Access Services

Circulation

Podcast Available

Services

Make copies

Access Services has a photocopying service, Library Express, which allows users to request copies of materials owned by the MSU Libraries for a fee of .25 per page. Just like Interlibrary loan, users can log into Interlibrary Loan (Illiad) and place, track, renew, and cancel requests as well as view their request history and receive incoming articles electronically. This service is free-of-charge to distance education faculty and students. Bring materials to the desk and we'll copy them for you at a rate of .15 per page.

• Library Express

Buy supplies

Endnote 5 is now available at Access Services! If you purchased a previous version from the library and are still a current faculty, staff, or student, you may upgrade to Endnote 5 at no charge. Stop by the desk to pick up your copy today! EndNote is a popular bibliographic management software program that helps you store, organize, and format citations, images, and graphics. With EndNote you can create and format bibliographic citations and references as you write or you can download citations from the Library's online indexes and databases. For more information about using Endnote go to http://library.msstate.edu/li/endnote/index.asp or contact Deborah Lee at (662) 325-0810 or dlee@library.msstate.edu.

• Need to buy supplies? (Items for sale include CDs, DVDs, VHS-C tapes, and Endnote software.)

Send and receive faxes

Access Services will send and receive faxes for users. Incoming faxes are $1.00 per page. Outgoing faxes to long distance numbers are $2.50 per page. On campus or local fax numbers are free. If you have an LDS number or calling card number to which you can charge the call, there is no extra charge. Fax number: (662) 325-0011.

Place books on hold

Through the online catalog, users can place books on hold from any library within the consortium. Once we've pulled the book or received it, we will contact you to come by and check it out. If you have searched for a book and aren't able to locate it, fill out this request form and we'll continue to search for it. When found, you'll be contacted to come by and check it out. If we cannot find it, you will need to fill out an Interlibrary loan request.

Report missing materials

Report materials missing from the shelf

Renew books online

Need to renew books through MyAccount? (If you aren't sure how, see this tutorial.)

Policies

Who can check out materials?

Library privileges are available to all active MSU faculty, staff and students with a valid MSU ID card. MSU faculty and staff are considered active as long as they are employed at the University. MSU students are considered active if they are enrolled in the current semester or next semester. Students enrolled in the previous semester but not yet registered by drop date of the current semester will no longer have borrowing privileges, as well as access to online resources.

MSU Students, Staff, and Faculty

Active university faculty, staff, and students must present a valid MSU identification card to check out books at the Access Services Desk. If the patron does not have his/her MSU identification card, he/she may use a valid driver's license. If the patron does not have a valid photo identification card, they will be unable to charge materials. Lost identification cards should be reported immediately to the Registrar's Office, 161 Allen Hall, and to the Access Services Department of the Library. MSU faculty and staff are considered active as long as they are employed at the University. MSU students are considered active if they are enrolled in the current semester or next semester. Students enrolled in the previous semester but not yet registered by drop date of the current semester will no longer have borrowing privileges, as well as access to online resources.

Community Members

Community members must present a valid Courtesy or Public Library card, from a participating GTRL library (see below). Courtesy cards must be purchased from the Access Services Department for a $20.00 annual fee. Alumni may obtain a free Courtesy card with proof of membership in the Alumni Association. Identification cards are non-transferable. Patrons are responsible for all library materials borrowed on their cards.

Continuing Education, Distance Education and Visiting Students

Students taking class but not receiving a MSU ID card may be eligible to receive a temporary library card through the Access Services Department. The Access Services Department requires that a list of the students enrolled in the class along with an MSU contact person, the student's identification number and permanent address be provided. The cards will be ready within twenty-four hours of receiving the list.

Special Library Patrons

Special Library Patron cards will be issued at the Dean of the Library's discretion. The Dean will determine the loan period. The card holder will not be responsible for fines, although should a book become lost the patron will be responsible for the replacement cost of the book plus the processing fee. These cards will be renewed indefinitely without cost to the patron.

For how long can I check out materials?

The loan periods for circulating books at MSU are as follows:

Branch libraries in the School of Architecture and the College of Veterinary Medicine may have different loan periods for some materials. Students taking classes through Continuing Education receive the status as assigned by Continuing Education.

The above time limits apply to regular circulating materials that are checked out by the Access Services Department. Reserve materials, reference books, periodicals, and audiovisual materials have different loan periods.

What kinds of materials can I check out, other than circulating books?

Periodicals

The Access Services Department will loan periodicals located in the first floor reading room for a loan period of one day to MSU faculty, staff and graduate students. A maximum of five periodicals, bound or unbound, can be loaned at a time. The first five will have to be returned in order to charge others. Graduate students not returning the periodicals by closing on the day they are due will be charged a one dollar fine per item per day with no maximum. Faculty and staff not returning journals when due will have their borrowing, interlibrary loan, and reserve privileges blocked.

Reference materials

Reference materials will circulate to faculty at the discretion of the Reference Librarian on duty. The Reference Librarian will accompany the borrower to the Access Services Desk.

Government documents

Government documents with barcodes are charged as circulating books. Government documents without barcodes and topographical maps may also be checked out and receive due dates as circulating books. Only paper documents shelved in the Government Documents Department can be charged. Government Documents circulate to all students, staff, and faculty members.

All other forms of documents are to be utilized within the Government Documents Department and cannot circulate without the special permission of the Coordinator of Government Documents and Microfilms. The following are non-circulating:

• Microfiche Documents
• Congressional Records
• Serial Set Volumes
• Census Materials
• Reference Material located in the Government Documents area

How much are late fees?

It is the patron's responsibility to return books on time. Each book is stamped with a due date and overdue notices are sent only as a courtesy to the patron. Notification by mail will begin when the books are one week overdue or when fines occur. A fine of $10 is assessed for each book over the grace period. This fine does not increase for additional days past the grace period. The Mississippi State University Libraries accepts cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or MoneyMate for payments. Overdue fines not paid within two weeks will be transferred to the patron's consolidated billing account and may be paid at the Controller & Treasurers office, 158 Garner hall or online through MyBanner.

For MUW students there is a $10 fine assessed to any loan that is one day past the grace period. This fine does not increase for additional days past the grace period. MSMS students will be assessed a $10 fine to any loan past the grace period.

MUW/MSMS patrons will be blocked for fines of at least $10. MUW/MSMS will be notified when a patron is to be placed on hold for extreme overdue material or non-payment of fines. MUW/MSMS patrons are subject to all other policies governing the charging of circulating materials.

For EMCC patrons there is a $10 fine assessed to any loan that is one day past the grace period. This fine does not increase for additional days past the grace period. EMCC patrons will be blocked for fines of at least $10. EMCC Library staff will be notified when a patron is to be placed on hold for extreme overdue material or non-payment of fines. EMCC patrons are subject to all other policies governing the charging of circulating materials.

For SHS students there is a $10 fine assessed to any loan that is one day past the grace period. SHS Library Staff will be notified when a patron is to be blocked for excessive fines or overdue material.

Fines will not be waived for Library Student Assistants.

Can I renew my materials?

Circulating books can be renewed two times unless requested by another patron. Materials may be renewed by e-mail, online or by bringing them to the Access Services Desk. Overdue materials must be brought to the Access Services desk for renewal. Renewals will not be allowed for books with holds against them.

Renewals are not allowed on periodicals and reference materials. Government Documents can be renewed normally unless the item is a special permission item.

How can I make sure the book I need will not be checked out before I can come get it?

Holds is a process that allows active MSU patrons to place a "hold" on any circulating book within the consortium. Using the online catalog, this process will take you through a series of steps, including logging in with your 9-digit MSU ID number and PIN (last 4 digits of your MSU ID number).

I'm not on campus. Can I use Access Services?

Yes, distance learners may request photocopies of materials or have books mailed to them through Library Express by logging into Interlibrary Loan (Illiad) and placing requests. This service is free-of-charge to all MSU faculty, staff and students that are considered distance learners.

Books can be returned by mail. Patron is responsible for return postage to MSU and any overdue fines. Fines are based on the date books arrive at the Library. Potential fines can be avoided by renewing books prior to return. Interlibrary loan materials can not be renewed. Patrons are responsible for any damage or loss, including those occurring during shipment. Return books to:

Mitchell Memorial Library
Attn: Access Services Department
PO Box 5408
Mississippi State, MS 39762

For more information on Library services to distance learners, visit the Information Portal for Distance Learners.

What if I lose a book?

Lost books must be paid at current market price, plus a $10.00 per book processing fee, and assessed fines. If the Access Services Department is notified that a book is lost before it is twenty-eight days overdue, no fine will be charged, but the price of the book plus the $10.00 will be paid.

Books are due on the date stamped on the date due slip in the front of the book even if the library is closed. Books can be returned to the library book drop located on Hardy Road in the back of the building, or to the book drop located in the front of the building (drill field entrance).

There is a grace period after the book is due. During this period no fines are charged and books may be renewed. If the book is not returned or renewed within the grace period, the Library will assess a $10 fine per item. If books are turned in at the outside book drops, they will not be checked in until the following day. It is always preferable to return books to the Access Services Desk in person and ask to have them discharged.

If a book is found after it has been paid for, the patron may be reimbursed for the price of the book but not for the fines or the processing fee. The money will be refunded on the patron's consolidated billing account and a refund check printed at the Controller & Treasurers office, 158 Garner Hall.

A patron who believes he/she has returned material that is charged to his or her account should contact the Access Services Department as soon as the error is noted. The Access Services Staff will print out the patron's record and begin a series of searches for the returned material. If at anytime the Access Services Staff finds the material located in the University Libraries and it has been sensitized, all fines will be dropped and the person will be notified and an apology will be issued. If the material is found and has not been sensitized, the fines will not be waived. If after sixty days or ten searches the book has not been found, the patron will be responsible for the price of the book(s) and the reordering fee of $10.00.

What if I can't find a book?

If a patron is unable to locate an item on the shelf, the Access Services Student Assistant on duty will (with a staff member's approval depending upon availability of student workers) go with the patron to assist in locating the material. If the student assistant is unable to locate the material, the patron will be asked to fill out a Book Request card. At the time the patron fills out the book request card, the patron is informed that if he/she has not been contacted by the Access Services Department after a period of ten days, he/she should seek other means for getting the material (i.e. Interlibrary Loan). The Access Services Department will search for the missing item for 90 days. During this period, if the book is found, the patron will be notified that the item has been found and the Access Services Department will hold the item for seven days for the patron. If after 90 days the item is still missing, the book will be withdrawn from the collection.

How can I check out books at participating libraries?

Golden Triangle Regional Library Consortium

Established in 1993 as a means of increasing the sharing of resources (access to one database which would contain all of the holdings within the Golden Triangle area) and automation costs as well as the sharing of technical expertise.

1. 1. Mississippi University for Women/Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MUW/MSMS)
   Patrons must be registered and in good standing at the MUW prior to charging materials from the Mitchell Memorial Library. MUW patrons receive the same loan periods as MSU patrons. MUW patrons also receive the same renewal privileges and grace periods as MSU patrons. MSMS patrons receive a fourteen-day loan period with a seven-day grace period. MSMS patrons receive two renewals just as a MSU student. There is a limit of ten items that can be charged to a patron at any one time (not per transaction).
2. 2. Starkville High School (SHS)
   Patrons must be registered and in good standing at the SHS prior to charging materials from the Mitchell Memorial Library. SHS students receive a loan period of fourteen days and grace period of seven days. SHS patrons can renew materials two times. There is a limit of ten items that can be charged to a patron at any one time (not per transaction). SHS faculty and staff have a twenty-eight day loan period and seven day grace period.

Tombigbee Regional Libraries

Patrons must be registered and in good standing at any of the ten TRL public libraries prior to charging materials from the Mitchell Memorial Library. Those libraries are:

• Amory Municipal Library
• Bryan Public Library
• Choctaw County Public Library
• Evans Memorial Library
• Hamilton Public Library
• Mathiston Public Library
• Nettleton Public Library
• Webster County Public Library
• Weir Public Library
• Wren Public Library

Patrons receive a loan period of twenty-eight days and a grace period of twenty-eight days. There is no limit of items that can be charged to a patron at any one time and patrons are allowed two renewals.

Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library System

Patrons must be registered and in good standing at any of the three OKT public libraries prior to charging materials from the Mitchell Memorial Library. Those libraries are:

• Starkville Public Library
• Maben Public Library
• Sturgis Public Library

Patrons receive a loan period of twenty-eight days and a grace period of twenty-eight days. There is no limit of items that can be charged to a patron at any one time and patrons are allowed two renewals.

What happens if I don't comply with these policies?

Library borrowing privileges will be suspended for any individual who fails to comply with Access Services policies for return, renewal or recall of materials or payment of fees due. Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or age.