Materials Circulation Guidelines
Library Services maintains a collection of information resources to support the information needs of the College community. The materials are available for use by the College community according to the following policy:
Authorized Borrowers
- All students holding current STC Identification card
- All STC personnel
- TexShare card holders
- Community Users
Materials Availability
- Circulating books, CD-ROMs, and books on tape are available for checkout to all authorized borrowers for 14 days, with one renewal. Students may borrow up to ten (10) items at a time.TexShare cardholders and Community users may borrow up to five items at a time.
- Current issues of periodicals do not circulate. Periodical back issues circulate for three days.
- Materials placed on reserve by faculty circulate according to the individual faculty member's instructions.
- Non-Print (audiovisual) resources are made available for student use only in the library, and circulated to STC personnel for five days.
- Some items, such as calculators, may have special circulation rules.
Responsibility of Borrowers
Borrowers are responsible for returning materials on time and in good condition. As a courtesy, Library Services will send borrowers overdue notices in a timely fashion.
Library Services maintains borrowing agreements with the Hidalgo County Library System and TexShare libraries. STC borrowers using this service are responsible for observing the policies and procedures of the cooperating libraries.
Fines and Fees
For most items an overdue charge of $0.10 will be assessed for each item each day the item's home library is open, calculated from the due date. An overdue charge of $0.10 will be assessed for each reserve item each hour the item's home library is open, calculated from the time the item is due. There is a maximum fine limit of $25.00 on each item.
Replacement of Faculty Reserve Materials
If it is necessary for Library Services to duplicate faculty owned material, the borrower who has lost or damaged the materials will be charged the replacement cost for the item or the cost of duplicating the material.
Lost or Damaged Material
Library Services will charge borrowers for lost items or materials damaged beyond repair. Borrowers may either provide the library with a replacement copy of a lost item or pay for a replacement copy. Borrowers will be charged an additional $30.00 processing fee for each item lost or damaged beyond repair. If the lost or damaged item was donated to the library, borrowers will not be charged a replacement fee, only the $30.00 processing fee.
Borrowers will be charged a $15.00 fee for each badly damaged item needing repairs. A librarian or full-time library staff member will determine the extent of an item's damage. Damage can include, but is not limited to, water damage, stains, tears, writing or highlighting, burns, missing pages, broken spine, or scratches.
Other Penalties
When materials are overdue and/or fines are not paid, the following actions will be taken:
- Students will be barred from borrowing additional library materials, and a hold will be placed on the student's Admissions account. This blocks registration and the release of transcripts. Failure to return books and/or excessive fines not paid may result in legal action.
- STC personnel will be barred from borrowing additional library materials, and when appropriate the number of items overdue and/or fines owed will be reported to their immediate supervisor and/or supervising dean who will recommend action.
- TexShare cardholders will be barred from borrowing additional library materials, and their home institution will be notified.
For all library users, repeated abuse of borrower privileges may result in the loss of those privileges.