General questions

Q. Who can use the library?

A. Anyone may use the Benedict College LRC/Library for research and reading. However, only all student, faculty, and staff of Benedict College are entitled to check out books and other materials.

Q How can I borrow books from the library?

A. Benedict College Identification (ID) Cards which serves also as the Library card are validated at the beginning of each semester during registration. Initially, after users have completed a Library registration form (in-house) and the data entered into the circulation system, a Benedict College Library barcode is affixed to the back of the user’s ID’s which allows them to charge materials.

Q. Where is the Reserve Reading Materials?

A. The Reserve Reading Materials is located behind the Circulation/Periodical Desk, on the Plaza Level of the library.

Q. Where do I check out books?

A. Books may be checked out at the Circulation/Periodicals Desk, located on the Plaza Level of the library.

Q. Where do I return books?

A. Books may be returned at the Circulation/Periodicals Desk during hours of
operation. When the library is closed books should be returned in the book
chute located in the foyer of the library.

Q. What are charges for over dues books?

A. Books from the general collection are 25 cents per day per books.
Book from the African American Collection are 50 cents per day per books.

Q. Where are the bathrooms?

A. Restrooms are located upstairs on the Mezzanine level of the library.

Q. Are there any typewriters available for use?

A. No, there are no typewriters available. However, computers in the labs via
Management Information System (MIS) Department do offer word processing
programs and printing capabilities.

Q. Does the library have photocopy machines?

A. Photocopy machines are located on the main Plaza Level. The cost is 5 cents per page.

Q. Where are the newspapers and magazines?

A. Periodicals including newspapers, current or most recent issues of many magazine, and journals are kept in a browsing collection and/or on shelves behind the Circulation/Periodicals Desk. Back issues are kept on the Mezzanine Level. All microfilm and microfiche titles holdings are located in the Reference Department where readers and reader printers are available for viewing and copying.

Q. Can I eat my lunch in the Library

A. No, general rules and regulations governing the library includes: food and beverages are not permitted in the Library; Drinking cups empty or filled are not permitted; smoking is prohibited; cellular telephones must be turned off at all times; radios, CD’s cassette tape players, and other similar equipment are prohibited in the Library without the use of headphones and earplugs; the front entrance and exit doors are to be used at all times; All other doors in the Library are designated as emergency exits only; the Library staff is not responsible for theft of personal property. Therefore, library users are advised to keep their personal property secure at all times. Purses, keys, calculators, textbooks, etc. should never be left unattended.

Reference questions

Q. Is your library a federal depository?

A. Yes, the library is a selected depository since 1969 with 27% selection rate

Q Do the library have interlibrary loan services?

A. Yes, for more details call 253 - 5180

Q. Does the library participate in the Independent College & Universities Statewide Borrowing ?

A. Yes, for more details call 253-5180

Q. Is the collection organized according to national classification standards?

A. Yes, the general, reference, and African American Collections are arranged according to the Library of Congress classification (LC); the Government Documents Collection is arranged according to the Superintendent of Documents classification (SuDoc); and the Media and Juvenile Collections are arranged according to the Dewey Decimal classification system..

Library jargon

Q. What is “charge?”

A. Same as check-out

Q. What is “discharge?”

A. Same as return

Q. What are the “stacks?”

A. The term “stacks” refers to the arrangement in the library where the books and other items are kept on the shelves.

Electronic Reference Center (Online Services) questions

Q. Where can I access the Internet?

A. You may access the Internet via the computer workstations in the Electronic Reference Center located on the Plaza Level.

Q. What databases are available?

A. ABI Select (Business), Bloomberg Financial, DISCUS (SC Virtual Library),
EBSCOHost, Ethnic NewsWatch, GPO Access, NewsBank, and Wilson General
Science. For more details call 253-4800 or 253-5180.

Q. Can I access the Electronic Reference Center as well as the online catalog from Home?

A. Yes, Electronic Reference Center via Web, but No for online catalog.

Circulation questions

Q. How many books may I check out at a time?

A. Student and staff may check out 10 items for 21 days; there is no set limit on the amount of books faculty members may check out, but items can be kept for one month.

Q. Can I check out videos?

A. You may inquire about availability of videos from the Media Center at 253-5177.

Q. Can I renew my books via email?

A. No

Q. Can journals be checked out?

A. No, in house use only

American with Disabilities Act

Q. What are public accommodations?

A. Services for persons with disabilities include: safe and accessible parking close to The building; accessible handrails located on the side and back entrance of the Library building; an elevator; space between stacks is 36: wide to allow for Wheelchair passage; restrooms with wide stalls and support bars.

For the physically challenged the library provides a 20/20 plus Optelec machine
That aids visually impaired users. The VoiceDirect software dictates text and
controls the computer by voice. Users speak words and phases that the computer translates into keystrokes.