Townsend Library circulates resources to users in good standing to optimize availability, use, and promote fair access to information. Students/Faculty/Staff are those patrons currently employed or enrolled at NMSU-A. This includes all under full-and part-time status. The library is also open to the public, which includes local NM residents and Alumni with proof of current NMSU Alumni Association membership.  

General circulation guidelines: 

1. Townsend library endorses the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights. 
2. Townsend library collections are publicly accessible and materials are available for circulation. 
3. Not all items within the collections at Townsend Library circulate. Special guidelines are in place that apply to the circulation of special items such as interlibrary loan and library reserves. 
4. The library staff is responsible for the materials and all shelving duties.  
5. Circulation privileges are non-transferable. 
6. All patrons are responsible for returning or renewing their materials on time and in good condition. Borrowers will be held liable for any applicable replacement costs and/or fees for materials lost, not returned, or damaged. 
7. When overdue materials are not returned and/or financial obligations are outstanding an account block will be placed on the borrower’s account to suspend privileges.  
8. Disciplinary and/or legal action may occur when theft or damage to library materials or property is identified. 
9. Townsend Library adheres to the New Mexico Privacy Act, which preserves the confidentiality of circulation records. (NOTE: Provisions of federal law may supersede state law.) 
10. Townsend Library reserves the right to suspend any individual’s privileges.  

Borrower Responsibilities: 

• Borrowers are responsible for the return or renewal of their checked-out materials by the due date provided. 
• If materials are recalled, borrowers must return all materials by the new due date. 
• Return materials in one of the two book drops at the facility. One is located inside at the circulation desk and the other is by the lower level elevator entrance. 
• Overdue notices are routinely sent by e-mail. Non-receipt of an overdue notice does not dismiss the borrower of responsibility for materials. 
  • Borrower’s will be sent up to four notices and possible phone calls when items are overdue 
    • After your second notification the borrower account will be placed in HOLD status. 
    • After your fourth notification the borrower’s account will be charged a $15.00 non-refundable fee per item. This is to compensate the campus for time/effort to research the item(s), send overdue notices, make phone calls to the borrower, order the new replacement, and process for circulation. This fee is non-negotiable.  
  • Accounts will be placed in BARRED status for computer use and borrowing privileges after the fourth notice. 
    • Students: Financial aid, grades, and transcripts will be withheld until everything is cleared from the account and payments have been made. Students will also not be able to register, withdraw, or graduate until all is rectified. 
    • Public: Accounts will not be reinstated until all is cleared, payments have been made and accounts are updated in the library system. The NMSU-A business office will be notified that the account is temporarily or permanently suspended.  
• Borrowers who claim the item(s) returned will have the items remain on the account. A note will be added to show the claim, and a search for the item(s) will continue. If the item(s) are found, they will be checked in and any related fines will be canceled and the borrower is notified. If nothing is found within 30 days, the item(s) are considered lost. The borrower will be notified and billed the replacement cost of the item(s). This bill will include the non-refundable $15.00 fee per item. 

Check out limits, Loan periods, and Renewals: 

Library materials can be renewed twice. If another renewal is needed after the second, permission will be determined by the library director. Borrowers with blocked privileges are not eligible to renew materials. Exceptions to the renewals include, but are not limited to: 

• Reserve materials 
• Recalled materials 
• Periodicals 
• Audio/Visual materials 
• Interlibrary Loan 
• Laptops 

Renewals may be requested in person with items in hand at the circulation desk. A one-time phone renewal will be allowed. 

Fines and Billing 

Borrowers are financially responsible for lost or damaged item fees, replacement costs and any related processing fees. There are no late fees at this time for overdue items. However, fees and charges can occur. Please review the fines and charges section of the Facility Use Policy (create hyperlink for this page). 

Recalled Materials 

 All library materials are subject to either recall or rush recall. These are generated by the library management, typically for course-related purposes. If there is a recall, the borrower regardless of status is given a minimum loan period of 2 weeks or immediate return. The borrower will be notified and provided a new due date if one is being updated. If the materials are not returned by that date, the account will be blocked and privileges suspended. Recall items will be held at the circulation desk for no more than 10 days.  

Security 

 Townsend library secures all materials with an RFID tagging system. Security gates are installed at the entrance of the facility by the circulation desk. If a patron attempts to leave the library with materials that have not be properly desensitized, an alarm will sound. The patron will need to return to the circulation desk, where library staff will seek approval to inspect their books, backpack, or other bags.  

Reserves 

The library will provide reserve services for NMSU-A faculty, staff and students in support of instructional and institutional needs. Any materials placed on reserve must comply with Title 17 of the U.S. Code, sections 107 and 108. Copyright fees incurred in the process of obtaining permissions will be charged back to the requestor’s department or unit. 

The reserve collection is a variety of materials, set apart from the general collection, and are given a special set of circulation guidelines to ensure access for a designated class or user group. Course materials placed on reserve are considered “supplemental” and should be limited to a small part of the required reading/materials for the course. Other materials requested, such as workbooks and exercise sheets, are considered “consumable” materials and are not appropriate for the collection. The reserves collection may change each semester depending on the instructional needs and copyright regulations.  

• Materials are subject to Fair Use the first time is it placed on reserve. Each repeated use by the same instructor, for the same course, will be subject to U.S. Code Title 17, Section 107, and will require copyright clearance prior to placement in the reserve collection.  
• Materials in the reserve collection must display all appropriate attributes and Copyright notices. 
• Materials placed in the collection will remain for one semester and not automatically extended. 
• No materials received through inter- or interlibrary loan will be added to the reserve collection. 
• Ample time is required to process reserve requests and ready for shelving. Exceptions to this will be made at the discretion of the library director. 

Reserves Procedures 

1. A request form must be completed by faculty/staff for each item to be placed in the reserve collection. 
2. The library will work to obtain copyright permissions through the Copyright Clearance Center on behalf of the requestor. (Copyright fees vary and will be charged back to the requestor’s department or unit upon their approval). 
3. Materials in the reserves collection do not circulate outside of the facility. Borrowers will have the item checked out to them for a maximum of three hours and limited to library use only.  

Laptops 

 Townsend library has a limited number of laptops available for checkout on a first come, first serve basis. Instructors must contact the library director to make arrangements for the use of the laptops. A valid state or federal ID is needed to check out the machine. Use is limited to the facility unless other arrangements have been made with the library director. Lost or damaged laptops will incur (at minimum) a fee of $500.00. 

Headphones 

 The library has several sets of headphones available for check out. Library staff at the circulation desk will provide the headphones after they have been scanned to the borrower account. Use is limited to the facility only.  

Textbooks 

 Townsend library normally does not retain any current textbooks for classes in the collection unless they are in the reserves. Any textbooks within the collection will be older versions added from donations and are available for check out.  

In Library Use only items 

The library maintains parts of the collection under "in library use only" status. These items are not allowed to leave the facility unless direct permission from the library director is given. Items included, but not limited to this rule are: 

• Reserves 
• Periodicals (both current and bound) 
• Laptops 
• Archives 
• Special Collections