Borrowing Materials

The Davidson College Honor Code and Code of Responsibility apply to your use of library materials, just as they apply to your other activities on campus.

In addition, be aware that your borrowing privileges are for your own personal use only; do not lend your CatCard or share your login information with anyone else.

To best take advantage of our collections, we encourage you to register for a library card at the Information Desk. Further questions can be directed to library@davidson.edu.

If you are stopping by for a brief visit, consult our Guest Access Policies to learn more about what services we offer.

The Davidson College Honor Code and Code of Responsibility apply to your use of library materials, just as they apply to your other activities on campus.

In addition, be aware that your borrowing privileges are for your own personal use only; do not lend your CatCard or share your login information with anyone else.

To best take advantage of our collections, we encourage you to register for a library card at the Information Desk. Further questions can be directed to library@davidson.edu.

If you are stopping by for a brief visit, consult our Guest Access Policies to learn more about what services we offer.

Borrowing Privileges

The following groups of people beyond current faculty, staff, and students may borrow materials from E.H. Little Library.

Local Alumni

Alumni living in the Davidson area and surrounding counties (Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Rowan, Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln, Gaston Counties)

  • 10 items at a time

Local Retired Employees

Retired faculty and staff living in the Davidson area and surrounding counties (Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Rowan, Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln, Gaston Counties)

  • 20 items at a time

Spouses/Partners of Current Faculty and Staff

This patron category includes Emeriti spouses and partners.

  • 10 items at a time

Dependents of Current Faculty and Staff

Due to the scope and content of our collection we recommend dependents be in high school or enrolled in college/university.

  • 10 items at a time

Duke Endowment Supported Faculty and Students

Faculty and students from Duke University, Furman University, and Johnson C. Smith University, the three other colleges and universities supported by the Duke Endowment may borrow materials. Please present your institution’s ID card at the Information Desk when you are ready to check out items.

  • 20 items at a time

Temporary/Visiting Researchers Employed by Davidson College

Active borrowing period for duration of employment with the college

  • 20 items at a time

Residents of the Lake Norman Region

ID must list the towns in the Lake Norman region as primary residence

  • 10 items at a time

Local Area Ministers and Seminarians

Ministers or seminarians living in the Davidson area and surrounding counties (Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Rowan, Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln, Gaston Counties)

  • 10 items at a time

Loan Periods

Our loan periods are generous. We strive to accommodate the time and effort it takes to conduct research while also making our collections as accessible as possible.

Regular collection:

  • Books: Due end-of-term (January/May)
  • Music CDs: 1 week
  • Videos: 1 week
  • Browsing Books, Special Displays, and Temporary Collections: 3 weeks

Items on reserve for a class:

Some items on reserve may have special loan periods. The durations listed below are our defaults.

  • Books on reserve: 3 hours
  • Videos on reserve: 3 hours
  • Music CDs on reserve: 3 hours

Short Term Technology Loans from Information Desk

  • Dependent on item; ranges from a few hours to 24 hour period

Interlibrary loan:

Loan periods are set by the lending library; please check the wrapper on the item or ask interlibrary loan staff for assistance.

Regular collection:

  • Books: Due end-of-year (January)
  • Browsing Books, Special Displays, and Temporary Collections: 3 weeks
  • Music CDs: Due end-of-year (January)
  • Videos: Due end-of-year (January)

Items on reserve for a class:

  • Books on reserve: by midnight the next day
  • Videos on reserve: by midnight the next day
  • Music CDs on reserve: by midnight the next day

Short Term Technology Loans from Information Desk

  • Dependent on item; ranges from a few hours to 24 hour period

Interlibrary loan:

Loan periods are set by the lending library; please check the wrapper on the item or ask interlibrary loan staff for assistance.

Regular collection:

  • Books: Due end-of-year (January)
  • Browsing Books: 3 weeks
  • Music CDs: Due end-of-year (January)
  • Videos: Due end-of-year (January)

Items on reserve for a class:

Some items on reserve may have special loan periods. The durations listed below are our defaults.

  • Books on reserve: 3 hours
  • Videos on reserve: 3 hours
  • Music CDs on reserve: 3 hours

Short Term Technology Loans from Information Desk

  • Dependent on item; ranges from a few hours to 24 hour period

Interlibrary loan:

Loan periods are set by the lending library; please check the wrapper on the item or ask interlibrary loan staff for assistance.

  • Duke Endowment funded Faculty, Staff, and Students
  • Alumni in Davidson Area 
  • Local Retired Faculty and Staff
  • Spouses/Partners of Current Faculty and Staff
  • Dependents of Current Faculty and Staff
  • Town of Davidson Residents
  • Local Area Ministers and Seminarians

Regular collection:

  • Books: 3 weeks
  • Browsing Books, Special Displays, and Temporary Collections: 3 weeks
  • Music CDs: 1 week
  • Videos: 1 week

Note: Duke Endowment funded Faculty, Staff and Students may borrow Loanable Technology at the Information Desk.

Renewals

Renewals of books, reserve materials, and videos are unlimited, provided no one has placed a "hold" on the item.

Materials may be renewed from your library account in Davidson's library catalog. (For help using Your Library Account, please see our guide.) You may also bring materials to the library Information Desk for renewal.

Note that items borrowed through interlibrary loan may not be renewable. Please refer to the wrap-around on interlibrary loan books for this information. You can request renewals through ILLiad.

Materials for Library Use Only

The following items are in-library-use-only and cannot be checked out:

  • Reference books and atlases
  • Periodicals, including bound and loose issues of journals, magazines, and newspapers
  • Materials in the College Archives and Rare Book Room
  • Davidsoniana Room materials
  • Government documents
  • Permanent Reserves

Fines

Overdue Fines

The library does not affix or collect fines for materials considered overdue.

Lost Materials

If checked-out library materials are lost, the borrower’s library account will be blocked, which will rescind access to checking out physical items and borrowing through interlibrary loan. This block will be lifted once the borrower either returns the lost item or once the borrower has confirmed the item is lost. Lost fees will be sent to the Controller’s Office at the end of each semester and charged to the student or employee account belonging to the borrower.

Lost Item Fees

The default lost item fee is $55.00. However some items, such as loanable equipment  rare items and Interlibrary Loans, have larger fees which vary based on the replacement cost of those items. 

Waived Lost Item Fees

When a lost item is returned, the replacement fee will automatically be waived. In cases of extenuating circumstances, staff may also consider waiving additional fees.

Payment

Fees will be charged to student or employee accounts at the end of the semester. Users can also choose to pay by check at the information desk rather than having that charge apply to their account. Checks should be made payable to Davidson College.

Contact Us

If you have questions or need assistance, please stop by the Information Desk or email library@davidson.edu.