Library Services

Loans and Renewals

UNC faculty, staff, and students must present a valid university ID card in order to check out materials. Colorado residents desiring circulation privileges at UNC Libraries may apply for a non-UNC ("NUNC") borrower's card free of charge and must also present this card when checking out materials. Loan terms are as follows:

Books and scores:
- UNC undergraduates: 4 weeks, with unlimited renewals possible
- UNC graduate students: 8 weeks, with unlimited renewals possible
- UNC faculty/staff: 1 semester, with unlimited renewals possible
- non-UNC (NUNC) patrons: 4 weeks, with 2 renewals possible
Recordings (all formats): 1 week, with 2 renewals possible
Reference items: do not circulate
Periodicals: do not circulate
Reserve items: loan term varies according to parameters requested by assigning faculty; no renewals
Microforms circulate according to the same terms as the analogous print items (e.g. a microfilm of a book circulates like a book).

Exceptions are made under compelling circumstances with the approval of the Music Library staff. Please note that you cannot renew an item if another patron has requested it. Also, any item on your account for more than four weeks is subject to recall at the request of another patron. For more information, see "Holds and Recalls" below.

Holds and Recalls

If you need an item that is currently checked out to another patron, you can ask us to place a hold on it. The patron who currently has the item checked out will not be able to renew the item, and you will be notified when it is returned. You will be notified via e-mail when an item you placed on hold is ready to be picked up at the front desk.

If you need an item that another patron has had for more than four weeks, you can ask us to place a recall on it for you. When an item is recalled, the patron is notified that a recall has been placed on it, and the item is given a new due date enabling you to get it sooner. Items not returned by the new due date are considered overdue and fines are doubled.

Please note that we cannot place holds or recalls on Reserve items.

Proper Return of Library Materials

Return library materials through the book drop at the Circulation Desk. When the Library is closed, return materials to the book drop located on the right-hand side of the front door to the outside of the Music Library. Since recordings are easily damaged if they are returned to the outside book drop Please do not return recordings to the outside book drop, as they are easily damaged and you may be charged for such damage. The Library is not responsible for items left outside the drops.

Overdues

We will send as many as three notices by U.S. mail when an item becomes overdue, but please note that failure to receive a notice does not affect charges. Charges for non-reserve items are assessed for each calendar day the item is overdue at the rate of $0.50 per day per item to a maximum of $10 per item, and are automatically billed to the University Accounts Receivable Office. Items not received within 28 days of the due date are considered lost, and the patron is billed a flat fee of $80.00 per item for their replacement. Patrons returning billed items within one year of their due date will be credited $60.00 per item returned. There is a non-refundable $20.00 charge per item to cover overdue processing fees.

Reserve Collection

Items are placed in the Music Library Reserve Collection at the request of faculty for their class assignments. They circulate for short periods of time in order to make them equally available to everyone. Patrons are limited to six reserve items on their accounts at any time.

Please note that fines are higher for reserve items. The fine for 2- and 4-hour reserve items is $1.00 per hour per item; for 1-day and 3-day items, $5.00 per day per item. Please note that there is no maximum fine on reserve items. If a reserve item is lost, stolen, or damaged while on your account, contact us immediately.

Notebook PCs

The Skinner Music Library has notebook PCs available for use by current UNC students, faculty, and staff. In order to check out a notebook PC you must have a current UNC ID card in your possession and you must be in the library database as a currently registered patron. Notebook PCs can be checked out at the Circulation Desk upon presenting your ID card and signing the User Agreement. Borrowers are financially responsible for any damage to or loss of the PC.

Notebook PCs may be used in the library only, for up to three hours.
Notebooks are not renewable (exceptions can be made for extenuating circumstances, such as taking comprehensive exams).
A cord, adapter and case are included for each notebook PC, all of which must be returned together at the same time. The PC cannot be checked in until all parts are accounted for.
Late charges will be imposed automatically. Fines will be set at $25.00 per hour until billed.
Damage to any components or accessories will be charged as appropriate.
PCs not returned after 24 hours from the time due or returned without all internal or external components intact will be billed at $2,600.00. There will be a $100.00 non-refundable processing charge for all notebook PCs that are billed.
The notebook PC user is responsible for saving all data to a USB device or other media. All data saved to the hard drive will be lost at shutdown.
The Internet can be accessed from most locations in the library; special adapters are not required.

Prospector

If you need an item that is unavailable at UNC Libraries (checked out, lost, or something we don't own), give Prospector a try. From the web version of The Source, search for the desired item. If it isn't listed or is unavailable (e.g. checked out or missing), use the "Repeat Search in Prospector" option. You can also access Prospector directly at http://prospector.coalliance.org.

Prospector offers:

access to the contents of major Colorado academic libraries, as well as the public library systems of Denver and Jefferson County;
self-service: you process your own requests on line, and we get them for you;
prompt service: most available items arrive 2-3 business days after you order them.

Note the following limitations:

books: available from all participating libraries, as long as they're part of the owning library's circulating collection.
scores: limited availability. The only other large score collection available via Prospector besides ours is at Denver Public's main library. However, a small but growing number of scores placed by CU-Boulder and DU into off-campus storage (the "Pascal Offsite" location) are available via Prospector.
recordings: limited availability. Only Denver and Jefferson County Public Libraries make their recordings available via Prospector.
periodicals: Pre-1980 journal volumes in remote storage (the "Pascal Offsite" location) are available on limited loan terms (1-week loan, nonrenewable).

To request an item, choose "Request this item". If the item is available, you'll be prompted to identify yourself as a UNC patron; then you'll enter your name and Bear number. The database will then verify you as a UNC patron, and send the item to the UNC library of your choice.

When your Prospector items arrive, e-mail will be sent to your UNC e-mail account. The notification will also display on your library account as items on hold for you.

Interlibrary Loan

If Prospector can't provide the items you need, try Interlibrary Loan. This is a cooperative project involving libraries all over the USA and abroad. ILL offers:

access to most of the contents of hundreds of American and foreign libraries;
relatively slow service: successfully filled requests arrive in 7 days -2 months;
comprehensive service: all kinds of material are available (but note that most libraries don't send out recordings)

To make a request via Interlibrary Loan, you can link to webZAP, a service that allows you to process your request on line. You can also complete paper request forms available at the Circulation Desk, but note that this will delay your request by 1-2 business days. Paper forms will also be discontinued in the near future.

When your items arrive, email will be sent to your UNC campus e-mail account. They will also display on your library account as items on hold for you.

Reference

Reference service is available during most of the hours the Music Library is open. Please ask at the desk and we will be happy to assist you.

When the library is closed, or if you're in need of special assistance, you may call or send e-mail to the Music Librarian. Please note, however, that we offer e-mail assistance primarily to UNC patrons or to people inquiring about items in our collections.

Instruction

We are happy to assist patrons in finding the materials they need quickly and effectively. To that end, we offer a variety of instruction opportunities, from on-the-spot, one-on-one assistance and handouts to classes tailored to the needs of any given patron group. Anyone interested in library orientation or instruction sessions is welcome to contact the Music Librarian to make arrangements.

The library is equipped with two facilities for instruction and study purposes. For more information about them, please refer to our Music Library Facilities page.