Circulation Services and Policies

Potter Library’s Circulation Desk handles the borrowing, return, and renewal of library materials including course reserves. The Circulation Desk staff can be reached at (201) 684-7575.

Who Can Borrow?

Students, faculty, and staff of Ramapo College have full borrowing privileges. A valid, barcoded Ramapo ID must be presented when checking out materials. Library barcodes may be obtained at the Circulation desk.

Guest Borrowers

The Potter Library extends borrowing privileges to:

  • Ramapo Alumni

  • Friends of Ramapo

  • Community Borrowers - Residents of Rockland County, NY or the State of New Jersey.

  • Reciprocal borrowers from the Virtual Academic Library Environment (VALE) Institutions – VALE is a statewide consortium composed of public and private institutions of higher education. As a member of the VALE Reciprocal Borrowing Program, Ramapo offers borrowing privileges to students, faculty and staff from other participating institutions. A signed “VALE Reciprocal Borrowing Application Form”, available from their home library, will need to be presented at Potter Library’s Circulation Desk. The patron will then be issued with a guest borrower's card, which will be valid for one academic year and will have an expiration date of June 30.

    Eastwick College students – In exchange for book funding from Eastwick College, the Potter Library extends borrowing privileges to Eastwick students.

Loan Period

Patrons  Books  Course Reserves  Videos/DVDs  Laptops 
Ramapo Undergraduate Students 14 days, no limit, 2 renewals 4 hours, limit 1, no renewals 4 hours, limit 1, no renewals 2 hours, no renewals; Library Use Only
Ramapo Faculty &Staff End of semester; no limit 4 hours, limit 1, no renewals 7 days, limit 3, no renewals N/A
Ramapo Adjunct Faculty 28 days; no limit 4 hours, limit 1, no renewals 7 days, limit 3, no renewals N/A
Ramapo Graduate Students 28 days, no limit, 2 renewals; 4 hours, limit 1 no renewals 3 days, limit 3, no renewals N/A
Eastwick College Students
 
28 days, no limit, 2 renewals N/A N/A N/A
Alumni, Community Borrowers & Friends of Ramapo 14 days, limit 3, 2 renewals N/A N/A N/A
VALE Reciprocal Faculty, Staff & Graduate Students 28 days, limit 3, 1 renewal N/A N/A N/A
VALE Reciprocal Undergraduate Students 14 days, limit 3, 1 renewal N/A N/A N/A

Renewals

Books may be renewed two times unless another patron has requested them. Please note that course reserve items may not be renewed. Patrons may renew in person, by calling the Circulation Desk (201-684-7575) or by selecting the My Account tab from the library online catalog.

Fines and Fees for Overdue Items

Patrons are responsible for returning library materials on time. Notices for overdue materials are sent as a courtesy and failure to get one does not relieve a borrower from the responsibility of returning the overdue materials.

A fine of $75.00 ($50 replacement fee and $25 processing fee) will be charged for items that are not returned 28 days after the due date. A bill will be generated on the Student Information System (SIS) and collected by the Bursar’s Office. Borrowing privileges will be suspended for outstanding charges of $75 or more. Transcripts and diplomas may also be held until the charges are resolved. To avoid fines please return all materials promptly.

Any questions about book charges should be directed to Kevin Prendergast, Technical Assistant, at 201-684-7579 ( email: kprender@ramapo.edu).

Replacements for Lost Books

The default price for replacing lost books is $75.00. A patron may replace the lost book with one that he or she has bought providing it has the same International Standard Book Number (ISBN) as the lost book. Prior to purchasing a replacement copy, the patron should check with the Circulation staff first. The patron will still be billed for $25.00 processing fee, to be collected by the Bursar's office.

Holds on Circulating Books

Patrons may put a hold on items that are checked out by speaking to a Circulation staff. Patrons will be notified when the book is returned and the book will be on the "Hold" shelf. The book will be shelved back on the regular shelves if it is not picked up in seven days. Note: Course reserve items, video cassettes and DVDs may not be put on hold.

Missing Book Searches

Patrons who cannot find books on the shelves should ask the Circulation staff for assistance. A form (available from the Circulation Desk), should be completed in cases of missing books or when patrons claim to have returned the books that are still outstanding in their accounts. Our staff will conduct thorough searches for the book and patrons will be notified of the outcome.

If patrons have any questions about their accounts, they should contact Irene kuchta, Access Services Librarian at201-684-7577 (email: ikuchta@ramapo.edu) or Madel Tisi, Circulation, Reference & Instruction Librarian at 201-684-7510 (email: mtisi@ramapo.edu).

Book Drop

Patrons may return books in the book drop (located outside the main entrance of the library building) only when the library is closed. DVDs and video cassettes these should be returned in person at the circulation desk during regular hours to avoid damaging them.

Confidentiality of Patron Records

The library supports the confidentiality of its patron records. See Policy.

FAQ

How Do I?

  • Catalog Search
  • Course Reserves
  • My Account
  • Database Search
  • Journal Finder

Instructions: Use the library’s catalog to find books, course reserve items, movies, music and government documents. Conduct a quick search from this box or click on the catalog link for more search options.

Library Catalog Search
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Advanced Search

Instructions: Search for course reserves by typing in your professor’s name in the search box. Materials are usually available electronically or in print. If the reserve item is not available electronically, please write down the call number and give it to the Circulation staff so they can retrieve the item for you.

Course Reserve Search


Ramapo Login Instructions
Login: R Number
Password: Last Name
Non-Ramapo Login Instructions
Login: Library Barcode
Password: Last Name
Login:
Password: (All Lowercase)
 

Instructions: Need a database? Conduct a quick search by typing in the name of the database you are looking for into the search box (ex. JSTOR, Project Muse, Academic Search Premier, etc.) or use the drop-down menu to search for databases in certain subject areas.

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