SERVICE POLICY

The service policy for Vanderbilt University Libraries defines groups that are eligible for library privileges. Because policies vary by individual library, please consult Library Access and Use Policies for Vanderbilt University.

Please note that library privileges, as described below, may be revoked, in whole or in part, or not renewed, if users fail to adhere to established library and University policies. University ID cards and library cards are not transferrable.
Return to Top

Students, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni of Vanderbilt University have reading and borrowing privileges in all divisions of the Jean and Alexander Heard Library, upon presentation of a valid University identification card. Alumni privileges do not include access to interlibrary loan. Spouses and Domestic Partners of current Vanderbilt faculty, staff and students have library reading and borrowing privileges. Domestics Partners should confirm their status with Human Resources before requesting a library card. Dependent children of staff and faculty have reading privileges only. Cards are issued by the Vanderbilt Card Office, 184 Sarratt Student Center. Students, faculty, and staff will receive their first card free of charge; alumni, spouses, and dependents will be charged $10.00 for their first card. Replacement cards cost $15.00. Return to Top

Faculty Members of institutions of higher education have reading privileges in all divisions. Certain reciprocal agreements with some members of the Association of Research Libraries provide additional privileges to faculty of those institutions. Cards are authorized at the Information desk in the Central Library, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Return to Top

Pastors who are not pursuing a degree at another institution of higher learning are granted borrowing privileges at the Divinity Library. Employees of denominational boards and agencies are also granted these privileges. Applications are available at the Divinity Library circulation desk. The circulation librarian will then complete a form which you must take to the Vanderbilt Card Office to get your photo I.D. Please contact MAT Trotter (322-6993) or Nancy Dolinger (322-7983) if you have any questions regarding a Divinity Library Use Card. Return to Top

Judaica Use Cards are available to members of the local Nashville Jewish community. These cards provide access and borrowing privileges for the Divinity Library only. Applications are available at the Divinity Library circulation desk. The circulation librarian will then complete a form which you must take to the Vanderbilt Card Office to get your photo I.D. Please contact MAT Trotter (322-6993) or Nancy Dolinger (322-7983) if you have any questions regarding the Judaica use card. Return to Top

Fisk University students, faculty and staff are eligible for library privileges, including borrowing privileges, at Vanderbilt. Such privileges are granted one semester at a time and are initially established at the student or faculty member's home library. For more information, click here.

Other Visitors to the Divinity Library may access the library freely during the hours 7:30am - 7:00pm, Monday - Friday. Evening and weekend access is limited to patrons with a library access card. Anyone may purchase a Library Access Card for $20/year. Application for a card can be obtained at the Service Desk of any campus library. Government Documents and Special Collections are open to all interested persons without charge.
Return to Top

Kudzu is a consortium agreement among 13 southeastern research libraries, including Vanderbilt, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the University of Kentucky. Click here to learn more about KUDZU, through which you may borrow materials from Vanderbilt or from other libraries in the consortium. Please note that this agreement operates among the libraries; you must request materials through your home library, and the items will be sent to your library. Return to Top

Athena is the catalog for the Nashville Area Library Alliance (NALA), which consists of Vanderbilt and 11 other Nashville area libraries, including the Nashville Public Library. Effective March 2002, the Heard Library offered all libraries participating in NALA a number of courtesy access cards for the Heard Library system. These access cards are loaned by each NALA library to users who have need of resources available in the Heard Library system.

To date, the following NALA libraries have requested and received access cards: Aquinas College, Austin-Peay State University, Belmont University, Brentwood Library, Cumberland University, Fisk University, Free Will Baptist Bible College, Lipscomb University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee State University, and Trevecca Nazarene University. If you are affiliated with one of the institutions listed above and are interested in borrowing a card to access the Heard Library system, contact your local librarian or reference department.

The cards permit access, not borrowing privileges. To obtain materials from Vanderbilt (or from any of the other NALA libraries), you can search the Athena catalog and make an interlibrary loan request through your home library. The requested items will then be sent to your library. Return to Top

CIRCULATION POLICIES

Loan Periods: Items in the regular circulating collection (Judaica and main downstairs stacks including oversize) are loaned for 90 days to graduate students and library staff, four weeks to undergraduates, university staff, alumni and special patrons, and one year to faculty. Return to Top

Fines: Overdue fines for regular items are $.20 per day. The Divinity Library has a grace period for fines of 28 days. However, if an item is returned after the grace period, the fine will accrue from the actual day the item was due. Return to Top

Non-Print Materials: Videos, cassettes, slides, and other media have a two week loan and a 7-day grace period. Fines are $.20 per day. Return to Top

Laptop Computers: Laptops may be checked out for an 8 hour loan period, as well as overnight if checked out within 4 hours of the library's closing time. Laptops must be returned to the library's circulation desk and NOT to the book drop. Fines for overdue laptops accrue at the rate of $7.50 per hour, with a 61 minute grace period. Replacement costs for lost or damaged laptops or laptop accessories are indicated on the loan agreement. See Policies and FAQ for Circulating Laptops for more information on laptop policies. Return to Top

Returns: Regular items may be returned to any library or book drop on campus, but books are not considered "returned" until they are discharged in the Divinity Library. Returning books to locations other than the Divinity Library may result in a three to four day delay before they are available for other persons to check out. Return to Top

Renewals: Items may be renewed online up to four times for students, alumni and staff. Items with a one year loan period checked out by faculty members may be renewed up to three times online. To renew online, go to Renewals. Return to Top

Recalls: Any patron may recall an item checked out by another patron. The person who has the item checked out must then return it within seven days of the recall. However, if the patron has had the book less than two weeks, the recall will be placed on the fourteenth day from the original checkout. Recall fines are $1.00 per day with no grace period. Return to Top

Reserves: Loan periods for reserves vary, but most items are two hour or one day. All reserve items should be returned to the Divinity Library service desk. Overdue fines for two-hour reserves are $.60 per hour. Fines for one day items are $1.00 per day. Students cannot renew reserve items online. The item must be returned to the service desk before it can be renewed. Return to Top

Lost Books: Replacement of books lost by patrons is charged by a formula: cost of book + cataloging fee ($35) + (non-refundable) billing fee ($15). Return to Top

If you have any questions concerning circulation policies, please ask at the Public Services Desk or call (615) 322-6992.