Library Policies

Circulation & Borrowing

  • How To Get A Library Card

    • NMC and University Center students, faculty and staff: Bring your NMC ID card to the library service desk to activate your library card. If you don’t have an NMC ID card, bring a photo ID.
    • Public patrons: Community members are welcome to get a library card and borrow items. Bring a picture ID to the library service desk to get registered for a card.

  • Borrowing Books & Periodicals

    • General Loan Periods

      Item Type

      Faculty / Staff

      Students

      Community

      Renewals

      Periodicals (Magazines/Journals)

      3 weeks

      3 weeks

      3 weeks

      2

      Books (including. New Books)

      1 semester

      3 weeks

      3 weeks

      2

      Leisure Books

      3 weeks

      3 weeks

      3 weeks

      2

      Picture Books

      7 days

      7 days

      7 days

      2
    • MeLCat Materials: MeLCat books can be checked out for 4 weeks, with one optional renewal; media can be checked out for 2 or 4 weeks depending on the originating lending library's policy.
    • Newspapers and Reference Books: These are for library use only, and cannot be checked out.
    • Fines: We do not charge overdue fines for any of the above items. Patrons are still responsible for replacement costs for lost items. Overdue items are considered lost 4 weeks past the due date. Fines in excess of $10.00 will result in the temporary suspension of library borrowing privileges and placement on academic hold.
    • Holds: If the item you want is unavailable, we encourage you to place a hold. Once fulfilled, requests are held at the service desk for up to 10 days.

  • Borrowing Textbooks & Technology

    • Textbook & Equipment Loan Periods

      Item Type

      NMC Student Loan Period

      Calculators

      4 hours

      Phone chargers

      2 hours

      Closed Reserve Textbooks

      2 hours (some exceptions)

      Open Reserve Textbooks

      3 weeks (some exceptions)

      Chromebooks

      current semester

      WiFi Hotspots

      current semester
    • Borrowing privileges: Due to high demand, textbooks and technology equipment are reserved for NMC student use.
    • Renewals: Renewals are permitted as long as no other students are waiting. While most items may be renewed in a patron's online account, chromebooks, Wi-Fi hotspots, and textbooks must be renewed by emailing library@nmc.edu or calling the Service Desk at (231) 995-1060.
    • Fines: Overdue fines for high-demand items accrue at a rate of $1 per day, up to the cost of replacement. Fines in excess of $10.00 will result in the temporary suspension of library borrowing privileges and placement on academic hold.
    • Due to high demand, textbooks and technology equipment are reserved for NMC student use.
    • Replacement Fees

      Item

      Cost

      Chromebook

      $300

      Chromebook power cord

      $25

      Chromebook case

      $10

      WiFi Hotspot

      $100

      WiFi power cord & adapter

      $10

      WiFi case

      $5

      Textbook

      Cost of book

  • Returning Library Materials

    • Books may be returned at the following NMC locations:
    • NMC Library Circulation Desk (Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, 2nd Floor)
    • Blue library drop box in the Birch lot behind the Osterlin Building
    • Library equipment, such as Chromebooks and WiFi hotspots, should not be put in drop boxes. please return these items to the library service desk in person.

Computing & Printing

  • Library Computers

    • Library computers are provided primarily for the purpose of student coursework, research and communications at NMC. Community patrons may use library computers to access our databases, search the catalog or for personal use. However, librarians will prioritize computer access for NMC students’ coursework during times of high demand.
    • Software cannot be downloaded or installed to library computers. Plan to save files to external hardware, NMC network storage or the cloud, as any files saved to the computer’s hard drive will be removed at the end of your session.
    • All users must comply with NMC's Computer and Network Acceptable Use policy.

  • Wireless Internet Access

  • Printing, Copying & Scanning

    • Black-and-white copy machines and black-and-white/color printers are available in the library.
    • For NMC students, staff and faculty: black-and-white printing is free; color printing is free up to 20 pages, 25¢ per page starting with the 21st page.
    • Public users can print or make copies in black-and-white for 10¢ per page, 25¢ per page for color.
    • Email-to-Print is enabled on library printers to print directly from laptops, phones and other devices.

  • Faxing

Acceptable Use Of Facilities & Equipment

  • Acceptable Use

    • NMC Library strives to create a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment for learners to connect to useful information, new perspectives, and each other. As such, the library prohibits any behavior or activity that:

      1. Compromises library users’ privacy
      2. Constitutes harassment or a threat to the safety of library users
      3. Interferes with library users’ ability to access and use library facilities and collections
      4. Interferes with the operations, programs, and activities of the library

  • Cell Phones

    • Quiet, non-disruptive use of cell phones is permitted in the library. Please use your phone discreetly and take extended conversations to the lobby on the building’s first floor.

  • Food & Drink

    • Careful, responsible consumption of food and beverages is permitted.

  • Photography & Recording

    • NMC Library is a space for students, faculty, staff, and members of the public to use for research and individual or collaborative study. NMC Library permits photography and other forms of recording (videography, filming, audio, etc.) under the conditions listed below to the extent that it complies with the law and does not interfere with the Library's operations, programs, and activities.

      1. Photography and other recording forms are permitted for patrons and visitors, provided these activities do not capture any identifiable likenesses of any library users without their permission. Anyone photographing or recording within the library must not engage in illegal, harassing, loud, or disruptive conduct. Public disturbances interfering with the library’s operations, programs, and activities are unacceptable.  
      2. To protect privacy interests, library users may not take distinguishable photographs, video recordings, or audio recordings of library users’ materials, computer screens, computer history, or printed documents.
      3. Any individual who agrees to be recorded, photographed, or filmed within the library may revoke permission at any time. All library users agree to comply with the terms of this policy and other library rules and regulations.

  • Consequences Of Unacceptable Library Use

    • Warnings will be given by library staff before a person is asked to leave library premises.
    • Student library users disregarding a warning and continuing to violate the above rules will be asked to leave the library and will be subject to disciplinary action via the procedures outlined in NMC Staff Policy D-602.01 Student Rights and Responsibilities - Process.
    • Non-student library users’ continued disregard for the above policies may result in the revocation of library privileges.
    • Library users whose privileges are withheld for any duration pursuant to the above rules may appeal to the Library Director.

Intellectual Freedom & Privacy Of Records

Other Policies

  • Collection Development

    • You can read detailed information about the considerations that inform the collection development and maintenance activities of the library in our Collection Development Policy.

  • Gifts & Donations

    • Gifts fitting the library’s parameters are accepted, with the understanding that the library may add them to the collection at its discretion or dispose of them if they do not meet the standards for selection. As a general rule, gift books will be added to the collection based on the same criteria as purchased material. The library reserves the right to determine the retention, location, cataloging treatment, and other considerations related to the use or disposition of all gifts. The library assumes no responsibility for appraisal of gift items, nor can the library accept items under restricted conditions.
    • As we have limited space, the following limitations apply to our ability to accept donations.
    • We can accept donations in quantities of 30 books or less; rare exceptions may be made in cases of extremely relevant collections.
    • Donation inquiries should be submitted for consideration using the NMC Library Donation Screening Form.
    • We cannot accept any of the following:
      • Advance Reading Copies/Galleys/Preview copies
      • Books that are underlined, torn, or otherwise in poor condition
      • Books with mildew or musty smell
      • Encyclopedia sets
      • Non-book items (some exceptions may apply)
      • Textbooks over 5 years old
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