Borrowing Policies

Borrowing Privileges, Renewals, Holds & Recalls, Book Searches, Reserve Materials, Videos/Films, Tests & Assessments, Museum Passes

1. Can I have materials put on hold or recalled if I need them and they are out?

If an item you need is in circulation you may request that the material be placed on hold for you at the Circulation desk when it is returned. You may also place holds using the My Account feature in the Library's catalog. You will be notified by mail or e-mail, when the book is returned. All holds must be picked up at the Circulation desk. Hold items will be reshelved if not picked up within 7 days.

All items that circulate for more than seven days are subject to recall. You must come to the Circulation desk to place a recall on an item.
 
If you are the holder of recalled materials your loan period will be shortened. You may keep a recalled item for no more than 14 days (students) or 45 days (faculty and staff). If an item has been recalled and you have had it for more than this guaranteed loan period, you will be required to return the item so that the next patron may borrow it.
 
Holds and recalls are only available to students, faculty, staff and alumni. Guest Borrowers are not permitted to place holds or recalls on library materials.
 

2. Can I renew books? For how long? How do I do it?

Materials may be renewed once, if no one else has requested the item, and if the item is not overdue. Renewals can be handled over the phone, in person, or online through the Library's catalog. Please renew your items either the day before or on the day the item is due. Once an item is overdue, you must bring the item to the library to check it out for another borrowing period.

 

3. Does the Library have museum passes? How can I get one?

Wheelock College Library has passes to the following museums:

  • Boston Children's Museum
  • Franklin Park Zoo / Stone Zoo
  • Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
  • John F. Kennedy Library and Museum
  • Museum of Fine Arts
  • Museum of Science
  • Peabody Essex Museum
Museum passes circulate ONLY to Wheelock College faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Patrons may borrow no more than one pass at a time. All Wheelock undergraduate students can obtain free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts by showing their valid Wheelock College ID card.
 

4. Does the Library have videos? Can I check them out?

The Library currently holds three separate video/DVD collections.

  • Most videos/DVDs are shelved on Floor 2 and may be borrowed by current Wheelock faculty, students and staff ONLY. 
  • There is a small collection of videos/DVDs that are shelved alphabetically by title behind the Circulation Desk. These titles consist of ones which are frequently requested and used by faculty members and may be borrowed by current Wheelock faculty, students and staff ONLY for one day only and are due back by noon the following day. 
  • There is a circulating collection of juvenile videocassettes and DVDs housed in the Library Conference Room on Floor 2M.

 

5. How do I take out books or course reserves? Do I need my ID?

In order to check out library materials you must present a valid Wheelock ID, a valid FLO card or a valid ID from another library in the Fenway Library Consortium (FLC).

Course reserves are available only to current Wheelock students. Your ID will be held behind the Circulation Desk until your item(s) is returned.

 

6. How long can I check something out for? (Borrowing Privileges)

This will depend on the type of material and whther you are a student, faculty or staff member, or not affiliated with Wheelock.  The Borrowing Privileges page gives complete information. 

 

7. How long can I take a reserve out for? How do I check them out?

Materials put on reserve for a class are designated either Library Use Only or Overnight Use. Overnight materials will be due by noon the next day.

To access the reserve collection, patrons must present a photo I.D.  Reserve materials may include books, photocopies or personal copies that have been assigned by faculty as required reading during a specific semester as well as videos and tests/assessments.
 

8. I can't find a book that is supposed to be available. (Book Searches)

If you cannot locate a book that the Library catalog indicates is Available, fill out a “Book Search Form” at the circulation desk on Floor 1.  Library staff will search for the item and notify you of the search results within four weeks.

 

9. What are the policies about tests and assessments?

Authorized undergraduates may borrow one test at a time for three days; authorized graduate students may borrow one test at a time for 7 days.

  • Overdue tests and assessments will be subject to fines at the rate of $5.00 per test per day. 
  • Patrons with special circumstances may request an extension to the due date with faculty consent. 
  • Patrons with overdue tests and assessments will be blocked from charging any other library materials as soon as the test becomes overdue.
  • Materials that are more than five days overdue will be deemed "lost." Patrons will be billed the replacement cost of the test (plus a $10.00 processing fee as for all lost materials).

 

10. Who can check out materials from the Wheelock Library? (Borrower Eligibility)

To check out materials from the Wheelock College Library, all patrons must have a valid Wheelock College ID or a valid Fenway Libraries Online (FLO) library card.

The following people are eligible for Fenway Libraries Online (FLO) library cards:
  • Wheelock students, faculty, administrators and staff.  National, regional and international students may come to the Wheelock College Library to check out materials or use Inter-Library Loan services from affiliated or nearby public libraries. The Wheelock College Library is not able to directly mail materials to national, regional and international students.
  • Non-matriculating Wheelock Associate Degree and Graduate students enrolled in courses during the current semester.
  • Wheelock alumni with a valid Library/Resource Center card for the current year. If you do not have a Library card, please come to the Library Circulation desk. You will be required to register and pay a $20 alumni fee.
  • Students, faculty, administrators and staff from FLO libraries with FLO cards (FLO member patrons who do not have cards must register at their own institutions).
  • Students, faculty and staff with a valid ID from a Fenway Libraries Consortium institution (Hebrew College, Simmons College, Suffolk University, Brookline Public Library, Roxbury Community College, and U. Mass. Boston).
  • Guest borrowers with a valid Library/Resource Center card for the current year. If you do not have a Library card, please come to the Library Circulation desk. You will be required to register and pay a $40 fee.