Reference Materials Circulation Policies

*Circulation Guidelines for Reference Materials
IC & Main Reference Collections

• Information Commons Reference materials DO NOT circulate.
• As a general rule, items in Main Reference DO NOT circulate.
• Exceptions for items in Main Reference must follow the procedure detailed below.

If a customer takes a Main Ref item to the Information Desk and ask to check the item out:
1. The MAT staff member or student assistant should call the appropriate subject selector.

Customers should be made aware that selectors may not immediately be available for consultation.

2. If the selector is available, he/she will be asked to allow or disallow the item to circulate and, if circulation is allowed, stipulate a loan period.

3. If the selector is not available, the item may not circulate.

• In this event, however, the MAT staff person should give the customer a copy of the Circulation of Reference Materials form with the relevant selector's name, phone number and e-mail address penciled in, so that the customer may contact the selector individually if they wish.
• This handout will 1) give the library guidelines on the circulation of reference materials, 2) have a place to insert the relevant selector, his/her phone number and e-mail address, and 3) suggest that the customer visit the IC reference desk to speak with a reference librarian to see if the needed information can be located either in an item that can be checked out, or in an online database.

4. If the selector approves the circulation of the material through e-mail, a copy of that e-mail correspondence provided by the customer will suffice as proof of approval. 24 hours will be the default loan term, should none be indicated.