Library Policies

The Reference Librarians at the Myers Library will strive to support students and faculty at all Ottawa University's campuses or engaged in distance learning at the University by:

• aiding in accessing the Myers Library electronic databases
• instructing in how to search the databases
• helping with research-related projects
• instructing on how to use the Myers Library catalog
• advising regarding appropriate web search techniques and information literacy strategies
• advising about access to materials not owned by the library that might be available through interlibrary loan

University-wide Library Policies

• Students from Ottawa University adult campuses may register with the Myers Library for a library card by e-mailing the library with their name, student ID number, address, home and daytime phone numbers, and e-mail address. Note: Adult Campuses Only.
• Students from Ottawa University's The College campus use their student ID. Note: Ottawa Campus ONLY.
• General collection books check out for four weeks and may be renewed for four weeks, unless recall is requested. Only students with library cards are able to check out books. Adult campus students are able to check out books and have them mailed; however, those students must have a library card in order to utilize this service.
• Books are subject to recall after two weeks.
• Articles out of hard copy periodicals that are retained by the Myers Library and whose titles are not available through the library databases may be copied for students, faculty and staff at the sites. No copying or mailings costs will be charged for these copies.
• Audiovisual materials check out for a month. They are subject to recall after two weeks. Audiovisual materials may not be renewed.
• The Myers Library houses a Baptist Collection, it also also houses the Ottawa University Yearbook Collection, Ottawa University Newspaper Collection and the Ottawa University Archives. Items in the Baptist collection check out for a month and may be renewed for a month. Note: Ottawa Campus ONLY.
• Ottawa University yearbooks, newspapers and archives may be copied on request, at no charge to students, faculty and staff at all University campuses.
• Interlibrary loan requests for books and videos are only available to students, faculty and staff at The College and the Kansas City campuses. Students, faculty and staff from all campuses may request photocopies of periodical articles that are related to course research, and which are not owned by Myers Library. Note: Ottawa Campus ONLY.
• Overdue notices are sent as a courtesy after material is past due. Users are responsible for returning or renewing materials on time whether or not a notice has been received. There are no fines for late books. If materials are overdue after twelve weeks (three months), they will be marked lost in the catalog. Costs for lost materials will be accessed by the library and presented to the OU Business Office at the campus where the student is registered. Costs will be added to the patron's University account.
• Replacement charges and reprocessing fees are charged for materials that have not been returned twelve weeks after they are overdue. If materials are subsequently returned, the cost of the replacement will be refunded; however, the borrower will still be required to pay the reprocessing fee.
   

Borrowing Policies

Library Cards
Ottawa University ID cards serve as library cards. OU's adult campus students may register with the Myers Library for a library card by e-mailing the library with their name, student ID number, address, home and daytime phone numbers, and e-mail address. Patrons without an OU ID may apply at the circulation desk for a public patron card.

General Collection Books
General collection books are due at mid-semester and on the last day of classes of the semester. They are subject to recall after two weeks.

Periodicals
Periodicals (except for the most recent issue), audio and video recordings, and pamphlets may be checked out for seven days.

Reserve Materials
Reserve materials may be checked out for one to three hours or one or two days depending on the choice of the professor who places them on reserve.

Special Collections
The Myers Library houses a Baptist Collection containing books about Baptist History, the Ottawa University Yearbook Collection and the Ottawa University Archives. These collections are available to students, faculty, staff and the public of in-house use only, and do not check out.

Interlibrary Loan
Ottawa University students and faculty may make interlibrary loan requests for books and photocopies of periodical articles related to course research, which are not owned by Myers Library.

Overdue Notices
Overdue notices are sent as a courtesy after material is past due. Users are responsible for returning or renewing materials on time whether or not a notice has been received.

Fines
There are no fines for late books. If a book is not returned after the eight week period, the patron will receive three late notices. Costs for lost materials will be accessed by the library and presented to the OU Business Office and added to the patron's university account at the end of each semester.

Fees
Replacement charges and reprocessing fees are charged for materials that have not been returned eight weeks after they are overdue. If materials are subsequently returned, the cost of the replacement will be refunded; however, the borrower will still be required to pay the reprocessing fee.