Circulation & Reserves FAQs
Where is the Circulation Desk?
There are two circulation desks - the Main desk is
located on the third floor and the Secondary desk is located on the first floor
near the coffee shop.
What are the telephone numbers to each circulation desk?
The telephone number to the main circulation desk is 625-9362.
The telephone number to the secondary circulation desk is 625-9803.
What information does a student or faculty member need to present to borrow
materials?
MSSU users must present a valid MSSU identification card, a valid driver's
license, or their non-MSSU college/university identification card to borrow
and/or renew materials. Borrowing privileges are denied to those who fail
to present valid identification. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Is there a limit to the number of items I may check out?
Book limits = 15 per library visit
Magazine limits = 10 per library visit
-
Video/DVD limits = 5 per library visit
In addition a patron may only have a total of 50 items checked
out at any given time.
Can materials be renewed?
Items that check out for one week may only be renewed once. Main
collection, juvenile and young adult books may be renewed twice.
Items placed on hold by another patron may not be renewed.
Items may be renewed by calling (625-9362) or stopping by the
main circulation desk on the 3rd floor. Additionally, MSSU users
can access their library
account to renew their materials: https://swan.mobius.umsystem.edu/patroninfo~S11
Does the library charge overdue fines? If so, how much are they?
Yes, the library does charge fines for overdue and lost materials. Fines
are as follows:
OVERDUES
Reserve Materials - $.50 per hour/$12.00 maximum
1 Week Book - $.10 per day/$5.00 maximum
-
4 Week Book $.10 per day/$5.00 maximum
SWAN/MOBIUS $20.00/per book/non-negotiable
LOST/DAMAGED
MSSU Book - Cost of Book + $5.00 maximum fine + $5.00 processing fee
MSSU Periodical - Cost ofIssue + $10.00 service fee
MSSU Bound Serial - Cost of Each Issue + cost of binding + $20.00 service
fee
SWAN/MOBIUS - $120.00/per book/non-negotiable
Does the library send overdue notices to remind users of late materials?
Yes, the library does send overdue notices. However, MSSU users are responsible
for returning materials when they are due. Overdue notices are disseminated
as a courtesy, and the failure to receive them does not absolve the user from
responsibility to return materials and finance overdue charges and/or replacement
costs.
Can you describe the MOBIUS/SWAN service?
MSSU is a member of MOBIUS/SWAN, a consortium of over sixty Missouri
libraries for the purpose of sharing books. (MOBIUS libraries
do not share periodicals, audio/visual materials, et cetera.)
To appreciate its scope, access this link to view a map and a list of its
participants: http://mobius.missouri.edu/screens/libinfo.html
Students from MOBIUS/SWAN libraries are eligible to electronically request
books from other member libraries. A courier connects each MOBIUS library
for expedited delivery. For example, an MSSU student who ordered a book from
the University of Missouri-Columbia on a Monday could expect it to arrive
by Wednesday or Thursday afternoon of the same week. Although delivery times
vary, the average time to retrieve a book is three business days.
Students who order MOBIUS/SWAN books will be notified - through a telephone
call, an e-mail, or a letter - of their arrival. However, they are encouraged
to contact the main circulation desk to see if their order has arrived. All
MOBIUS/SWAN books are retrieved and returned to the main circulation desk.
MOBIUS institutional membership covers the cost of belonging to this consortium.
Therefore, students do not have to pay for books they order when they retrieve
them at the main circulation desk. MOBIUS/SWAN affords MSSU students access
to millions of volumes of books, most of which would have been ordered through
traditional interlibrary loan, a more time-consuming and costlier option,
if the consortium did not exist.
How do I order books from the MOBIUS/SWAN consortium?
First, begin a search on SWAN
(library catalog).
After performing a keyword search - or a title or author search, if you search
for a particular book or author - you will see the titles to books that are
consistent with the keywords you selected. These titles are for books at the
George A. Spiva Library, as the SWAN online catalog is programmed to search
your home library.
Second, to broaden the search, click on the "Search MOBIUS" option on the
toolbar at the top of the screen. By doing so, your keywords will search the
online catalogs for each MOBIUS/SWAN library. The results will include books
that contain your keywords, listed in chronological order.
When you find a book that you like, click on its title to view its "item
record," providing you with more information about it - publisher, table of
contents, publication year, et cetera.
To order that book, click "REQUEST THIS ITEM." You will be prompted to select
the cluster to which you belong - "SWAN" - and select "SUBMIT THIS INFORMATION."
The next screen will request this information:
-
Name
-
Campus Identification Number (your S #, followed immediately
by the MSSU acronym with no space)
Select a Pick Up Location (chose "Mo. Southern, Library Circ.")
Click "SUBMIT THIS INFORMATION"
The computer will confirm the order.
If the computer does not confirm the order, please call
the main circulation desk at 625-9362.
My professor has placed articles and books on course "reserve." What
are "reserve" materials and where are they located?
Some professors require that their students read important materials
outside of class that are not included in the textbooks that they
bought at the beginning of the semester. Reserve materials - articles,
books, practice examines, et cetera - are consolidated at one
location, affording students the convenience of retrieving the
reserve materials they need at the main circulation desk.
Some Reserve materials are now available to view electronically
and thus do not require a trip to the library. Those items available
electronically are identified with *ELECTRONIC COPY AVAILABLE*
in the 'Format' column of the Reserves listings.
Does the library have photocopiers to copy "reserve" materials or other
items?
Yes, the library has four photocopiers. Three are located on
the third floor (which is the main library floor) - two B&W
photocopies near the main circulation desk and one a color photocopier
in front of the reference desk - and one B&W photocopier on
the first floor, near the secondary circulation.
3 of the photocopiers require the purchase of a Copicard, which
are sold for $2.00 and $5.00 amounts at both circulation desks.
1 B&W copier by the Main Circulation desk accepts coins. B&W
copies are 10 cents each. Color copies are 25 cents each.
What is a Copicard? How do I get one?
The Copicard is a prepaid card, affording students the convenience
of using it throughout the semester, without the hassle of bringing
money with them each time they visit the library. The card is
good until its value is depleted. Students may purchase a card
at either the main circulation desk on the 3rd floor or the secondary
circulation desk on the 1st floor. Copicards are available in
$2.00 and $5.00 amounts.
Does the library have an outside depository to return library materials
when it is closed?
Yes. In fact, the library has two outside depositories:
Does the library have a fax machine for student use? If so, are there
fees to use it?
Yes. The library's fax machine is located behind the main circulation desk.
There are fees associated with using it that must be paid at the main circulation
desk:
We do not charge for receiving and sending local faxes (Carl Junction,
Duneweg, Joplin and Webb City only)
A $1.00 fee per page for sending domestic faxes (all area codes, including
417)
A $3.00 fee per page for sending international faxes
If a receiving fax is more than ten pages, the charge is $1.00 per
page beginning with the eleventh page
