The Yocum Library Circulation Guidelines
Eligible Borrowers
• Affiliated borrowers: All current students, faculty, and staff, trustees, and alumni of Reading Area Community College
• Non-affiliated borrowers: Borrowers who have a Berks County Advanced Library Information Network (ALIN) library card.
Checkout Limits:
• Affiliated borrowers (students and alumni): 10 books + 3 per non-print format
• Affiliated borrowers (faculty, staff, and trustees): as needed for their classes and projects
• Non-affiliated borrowers: 10 books + 3 per non-print format
Borrower's Responsibilities
• Borrowers agree to abide by The Yocum Library Guidelines.
• Borrowers are required to present their own valid library cards for checkout of material; library cards from other patrons cannot be used. A picture ID may be required in addition to a valid library card.
• Borrowers are financially responsible for all materials charged out on their cards. Borrowers should report a lost or stolen card to library staff at once to minimize responsibility for its unauthorized use.
• Borrowers should note time and date that material is due. Overdue notices are not sent out. Notice of date due is communicated at the time of borrowing, is noted on the item, and is available in the patron’s online account.
Accessing Your Library Account
• All borrowers: Go to http://www.racc.edu/library , and click on "My Library Account."
Loan Periods
Materials are due on days when the library is open, including weekends, term breaks, and other days when classes are not in session.
| Material | Loan Period | Renewable |
|---|---|---|
| Reference collection | none | N/A |
| Books (except bestsellers) | 4 weeks | Yes, if no hold |
| Books - bestsellers | 2 weeks | No |
| Feature films (except reserves) | 1 week | Yes, if no hold |
| Feature films- course reserves | varies | No |
| Documentary films (except reserves) | 1 week | Yes, if no hold |
| Documentary films - reserves | Faculty only | N/A |
| Faculty reserve items | varies | No |
| Film Course Reserve items | varies | No |
| Nursing Reserve items | varies | No |
| Art prints & slides | 2 weeks | Yes, if no hold |
| Maps | 2 weeks | Yes, if no hold |
| Books-on-tape or CD | 1 weeks | Yes, if no hold |
| Paperbacks | 4 weeks | Yes, if no hold |
| Children's books | 4 weeks | Yes, if no hold |
| Juvenile books | 4 weeks | Yes, if no hold |
| Navajo Collection | Navajo course use only | No |
| Schuylkill Navigation Collection | none | N/A |
| Wes Fisher Music Collection | Special permission | N/A |
| Comic Book Collection | none | N/A |
Renewal of Library Materials
• Go to RACC web site www.racc.edu > The Yocum Library > Online Catalog > My Account
• Phone 610-607-6237 or 800-626-1665 ext. 6237
• or in person at the Circulation Desk on the 2nd floor of the library
Return of Library Materials
• Materials on regular loan may be returned to any ALIN library in Berks County. For a list of ALIN libraries see http://www.berks.lib.pa.us/libs.htm
• Faculty Reserve items and Film Reserve items must be returned to The Yocum Library only.
• RACC-initiated Interlibrary Loans must be returned to the Yocum Library only.
• If materials need to be returned by mail, contact the library for mailing instructions.
Charges, Overdue Materials, Penalties, and Assessments
Replacement Library Cards:
Affiliated borrowers: Contact The Yocum Library Circulation Desk
Non-affiliated borrowers: $2 payable at The Yocum Library Circulation Desk
Regular Loans:
Thirty days after an item's due date, the Library presumes the material is lost and bills the borrower the cost of the item plus a $15 processing fee per item.
If the item is returned in usable condition within one month of the date of the bill, all costs and fees are waived. If the item is returned in usable condition more than a month after the date billed, the borrower is responsible for the $15 per item processing fee.
Sanctions
Unpaid fines and charges may result in one or more of the following actions:
• Affiliated borrowers: Costs and fees not paid that total $50.00 or more will be added to a student account as a Library Hold. Library Holds may prevent students from registering for RACC classes or receiving RACC transcripts.
• Non-affiliated borrowers: Fees assessed against a non-affiliated borrower's account that are not paid within 60 days may be remanded to a collection agency. Additional fees will be charged by the College for this process. Note: When students and employees leave the College, they become non-affiliated borrowers and are subject to the collection agency process.
All borrowers:
• The Yocum Library may suspend borrowing privileges if a borrower does not pay accumulated fees and fines.
• The Libraries reserve the right to initiate legal proceedings to recover library materials.