Connecticut College Libraries - Policies

The Connecticut College libraries are principally for use by current students, faculty, staff and other Connecticut College community members. 

Shain Library Circulation Policies

Recalls and Renewals

Patrons can renew loans online by logging in to OneSearch. Please note that the number of renewals is limited to two (2). Patrons must return books by the date indicated on their account, accessible by logging into OneSearch, and promptly respond to any recall notice in the event that the item is needed for course reserves or another patron’s use. If a recalled item has not been returned within 7 days of the recall notice, a fine of $7.00 per day is charged. See circulation desk staff with questions regarding due dates, renewals, recalls, fees, and accessing your account online.

Overdue Materials

If an item is more than 28 days overdue, the item is considered lost. Patrons are charged a replacement fee of $50.00 and a $35.00 processing fee for each lost item. Lost media items (DVDs, CDs or LPs) may incur additional charges. Fees are removed from a patron’s account once lost materials are returned, unless a replacement item has already been purchased. Items damaged beyond repair may also incur replacement fees. Please contact circulation desk staff in person or by email at circlibr@conncoll.edu for any questions or concerns regarding fees.

Print Book Requests

Faculty and staff can request that items be retrieved from the library stacks for pickup in Shain Library. Requests can be made via OneSearch.

Computer Use

Access to software, printing, computer clusters and classrooms is for Connecticut College students, staff and faculty. Visitors to Shain Library may use a terminal on the main floor, located near the Circulation Desk, to look up items in the online library catalog. A listening station is available in Shain Library.

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary loan services for all materials — including those from Trinity College, Wesleyan University and other members of the Boston Library Consortium — are available only to current Connecticut College students, faculty and staff. Library users unaffiliated with the College should make interlibrary loan requests through their local public library. Please visit the Interlibrary Loan webpage for further details concerning interlibrary loan services, and/or contact the Interlibrary Loan Specialist with any questions.

Course Reserves

Shain Library will place on reserve library books, DVDs, ebooks, and other forms of multimedia available. Other materials commonly included in electronic reserves, such as (but not limited to) scanned articles and book chapters, are available to students through the College’s Moodle course management system. Personal or departmental copies of textbooks may be placed on reserve; the library does not purchase textbooks for reserve. For additional information please see Course Reserves Policy & Procedures and Course Reserves How-to.

Reserve Fines

Fines on reserve items are as follows:

Please direct any questions regarding Shain Library’s reserve policy to reserve@conncoll.edu at 860-439-2663.

Building Usage

Posting for Events and Other Matters

• Posters or flyers for events, etc., may only be placed on the bulletin board next to the main entrance of Shain Library, or on the smaller bulletin board in the Blue Camel Café.
• The library can arrange for an easel to promote events being held in Shain.
• Banners may not be hung within the library, nor does the library allow posting on the exterior glass of the library or its doors.
• We ask that patrons be respectful of others, and to honor requests from other library users to be quiet. Please note that the first floor is traditionally not a quiet space.

Whiteboards

• Students who wish to move whiteboards around the building to work with classmates are free to do so. Please be respectful if the board is in use and/or has other students’ work on it.
• Whiteboards should mainly be used for academic collaboration; as such, we ask that patrons refrain from using them to advertise events.

Furniture

• Because study tables in collaboration rooms and on library floors are placed near outlets and network connections, these tables cannot not be moved.
• Please do not remove furniture from the Living Room.

Events

• Events in Shain Library should be booked through the Events Office.

Collaboration Rooms

• Only currently enrolled students may book collaboration rooms. To book a room, visit this page.

Dogs

• We regret that with the exception of service or therapy animals, dogs are not allowed in Shain Library.

Visitors

Visitors may register as guest borrowers for an annual fee of $50.00 ($25.00 for New London residents or veterans). The fee may be paid by check or exact cash. Connecticut College alumni can obtain a guest borrowing account for free. Guest borrowers are encouraged to renew their accounts with the circulation supervisor on duty before the expiration date to avoid shortened due dates in the final month.

Because Connecticut College belongs to the Boston Library Consortium (BLC), visitors from those institutions may also use the library and check out print materials. Upon entering the library, visitors from BLC institutions should inquire at the Circulation Desk and present a BLC Consortium Card (obtained at their home institution) and a photo ID. They will then be issued a guest account. For more information on access to BLC libraries, please visit https://blc.org/page/access-and-borrowing.

Visitors, including alumni, community borrowers and BLC guests, may access guest wifi and the extensive collection of print books, but do not have access to ebooks or online journals. Computer use is limited to terminals for searching the online catalog. Visitors are not able to print, request materials through interlibrary loan, or access databases remotely. A guest borrower account is not required for in-library use of library materials. The library reserves the right to revoke privileges from visitors who engage in inappropriate behavior.