Circulation Policy

McKee Library is open for all for in-house use, but the borrowing of materials is limited to the following:

• Students
• Faculty, staff, and their dependents aged 14+
• Community
  • Southern Adventist University alumni
  • Southern Adventist University Lights Volunteers
  • Retired Southern Adventist University faculty and staff
  • Area clergy members
  • Other community members with paid membership (see Community Card section below)

McKee Library community card holders are given lifetime memberships with borrowing privileges as long as they remain active library users. The library offers membership to individuals living within a 30-mile radius of Southern Adventist University for a fee of $50.00. This fee can be waived for the following groups of people:

• Southern Adventist University alumni
• Southern Adventist University Lights Volunteers
• Retired Seventh-day Adventist workers
• Area clergy members

Community card holders do not have the following library privileges:

• Interlibrary loan
• Remote access to databases*
• Reserves loan privileges
• Electronics loan privileges
• Study room reservations
• Free and unlimited printing

McKee Library maintains membership privileges for active library users. The account becomes inactive if a card has not been used within five years. To reactivate a membership, please visit the library’s Circulation desk.

To complete a community membership application and agreement, please visit the library’s Circulation desk Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fees are payable at the library by check or cash only.

*Alumni have access to OverDrive through the Alumni Relations Office. 

Loan periods and policies vary among types of materials, so it is essential for patrons to check the due dates marked on materials that have been checked out.

Unless otherwise notified, circulation periods for materials are as follows:

Borrowing limits of physical items are as follows:

• Community members: 20 items at a time
• Faculty: 50 items at a time
• Graduate students: 50 items at a time
• Staff: 50 items at a time
• Undergraduate students: 20 items at a time

Some items are designated for in-library use only and do not circulate. Patrons must only use these items in the building and return them to the Circulation desk.

Items that do not circulate include:

• Laptops
• Nursing flashcards
• Periodicals
• Rare books
• Reference works
• Scientific calculators
• Scientific models
• Special Collections and archival materials

Course reserves are specific books and articles set aside by professors for classroom purposes. Course reserves are located at the Circulation desk. Some may be checked out for two hours in the library, while others may be checked out for three days or one week, depending on the professor’s requirement. There is a fine in case of failure to return a reserve item on time.

Late Reserve Item Fines:

• Two-hour reserves—$ 0.50/hour
• Three-day reserves—$ 1.00/day
• One-week reserves—$1.00/day

The overdue item process is as follows:

• Two courtesy notices are sent out notifying patrons of their overdue items. Patrons are given a 14-day grace period during the academic year and a seven-day grace period in the summer.
• If an item is not returned during the grace period, a charge notice for the cost of the item (or $40.00 if no standard price for the item is available), plus a $25.00 processing fee, is generated and sent to the borrower.
• Library privileges are suspended until the material has been returned or the charge has been placed on a student account.
• Once applied, charge fees will not be reimbursed.

All items except those with existing hold requests and laptops may be renewed once before their due date.

Students, faculty, and staff may renew items by visiting the Circulation desk or through the following process:

1. Log into McKee Library's Catalog using your Southern username and password.
2. Click your name in the upper corner, then select "My Library Card."
3. On the loans tab, select the renew link beside the items you wish to renew or select "Renew All." Please note that you can only use this renewal option before the due date. If the due date has passed, please contact the Circulation desk for assistance. 

Community members may renew materials by calling or visiting the Circulation desk.

Hold requests may be placed for materials in the library collection, even if they are checked out.

Students, faculty, and staff may place a hold request by visiting the Circulation desk or through the following process:

1. Log into McKee Library's Catalog using your Southern username and password.
2. Locate the work you are interested in and select the title.
3. Under "Get it," select "Request" on the "Request Options" toolbar, and submit the request. 
4. You will receive an email when the item is ready for you to check out at the Circulation desk.

Community members may place hold requests by calling or visiting the Circulation desk.

Items must be picked up within seven days.

Please see the Computers and Network Usage policy for details.