Borrowing & Circulation Rules
- Borrowing From Our Library
- Course Reserves
- Telecourses
- Information for Faculty & Staff
- Frequently Asked Questions
BORROWING FROM OUR LIBRARY:
- Your current PCC LancerCard is your library card and you must have your library card in order to check out material.
- You are responsible for all materials borrowed on your card.
- Please notify the Circulation Desk of any address or phone number changes.
- Report the loss of your PCC LancerCard immediately.
What if I am not a PCC student or employee?
Adult residents of the Pasadena Area Community College District, those who work in the District, PCC Alumni, and some high school students may also borrow materials. The Borrowing Rules outlined below apply with some exceptions.
For more information please select:
Loan Periods & Fines:
| Item Type | Loan Period | Overdue Fines | Maximum Overdue Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Books | 14 days | .10 cents per day | $5.00 |
| 1-24 hour Reserve Material | varies | $1.00 per hour | $60.00 |
| 2-21 day Reserve Material | varies | $5.00 per day | $60.00 |
| Audio cassettes | 14 days | .10 cents per day | $5.00 |
| Video recordings | 3 days | $1.00 per day | $5.00 |
| Telecourse & Math Videos/DVDs | 24 hours | $1.00 per hour | $60.00 |
| Periodicals | 1 day | .10 cents per day | $5.00 |
| Cassette Players | Library Use Only | .50 cents per hour | $60.00 |
You are responsible for returning all material that you check out from the Library. You can check Your Library Record online to see when your items are due. The Library charges overdue fines for materials that are returned late. Once you have reached $5.00 in overdue fines, you will be blocked from borrowing items until you pay your fine. If you lose or damage a book, you are obligated to pay our replacement cost for the item plus a $10.00 processing fee.
Renewing Items:
Most items can be renewed 3 times by phone (626) 585-7174, in person at the Circulation Desk during open hours, or online at Your Library Record. If the item cannot be renewed online or via phone, then you will have to bring the item(s) back to the Library.
Course Reserve Textbooks and Telecourse Videos/DVDs cannot be renewed by phone or online. Please return these items directly to the Circulation Desk on time and speak to a staff member if you need to use these items longer. In some cases, we will check the item out to you again if no one else has been asking for the item.
Returning Items:
Reserves, audio cassettes, video recordings, and magazines must be returned in person at the Circulation Desk during open hours. Other material can be returned in a book drop. There are two book drops located at the south entrance of the Library, one on the walkway at the north entrance of the Library (Colorado Blvd side) and one located in the Quad outside the “L” building (where Registration and Student Services are located). The book drops are emptied twice a day when college is in session.
Placing a Hold on an Item:
A Hold ensures that you are the next person to get an item that is currently checked out. Holds cannot be placed on Course Reserve Textbooks.
You can only place a hold on items that are currently checked out. You can ask for a hold to be placed on an item at the Circulation Desk, over the phone (626) 585-7174, or online via the Library Catalog. See the Library Catalog's "Place a Hold" help screen for instructions on how to place a hold online.
A Library Staff member will call you when the item is ready for you to pick up from the Circulation Desk. The Library will also mail a pick up notice to your address. The item will be held for you at the Circulation Desk for 10 days.
Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements:
PCC Students with a valid LancerCard and current registration print out can obtain a library card and check books out from the Cal State LA Library and Glendale Community College Library.
Information for Faculty & Staff
Faculty and staff have the same borrowing rules as students, but are not charged overdue fines and have a loan period of 6 weeks for general collection items. You will need your PCC LancerCard with you in order to check out materials. If an item is lost or damaged, you are obligated to pay our replacement cost for the item plus a $10.00 processing fee.
COURSE RESERVES
Course Reserves are the textbooks and materials required or recommended for PCC classes. These items are located behind the Circulation Desk and are available to PCC students to check out for a limited time period - usually 2 hours. Most Course Reserves are "Library Use Only." Ask a Circulation Staff member for more information for the particular item you need to borrow.
To see if we carry your textbook, search for your item in the Course Reserves section of the Library Catalog
Due to budget constraints, the Library usually carries only one copy of each textbook. If a class has several sections, the Library will try to buy more than one copy. The Library does not purchase workbooks and laboratory books. Reserve textbooks are provided for all students to share equally, have limited check out periods and high overdue fines ($1.00 per hour) in order to discourage late returns. Reserve Textbooks should be a back up and not considered a substitute for purchasing your own copy. Textbooks can be purchased from the PCC Bookstore.
If the Library does not have a copy of your textbook, you can fill out the online Purchase Request Form and the Library will try to purchase a copy to be placed on Course Reserves.
Textbook Reserve Policies:
- Items check out for 2 hours, Library use only
- No overnight check outs
- Only one reserve item can be checked out at a time (unless they are part of a set)
- Reserve items must be returned in person at the Circulation Desk
- Items can only be renewed if they are not in high demand
- Books are available on a first come, first served basis and cannot be reserved or put on hold
- Non-return of items will result in a financial hold being placed on your student record
- Telecourses and Math Videos/DVDs are located in the Course Reserve area, but have separate policies.
TELECOURSES
PCC Library maintains a set of Telecourses and Math Videocassettes, Video CDs and DVDs. These items circulate for 24 hours and are due back no later than 6:00 pm Monday – Thursday, and by 1:00 pm on Friday. There is a $1.00 per hour fee per item if returned late. Same-day reservations can be made during service hours by speaking directly with a Circulation Desk employee (626) 585-7174. Reservations will be held until closing time that day only. Please review our Telecourse and Math Videos page for more information. You can obtain more information about PCC's Telecourse program on the Distance Learning/Telecourse web page.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
- How many books can I check out?
- You may borrow up to 25 items at a time. There are a few exceptions which include: only 3 Telecourses or Math DVD/Videos at a time (located behind the Circulation Desk), 1 Reserve textbook item at a time (located behind the Circulation Desk), and 3 videos at a time from the regular shelves. Items from behind the Circulation Desk (on Reserve), equipment and computers in the lab are only available to PCC students, faculty and staff.
- Why does the library charge overdue fines?
- Fines are charged to discourage late returns. This is especially crucial in the case of Course Reserve Textboks. It is unfair if items are returned late and other students are denied the opportunity to use them. (Failure to return items, to pay the overdue fines, or to pay the replacement costs for a lost item may result in a financial hold being placed on your student record. A financial hold blocks your ability to register or obtain transcripts until you have paid your fine).
- How do I pay my fines?
- Fines can be paid with cash or check (we do not accept credit cards). You may mail payment checks to:
Pasadena City College
Shatford Library, Circulation Desk
1570 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena CA 91106-2003Make checks out to PCC Library and include the last 8 digits of your LancerCard in the note field. Also send the fine notice that you received in the mail when you send the check. Receipts will be given on request.
- What if an item is not on the shelf?
- We call this a "missing" item. First see the Reference Librarian, who will look up the item in the Online Catalog to make sure you have the correct call number, location and verify the status of the item. If possible, the Reference Librarian will help you double check the shelves for the book. If the book is not found, we ask that you go to the Circulation Desk to fill out a “missing” slip. We will search for the item and call you when it is found.
- What if you don't own the book I need?
- If we do not own a particular book or article, you can ask the Reference Librarian if a local library carries the item. All public libraries have universal borrowing policies, which means anyone can obtain a check out card. Or you can use WorldCat to search other libraries' collections simultaneously. If an item is not available in our vicinity, you can request it via Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Fill out an ILL form at the Reference Desk or submit the online Interlibrary Loan Form. Contact Mane Hakopyan (626) 585-7835 if you have additional questions about ILL.
