Library Users Handbook
Mission Statement
The Miller Library staff strives to support Cornerstone University’s mission by assisting members of the university community to acquire knowledge by offering access to, instruction in and interaction with information resources. To accomplish this, the staff of the library will:
• Be highly qualified and flexible, committed to continuous learning, leadership development, and integration of Christian worldview;
• Maintain active collection development, maintenance, and organization to assure library users of relevant and accessible information resources;
• Provide and facilitate user access to the library’s information resources;
• Stimulate and instruct library users in developing information literacy, critical thinking, and Christian worldview formation;
• Engage in Christian leadership and stewardship in administration, planning, assessment, and budgeting
Privacy of Circulation Records
Miller Library will protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and materials consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.
Patrons
Cornerstone University Faculty and Staff
Faculty and staff of Cornerstone University have full borrowing, electronic resource access, Interlibrary Loan, MelCat, and document delivery privileges. University ID cards serve as library cards for this group of patrons. There is no limit to the number of items this group of patrons may check out.
Cornerstone University Students
Students who are currently registered for classes have the same library services available to them as faculty and staff but some privileges and loan rules will vary.
Alumni Patrons
Persons who have attended Cornerstone University or Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music may request an alumni library card. Alumni patrons may have up to 10 items checked out to them at a time. They do not have interlibrary loan or MeLCat privileges and do not have off-campus access to the online resources. Alumni patrons may use electronic resources within the library in accordance with the Miller Library Computer Policy.
Guest Patrons
Persons who are not connected to Cornerstone University as a student, faculty, staff, or alumni may become guest patrons by participating in the Michicard Program, sponsored by the Library of Michigan. Guests must acquire a Michicard sticker from their local library before obtaining a library card from Miller Library. Guest cards expire at the end of the calendar year but are renewable upon request provided the guest is in good standing with Miller Library. Guest patrons are permitted to borrow up to 5 items at a time.
Guest patrons may use the resources within the library but may not check out reserve, non-print, or Curriculum Center materials. They do not have interlibrary loan or MeLCat privileges and do not have off-campus access to the online resources. Guest patrons may use electronic resources within the library in accordance with the Miller Library Computer Policy.
Before using the public access computers within the library, guests are required to register upon entrance to the library and are subject to restrictions outlined in the Miller Library Computer Policy.
Kaplan Patrons
Kaplan patrons are those persons who are registered students with the Kaplan educational centers. They must present their Kaplan student ID card before a Miller Library card can be issued. Kaplan patrons are permitted to check out only Kaplan material but are permitted to check out headphones and tape recorders. If a Kaplan student desires to check out material from the library’s collection, they must have a Michicard sticker on their local library card and request that a separate Guest Patron account be set up for them.
Visiting MeLCat Patrons
Miller Library participates in MeLCat, a statewide resource sharing catalog of over 150 libraries. Students, faculty and staff of Cornerstone University may borrow items free of charge from any of these libraries using the MeLCat link. As part of a reciprocal agreement, patrons of participating MeLCat libraries may come in person to borrow material from Miller Library under their status as a Visiting MeLCat patron. Visiting MeLCat patrons need to be in good standing with their own participating MeLCat library before checking out material from Miller Library.
Borrowing Materials
Loan Periods
The standard loan period for circulating materials for students, alumni, and guest patrons is four weeks (28 days). Except for reserve items, all other borrowed materials are subject to recall if another patron places a hold on the item. A patron will be notified via email of the item’s new due date.
Renewals
If materials are needed for longer than the normal borrowing period, they may be renewed at Miller Library or online at the Miller Library website. In unusual circumstances, materials may be renewed over the phone with user verification.
Holds for Requested Material
A hold enables a borrower to reserve the next use of an item that is currently in circulation. Several patrons may place a hold on the same item; a queue, by request date, will be used to distribute the item fairly. A patron will be notified via email of the item’s availability when it is returned.
Accountability for Loans
Borrowers are responsible for returning all materials checked out in their name on time and in good condition. Borrowers will be liable for replacement costs, including a processing fee and billing fee for materials lost or damaged while materials are checked out to them.
Overdue/Lost Materials
Items that are not returned by the due date are considered overdue. An overdue notice will be emailed to the patron three days after the item is due. The patron’s borrowing privileges are blocked at this time. If the item is still not returned within 11 more days, (14 total) a replacement bill is sent. This will include a $40 default cost for any item, a $30 processing fee, and a $5 billing fee, for a total of $75. If the material is later returned, the charges would be removed except for the $5 billing fee, per item.
Faculty members with lost items will be charged a $40 default cost for any item, and a $5 billing fee for each item.
Account Blocks
Blocks are placed on a patron’s record to suspend privileges until materials are returned and/or financial obligations are cleared. Patrons with faculty privileges are not assessed fines, but they are responsible for replacement costs. Long overdue materials will result in computer-generated blocks, as will non-compliance with recall notices.
Interlibrary Loan
If you need an item that is not available in Miller Library, you may use our interlibrary loan service. Our goal in the Interlibrary Loan department is to provide materials you need from other libraries in a timely manner. We offer two ways to request materials from other libraries.
MeLCat is a catalog of over 100 libraries in Michigan that cooperate to share materials within the state. Your requests go directly to another Michigan library that owns the material and is delivered through a service that comes to Cornerstone 5 times a week.
For material not available through MeLCat, we use a program called ILLiad to process and record your requests. Please register to use this free program so that you can take advantage of our services. If you need help with ILLiad or have any questions, please email us at illiad@cornerstone.edu, call 616-949-5300 ext. 1976 or stop by the ILL office in person. Our office is located in the Technical Services area of the library (along the north wall just past the Circulation Desk). See our Interlibrary Loan Policy is online.
Document Delivery Service
The Document Delivery department will provide materials from the Miller Library collection requested by distance education patrons. Items will have the normal circulation period (see handbooks). Return postage is the responsibility of the borrower and must be postmarked by the due date to avoid any fines. Returnable items will only be sent within the United States, but non-returnable items may be sent internationally. Distance Education students are those who do not attend class at the Grand Rapids campus. (See Distance Education Policy).
Other Services
Reserves
The Reserve system is available for professors to place class materials in the library for a limited amount of time. Items on reserve are located at the Circulation Desk and may be checked out for the amount of time specified by the professor. Holds and recalls may not be placed on these items nor may they be renewed. A limit of five reserve items can be checked out at any time. Availability of reserve items can be viewed at the Miller Library web site. A $1 charge is incurred for every time unit (hour or day) after the due date. Week reserves use the day unit when calculating the charge.
Research Services
The staff of Miller Library is availible to provide assistance to library users in finding information, instruction in using the library's online catalog and the many subscription electronic databases. The Research Desk can be consulted in person, by phone (616-222-1458), by email, or by using the Ask-a-Librarian form. Appointments for research assistance may be made with a reference librarian.University Archives
The archives room in Miller Library houses diverse collections: 1- Historical records of CU since its inception, including yearbooks, presidential papers from all of CU’s presidents, significant transitions, accreditation and committee reports, CU publications such as the Herald (1966-present), thousands of photographs, etc; 2- Collections of various organizations and individuals related to CU (such as the handwritten sermons of Dr. R. Ketchum); 3-A small collection of rare books and historic journals. An index to the various collections can be found on the Library website. Archive materials may not be checked out and researchers must have an appointment to use the room.Email Notification
All communication to patrons from Miller Library is done via email. Circulation notices are sent by default to a patron’s Cornerstone email address. Students, faculty and staff may request an alternate email address by contacting Technology Support at 616-222-1510. Print notices will be mailed only if the email bounces back to the library. Guest and Alumni patrons should provide an email address when applying for a library card.
Services for the Physically Disadvantaged
Library Circulation workers at the front desk will retrieve items from the stacks for patrons unable to do so. Contact the Circulation Desk to request this service.AV Equipment
Some audio/visual equipment such as calculators, headphones, CD/cassette players, and video viewer remote controls are available at the Circulation desk to be check out similar to a Reserve item. These items cannot leave the library. The library has a DVD player, TV/VCR units, and a turntable available for patrons to use in the library.
Computers in the Library
Cornerstone Issued Laptops
Patrons with Cornerstone issued laptops may connect to the campus network in the library. The entire library is equipped for a wireless connection to the campus computer network. Additionally, wired network ports are available on the second floor of the library and at a designated area on the first floor in the student computer lab.
Personal Non-Cornerstone Laptops
Cornerstone University community members are able to use a wireless network in the library using their personal laptop. For directions contact Technology Support at 616-222-1510 for assistance and instructions or click here.
Reference Computers
Miller Library is equipped with several reference computers which have been designated for scholarly research and educational purposes and are to be used in accordance with the Miller Library Computer Policy.
Group Study Rooms
There are two group study rooms available on the second floor and a group study area in the microform room on the first floor. Please inquire at the Circulation desk for reservations or use the form on the Eagles’s Nest.
Photocopy /Microform Machines
Two copiers are available on the first floor and one on the second floor for public use. Students, faculty and staff may use their Cornerstone ID cards as copy cards. A cash-to-card machine allows patrons to place money on the card in increments of $1. Copies made with Cornerstone ID Cards are $.07 each. Patrons using the library’s copy card will be charged $.10 per copy. Patrons may also make copies using the microform reader printer for $.10 a copy. Color printing is not available in the library.
Off Campus Access
Most of Miller Library’s eResources can be accessed from off campus by members of the Cornerstone Community. Click on the eResource you wish to access and enter your name and your Cornerstone ID number (the nonzero digits found on your ID card) when prompted.
Library Etiquette
In order to best serve our entire campus community the following guidelines have been established for all patrons using Miller Library. Patrons not willing to adhere to these guidelines will be asked to leave the premises.
Excessive Noise
In addition to providing information resources, the library is a place to study. Excessive noise is distracting. Please be considerate of others and pursue your library activities as quietly as possible. If a group study room is desired, please inquire at the Circulation desk for arrangements.
Food and Drink
To protect library materials and computers from accidental spills, patrons may not bring food or uncovered beverages into the library. Please leave food and uncovered beverage items on the Circulation desk near the entrance. Drinking fountains are provided on both floors: upstairs next to the elevator and downstairs in the lobby next to the restrooms. Covered beverages are not allowed near the shelving and computer areas.
Telephone Calls / Cell Phones / Pay Phones
An “on-campus only phone” is located in the north end of the lobby for your use. Library staff will not normally page a patron. In consideration of other patrons, please refrain from using cellular phones in the library. On the occasion a phone call is received, please exit to the library lobby. Please check with the Circulation desk for location of campus payphones.
Other Policies
Policies are located on the library website in the "About The Library" section.
Contact Information
616-222-1458
Circulation@cornestone.edu
Updated August 8, 2007
