George A. Spiva Library

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 limits = 5 per library visit

In addition a patron may only have a total of 50 items checked out..

Can materials be renewed?

MSSU users may renew MSSU items once, and MOBIUS/SWAN items twice by calling or stopping by the main circulation desk at 625-9362.

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 (which is your social security number, with no spaces or hyphens) and the MSSU acronym

      • 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.

All of the photocopiers require the purchase of a Copicard, which are sold for $2.00 and $5.00 amounts at both circulation desks. 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 can purchase a card at the main circulation desk, which is 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:

      • On the west side of the front entrance.

      • On the east side of the rear entrance.

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



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