Borrowing Privileges

Borrowing Cards

Borrowers' Cards:

Borrower's Cards entitle patrons to borrow circulating materials from The United Library. All items may be recalled after 10 days, although standard loan periods are longer. Borrower's Cards cannot be renewed until all fines are paid. Only the person who owns a Borrower's Card may use the card.

Eligibility:

Free borrowing privileges at The United Library are extended to:

  1. Current staff, faculty and students of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Northwestern University
  2. Immediate family of current staff, faculty and students of (see United Family Card below)
    • Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
    • Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
  3. Alumni/ae of Seabury-Western and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminaries.
  4. Current students and faculty at member institutions of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS). See ACTS map here.
  5. Current staff, faculty and students Loyola University Chicago 
  6. Episcopal and United Methodist Clergy in the Chicago Area.
  7. Visiting Scholars who have made prior arrangements with the Director of the United Library.

Alumni Borrowing Cards

Graduating Patrons & Alumni Borrowing Cards

 

Student Account Expiration:

  • Accounts expire on May 31st of the year student’s graduate.
  • A hold will be placed on student accounts with any outstanding United Library items and fines.
  • Students are welcome to apply for a free alumni library card after this time.

 

Alumni Library Cards:

  • Alumni card may be obtained Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.
  • Alumni accounts are free to Garrett and Seabury Alumni.
  • Alumni Library Cards expire one year from the date they are issued and may be renewed with proof of current address.
  • Alumni card privileges are extended only to The United Library’s materials. Interlibrary Loan services, remote access to electronic databases (except ATLA Serials for Alums), and materials owned by the Northwestern library are not included. 

ACTS Borrowing Cards

ACTS Borrowing Cards

 

Garrett Students:

  • Stop by the circulation desk with your current student ID to pick up an ACTS card at any time.
  • The United Library will issue Garrett students an ACTS card, identifying them as student currently enrolled at this institution and in good standing with the library.
  • ACTS Cards expire on December 31 and June 30 and may be renewed with proof of current enrollment.
  • Students will need to take both their current student ID as well as their ACTS card to the ACTS location of their choice.

 ACTS website and library locations

 

Non-Garrett Students:

  • Borrowing cards for The United Library can be issued Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.
  • Students belonging to an ACTS institution will need to present their current school ID as well as their school-issued ACTS Card.
  • ACTS Borrowing Cards expire on December 31 and June 30 and may be renewed with proof of current enrollment.
  • ACTS Card privileges are extended only to The United Library’s materials. Sorry, Interlibrary Loan services, remote access to electronic databases, and materials owned by the Northwestern library are not included in the ACTS arrangement. 

United Family Borrowing Cards

United Family Borrowing Cards

 

Spouses/Partners and Children of Garrett & Seabury Student, Staff and Faculty:

 

  • The United Library is happy to extend a selection of our services and collections to the staff and faculty spouses/partners and children of our student.
  • United Family Cards can be issued Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.
  • Verification of relationship to a current student, staff or faculty member, as well as current a photo ID and proof of address must be presented.
  • United Family Card borrowing privileges extend only to The United Library’s materials. Interlibrary Loan services, remote access to electronic databases, and materials owned by the Northwestern library are not included. 
  • Most items in our circulating collection may be checked out with a United Family Card for a loan period of three weeks (21 days).These items can be renewed two times.
  • Check out limit is 15 items.
  • Only one United Family Card will be issued per family.
  • United Family Cards are valid for one year, or until the completion or termination of the enrolled student’s course of study.

 

United Family Borrowing Card Brochure.pdf

Local Clergy Borrowing Cards

Local Clergy Borrowing Cards

 

United Methodist & Episcopal Ordained Clergy of the Chicagoland area:

 

  • Local Clergy Borrowing Cards for The United Library can be issued Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.
  • Please present a business card or photo ID as well as a proof of address.
  • Local clergy borrowing privileges are extended only to The United Library’s materials. Interlibrary Loan services, remote access to electronic databases, and materials owned by the Northwestern library are not included. 
  • Local Clergy Borrowing Cards expire in one year from the date they are issued and may be renewed with proof of current address.

Loyola Borrowing Cards

Loyola Borrowing Cards

Garrett Students, Faculty and Staff:

  • Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary has a reciprical borrowing aggreement with Loyola University's Library
  • To obtain a borrowing card, bring a vaild school ID and proof of address to Loyola University's circulation desk during normal staff business hours.

Purchasing a Borrower's Card

Purchasing a Borrower’s Card

For those not included in the other categories:

            A  United Library public borrower’s card may be purchased for an annual fee of $50.  Please note, though, that this card only provides borrowing rights to the United Library Circulating collection and not to the collections of the Northwestern University Libraries. Those wishing to obtain borrowing rights from Northwestern must apply to the library circulation services department.

            Materials from the circulation collection may also be obtained though the Interlibrary Loan service department of your local Academic or Public Library.  Please contact your local library directly for details concerning any fees that they might assess for these services.

Media Equipment

Equipment Check-out Policies

Laptops, Power Cords & Computer Mice:

  • Circulate only to those with current Seabury-Western and Garrett-Evangelical students, faculty and staff borrowing cards.
  • 4 hour checkout period, $5.00/hr late fee.
  • Laptops are for use within the MAIN Garrett building only.
  • Laptops do not check out overnight.
  • Patrons checking out a laptop must fill out and complete a Laptop Borrower’s Agreement.
  • Files are automatically deleted upon return of laptop.

Headphones:

  • 2 hour check-out period, $1.00/hr late fee.
  • Headphones are for use within the MAIN Garrett building only.
  • Headphones do not check out overnight.

Video Camera:

  • Available for 3 day checkout.

Holds & Recalls

Holds, Recalls and Call Slips:

If a patron with borrowing privileges wishes to borrow an item that is currently checked out to another patron, the following options are available:

Placing a Hold:

When a hold is placed on an item, the item on hold cannot be renewed and should be expected back by its due date. When it is returned, the patron who placed the hold will receive an automated email advising them that the item is now available for pick up. For assistance with holds, please see the circulation desk.

Placing a Recall:

After a book has been in circulation two weeks, it may be recalled for use by another borrower. A book which has been recalled is due seven days from the day the recall notice is sent. For assistance recalling an item, please see the circulation desk.

  • A charge of two dollars ($2.00) per day will be imposed beginning at closing of the library on the seventh day.
  • The two dollar per day charge will continue for ten days, with a maximum fine of twenty dollars ($20.00).
  • After ten days, the replacement cost will be added to the twenty dollar charge.
  • Books recalled by faculty for use on course reserves lists are due immediately at the discretion of the library staff. 

Interlibrary Loan:

Another option for accessing materials is through Interlibrary Loan.

Call Slips:

A call slip may be placed for an item that is currently located at one of Northwestern’s Libraries except Qatar Library. For assistance with call slips, please see the circulation desk.

Fines, Fees, & Holds

Circulation Fines, Fees & Holds

Daily Fines:

The United Library does not charge daily overdue fines for most circulating items with the exception of overdue recalled items and short term loan items, including:

  • Recalled Items:               $2.00 per day
  • Items on Reserves:
    • 2-hour items:     $1.00 per hour
  • Laptops:
    • 4-hour item:       $5.00 per hour
  • Headphones
    • 2-hour item:       $1.00 per hour

Patrons are responsible for keeping track of their due dates. To view your account and renew materials log in here.

Lost Status Items:

Books that are not returned or renewed within 29 days* after their due date are automatically marked with “Lost” status by the library system.  A replacement fee and a non-refundable $5.00 processing fee will be automatically assessed for every book overdue by more than 29 days. Replacement fees will be waived for “Lost” books returned within a reasonable timeframe, but the processing fees will not be waived.

Replacement fees are a minimum of $50.00 per book

Payment:

Fines and fees are payable by cash or check Mondays-Fridays 8:30am-4:30pm at the circulation desk. Arrangements may also be made to pay by credit card through the mediation of the business office. Please stop by the library to pick up the pay by credit card form.

Holds:

Unpaid bills and fines are reported to the Student Accounts Office at least twice a year and will result in a hold on your account.

Holds will be placed on accounts if fines are equal to or exceed:

  • Returning students: $10.00
  • Graduating Students: $1.00

Notices:

An overdue notice is automatically generated and sent out by e-mail or mail the first day an item goes overdue. Additional notices are generated weekly until the item is considered “lost” (on the 30th day past the due date) for a total of 4 notices.


Overdue notices are sent out as a courtesy to all borrowers, but borrowers are liable for fines and fees whether or not an overdue notice has been received. If you are not receiving overdue notices, please contact the Circulation Desk at 847-866-3909 to verify your e-mail or mailing address.

Patrons can check due dates on all items checked out to them, as well as renew them, by logging into “My Account” on the NUCat website.