Library Services: Borrowing

Books from the Stacks

Bring the item(s) to the Circulation Desk, along with your ID card.

Need help finding what you want? Ask any staff member for help.

Closed Collections (Reserve, New Jersey, equipment)

Ask at the Circulation Desk.

Not in This Library?

You can reserve the item by placing a Hold, and have it delivered to the Atlantic Cape library that's most convenient for you. Need help? Call (609) 343-4951 or or send email to circdesk@atlanticcape.edu.

Getting Items from Another Library

If an item you want to use is on the shelf in another Atlantic Cape library, or in one of the branches of the Atlantic County Library System, you can place a Hold on the item. You will need your library barcode and PIN to place a hold. Select the library where you want to pick the item up, and it will be delivered to that library. When the item is ready for pick-up, you will receive and email or phone call.

Getting an Item that's Checked Out

If you want to use a book or other item that is already checked out to another user, you can place a hold on the item. When the other user returns the item, you will be next in line to get it. The item will be delivered to your chosen pick-up library, and you will be notified when it is ready.

Need Help?

Call (609) 343-4951 or or send email to circdesk@atlanticcape.edu.

Can't Get to Campus?

In our increasingly online world, some students and faculty live a long distance from campus. If it's impossible for your to get to campus, talk to us about alternatives.

Want to Get It in Your Office?

Faculty, staff, and administrators can arrange to have materials checked out to their cards and delivered to their offices through campus mail.

Loan Periods and Limits

• There is no limit on the number of items that can be checked out on your Atlantic Cape library card.
  • If there is heavy demand for a specific topic, library staff may place limits on the number of books on that topic that can be borrowed by a single user.
• The length of time that a user can keep a borrowed item varies according to the type of material and from where it was obtained.
• Not sure when an item is due? You can check your library account online. You will also receive an email notice a few days before an item is due back.

Atlantic Cape Books

• Books are checked out for four weeks. If no other user is waiting for the book, it can be renewed for another four weeks.

Atlantic Cape Magazines and Journals

• Print magazines circulate for two weeks. Some periodicals are restricted to in-library use.

Atlantic County Library System Materials

• The lending library sets the loan period, which is typically between two and four weeks. ACLS materials can be renewed, if no other user is waiting for the items.

Course Reserves

• Items in the Reserve Collection typically can be borrowed for two hours, for use in the library only. At the end of the two hours, items can be renewed if no other user is waiting to borrow them. 

Reserve Novels

• The library sometimes has sets of novels for use by ESL or English classes. These items are available to students enrolled in the designated classes, and can be borrowed for the duration of the class.

Laptop Computers

• Laptops are lent for use in the library only for two hours. If no other user is waiting for the machine, it can be renewed for another two hours. Laptops are available only to current Atlantic Cape and Rutgers students. Users must present a current ID and complete the Laptop User Agreement.

DVD Players

• DVD players are available in all three campus libraries. They may be borrowed by faculty for use in classrooms that are not equipped with players. Students may borrow DVD players for use in the library for two hours (for longer films and videos, please talk to library staff when you check out the player).

Scientific Calculators

• Scientific calculators are available for students enrolled in math or science classes that use graphing calculators. They are loaned for eight weeks at a time, with one renewal until the end of the semester.

Regular Calculators

• Ordinary (not graphing) calculators are lent to Atlantic Cape students for one day.

Headphones and Other Small Technology

• Small technology items can be borrowed for in-library use for two hours at a time. If no other user is waiting for the equipment, it can be renewed for another two hours.

Need to Keep it a Little Longer?

• If no other user is waiting for the material, users may renew their items for another loan period.You can renew an item twice before you must return it to the library. Sign into your account to renew items online.

Note: Renewal policies apply to resources owned by the Atlantic Cape libraries and the Atlantic County Library System. Material borrowed from other libraries (Interlibrary Loan) are subject to the rules set by the lending library. If you want to renew an item borrowed through Interlibrary Loan, please use the ILL Renewal Form. We will ask the lending library for permission to renew. If that is not allowed, you will need to return the item by the original due date.

When to Renew

• It's best to renew items shortly before they are due back in the library.
• The new loan period begins on the day you make the renewal request.
• If an item is overdue, it must be returned to the library.

How to Renew

In-Library Items

• Course reserves, laptops, and other in-house items should be returned to the circulation desk for renewal.

Options for Take-Home Items

1. Bring the item(s) to the Circulation Desk at any Atlantic Cape library.
2. Call the Circulation Desk at (609) 343-4951, or send email to circdesk@atlanticcape.edu. Remember to have the title of the item(s) handy.
3. Log into your library account and renew your materials online.

Returning Library Materials

Please return your library materials in a timely fashion. There may be other students who would like to use the items you have.

In-Library Items

Please return course reserve items, laptops, and other restricted items to the Circulation Desk.

All Other Items

1. Return the item(s) to the Circulation Desk of any Atlantic Cape Library.
2. Return the item(s) to the Library Book Drop at any Atlantic Cape Library. Be sure to use the library book drop, not the box for returning rentals to the bookstore.
3. Return the item(s) to the Circulation Desk or book drop at any branch of the Atlantic County Library System.
4. Mail the items to:

William J. Spangler Library
Atlantic Cape Community College
5100 Black Horse Pike
Mays Landing, NJ, 08330-2699

Please take care of library materials and return them on time. The library is a place for sharing resources with the entire college community. However, we do understand that sometimes, things don't go according to plan.

Overdue Items

• You will be notified a few days before your checkouts are due back in the library. If an item is not returned on time, you will get an overdue notice the day after it was due to be returned.
• For any item that is returned to the library before it is 30 days overdue, fines and penalties will be waived. The library must receive the item and check it back in before the 30-day deadline. Items left in the book drop might not meet this deadline.
• When items are more than 30 days overdue, penalties are automatically incurred.
  • A block is placed on your library record, and you will not be able to borrow materials or use your library card until the situation is resolved.
  • The item will be presumed lost, and you will be billed for replacement and processing costs.
  • If you are an Atlantic Cape student, a hold will automatically be placed on your college record, and you will not be able to register for classes, request transcripts, or take care of other college business.
• If the overdue item is returned, all fines and fees will be waived, and the hold removed from your record. This process typically is completed within 24 hours during the college work week. The library must have received the item in order to start the process of restoring your record.

Lost or Damaged Items

If you have lost a library item, or it has been damaged while in your care, you will be responsible for its replacement. It is best to take care of this immediately, because if the situation is not resolved, your library account will be blocked, and a hold placed on your student record. There are two ways of making restitution.

1. Preferred: You can replace the lost or damaged item with another copy (same or comparable edition) in good condition.
2. Alternative: You can pay the replacement costs. The library will arrange for the money to be collected through the Bursar's office. The fine will be the cost of replacing the item and processing the new copy. If the item is no longer available, the cost will be the average cost of a new library book plus processing costs.

We do understand that there are sometimes extenuating circumstances. If replacing the item is an undue hardship, please talk to us about it.

Atlantic Cape Ebook Collections

• The Atlantic Cape Library's ebook collections may be used in the library or on campus by all users. Off campus access is restricted, by contract,  to current students, faculty, and staff.
• Off campus use requires a user name and password. Request the login codes from the Circulation Desk of any Atlantic Cape library, or send email to library@atlanticcape.edu.
• Most of the library's ebooks can be downloaded for offline reading. For more information about this, check out our ebook guide.

Atlantic County Library System Ebooks

• Your Atlantic Cape library card cannot be used to borrow ebooks or digital media through the Atlantic County Library System. However, any student or employee of Atlantic Cape Community College can obtain a borrower's card from ACLS.