Library: Library and Archive Policies: Book Circulation

Overview

This section describes how print books circulate, including how to check out books, how long books circulate, and how books are to be returned.

Identification for Patrons Using Wiggin Library

Students, faculty, and staff should present their Meadville ID when checking out books in-person. If a patron does not have their Meadville ID with them when checking out books, they may be asked for a second form of photo ID.

Alum and Community patrons should present their Meadville Lombard borrowing card when checking out books in-person.

Patrons from I-Share libraries must present their school ID and/or library card to check out books from the Wiggin Library or any other I-Share school.

Patrons from ACTS schools must present a photo or school ID and their ACTS library card when checking out books. Students from ACTS schools without an ACTS library card should contact the staff at their school’s library for assistance.

In-Person Circulation at Wiggin Library

In-Person at Meadville Lombard. All patrons can check out and return Wiggin Library and I-Share books at the library in-person. The library is accessible by appointment from 9:00am to 4:00pm CST, Monday through Friday. In addition, the library has regularly scheduled open hours posted on the website and expanded hours during Intensives. It is strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment for any library visit outside of Intensives. For patrons without a Meadville Lombard ID, scheduled appointments are required for all visits so we can notify security to let you into the library. In-person book return can be done at the circulation desk during open hours or items can be left in the book return mailbox in Atherton Lounge.

In-Person Circulation at other I-Share Libraries

All patrons with I-Share privileges have the option to pick-up and return both Wiggin Library and I-Share books at any of the I-Share libraries in Illinois using their Meadville Lombard ID with an active library barcode.

Circulating Books by Mail

In most instances, students, faculty, alums, and community patrons have the option to borrow and return library material through mail. Any book in the Wiggin Library circulating collection published after 1870 (depending on condition) can be shipped directly to patrons anywhere in the United States. I-Share eligible patrons may receive and return I-Share books by mail, as well. The Library covers the cost of shipping library items to patrons, with patrons paying the return shipping. Library materials can be sent via USPS using library rate or media mail.

For more information about how to borrow and returns books through the mail, see the USPS Delivery - Borrowing and Returning Books by Mail section of the Using the Online Catalog guide.

Circulation Policy and Borrowing Privileges by Patron Group

Graduate Students (Wiggin Library and I-Share): Unlimited number of books checked out at a time for 4 weeks each, with renewals up to 4 months

LIGHT Students (Wiggin Library only): Unlimited number of books checked out at a time for 4 weeks each, with renewals up to 4 months

Faculty and Staff (Wiggin Library and I-Share): Unlimited number of books checked out at a time for 4 weeks each, with renewals up to 4 months

Community Members (Wiggin Library only): 3 books checked out at a time for 4 weeks each, with renewals up to 4 months

Alums (Wiggin Library only): 5 books checked out at a time for 4 weeks each, with renewals up to 4 months

ACTS, University of Chicago, and Atla Reciprocal Borrowing Patrons (Wiggin Library only): 20 books checked out a time for 4 weeks each, with renewals up to 4 months.

Circulation Policy by Item Type

The majority of books in Wiggin Library circulate to all students, faculty/staff, alums, and community patrons, both through in-person or mail circulation. Fragile or difficult to replace material is circulated at the discretion of library staff. Books published prior to 1870 will not be circulated by mail and have to be accessed in the library.

All eligible items in the Main Stacks are available for I-Share and OCLC Interlibrary Loan.

The Wiggin Library places at least one copy of each required and recommended book for all courses (graduate and light) currently being offered on course reserve. Books are placed on reserve two weeks prior to first day of the course and remain on reserve until the final assignment is due. When possible, ebook copies of material on course reserve will be purchased in addition to physical copies. Graduate course reserves only circulate to graduate students and LIGHT course reserves only circulate to LIGHT students.
Course reserve books circulate normally and can be borrowed for 4 weeks, with renewals up to 4 months.
Course reserve guides are created by the library for all graduate courses running in a semester with links to the reserve books in the online catalog, along with additional online resources when recommended by the professor. A graduate student or faculty login is required to access course reserve guides. LIGHT courses, when requested by the instructor, will have a public course reserves page.

Periodicals, Reference, Rare Books, and theses and dissertations do not circulate and can only be accessed in the library or the Special Collection Reading Room
Patrons should contact library staff to request digital copies of non-circulating materials, available at the discretion of library staff.
Patrons who require items only available on microfilm should contact the Librarian.

MFC Educational Resources
- The Wiggin Library holds most books on the 2024 MFC Sample Resource Lists provided by the Ministerial Credentialing Office for persons working towards Unitarian Universalist fellowship. If an MFC resource is on course reserve, it is only accessible to students registered for that class and it circulates according to the course reserve policy.
- MFC educational resources can be browsed in person at Wiggin Library or online, arranged based on the eight MFC ministerial competencies and including titles from both the 2016 Reading List and the 2024 MFC Sample Resource Lists. A selection of ebooks from the MFC Sample Resource Lists are also available for patrons whose accounts provide for ebook access.
- Eligible patrons can borrow books from the MFC collection circulate for 4 weeks, with renewals up to 4 months. Patron group maximum item borrowing numbers apply.
- More details on the MFC Resources collection can be found on the Course Reserves and MFC Resources page.
Boardgames.
- The Wiggin Library has a collection of boardgames available for use in the library or borrowed for 48 hours during Intensives by eligible patrons. To borrow a boardgame, visit the library during open hours and bring the desired game to the circulation desk to check it out.
- Boardgames are not currently listed in the online catalog,but can be browsed in the library.
- Boardgames do not circulate by mail.
Tarot Decks.
- The Wiggin Library has a small collection of tarot decks that are available to use in the library or borrowed for 48 hours during Intensives by eligible patrons. To borrow a tarot deck, visit the library during open hours and bring the desired deck to the circulation desk to check it out.
- Tarot decks are not currently listed in the online catalog but can be browsed in the library.
- Tarot decks do not circulate by mail.
Worship Materials.
- The Wiggin Library stores a collection of worship materials (chiefly hymnals) that can be borrowed for use in the library or in any Meadville space or classroom. These materials do not need to be formally checked out but return of materials is based on an honor system and understanding that this collection is for the benefit of all members of the Meadville Lombard community.
- These worship materials are shelved separately from the Main Stacks. There are also copies of hymnals and worship materials available in the Main Stacks that can be checked out according to general circulation policies.
iPad Kits
- The Wiggin Library owns a suite of 10 iPad kits, each including an 8th generation iPad with an Apple Pencil and associated charging cables.
- iPad kits can be borrowed by current students for one semester, with the option to renew for an additional semester should other requests not be placed on the device.
- iPad kits can be requested through the online catalog and mailed to patrons' homes. iPad kits will not be mailed outside of the United States. International students may borrow iPad kits in person when they are on campus in Chicago and returned on their next campus visit.
- More information about iPads can be found on the iPad Kits page.

Any patrons who find an item listed in the catalog that is neither checked out nor on the shelf should notify the library staff so that we can correct that system.

Recall

All Wiggin Library books in the general collection and I-Share books are subject to recall. Wiggin Library items on course reserve will not be recalled.

Borrower Responsibilities

Patrons are responsible for lost or damaged items. See Fees and Account Blocks
Mailed items may take up to 10 days to arrive at the destination. Patrons should notify the Librarian if mailed items do not arrive in a timely manner. If a patron contacts the library staff because items have been delayed in the mail, due dates for book from Wiggin Library can be modified to accommodate the delay. For I-Share books, patrons are encouraged to contact the I-Share library that circulated the book.
Library notices are a courtesy. Failure to receive a notice is not a basis for altering or waiving a fee.