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Borrowing Privileges

Borrowing - Students

All students registered for classes at RVCC have borrowing privileges at the Evelyn S. Field Library, the Somerset County Library System, the Hunterdon County Library, and select NJ college and university libraries. The RVCC College ID card serves as your RVCC library card and is required when checking out items. Students in the Academy for Health and Medical Sciences and the Somerset Academy for Liberal Arts have the same borrowing privileges as RVCC students. 

Students should contact the Admissions Office (908-526-1200 x7009) for information on obtaining an ID card. This card must be presented to checkout library materials. This is to ensure prompt and accurate service.  Only the owner of the card will be allowed to make library transactions.

Separate cards must be acquired from the Somerset County Library System or the Hunterdon County Library to borrow items at the county branch libraries.

The VALE Reciprocal Borrowing Program lets you check out materials from select New Jersey college and university libraries. See our section on VALE Reciprocal Borrowing Program for more information.

 

 

Loan Periods

Material Type # of Items

Loan Period

 Renewals(Period) Fines Recall fines Max. Fine per Item Replacement Cost1
Books(Circulating) 20 28 days 2(14 days) - $1.00/day $5.00 $45.00
Reference Books

-

 - - - - - -
DVDs/Videos(Circulating) 3 7 days 1(7 days) - $1.00/day $5.00 $30.00
Audiobooks 3 28 days 2(14 days) - $1.00/day $5.00 $60.00
Interlibrary Loan ² - - - $0.25/day - - -
Hourly Reserve Items3 2 2 hours - $1.00/hour - $10.00 $200.00
One-Day Reserve Items 2 24 hours - $1.00/hour - $10.00 $200.00
Three-Day Reserve Items 2 48 hours - $1.00/hour - $10.00 $200.00
Markers/Calculator/USB,etc.3 2 3 hours - $1.00/hour - $10.00 $15.00
Laptops3 1 3 hours - $15.00/hour - $15.00 $500.00
Maps 3 7 days 1(7 days) - $1.00/day $5.00 $15.00

1Cost stated is the default cost.  Actual cost may vary by item and does not include mandatory $5 processing fee.

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

3Items are for in-Library use only.

Overdue Charges

Late fines will only be applied to items returned late if they have been requested by another library user, which is known as a "recall." When a checked out item is requested by another library user, the current user will receive a notice and a reminder, indicating which of the items they checked out have been recalled.

For all checked out items, students will receive five overdue notices, indicating which items are past due. If the item(s) are not returned by the fifth notice, the book will be marked "lost," replacement and processing fees will be applied, and the student will receive a bill. This will result in a hold being placed on the student’s account in the Finance Office. Holds will prevent students from accessing grades, registering for classes, requesting a transcript, and being issued a diploma. The student can still return the book at any time and the hold will be removed.

If a student has library fees 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 and/or return the book(s) before borrowing additional items.

Interlibrary Loan Materials

Students may borrow books and request articles from other libraries through the free-of-charge Interlibrary Loan Service. Visit the Library’s Interlibrary Loan page for complete details.

Allow at least two (2) weeks for delivery of material. Requests are limited to five (5) items per day. Requested material follows the borrowing policies of the lending library. To renew Interlibrary Loan material, contact the Interlibrary Loan Desk (908) 526-1200 x8224 at least five (5) days before the material is due.

Non-Circulating Items

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

Many current popular periodicals and newspapers are on display in the Reading Lounge.  The remainder are located behind the Check Out Desk. To obtain a particular periodical or newspaper, make a request at the Check Out Desk. A College ID will be required.

 

Course Reserves

Faculty members may place a variety of items on reserve for their courses, including class notes and lectures, supplemental books and articles, DVDs and/or videos. Course reserve materials may only be checked out with a College ID card and, in most cases, do not leave the Library.

The Library also owns a Textbook on Reserve Collection. In order to ensure access for all students, textbooks are checked out for two (2) hours at a time and must be used in the Library.

VALE Reciprocal Borrowing Program

The VALE Reciprocal Borrowing Program lets you borrow materials from participating New Jersey college and university libraries. Faculty, staff and students who are in good standing at the RVCC Library qualify for this borrowing option. For further information, read our Frequently Asked Questions or visit the Reciprocal Borrowing information page.

How do I sign up?

  1. Visit the RVCC library Check Out Desk to complete a VALE Reciprocal Borrowing Application. You will need your RVCC College ID to receive an application. If you are requesting borrowing privileges from multiple libraries, you will need to complete a separate application for each library.
  2. A library staff member will sign your completed form, indicating that you are a current patron in good standing.
  3. Take the signed form to the library you plan to visit, along with your RVCC ID card. 
  4. You will be issued guest borrowing privileges and/or a card at the library you visit, which will be valid for one academic year with an expiration date of June 30.
  5. You are responsible for returning materials to the library from which they were borrowed.
  6. Contact Chad Peters at (908) 526-1200 x8224 with any further questions.