community borrowers.
Interlibrary Loan Privileges
A Community Borrower card does not include Interlibrary Loan privileges. Preus Library does not offer Interlibrary Loan to community patrons, only to Luther College students, faculty, and staff. Contact your local public library for information on Interlibrary Loan services.
Library Materials Non-Circulating for Community Patrons
The following materials may not be checked out by Community Patrons:
- Reserve materials
- Reference materials
- Bound periodicals
- Single issue periodicals
- Curriculum Library materials
- Closed Stacks items
- Rare books
- Archival materials
- DVDs
ID Cards
All patrons must use their ID cards to check out materials from the Library.
Due Dates and Renewals
- End of fall semester
- End of spring semester
- Books from the Curriculum Library are due two weeks after checkout.
- Books from the Leisure Reading area are due two weeks from the day of checkout.
Books may be renewed beginning five days before the due date via the patron’s online library account, e-mail (library@luther.edu), phone (x1166), or in person. There is a limit of three renewals on books from the main stacks. To retain books after the third renewal, faculty/staff must bring the books physically to the circulation desk to have them checked in and then back out. They will then be due on the next due date. To see what you have checked out and when it is due, click on Library Account on the Library Research page http://www.luther.edu/library/.
Overdues
Three overdue notices will be sent to faculty and staff. If a book is lost, book replacement costs will be charged. A charge of $40.00 per item will be imposed, plus a $20.00 handling charge.
Recalls
Books may be recalled after they have been checked out for seven days. Contact the Circulation Desk to place a recall. Original borrowers are notified of their new due dates. Fine and replacement charges, if any, are assessed according to the fine schedule. Patrons requesting recalls are notified when items are returned.
Circulation Desk Media Equipment
Media equipment, including digital video cameras, is available for 24-hour check-out, beginning from the moment of check-out, for faculty/staff. External hard-drives have a 7-day loan period. This equipment may be used outside of the library.
Technology Help Desk Audio-Visual Equipment
Laptops and iPads maintained by the Technology Help Desk are available for 14-day checkout at the circulation desk. LCD projectors and screens are available for 3-day checkout. Other equipment maintained by the Technology Help Desk but available for checkout at the circulation desk includes: digital voice recorders; desk and headset microphones; international power adapters; a flash card reader; webcams; wireless presenters with laser pointers; and classrooms clickers.
Mobile iPad Classroom
A mobile cart with up to 32 iPads is available for classroom use by faculty. Reservations for use and checkouts are handled directly by the circulation supervisor (library@luther.edu).
Media
Media belonging to Preus Library may be checked out by faculty from the Circulation Desk for two-week periods. If media is needed for longer periods, exceptions can be made on request.
Media not owned by Preus Library (DVDs, CDs, etc.) may be requested over interlibrary loan via your ILL account (https://illiad.luther.edu/illiad/).
Equipment and media services (projectors, copying of tapes, etc.) should be requested from the HelpDesk at https://help.luther.edu or 563-387-1000.
Reserves
Unless otherwise requested, items on reserve circulate under a 2-hour-loan, in-library-use-only policy for students and a 2-day policy for faculty and staff.
Non-circulating Library Materials
The following materials may not be checked out:
- Reference materials
- Bound periodicals
- Single-issue periodicals
- Curriculum Library textbooks
- Closed Stacks books
- Rare books
- Archival materials
ID Cards
All Luther College students must use their ID cards to check out materials from the Library.
Due Dates and Renewals
Books from the Main Stacks are due on the following dates:
- Fall semester midterm
- End of fall semester
- End of J-term
- Spring semester midterm
- End of spring semester
Books may be renewed beginning five days before the due date. They will then be due on the next due date. Books may be renewed once online. After that, they MUST be brought in physically to the circulation desk to be renewed.
Books from the Curriculum Library are due two weeks after checkout.
Books from the Leisure Reading area are due two weeks from the day of checkout.
Overdues
Notices for overdue materials from the Main Stacks will be as follows:
- First Notice: Reminders at mid-term and finals will be emailed to your Luther College email address.
- Second Notice: Issued 4-10 days after the due date.
- Third Notice: Book replacement costs charged 4-10 days after the SECOND NOTICE is issued. A charge of $60.00 per item, which includes replacement and handling charges, will be imposed plus a $20.00 nonrefundable processing fee.
Students are responsible for the timely return of all materials, whether or not they receive any reminder or overdue notices from Preus Library. To see what you have checked out and when it is due, click on Library Account on the Library Research page http://www.luther.edu/library/.
Reserves
Most items at the Reserve Desk will be on reserve for 2-hour periods for in-library use only. Items include books, photocopies, keys for group study rooms, and DVDs. Laptops, headphones, and independent study rooms are a 4-hour checkout.
The fine for items on reserve is $.25 per hour or $6.00 per day, up to a maximum of $10.00 per item. The fine for laptop computers is $.50 per hour.
Recalls
Books may be recalled from another patron. Contact the Circulation Desk to place a recall. Original borrowers are notified of their new due dates (seven days from the date of recall). Fine and replacement charges, if any, are assessed according to the fine schedule. Patrons requesting the recalls are notified when the book is returned.
Equipment
Media equipment, including digital cameras, is available for 24-hour check-out, beginning from the moment of check-out, for students. External hard-drives have a 7-day loan period. This equipment may be used outside of the library.
The media equipment fine is $.25/hour per individual part (e.g., some of the cameras have seven individual bar-coded parts).
Laptop Computers
PCs are loaned according to Reserve checkout guidelines. They are available as 4-hour check-outs, for in-library use only.
The laptop computer fine is $.50 per hour. Anyone who checks out a laptop is liable for a replacement fee for loss or damage up to $1,500. An additional processing fee may also be charged.
DVDs and CDs
DVDs and CDs may be checked out for three days for viewing outside the library.
If not promptly returned, a FIRST NOTICE will be issued one day after the due date. A second notice will follow prior to a final LOST notice six days after the due date, which will include replacement costs of $60.00 (replacement and handling fees) plus a $20.00 nonrefundable processing fee per item.
Non-circulating Library Materials
The following materials may not be checked out:
- Reference materials
- Bound periodicals
- Single issue periodicals
- Curriculum Library textbooks
- Closed Stacks books
- Rare books
- Archival materials