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Amplifying Library Impact

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Services

SCELC combines its resources with those of its member institutions in order to provide portfolio of consortial licensing, community funding, professional development, and other member-focused services.

Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing

RFB enables mutual borrowing for faculty or other qualified researchers among participating SCELC Member libraries.

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To Participate:

  1. Review the policies and procedures
  2. Submit an RFB Participation Form (bottom of this page)
  3. Download and make the Authorization for RFB Privileges form available to faculty and researchers

RFB Contacts

To Reciprocate:

  1. Confirm that visiting faculty members or researchers belong to participating institutions
  2. Confirm that their Authorization for RFB Privileges forms are signed by a valid signatory
  3. Issue the faculty members or researchers reciprocal library cards

Definitions

Home library: a SCELC Member library whose faculty borrows items from other participating SCELC Member libraries in the RFB program.

Lending library: a participating SCELC Member library that lends materials to faculty from other SCELC Member libraries in the RFB program.

RFB Policies

  1. SCELC Member libraries may extend borrowing privileges to faculty (or other qualified researchers as identified by the home library) from other participating SCELC Member libraries, subject to the policies and procedures documented in this agreement. This agreement does not extend privileges to students, staff, or courtesy borrowers.
  2. By signing the Authorization for RFB Privileges form, each home library assumes full responsibility for the payment of any fees incurred for damaged, unreturned, or lost materials by faculty members borrowing from a lending library.
  3. Each home library establishes the criteria to verify that the faculty member qualifies for a reciprocal card.
  4. Each lending library establishes the lending rules that govern the circulation of materials from its collection (e.g., the length of loan, the number of items that can be borrowed, cost of fines).
  5. Each lending library applies the same lending rules to all faculty in the reciprocal borrowing program from any of the other participating SCELC institutions.
  6. SCELC reciprocal borrowing periods are valid for one year, unless a shorter time period has been requested by the home library.
  7. Either the home or lending library can authorize:
    1. A temporary suspension of a faculty member’s privileges due to violation of the lending regulations; or
    2. A permanent revocation of privileges based on
      1. repeated failure to comply with lending rules; or
      2. termination of employment at the home institution.

RFB Procedures

  1. Home libraries screen each faculty member from their institution who wishes to obtain borrowing privileges. Upon the verification of qualifications,
    1. Faculty member completes the faculty information portion on the Authorization for RFB Privileges form.
    2. Home library completes and signs the library portion on the Authorization for RFB Privileges form.
    3. If the faculty member is requesting to borrow from multiple lending libraries, separate forms must be completed for each library.
  2. The faculty member must present the Authorization for RFB Privileges form, accompanied by picture identification (preferably an institutional identification card), and other documents required by the lending library, when registering for borrowing privileges at one of the lending libraries.
    1. The lending library will issue a card for courtesy borrowers and provide information on the privileges associated with the card, as well as other general information (e.g., library hours, parking regulations)
    2. The lending library retains the authorization form.
  3. Renewal of library privileges requires the same authorization process as with the initial card issuance to confirm that the faculty member is still affiliated with the home institution.
  4. In case of delinquent borrowing, the lending library will send recalls, overdue notices, and bills for items directly to the faculty member. If the notices and/or fees are not handled promptly, the home library will be notified and ultimately responsible for the charges incurred.