Library Policy

Borrower Categories

In general, borrowing is limited to current students, faculty, and staff. Library facilities and selected resources are available for in-library use by the general public with some restrictions.

• Currently enrolled students and employees of the Seattle Colleges
• Currently enrolled students of other Washington State community colleges
• Libraries of Washington State community colleges (through the Interlibrary Loan process)
• Libraries who participate in interlibrary loan

Some restrictions may apply to each of the categories. Patrons who do not fall into any of the authorized borrower categories must arrange an interlibrary loan through their libraries. The Dean reserves the right to suspend or rescind borrowing privileges upon violation of any library policy.

Definitions

• Seattle Colleges (SC) student, a currently registered student of Seattle Central College (SCC), North Seattle College (NSC), and South Seattle College (SSC), as identified by a current student photo identification card issued from the above colleges henceforth referred to as an SC student photo ID card; and/or by inclusion in the current database from the Registrar's office.
• Seattle Colleges (SC) employee: a faculty or staff member of the Seattle Colleges as identified by a current employee identification card, inclusion in the district Outlook contacts, or verification from their division by phone or written message. Photo ID must be presented at the time of check out. Retired SC employees retain their borrowing privileges.
• Washington State Community College student: a currently registered student of any Washington State community college as identified by verification of current enrollment and presentation of a valid identification card from his/her respective institution, henceforth referred to as a WSCC student ID card.
• Libraries: all Washington State community college libraries may request materials through the interlibrary loan process.

Borrower Identification

Borrowers must present acceptable identification at the circulation desk to check out library materials. Student borrowers must also present acceptable identification to request an interlibrary loan or reserve a group study room.

• The acceptable identification for students of NSC, SCC, and SSC is a current SC photo ID card. State or federally issued photo identification (i.e., driver’s license, state identification card, passport) may be presented instead of the school ID.
• Employees of the Seattle Colleges must show current college Faculty/Staff ID  or State / federally issued photo identification (i.e., driver’s license, state identification card, passport). Retired Faculty must show their Seattle Colleges Retired Faculty special identification card.
• Students from other Washington State Community Colleges must show a WSCC student ID card AND provide a copy of their registration for the current quarter or a current quarter sticker.

Community Education

Individuals enrolled in Community Education courses fall outside of the category of student borrowers. 

The following guidelines apply:

• Community Education students may not borrow items from the circulating collections.
• Community Education instructors may put items on Course Reserve for their students provided that these items circulate under these conditions: 1 or 2 hours, Library Use Only.
• The library cannot accept responsibility for lost or damaged reserve items.

Fines

Patrons must return library materials on or before their due dates. Fines are charged for overdue course reserves, technology items, and reference collection materials. Also, they are waived if the overdue material is returned within a 30-minute grace period. Overdue fines are not charged for items in the general circulating collection. The following schedule for fines applies:

• Hourly Reserves (1, 2, 4-hour reserve): $2.00 per hour per item; maximum $50.00 per item unless the item value is larger and has gone to ‘Lost’ status. Open library hours are used to determine the fee,

• Daily or Weekly Reserves: $5.00 per day per item; maximum $50.00 per item, unless the item value is larger and has gone to ‘Lost’ status. Open library hours are used to determine the fee.

• Lost Status for Reserves: Items more than 3 days overdue will be charged the replacement fee for the item and the ownership of the delinquent item will be transferred to the patron. 

• Lost Status for General Collection: Items more than 14 days overdue will be charged the replacement fee for the item and the ownership of the delinquent item will be transferred to the patron.

Replacement fees can result in borrowing privileges being suspended and blocks placed on the student's Library account until all fees are paid or resolved. The Library reserves the right to review this policy on a case-by-case basis and can offer payment plans when applicable.  

Refunds

Patrons are responsible for all library materials they borrow. Patrons will be charged for lost or damaged items according to the replacement fee. Refunds for lost and paid items may be offered. The following conditions apply:

• The item is returned within one year from the date of payment.

• The item is returned in good condition.

• Processing fees are non-refundable.

• Refunds will be mailed to the patron. Cash refunds will not be offered.

Revised June 2020

Out-of-District Borrowing

The Seattle Central Community College Library will borrow materials for authorized borrowers from libraries outside of the SCCD when, in the judgment of a librarian, the resources of the library do not meet the needs of the user. The service is provided at no charge to the borrower unless the lending library charges a fee (see below).

• All out-of-district ILL requests must be verified and approved by a librarian before being processed.
• ILL requests for non-print material are handled through Media Services following its own guidelines and procedures.
• Borrowers are limited to two out-of-district ILL requests at a time unless the librarian approves additional requests.
• Every effort is made to request out-of-district ILL materials from non-charging libraries. When materials are available only from a library that charges, the borrower is notified before the request is fulfilled.
• We will, upon request, borrow materials from the Seattle Public Library, the King County Library System, and the University of Washington Libraries.
• Interlibrary Loan borrowing services may be revoked if previously borrowed materials have not been returned or, in the case of loss or damaged materials, have not been paid for.

In-District Borrowing and Lending

Interlibrary loan transactions among the three libraries and media services centers of the Seattle Community College District are filled as expeditiously as possible. Each library and media services center reserves the right to restrict the circulation of reference and reserve materials. In-district ILLs are fulfilled at no charge to the borrowing facility or patron.

• Requests for audiovisual material must be made with the assistance of Media Services staff.
• The borrowing library must inform the lending library of RUSH requests by phone.
• Every effort is made to ensure that ILL requests are filled within 1 business day and no more than 3 business days. If an item cannot be delivered within 3 working days, the library will notify the requesting library from which the request originated and the hold will be canceled.
• Every effort will be made to fulfill copy requests within 1 business day from the receipt of the request.
• ILL of desk reserve and reference material must be explicitly approved by a Librarian of the lending library. Usage limitations (shorter loan period, library use only restriction) are set by a Librarian.
• No ILL requests are made or filled for course reserve textbooks.
• Borrowers may renew ILL items as long as there are no outstanding requests for them.
• The borrower’s library is responsible for sending out overdue notices, fine and fee notices, and SMS blocking, as necessary.

• Overdue Notices will be emailed to patrons when borrowed materials become one week overdue.
• Fine and Fee Notices will be emailed to patrons when borrowed materials become 3 weeks overdue. At this point, materials are assumed ‘Lost’.
• Fine and Fee Notices will be emailed to patrons who owe fines. Notices are generated after the item has been returned and all fines calculated.
• Student patrons will not be allowed to borrow library materials, register for classes, change schedules, request grades or transcripts, or pick up financial aid disbursements until all ‘Lost’ library materials have been returned or paid for.
• Faculty or staff may lose their borrowing privileges until all ‘Lost’ materials are returned or paid for.  Revocation and reinstatement of borrowing privileges is at the discretion of the Dean and the Circulation Supervisor.

• The charge for a lost or damaged item is the cost of the item
• In the event that lost material is recovered, the replacement fee will be refunded. Refunds do not cover any paid late fines related to the material
• Except where defined below, fees for the repair of damaged materials will be determined by a supervisor or librarian
• Under certain circumstances, patrons may be given the option to purchase replacement copies of lost or damaged items with permission of the supervisor