Borrowing Privileges

Borrowing - Public

All residents of Somerset and Hunterdon counties are eligible for a library card. Privileges are also extended to those working in either county, including employees who work at the college but are not employed by the college. Public patron accounts remain active for three (3) years.

A public patron library card can be obtained at the Check Out Desk upon presenting a valid driver’s license or another type of picture ID that lists a current address. An RVCC library card will then be issued for use at the Evelyn S. Field Library, which includes the collections in the Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Robeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership, and Social Justice. This card must be presented to checkout library materials. This is to ensure prompt and accurate service. In addition, only the owner of the card will be allowed to make library transactions.

The library does not accept local branch library cards, even if they are from a Somerset or Hunterdon county library.

Minors, with parental approval, can be given borrowing privileges. An application form must be completed which requires a parental signature.

The RVCC library card cannot be used to access RVCC library electronic databases or ebooks. You may visit the library in-person if you wish to access any electronic content.

Loan Periods

¹Cost stated is the default cost.  Actual cost may vary by item and does not include mandatory $15 processing fee.

²Interlibrary loan period and fees are determined by the lending library and will vary by item.

Overdue Charges

Late fines of $1.00 per day will be applied to a public patron's account for books returned after the due date if they have been requested by another patron. Patrons will receive five overdue notices, indicating which books are checked out. If a book checked out to a public patron is requested by another patron, the public patron will receive a notice and a reminder, indicating which of the books they checked out have been recalled. Replacement and processing fees will be applied for any unreturned books and the patron will receive a bill. This results in a Hold being placed on the patron’s library account. Borrowing privileges are suspended until the books are returned and the overdue fines paid, or until the patron pays lost book fees.

If a public patron has fines which have been left unpaid for over a year, or are in excess of $5.00, or has a lost book, they must pay the fines before borrowing additional books.

Interlibrary Loan Materials

During the COVID-19 pandemic (at least through the Fall 2020 semester), public patrons may not borrow books from other libraries through the Interlibrary Loan Service. Please use the Ask Us! button at the top of the page to chat with or email a librarian to find alternative ways to access desired materials.

Non-Circulating Items

Community members may not borrow media (DVDs, audiobooks, video tapes).

The library owns several collections that may only be used within the library, including periodicals, newspapers, and reference books.

A selection of periodicals are located behind the Check Out Desk. To obtain one of these periodicals or newspapers, make a request at the Check Out Desk. An RVCC library card will be required. Current popular periodicals and newspapers are on display on the main floor of the library.