Circulation Policies & Information
Table of Contents
Borrowing and Returning Materials
To check out materials, you must present your current George Fox ID card or library card (community borrowers and alumni) at the front desk.
You may return materials to either the Portland Center Library or the Murdock Library. You may also return materials at any Summit Library.
Loan Periods
| Item Type | Loan Period | Renewals Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| George Fox Books - Students | 12 weeks | 1 (6 weeks) |
| George Fox Books - Employees | 17 weeks | 2 |
| George Fox Media (DVDs, CDs, etc)* | 1 week | 2 |
| Summit Items* | 12 weeks | 1 (6 weeks) |
| Interlibrary Loan Books* | Determined by lending library (usually about 3 weeks) |
Upon approval of the lending library. |
| Course Reserves: short term* | 2, 4, or 24 hours | — |
| Course Reserves: long term* | 3 days | — |
| Technology (chargers, headphones, adapters etc.)* | 24 hours | — |
* Not available to Community Member or Alumni patrons. See Community Member and Alumni privileges.
Renewing Materials
George Fox Materials and Summit Items
Items may be renewed online through your George Fox library account, over the phone or in person up to the maximum of allowed renewals. Items on request by other patrons may not renew.
Interlibrary Loan Materials
Renewals must be requested through your Interlibrary Loan account before the due date. Renewal requests will be granted or denied by the lending institution (not George Fox Library).
Replacement Costs for Lost or Damaged Items
Lost or damaged materials may on occasion be replaced by the patron. However, prior approval is required. Overdue items are assumed lost until returned.
| George Fox Materials | Billed the replacement cost of the item (min. $50) |
| Summit Items | Billed $90 replacement cost |
| Interlibrary Loan Materials | Billed the replacement cost of the item (min. $50) |
Alumni Services
George Fox University alumni are welcome to use the library! However, please be aware that licensing for many resources limits off-campus access to currently enrolled students and employees. To learn more about resources for alumni, visit Information for Alumni.
Alumni Privileges
- Alumni may check out up to 10 books at a time from the George Fox Library. Alumni users may also place books from our collections on hold.
- Books are borrowed for 4 weeks with 2 renewals for a maximum of 12 weeks.
- Use of the library databases (on campus only).
- On-site access to library computers, printers and scanners.*
*Public-access computers at our libraries exist to serve the students, faculty, and staff of George Fox University. These primary patrons have priority and any guest (including alumni) will use the computers on a space-available basis.
Alumni privileges DO NOT include:
- Off-campus access to online databases and ebooks, except where explicitly noted (see Information for Alumni.)
- Summit borrowing or Interlibrary Loan
- Mailing materials to a home address
- Checking out media (DVDs, CDs, etc.), course reserve materials, or technology
Community Members
Visitors who are over the age of 18 and in one of the following categories may apply for a George Fox University Library card with a photo ID:
- Spouses of George Fox students, staff, administration or faculty
- Dependents (18+) of George Fox staff, administration or faculty
- George Fox Board members and their spouses
- George Fox retirees
- Bon Appetit employees
- Friendsview Retirement Community residents
- NWYM of Friends Pastors (or any Friends pastor)
- Summit visiting patrons
- ATLA Reciprocal borrower patrons
- Pastors in Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, Clark, Yamhill, or Marion counties
- Teachers from C.S. Lewis Academy & Veritas School
Community Member Privileges
- Community members may check out up to 10 books at a time from George Fox Library. They may also place books from our collections on hold.
- Books are borrowed for 4 weeks with 2 renewals for a maximum of 12 weeks.
- Use of the library databases (on campus only).
- On-site access to library computers, printers and scanners.*
*Public-access computers at our libraries exist to serve the students, faculty, and staff of George Fox University. These primary patrons have priority and any guest will use the computers on a space-available basis.
Community member privileges DO NOT include:
- Off-campus access to online databases and ebooks.
- Summit borrowing or Interlibrary Loan
- Mailing materials to a home address
- Checking out media (DVDs, CDs, etc.), course reserve materials, or technology
Home Delivery of Materials
When requesting materials, current employees and off-campus students may choose to have items mailed to their home address instead of being held at the Murdock Library Front Desk. This service is available for George Fox Library materials, as well as Summit and Interlibrary Loan requests. This service is not available for on-campus students requesting delivery to dorms or a campus mailbox.
Although the library assumes the cost of shipping materials TO patrons, the patron is responsible for returning the materials to the library in one of the following ways:
- Items may be returned in person to the Newberg campus or the Portland Center campus drop box.
- Items may be returned by mail to the Newberg campus.
- Items may be returned at other Orbis Cascade Alliance libraries. (locate a participating library near you)
Items can not be checked back in until they physically arrive at the Murdock Library. We appreciate your patience regarding materials in-transit from your home or other library locations.
Summit Visiting Patrons
Any current student, staff or faculty member from an Alliance member institution (including emeritus in some cases) has the ability to borrow materials at any other Alliance member institution as a Summit visiting patron.
Patrons who want visiting privileges and/or the option of picking up materials at a different Alliance library must physically visit that library in person in order to be verified first. They will need to show their ID (university, college, federal or state issued) and be able to log in to their home library account.
Library Notifications
All library notices are sent to George Fox University email accounts (community patrons and alumni set a preferred email address). Notices will be sent when items have arrived for pickup, before items are due, and when items become overdue.
Course Reserves
Items may be placed on reserve by professors for student use. Items held on reserve are not available for use by community members or alumni. To learn more or place items on reserve, visit Course Reserves.