Access Services

Your student Hoot Loot or CSCU ID serves as your library card. All full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the CSCU (Ct. State College & Universities) System may borrow library materials from any of the libraries. All library patrons must present a current, valid University identification when checking out material and agree to abide by all applicable policies.

Southern Connecticut State University library patrons without an ID can obtain one by going to the Wintergreen Building.
See the University Card Office Website.

Circulation of Library Materials

• A maximum of 50 items from the CSCU Library System (Connecticut State Colleges & Universities and the Connecticut State Library) can be checked out.
• Books circulate for 28 days for Undergraduate students and 120 days for Graduate students with the option to renew twice.
• Library books are subject to recall after 2 weeks. If another library patron places a hold on an item that's checked out, the book(s) will need to be returned within 14 days. The due date for the requested book will change to a two-week status.
• Media (CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes) circulates for 7 days with the option to renew twice.
• Textbooks circulate for one semester.
• Students are not allowed to transfer their ID cards or borrow library materials for other individuals.
• Report all lost or stolen cards immediately or you may be held responsible for any library materials borrowed.

How Do I Get Items from the Other CSCU Libraries?

• Material can be requested from any of the other CSCU Libraries and the Connecticut State Library  through the online catalog. All material will be sent to Buley Library by campus courier. Normally it takes between 3-5 days for your requests to arrive at the Check Out Desk. Courier service is not available on the weekends and holidays.
• Students can also go directly to the library and use their student ID to check out library materials.

How to I Find Print Reserve Material?

• Professors may place books, media, or articles on Reserves.
• All physical items are kept behind the Check Out Desk on the first floor of the library.
• Fines may be charged for late or lost reserve materials.
• Non-circulating Reserves are available for two-hours and can be renewed in two-hour increments.
• Overnight Reserves material can be checked out overnight. Monday through Saturday all Reserves are due back the next day by 9:00 a.m. Exception: Reserve material checked out on Saturday is due back on Sunday by 4:00 p.m.

Interlibrary Loan Material:

• Interlibrary loan material can be requested through the ILL library web site.
• ILL online materials, such as journal articles, will automatically be sent to your desktop unless otherwise requested. Books and other items can be picked up at the Check Out Desk.
• Many libraries will allow renewals of their ILL material, but all renewal requests must be submitted to Interlibrary Loan via your ILLiad account.
• Library patrons agree to follow all ILL policies and will be held responsible for all fines or lost items.

Non-Circulating Material

The following collections do not circulate:

• Reference Collection
• Archival Sources
• Special Collections
• Bound and current issues in the Periodicals Collection

Microfilm/Microfiche Collections

The library has one scanner/printers on the first floor of the library. Another scanner is available in the Periodicals Reading Room. You can scan items and print out, e-mail or save to a UBS drive.

Where Do I Return Library Material?

• Books can be returned to the Check Out Desk or the book drop outside of the front of Buley Library.
• Media SHOULD NOT be dropped in the book drop but brought to the Check Out Desk.
• Material borrowed from any of the CSCU libraries may also be returned to Buley Library and will be returned through the courier service.
• Interlibrary Loan material should always be returned to the Check Out Desk.

Library patrons are responsible for renewing or returning all material by the due date stamped in or on each item. Notices are e-mailed to your Southern email as a courtesy. Facts to remember about overdue material:

• Buley Library has gone fine free! What does this mean? You will not be charged for overdue materials, only for materials that are 28-days or more overdue. There will still be overdue fines for technology items, such as laptops, Chromebooks, and Makerspace materials.
• A lost (overdue by 28-days or more) or damaged item will be charged to the library patron. The cost of the material, plus a $25.00 processing fee will be charged. If the book is found within 6 months, you will receive a refund for the book’s cost minus the processing fee. Allow 8-10 weeks for the refund.
• Fees can either be paid by check, money order, or Hoot Loot card.
• Patrons will be restricted from checking out library material and be blocked in Banner from registering or receiving their transcripts if their fees exceed $10.00.
• Overdue notices will be sent to the library patron’s Southern email address. Please notify the library of any address or email change. You can update your email information by logging into your library record on Southern Search.
• The library patron is responsible for overdue material, even if a friend has the item or the friend returns the item late.
• Library patrons can renew materials online in the library catalog or by calling the Check Out Desk at (203) 392-5756. Make sure that the system has actually renewed your material.

Destruction of Library Materials

Any person who damages any library material may be subject to loss of library privileges and may be referred for disciplinary action. The library patron will be responsible for the replacement cost for the damaged materials plus a $25.00 processing fee.

Renewals/Recalls

You can renew books and media twice unless the item has been requested by another library patron. Material may be renewed several ways:

1. By phone at (203) 392-5756 
2. In person at the Check Out Desk
3. Online

Library patrons who renew their material via the Web must go to  "Access Your Library Record." You now will need to have your University ID and password. Make sure that the material was actually renewed. Material cannot be renewed if a hold has been placed on the item or there are too many renewals. The screen should display the word "RENEWED" and also provide a new due date. Please contact the Check Out Desk if there are any questions.

All material checked out is subject to recall after two weeks when requested by another library patron. Reserve materials can be recalled immediately. Failure to return recalled material will result in an overdue fine of 50 cents per day, per item.

Holds

If you need library material from any of the libraries in the CSCU system currently checked out, you can place a "hold" on the item through the catalog. Your hold request will generate a recall notice that will be sent out to the library patron. Once the library material is returned to the library, you will receive an email notification of its arrival. The item will be held at the Buley Library Circulation Desk for 10 working days. After 10 days, the material will be returned to our stacks or the CSCU library.

Books on Hold at the Circulation Desk

All material on hold will held for 24 hours. 

Viewing Your Library Record

All SCSU library patrons have access to their circulation records through the library’s online catalog. Library patrons will need their Campus Network Username and Password.  You can also create a  library PIN number but the best way is with your network username/password.

Your Patron Record allows you to do the Following:

• View items that have been checked out, renewed, or recalled
• View the status of items requested
• View library fines and due dates for items
• Renew books
• Update your email address

Other Library Services that Require a Network User Name and Password:

• Request an intralibrary loan book from the CSCU system
• Access our library’s databases and full-text journal articles from off-campus
• Request Interlibrary Loan for books and journal articles that are owned by the CSCU library system

Reporting a Change of Address

Most changes in the address field will be updated each semester. All notices will be sent by email to your SCSU account. If you’re not sure about your current address listing, contact us and we’ll check your library patron record.

Confidentiality

Buley Library will not release personal borrowing information to any individual or organization unless required by law or by University policy.