Library

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Services for Special/Town Borrowers

  • What are the library's hours?
  • What borrowing privileges are available to non-Wesleyan users?

    • Although Wesleyan University is a private institution and our first priority is to students, faculty, staff, and administration of Wesleyan, the libraries are open to all users for research purposes and for access to the U.S. federal government depository collection.  

      Non-Wesleyan affiliated users may use any and all publicly-accessible resources and services not currently being used or needed by Wesleyan users. The CTW borrowing system, Interlibrary Loan, and many of the restricted online databases are not permitted. Reference assistance is available on a limited basis. Publicly-accessible resources include photocopiers, microforms and microform readers, computers and online resources that do not require logins or passwords to access. Printing is available only to the Wesleyan community; non-Wesleyan users may bring a disk or flash drive for downloading if needed.

      Individual assistance to non-Wesleyan users will be provided after the Wesleyan community is served. CTW and interlibrary loan services, reserve materials, group and individual instruction, classes, and unscheduled tours are not available to non-Wesleyan users. Teachers bringing groups of students to Wesleyan for special research assignments must call and speak to someone in the library office at least a week in advance to determine whether such a group can be accommodated.

      Non-Wesleyan users should keep in mind that at various times of the academic year the library's resources are in heavy demand. Non-Wesleyan users may be asked to give up resources (books, computers, study space, etc) that are needed by Wesleyan users. Visitors should plan accordingly.

      A Library Card may be obtained year round from the Olin Library Circulation Office 115, M-F 9am-5pm, and during academic year on Saturday from 10am - noon, 1-5. A town borrower's card can be purchased in person or on-line.
  • What borrowing privileges are available to non-Wesleyan faculty and students?
    • Connecticut College and Trinity College faculty, staff, and students may borrow items from Wesleyan upon presentation of their valid, linked ID card.

      Active faculty of Middlesex Community College receive free borrowing privileges. (Students may obtain borrowing privileges for a fee, based on their place of residence...see below).

      Active faculty and students of Holy Apostles College and Seminary receive free borrowing privileges.

      Faculty and students of other colleges may not borrow library items directly from Wesleyan, but may use our materials in the libraries. Requests to borrow materials may be submitted through their own institution's ILL office.

      If faculty and students are in residence in the Middletown area, and are doing extended research, they may apply to the University Librarian, Olin 202, for borrowing privileges.
  • What borrowing privileges are availble to local teachers and clergy?
    • Active teachers in the Middletown public and parochial schools, and local clergy, regardless of place of residence, may apply for borrowing privileges with no fee.
  • What is the cost of obtaining a town borrower's card?
    • A town borrower's card is issued at the cost of $35.00 per year for the residents of the local communities of Middletown, Cromwell, Durham, Haddam, Higganum, Middlefield and Portland. All other Connecticut residents are issued a library card at a cost of $70.00 per year. A library card can be purchased on-line.
  • May high school students use library resources?
    • High school students who live in the state of Connecticut may apply for borrowing privileges upon presentation of an individual letter of introduction from their school librarian, and upon payment of the appropriate fee as described above.
  • What are the circulation policies?
    • Library cards expire annually with renewals available upon payment of the annual fee.

      ID cards are nontransferable, and may not be used by anyone other than the person to whom they were issued. All library users assume responsibility for notifying the library of change of address, loss or theft of the ID card, and loss or theft of books charged to them. Receipts for returned items are available upon request. You also accept responsibility for the materials borrowed on your ID card and for returning them to the library by the due date.

      Should you encounter any difficulty with your ID, please come to the Circulation Office in Olin Library 115. If you have questions concerning ID cards or library circulation issues in general, please call 860-685-3877 or send e-mail to circ@wesleyan.edu.

      Maximum number of items in circulation at one time: 10

      Loan period: Books and government documents circulate for 28 days; bound periodicals for 14 days. All other item types are not available for loan.

      Renewals: There is no limit to the number of times an item may be renewed, provided it is not needed by another library user. Telephone renewals are accepted at (860) 685-3967 from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday. You may also renew your items online, click "Renew Items" from the library home page. "My Account" page will prompt you to log in with your Wes ID, and your last name. You must renew your books via online catalog before they are overdue.

      Suspension of privileges: Library privileges may be suspended if one or more item is overdue, if $35 in unpaid fines have been accumulated, or if one recalled item is overdue.

      Fees/Fines: Replacement fees for lost library materials are billed at a rate of $50.00 per item or the cost of the book if higher, along with a processing fee of $35.00 per item. The overdue recall fine is $7.00/day to a $70.00 maximum.
  • Which library services are unavailable to special borrowers?
    • CTW, Interlibrary Loans, or Online Databases:

      The CTW borrowing system, Interlibrary Loan, and many of the restricted online databases are not permitted to non-Wesleyan users. This restriction is due to our contractual obligations to the database vendors.

      Reference services are available only on a limited basis.
  • Are circulation records confidential?
    • Wesleyan University Library is committed to the protection of the privacy rights of all of its students, faculty, staff and other library users. In the spirit of CT state law C.G.S.A. § 11-25, and in accordance with the American Library Association policy on "Confidentiality of Library Records," all library records are considered to be confidential transactions. Library staff will not release the name of any person to whom an item is currently charged, nor will they release past circulation records (this includes interlibrary loans). For exceptions, individual faculty, students and staff must request, in writing, that the library is authorized to share circulation information with other persons who might request such information. Persons making requests for circulation information must state the specific purpose for which the data is being used. If faculty and students would like to share their circulation information with each other, both parties must agree in writing to this arrangement and be approved by the University Librarian. All exceptions must be submitted in writing to the University Librarian, Olin Library, Room 202A.