Policies for Borrowing Materials
All library materials are borrowed and returned at the Circulation desk. There is a Circulation desk at both libraries (Seymour Library and the Science-Mathematics Library). Patrons must present a valid Knox College ID card to check out materials. Guests may use materials within the library and may inquire at the circulation desk about applying for a guest card.
Loan periods: students | faculty and staff
Suspension of borrowing privileges
See also the I-Share FAQ and the ILLiad FAQ for information about policies related to materials borrowed from other libraries.
Contact Anne Giffey, Assistant Librarian for Public Services, 309-341-7483 with problems or questions about your library account.
Loan Periods for Students
| Books/scores | 5 weeks (Honors students, 1 term) |
| Videos/DVDs* | 3 days |
| Music CDs* | 7 days |
| Reserves | 2 hours (or determined by instructor) |
| Non-music audio | 5 weeks (Honors students, 1 term) |
| Software/CD-ROMs | 5 weeks (Honors students, 1 term) |
| Laptops |
3 hours: may be used in Seymour library only |
| I-Share loans |
28 days; non-print 14 days; see also the I-Share FAQ |
| ILLiad loans |
set by the lending library; see also the ILLiad FAQ |
*Patrons are limited to three videos or DVDs or CDs at a time.
Periodicals, newspapers, microform, reference materials and Special Collections materials do not circulate. Honors students may begin renewing materials 14 days before term end for the next term.
Loan Periods for Faculty & Staff
| Books/scores | 13 weeks |
| Videos/DVDs | 3 days |
| Music CDs | 7 days |
| Reserves | 24 hours |
| Non-music audio | 13 weeks |
| Software/CD-ROMs | 13 weeks |
| Reference material | 24 hours |
| Laptops | 3 hours: may be used in Seymour library only |
| I-Share loans |
28 days; non-print 14 days; see also the I-Share FAQ |
| ILLiad loans |
set by the lending library; see also the ILLiad FAQ |
Periodicals, microforms, and Special Collections materials do not circulate.
Fines
| Material | Students | Faculty/Staff | |
| Books | $.50 per day | N/A | |
| Videos/DVDs/CDs | $1.00 per day | N/A | |
| Reserves | $.05 per minute | N/A | |
| Recalls | $1.00 per day | $1.00 per day | |
| ILLiad loans | $1.00 per day | $1.00 per day | |
| Laptops | $.05 per minute | $.05 per minute | |
| I-Share loans | replacement cost after 29 days overdue | ||
Replacement charges for lost materials are determined on a case by case basis.
Suspension of Borrowing Privileges
Borrowing privileges for Knox Library patrons will be suspended when certain policy limits are reached. A suspension of I-Share borrowing (and request) privileges will also result when a patron reaches limits on I-Share policies.
| Policy | Limit: Students | Limit: Faculty/Staff | Suspension |
| Fines owed to the Knox Library |
$25.00 | $999.00 | All borrowing privileges |
| Number of overdue Knox Library items | 10 | 100 | All borrowing privileges |
| Number of lost Knox Library items |
2 | 2 | All borrowing privileges |
| Number of "claimed returned" Knox Library items |
2 | 2 | All borrowing privileges |
| Fines owed to I-Share libraries |
$200.00 | $200.00 | I-Share borrowing privileges |
| Number of overdue I-Share items |
25 | 25 | I-Share borrowing privileges |
| Number of lost I-Share items |
3 | 3 | I-Share borrowing privileges |
| Number of "claimed returned" I-Share items |
10 | 10 | I-Share borrowing privileges |
Borrowing policies for course reserves
- A valid Knox ID must be presented at the Circulation Desk in order to check out reserve materials.
- A maximum of 2 reserves may be checked out at one time.
- Reserves may be renewed once. Renewals may be done in person, on the phone or on your Knox Library account via the library catalog.
- Circulation periods vary (2, 3, 4 and 24 hours); please return materials on time.
- Reserves may leave the building, except for OPEN reserves and LAPTOPS.
- Reserves checked out within 2 hours of closing time may be kept overnight until one hour after the library opens the next day.
- Fines for reserves are $.05 for every minute late. Please return reserves on time.
Renewals
Library materials may be renewed once remotely, either online via the My Account page in the library catalog or by telephone (309-341-7246). Please bring materials to the library circulation desk for subsequent renewals. For help with your library account, click here.
Renewals for materials borrowed via I-Share may be requested through the My Account page in the library catalog. Renewal of I-Share material is at the discretion of the lending library. To renew I-Share items, log into your library account (see instructions above and here). Select the items to renew, click Renew Selected Items button, and the due date will either immediately update or you will immediately be notified that the item cannot be renewed. Faculty and staff are allowed six renewals. Students are allowed three renewals.
ILLiad renewals may be renewed through our interlibrary loan system. Renewal of interlibrary loan material is at the discretion of the lending library. For more information on how to renew items in ILLiad, please see the FAQ.
Returning Materials
All materials should be returned to the Circulation desk where the item was originally checked out.
If the library is closed, materials may be deposited in the bookdrop behind Seymour Library, or through the front door of the Science & Math Center Library. Materials should not be placed in the bookdrop during hours the library is open.
Reserves, because of their time-sensitive nature, should be returned in person to the Circulation desk of the respective library, unless the library is closed.
