Welcome to the Limestone University Library

General

The library's course reserves, interlibrary loan and copying polices are based on the fair use doctrine found in Section 107 of the U.S. copyright law (17 U.S.C. § 107), though reserves or interlibrary loan requests may also be subjected to independent consideration for fair use on a case by case basis.

For Limestone's copyright policy for online materials, please refer to the IT Technology Guidelines. 

For Limestone University's Compliance with the HEOA Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Policy, please click here.

For more information on copyright compliance, visit The Campus Guide to Copyright Compliance from the Copyright Clearance Center.

Reserves

We recommend that faculty and instructors submit their reserves request at least one week before the start of a new semester.

As a general rule, instructor- or library-owned items placed on reserve will be reviewed every year. Note however that the library will not accept the following instructor-owned/personal items as reserves: consumables, commercially-prepared course packs, materials that are not created/produced by the instructor (such as sample test questions, copies of media) and library-loaned items. 

To abide by fair use copyright guidelines, photocopied articles or chapters from books can remain on reserve for no more than one semester, if this use is determined to meet fair use guidelines. If you are planning on using photocopied items from semester to semester, copyright permissions must be secured. 

To obtain permission for photocopies: Consult The Copyright Clearance Center which has the right to grant permission and collect fees for photocopying rights for certain publications, or write directly to the publisher for permission. For smoother processing, allow plenty of lead time.

See Copyright.com for instructions on obtaining copyright permission. 

A week prior to the end of each Semester, the Library staff will send out emails/letters to each instructor who has items on reserve. A listing of the items the instructor has on reserve will be provided. The instructor should then notify the Library which items should be kept on reserve or removed. If there is no response from the instructor, the items will be removed from Reserve and returned to the instructor or to the Library collection as appropriate.

Interlibrary Loans and Copying

Interlibrary loan practices by this library are governed by copyright guidelines. These guidelines are determined by fair use considerations listed in the fair use guidelines and in the CONTU (Commission on New Technology Uses) Copyright Guidelines for photocopying under interlibrary loan arrangements.

These guidelines dictate annual limits on photocopy requests. The photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "Fair Use" that user may be liable for copyright infringement.*

 Per the CONTU guidelines,

• No more than one article per patron from the same journal title, volume, issue and year; if the issue was published within the last five calendar years;
• No more than 5 articles from a single journal title that has been published in the last five calendar years**

       Please contact Lizah Ismail if you have any questions or to find out more information about the library's Reserves, ILL and copying policies.

​*Borrowed from Northcentral Universtiy Library

**Borrowed from Northcentral University Library

• Student printing & copying - No charge
• Public black and white printing - $.25/ page 
• Public color printing - $.50/page
• Public copying - $.25/ page
• Overdue fine $.10/ day
• ILL/ reserve overdue fine - subject to $1.00/ day
• ILL request: Limestone University Library will only pay the first $15 fee charged (if applicable)
• For ILL requests, Limestone University Library will pay up to $25 in postage per semester per student/faculty/staff.
• PASCAL item overdue fee - $100.00
• Laptop overdue $1.00/ day
• Laptop damage - Replacement cost/repair charges
• Lost/ damaged books - Replacement cost plus $5.00
• Lost/damaged DVDs - $5.00 processing (may incur additional costs determined on a case by case basis).
• Laminating - Students $.50 linear foot / Public $1.00 linear foot
• Ear Buds - $1.00 each
• Flash Drives (1 GB) - $5.00 each

Any student who loses, damages, or fails to return library materials will be fined according to the policies listed on the library’s web site. No one with outstanding fines will be permitted to borrow additional materials until accounts are cleared. If a student believes that an error has occurred, he/she should contact the library immediately. Outstanding fines will be subjected to the same policies adhered to by the Business Office for Holds on student accounts.

Students

• Must have a valid LCard (ID) or photo ID to borrow materials.
• Books - due on the last day of class (unlimited)
• Best Sellers - 2 week loan period (limit 2)
• Checked out materials may be renewed once with permission from the library staff.
• Reserves - 2 hour in library use only unless faculty give permission for overnight use
• Laptops - in-house use only (Laptop Policy)
• iPads - in-house only (same as laptop policy)

Faculty and Staff

• Books due at the end of the semester
• Best Sellers - 2 week loan period (limit 2)
• AV Equipment - up to a 14 day loan period
• Laptops - in-house use only (Laptop Policy)
• Reserves, periodicals, Reference
• iPads - in-house use only (see IT Department for loans outside of the library)

Alumni

• Books - 2 week loan period (limit 3)
• Best Sellers - 2 week loan period (limit 2)
• Alumni of Limestone University may obtain a courtesy checkout card for $10 with a $5 renewal fee per year if in good standing

Community Patrons

• Books - 2 week loan period (limit 3)
• Residents of Cherokee County, SC may obtain a courtesy checkout card for $10 with a $5 renewal fee per year if in good standing

Theft or removal of library items without checking them out first is a serious offense. Please refer to the library’s policies on theft of library materials.

Patrons removing materials from the library without checking them out will be dealt with in the following manner:

• 1st Offense –     placed on probationary list for the remainder of the year and checked before leaving the library for improperly checked-out materials
• 2nd Offense –   fined for any theft ($25 - magazine or pamphlet, $50 - book from stacks)
• 3rd Offense –    library privileges suspended and crime reported to Campus Security for prosecution

An incident report will be made out for each occurrence, with a copy going to the Vice President (Dean) for Student Services, one to the patron’s advisor, and another kept on file in the library.

Overdue notices are sent as a courtesy; check Your Library Account  for updated information on fines, holds, and overdue items. Please notify the library of account errors. Accounts must be in good standing for students to receive grades and register for classes.

• An item is assumed lost at 30 days overdue.
• Lost items and those damaged beyond repair are billed at the replacement cost of the item plus a $5.00 processing fee. If a replacement cost cannot be determined, the student will be billed the default price ($40.00) plus the $5.00 processing fee.
• If an assumed lost item is returned prior to payment of the bill, the lost fee is replaced by the overdue fee ($0.10/day).
• If the item is found after paying the bill, all but the $5.00 processing fee and any associated overdue fees will be reimbursed.

The Limestone University Library is open to Limestone University students, faculty and staff as well as the general public. 

The Limestone University Library is committed to maintaining an environment conducive to study and research.  The Library expects users to conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful of other library users, staff, materials, and facilities. 

The Limestone University Library does not permit disruptive behavior.   Examples of disruptive behavior include but are not limited to:

• Behavior that is unsafe, putting the individual, other library users or library staff at risk of harm.
• Behavior that contributes to excessive noise levels, including but not limited to loud talking, shouting, screaming, making other loud noises, or using cellular phones in a loud manner.  Loudness, duration, and location of the behavior are all factors that will be considered in determining whether the disruption policy has been violated.
• Behavior that damages the property of the library or of other users, including but not limited to marking or destroying materials, furniture or facilities.
• Behavior that is verbally or physically abusive, harassing or threatening to library staff or other library users.
• Smoking or use of other tobacco products.
• Misappropriation or misuse of library resources, including but not limited to equipment, furniture, and services.
• Bringing animals, with the exception of service animals, into library facilities.
• Behavior that is prohibited by other rules or policies of the College or by other applicable laws.

Failure to comply with these guidelines, when inappropriate behavior is brought to your attention, may result in our requesting that you to leave the Library premises immediately.

Library staff members will take appropriate steps to end disruptions.  Depending on the nature of the disruption, more than one staff member may need to investigate a disruption.

• When disruptive behavior is identified, the library staff member(s) will request that the library user(s) discontinue the disruptive behavior.
• If the disruptive behavior continues or resumes, the library staff member(s) will either ask the library user(s) to leave the library or call the Office of Security & Safety to come and intervene, depending on the nature of the disruption

Children cannot be monitored and supervised by library staff. Therefore, children under the age of 16 entering the library must be accompanied and supervised by an adult over the age of 18. Unaccompanied children under the age of 16 will be asked to leave the library. Unaccompanied children must produce identification showing they are 16 years old or over. Exception will only be made for children participating in College-sponsored activities scheduled to occur in the library. Parents, guardians, and caretakers are responsible for the conduct of their children on library premises, and must provide close supervision at all times. In cases where children are not closely supervised or library rules are broken, library staff will ask parents or caretakers to take the children out of the building.