Circulation & Reserves

The services and policies on this page apply to Burke Library.

The Hill Card serves as the borrower’s library card. The owner of the card is responsible for any overdue, lost, or damaged items charged out in his name. Cards are not transferrable to other patrons.

Policies & Procedures

Access your Library Account by logging in with your Hamilton username and password. After logging in, click on your name in the top right corner. From there you can view and renew materials you have checked out (loans), access your favorites, and view your saved searches.

Note: To view books you have checked out on InterLibrary Loan, please login to your ILLiad account.

Materials are placed on reserve when they are likely to be in high demand at some point during the semester. The library provides online access to reserve readings required for classes whenever possible. In cases where this is not possible, items may be checked out for a limited period at the circulation desk. Reserve items include:
- Books with required readings for class
- DVDs and VHS tapes
- Current newspapers and magazines
- Music CDs and scores
- Headphones
Loan Periods
- Books, periodicals, and most other reserve materials may be checked out for 2 hours.
- Some books may be checked out overnight. These are due back the next morning within an hour of the library's opening.
- DVDs, VHS tapes, computer games, and gaming equipment may be checked out for 3 hours.
Search Current Course Reserves by faculty name, then limiting to your course in the facets to the right
Faculty guidelines for placing materials on reserve
Reserves request form (for faculty)

Books

No more than 200 books may be checked out at any one time.
Books may be checked out for an entire semester and are due on the last day of final exams.
Books may be renewed during the last two weeks of the fall semester for the spring semester.
Books may be recalled by the library if requested by another patron.
Students must be on campus and either attending classes or engaged in a Hamilton-sponsored research program to check out books.

DVDs and VHS Tapes

No more than 3 items may be checked out at any one time.
DVDs and VHS tapes may be checked out for 3 days.

Items may be renewed once unless a hold has been placed on them.
Items may be recalled by the library if they are required for a course.

Books

No more than 300 books may be checked out at any one time.
Books may be checked out for an entire semester and are due on the last day of final exams. Books checked out during the summer are due before the first day of the fall semester.
Books may be renewed during the last two weeks of the fall semester for the spring semester. Books renewed at the end of the spring semester are due before the first day of the fall semester.
Books may be recalled by the library if requested by another patron.

DVDs and VHS Tapes

No more than 3 items may be checked out at any one time.
DVDs and VHS tapes may be checked out for 1 week.

Items may be renewed once unless a hold has been placed on them.
Items may be recalled by the library if they are required for a course.

Spouses & Children of College Employees

Up to 50 books may be checked out at any one time.
Books may be checked out for an entire semester and are due on the last day of final exams. Books checked out during the summer are due before the first day of the fall semester.
Books may be recalled by the library if requested by another patron.

Retired College Employees

Retired employees living within 50 miles of the campus may borrow books.
Up to books may be checked out at any one time.
Books may be checked out for an entire semester and are due on the last day of final exams. Books checked out during the summer are due before the first day of the fall semester.
Books may be recalled by the library if requested by another patron.
Retired employees may continue to request electronic items from other libraries using Hamilton's interlibrary loan services.
Contact Beth Bohstedt, Director, Access Services & Collection Strategies, shortly before retirement in order to arrange for your access.

Alumni

Alumni living within 50 miles of the campus may borrow books.
Up to 50 books may be checked out at any one time.
Books may be checked out for an entire semester and are due on the last day of final exams. Books checked out during the summer are due before the first day of the fall semester.
Books may be recalled by the library if requested by another patron.

Area Residents

Individuals living within 25 miles of the campus may obtain a library card at the circulation desk that allows them to borrow books.
Up to 20 books may be checked out at any one time.
Books may be checked out for 28 days and renewed up to two times.
Books may be recalled by the library if requested by another patron.

Books

Books may be recalled by Hamilton students, faculty, and staff.
Recalled books must be returned within five days of receiving a notice from the circulation department.
Books needed for course reserves may be recalled at any time. All other books may be recalled after they have been checked out for two weeks.
Individuals seeking a book that is currently checked out have the option of borrowing it from another library or placing a hold on the book. Individuals will be notified by the circulation department when the book is available.
Holds may also be placed on books that are missing or overdue.

DVDs and VHS Tapes

DVDs and VHS tapes may be recalled by faculty for use by their class.
Recalled DVDs and VHS tapes must be returned within 24 hours of receiving a notice from the circulation department.

Individuals are responsible for any overdue, lost, or damaged items charged out in their name and are subject to the following fines:

$1.00 per hour for each overdue reserve item.
$0.20 per day for each overdue book.
$0.50 per day for each overdue book for community users.
$2.00 per day for each overdue DVD or VHS tape.
$5.00 per day for each overdue book that has been recalled.
Full replacement value will be charged for damaged books.
Full replacement value will be charged for lost books. Books that are not returned within 80 days of their due date will be presumed lost.

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