Library Policies

Building & Access | Computer Use for Public Patrons | Borrowing | Privacy | Alumni Privileges

All borrowers agree to:

• present a current Sage ID or valid Courtesy Card to borrow materials,
• return or renew loaned materials within specified time periods,
• accept responsibility for payment of all fines incurred,
• present additional identification, when requested,
• keep the libraries informed of his/her current mailing address. Address changes reported to The Sage Colleges' administrative offices are not reported to the libraries. Address changes need to be reported to only one of the two campus libraries.

Eligible Borrowers

Materials from the general collections may be borrowed by the following:

• Students, faculty, administrators, staff, alumni and retirees (from any of the Sage Colleges: Russell Sage College, Sage College of Albany, Sage Graduate School)
  • Students, faculty, administrators and staff must show a valid Sage ID card.
  • Sage retirees may show a college ID card or a library staff member must vouch for them.
  • Alumnae/i must show an "Alumni Association" card or be listed in the Colleges' Alulmni Directory. Contact the Alulmni Relations Office on the Troy campus (244-235) for further information.
• All other local patrons may use a CDLC Direct Access Program Card, which can be obtained from any Capital District library at which they are registered borrowers.
• In special cases, a Courtesy Card may be issued to grant borrowing privileges to other individuals. Apply for a Courtesy Card at the circulation desk at either campus.

Borrowing Limits

• Student/Faculty/Staff/Administrators: 75 books, 4 media items
• Alumni/Retirees: 25 books, 4 media items
• DAP/Courtesy Borrowers: 10 books, 4 media items

Loan Periods

• Student/Alumni/Retirees/DAP/Courtesy Borrowers: 21 days for books, 4 days for media
• Faculty/Staff/Administrators: 1 semester for books, 1 week for media

Renewal Policy
Note: Renewal of books does not eliminate fines already incurred for those books

• Books: 3 renewals (unless they have been requested by another patron, see Holds and Recalls below)
• Media items: 1 renewal
• Materials may be renewed in person or over the phone during regular business hours (Albany 292-1721; Troy 244-2249)
• Materials with fines cannot be renewed until fines are paid
• No renewals are accepted via voice mail or e-mail

Holds and Recalls

• Recall: All loaned materials, regardless of borrower status, may be recalled for use by a class or for library reserve. Material needed by the library may be recalled from loan not earlier than two weeks from the date of the original loan.
• Hold: A patron may request a hold which reserves a book currently on loan to another borrower. Once a hold is placed on a book, it cannot be renewed by the original borrower. If the material has already been renewed, the hold will not take effect until the end of the renewed loan period. The circulation staff will notify the patron when the material is available and will place it on the hold shelf for seven days.

Fines for Student and CDLC borrowers

As a courtesy, borrowers are sent an overdue notice, but are still responsible for fines whether or not the notice is received.

Student and CDLC borrowers:

• $ .50 per day, per book, beginning on the second day overdue; (There is a one-day grace period.)
• The fine increases by $ .50 per item daily to a maximum of $11.00 per item. Within three weeks after the due date, fines can be paid at the circulation desk.
• After three weeks, the item is considered lost or missing and the overdue account is forwarded to the business office. The account will be cleared by paying:
  1. the replacement cost of the missing material; (Replacement cost is waived if the item is returned in good condition.)
  2. a $10.00 processing fee per item,
  3. the accumulated fines.
• Overdue fines and processing fees are still owed even if the item is ultimately returned.

Bills sent to the Business Office

• Once an account (either fines or replacement costs) has been referred to the Business Office, the patron is charged a processing fee of $10.00 in addition to the replacement costs for each item.
• Registration will be blocked, grades and transcripts will be withheld and library privileges will be suspended until the obligation has been cleared at the Business Office.
• By end of each semester, unpaid library bills at the business office will be added to other outstanding obligations to the college. The bill will show replacement costs, accumulated fines and processing fees.

Faculty, Staff, Administrators and Retiree Overdues

• Each December and May, the library will send a notice to these borrowers, reminding them that all library materials are due at the end of the semester, and that they should be returned or renewed.
• At the beginning of the next semester, lists of overdue materials (including AV equipment) will be sent to individuals with material still checked out, allowing three weeks for return/renewal.
• At the end of this grace period, bills will be sent to the individuals who have still not returned materials. The bill will show replacement and processing costs.
• Borrowers not responding after the three-week period may have library use privileges suspended until all overdue library materials are returned.

Lost or Damaged Materials

• The replacement costs of unreturned books will be determined by the circulation department using Books in Print or the current average cost of all books purchased by the library. In the case of interlibrary loan materials, the lending library will set the costs and fees.
• Borrowers also may be billed for the repair or replacement costs of library materials if the materials are damaged upon return. In addition, a $10.00 processing fee will be charged.
• Ownership of billed and paid for material remains with The Sage Colleges unless the item has been removed from the libraries' inventory. Should the item be found and returned to the library in good condition, the patron will be reimbursed for the replacement cost as billed.

Loss of Library Privileges

Loss of library use privileges means that the individual may not:

• borrow materials,
• use interlibrary loan,
• in extreme cases, enter the library.

Borrowing privileges remain suspended until the borrower is in compliance with library policies. Students who do not return material when recalled or overdue will have their accounts turned over to the business office for collection and will not be able to receive their grades, register for the next term, graduate or have their transcripts released to other institutions. Once students clear their records at the business office, library use and other privileges will be restored.

Appeal: Inquiries concerning loans, renewals and billing should be directed to the Head of Circulation or the Senior Library Specialist at either library. Borrowers who believe an error has been made may make a written appeal.

Chart of Basic Loan Information