Library Policies

ACLCP is a consortium of 26 college, academic and state libraries from the Central Pennsylvania region. The consortium maintains an ACLCP web site at www.aclcp.org. The list of ACLCP members is:

ACLCP Borrowers' Policy

ACLCP borrowers are welcome to use the library's collections within the library. The following information is provided for those wishing to borrow materials.

Who may apply?

Faculty, staff, and students from Associated College Libraries of Central Pennsylvania (ACLCP) may apply for borrowing privileges by presenting current identification from their college or university.

What is the cost?

There is no cost to affiliated members of ACLCP institutions.

How long am I registered to use the Albright Library?

ACLCP borrowing cards are issued for four months. If you need services beyond a single semester and are still enrolled at the ACLCP educational institution, you can renew your membership as long as you are a patron in good standing. Please retain the card since you will be charged $5 for a replacement card if the last one was issued less than 5 years previously.

When do borrowing privileges begin?

Borrowing privileges can begin immediately after completing and signing the registration form and receiving a bar coded Courtesy Library Card. This borrowing card must be presented at the Circulation Desk whenever materials are checked out.

Library hours

Information is available at (610) 921-7219 or here.

What materials circulate? What are the loan periods?

ACLCP borrowers may charge up to six circulating books. Materials are loaned for 28 days. There are up to two renewals. Reserves have a 3 hour loan period - for use in the library only.

Non-circulating materials include reference books, reserve items, periodicals, microforms, special collections, popular reading collection and media (except for our Holocaust Center Library media).

What happens if I am late returning materials?

The overdue fine for circulating books is $.10 per day. Overdue and fine notices are issued via email as a courtesy to our borrowers. It is the borrower's responsibility to check the due date stamped on each item. A fine may be incurred before the notice is received. Borrowers will also be blocked from further borrowing if they have outstanding fines.

What is a recall?

A recall is a request made by an Albright faculty member or student to retrieve material charged to another borrower. Materials charged to consortium borrowers that are recalled are due within three days of the notice being sent. Notices specifying the new due date will be issued when items are recalled. Penalties (fines) of $5 per day will accrue for late returns.

What other costs may be incurred?

Borrowers are charged replacement costs and processing fees for lost items that are more than 21 days overdue.  Damage costs will be assessed depending on the condition of the item. Items overdue beyond 21 days are reimbursed through your university library, and patrons will be billed for those charges through the school's business office.

ACLCP Circulation Policy

A member of a college/university community, who is currently registered or employed at an ACLCP member school, may borrow materials from another ACLCP member library. The person must present a valid school identification card and another form of ID (e.g., driver's license) in order to receive this privilege.

If a patron with ACLCP reciprocal privileges returns materials late to the lending library, he/she may be charged for fines, according to that library's regulations. The borrower's member library is not responsible for fine payments.

If a patron with ACLCP reciprocal borrowing privileges loses, damages, or does not return a book, he/she is to be billed according to the lending library's regulations. Final billing is to be sent to the borrower's member library. The borrower's member library will pay the fee as charged by the lending library. It is then the responsibility of the borrower's member library to pursue payment from the borrower, according to that school's regulations.

Effective Date: August 20, 2005
Last Revised: October 3, 2005
Last Reviewed: May 30, 2013