Library
Borrowing & Circulation
Borrowing privileges are granted to all current USF students, faculty, staff and alumni upon completion of a registration card. A USF photo identification card, or other library-granted card with a barcode, must be presented upon request to check out books and other materials from the library. Click for more information about loan rules and fines/fees.Borrowing privileges are also granted to students from institutions with which USF has consortial agreements. Current USF students also have reciprocal borrowing rights at these same institutions. Click here to see a list of institutions whose students may borrow from the USF library and from whose libraries USF students may borrow.
Distance students should consider USF their primary library. Books from the USF collection and photocopies of journal articles available in the USF collection may be sent out to distance students unable to get to the Joliet campus. Books and journals not available directly from USF (or through the I-Share Universal catalog) may also be requested. For either type of request, using the Interlibrary Loan system (Illiad) is the best option to request that the materials be sent. Students are responsible for return postage on materials mailed to their home address. For books available at any of the 65 libraries in the I-Share catalog, use the REQUEST function to borrow directly through the catalog (for more information, click here).
The circulation department also houses the reserve desk. Instructors may place items on reserve by contacting the circulation department (click here for more information). Students may come to the circulation desk to view, copy and/or check out reserve materials.
Loan periods and policies vary by material and patron type. Renewals may be requested either online by logging in to your I-Share account or by calling the circulation desk (815-740-3690 / 800-726-6500).
The following general rules apply:
Y - indicates that patron group is able to check out the item.
N - indicates that the patron group is not able to check out the item.
*Joliet residents, Senior Saturdays participants and teachers in the Joliet schools ONLY may request a guest borrower card.
| USF students | USF Faculty | USF Staff | USF Alumni | CARLI members | USF Guests / Visitors* | |
| General Collection Books | Y |
Y | Y | Y | Y | Y (limit 10 items total) |
| Loan period | 4 weeks | 3 months | 3 months | 4 weeks | varies by patron type | 4 weeks |
| Reference Materials | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| JLR Collection Books | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Loan period | 4 weeks | 3 months | 3 months | 4 weeks | varies by patron type | |
| Archives / Special Collection Materials | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Reserves | Y | N/A | N | N | N | N |
| Loan period | varies | |||||
| Curriculum Books | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Loan period | 4 weeks, may request full semester | 3 months | 3 months | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | |
| General VHS / DVD / CD / CD-ROM / DVD-ROM | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
| Loan period | 2 days | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 days | ||
| Teacher Reference VHS / DVD | Y, conditionally | Y | N | N | N | N |
| Loan period | 2 days, with written approval from an instructor only | 2 weeks | ||||
| Laptops | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N |
| Loan period | 2 hours | 2 hours | 2 hours | |||
| Periodicals | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Media (tape players, video recorders, etc.) | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N |
| Loan period | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | |||
| Headphones | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Loan Period | 2 hours | 2 hours | 2 hours | 2 hours | 2 hours | |
| JPL Books | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y (but, not requestable through I-Share) |
Y |
| Loan Period | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
*Joliet residents, Senior Saturdays participants and teachers in the Joliet schools ONLY may request a guest borrower card.
Book & AV Fine/Fee Policy
Books
- No fines until "lost".
- If book is returned within 3 months of billing, replacement & processing fees will be waived.
- If book is returned more than 3 months past billing, patron is responsible for replacement & processing fees; has option to return book to library or keep it.
AV Materials
- Late fees accrue.
- If returned and fee is less than $10, fine will be waived.
- If returned within 3 months of billing and fee is more than $10 (per item), patron is responsible for 20% of fine (or $10, whichever is greater) AND must return the item.
- If returned more than 3 months past billing, patron is responsible for full fine AND must return the item.
For more information, please visit the circulation
desk or call 815-740-3690 / 800-726-6500.