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Library Services

Circulation Desk

The Circulation Desk is staffed all hours the library is open. Services offered at the desk include: circulating materials, shelf-maintence, Interlibrary Loan, and Course Reserves. The desk is under the direction of Jill Wixom.

Circulation Policies

Borrowing Items

 

Who Can Borrow from the DiPietro Library?

Library privileges are extended to students, faculty and staff at all of the Franklin Pierce University campuses and to those affiliated with the New Hampshire College and University Council (NHCUC)   Residents of Jaffrey and Rindge and current ConVal students may apply for guest borrowing privileges at no charge.  Residents from other towns may purchase an annual guest membership.  Please see Obtaining a Library Card below or for more information, contact the Circulation Department at 603 899-4140

What Kind of Identification is Necessary?

Library patrons who present appropriate identification may borrow books and other circulating materials for the normal loan periods as indicated below.  For Franklin Pierce students, faculty, staff, a valid university ID is sufficient.  Students at Graduate & Professional Studies campuses need an ID, available from the administrative office of your local center and activated by emailing library@franklinpierce.edu the following information: your name, address, telephone number, GPS Campus or program, and your barcode number.  NHCUC members must present a valid ID from their own institutions.  Guest borrowers must present their DiPietro Library card; or, in the first instance, a valid local driver's license or proof of residency and ConVal students need to present their current school ID card..

Obtaining a Library Card

A Library card is issued to our guest borrowers on an annual basis, June 1 – May 31 at the Circulation Desk.

Residents of Jaffrey and Rindge and current ConVal students may apply for guest borrowing privileges at no charge.

Residents from other towns may purchase an annual guest membership, $30.00/year for an individual or $50.00/year for a family.  The fee will be pro-rated from October 1 – January 31, $20 for an individual, $30 for a family and from February 1 – May 31, $10 for an individual and $20 for a family.  Payment is cash or a check only.   

The applicant provides staff the required identification and payment if any, and is asked to read and complete a one-page application.  A staff member will process the application and provide the library card and a brochure of services for guest borrowers.

 What Can I Borrow?

Items from the circulating collection include books, DVDs, Videogames, audio and music CDs.  Reference materials, special collections items, and periodicals do not circulate

Borrowing Limits

In order to ensure that items are returned in a timely manner and to help borrowers avoid overdue fines and charges it has proven necessary to limit how long or how many items are borrowed at any one time.

Guest borrowers may check out up to a total of 5 items at any one time.

FP students may check out 5 DVDs / Videogames at any one time.  Part-time faculty may check out 10 items.  However, Library staff may modify limitations if necessary and warranted.

Interlibrary Loan requests are submitted only for Franklin Pierce students, faculty and staff.  Other patrons should visit their town library to initiate interlibrary loan requests.

Length of Loan

Materials Faculty & Staff

Part-time Faculty, Students

       & Guest Borrowers

Graduate & Professional Studies students
Books End of Semester 21 days 1 month
DVDs 7 days 7 days 7 days (from date sent)
Music & Spoken Word CDs End of Semester 21 Days 1 month

Complete loan period information is available at the Circulation Desk.

Renewals

FP students, faculty and staff may renew items online (using My Account), or along with guest borrowers may renew by phone, email or in person.  The renewal period is equivalent to that of the original loan, provided that no other patron has asked for their recall.

FP students, faculty and staff requesting to renew an item borrowed through interlibrary loan need to speak with a Circulation supervisor, call x 4140 or email library@franklinpierce.edu.

Hold Requests/Recalls

You can put an item on hold from the catalog for an item that is either available or checked out, or the Circulation staff (x4140) can put it on hold for you. If the item is checked out, you will be notified once the item is returned. Borrowers may use items for the duration of the loan period, with the exception of items needed for class reserve which may be recalled at any time. Once the due date has passed, items may be recalled for use by another patron. Failure to return a recalled item within 2 days will result in a charge for its replacement. This helps all who need materials have access to them.

Fees and Fines

 

Fines for Overdue Items

Overdue notices are generated daily. Borrowers with overdue items will receive first, second and billing notices. DVDs and Videogames more than 7 days overdue are assessed a $10 overdue charge per item.  NHCUC members and guest borrowers are fined for overdue books, audiocds and cds at the rate of $0.25 per day per item.

Lost, Stolen & Damaged Materials

The Library charges those responsible for lost, stolen or damaged materials. The normal charge for replacement is based on the average price of new books. Certain rare or valuable materials may be billed at rates higher than those normally charged. A processing fee of $10.00 is added to the charge for replacement of each item. Library materials more than 3 weeks overdue are presumed lost. The borrower is then charged for replacement. If you have questions about billing or overdue fines, please call the Access Services Manager, Jill Wixom, at x4144, or speak with the supervisor on duty.

Interlibrary Loan

 

General Information

The Library borrows books and obtains articles for FP faculty, staff and students. To request items through interlibrary loan, complete an online RavenRequest or submit a request via a database where supported or through the library catalog. Items are available for pick up at the Circulation Desk. If an item is available electronically, we will notify you via email. Requests from CGPS faculty will be sent to their primary campus. Requests from CGPS students will be sent to a home mailing address. Generally, there is no charge to borrow printed materials or obtain copies.  If an item we have borrowed from another library is returned late or lost by the user, all associated fees and fines will be charged to the user.

Restrictions

Library personnel reserve the right to restrict the use of materials borrowed through the interlibrary loan network and to limit the number of interlibrary loan requests that can be made within a given period or in relation to a given topic.

Writing Your Senior Thesis or DA Dissertation?

The library will absorb customary interlibrary loan or document delivery fees not to exceed $100 total per student for students verified as currently engaged in thesis or capstone research or research. For DA students currently enrolled in a doctoral seminar class the library will absorb the cost to borrow 3 dissertations up to a total of $100. Fees for rush service or other out-of-the-ordinary expenses will not be covered. It is strongly recommended that students engaged in thesis or dissertation research consult with a reference librarian regarding available resources before requesting materials through interlibrary loan.

Borrowing Directly from Other Libraries

Search the catalogs of other New Hampshire College and University Council (NHCUC) member libraries from the Research page. After you've located the item, you may go to that library (with the exception of Dartmouth College) and check materials out directly using your current FP ID card.

Course Reserves

 

Items placed on reserve by faculty members are available from the Circulation Desk for short-term loan. Reserve materials may be searched in the library catalog (click on the Course Reserve tab). You will need your ID to check them out.

Electronic Reserves are handled by the instructor via the course management system.