Skip to Main Content

About: Policies

Library Circulation Policy

Borrowing Privileges

Lynn University faculty, staff, students, and alumni may borrow materials from the Lynn Library. Your Lynn University ID card serves as your library card. You must show a valid ID to borrow materials.

Student Loan Periods (Graduate and Undergraduate)

  • Books:

    • Undergraduate students: 1 month
    • Graduate students: 5 months
    • No limit on how many books you can check out
    • No limit on renewals (unless a hold is placed by another user; see below)
  • Textbooks:

    • We have at least one copy of every required textbook for all courses at Lynn, at the Information Desk
    • Because many students need access to these books, the loan period is only three hours. Students can read, copy or scan what they need and then return the book.
    • Because of the high cost and high demand for these books, they are the only things for which we charge overdue fines. We charge a $5 late fee per hour, up to $100.
    • If textbooks aren't returned, we charge the full cost of the book, the late fees accrued, plus a $50 processing fee. 
  • DVDs and CDS:

    • 7 day loan
    • Maximum of 5 DVDs per checkout period
    • No limit on CDs per checkout period
    • 1 renewal
  • Music Scores:

    • 1 month loan
    • 5 renewals
  • Reserve items and iPad chargers:

    • ​3 hour loan (generally).
  • Headphones and USBs: 

    • 5 hour loan (generally).

 

Faculty and Staff Loan Periods

 

  • Books:

    • 5 months
    • No limit on how many books you can check out
    • No limit on renewals (unless a hold is placed by another user; see below)
  • DVDs and CDs

    • 7 days
    • Maximum of 15 DVDs per checkout period
    • No Limit on CDs per checkout period
    • 3 renewals
  • Music Scores:

    • 1 month loan
    • 5 renewals

 

Alumni Loan Periods (You will need an Alumni ID Card.*)

Alumni are welcome to visit the library and take out books, music, and videos, browse magazines and newspapers, use the computers and printers, and access millions of digital resources and databases (on-campus only). Contact the Alumni Affairs team to request access. It may take up to three days to process this request. https://www.lynn.edu/resources/alumni

  • Books:

    • 1 month
    • No limit on how many books you can check out
    • No limit on renewals (unless a hold is placed by another user; see below)
    • Textbook and Course Reserves not available to alumni.
  • Music Scores:

    • 1 month loan
    • 5 renewals
  • DVDs and CDs:

     
    • 7 day loan
    • Maximum of 5 DVDs per checkout period
    • No limit on CDs per checkout period
    • 1 renewal

(*Alumni: Once you have separated from the school, your old student ID card will not be valid. Alumni can request cards by phone, 561-237-7748 or toll-free 1-877-326-5966, email, or by visiting the Career and Alumni Connections office in the Christine E. Lynn University Center.)

Renewals

 

Lynn Library materials can be renewed online. From our website, click on Renew My Stuff and enter your Lynn username and your Lynn password. You can also renew items in person, or by phone (561.237.7254) or email (library@lynn.edu).

 

Interlibrary Loan Items

 

Interlibrary loan is only available to current Lynn students, faculty, and staff. Materials requested through interlibrary loan have varying loan periods, and these are set by the loaning library.  To renew an item or for more information, contact Jared Wellman at jwellman@lynn.edu.

 

Course Reserves

Course reserve books and materials may be placed on limited loan/reserve at the request of the faculty. You may find out what materials are on reserve by contacting the circulation desk at the library.  All reserve materials are located at the circulation desk and may be checked out for brief use. It is recommended but not required that students use course reserves within the library. A Lynn University ID card is required to borrow reserve materials. All course reserve materials may be checked out for 3 hours.  

Lost/Damage Policy

If materials are not returned after they are two weeks overdue, they are considered lost. Lost or damaged book charges are $50 or purchase replacement copy. The charge for lost CDs or DVD is $40 or purchase a replacement copy. Course grades and transcripts may be withheld until all charges due are paid or materials are replaced. 

Library Visitors

Students from other institutions and libraries, and the general public, are welcome to visit the library. Visiting students may only borrow materials from Eugene M. and Christine E. Lynn Library through interlibrary loan, or through the OneCard program if you are an active user of one of several regional public and academic libraries. Visiting students and the general public have access to two guest PC computers.

Library Visitor Policy

Lynn University Library's primary mission is to serve the needs of its students, faculty, and staff and to provide a welcoming, comfortable, and safe environment that promotes free intellectual exploration, research, and learning. The following policies governing use of the University Library have been established to promote user safety; to prevent activities that could damage the Library, its equipment, or collections; and to maintain an atmosphere that permits the library to fulfill its primary mission.

Courtesy

 

  • Please be courteous and respectful to other users. Disorderly or excessive noise, and loud, lengthy conversations are not permitted.
  • If you plan to play any audio on any device, please use headphones.
  • Please silence your cell phones, and take all phone calls out on the second floor patio, the landings, or outside the library.
  • Users are expected to leave the library promptly when we close. Do not enter the library when we are closed; this may be regarded as criminal trespassing.
  • Verbal abuse or harassment of any user or staff member will not be tolerated.

 

Food and Beverages

Food and beverages, within reason, are permitted. Library users are expected to be considerate of others and to avoid messy, smelly, or noisy food items, and to clean up after themselves appropriately. Please cover beverages to limit damage from any spills. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at all times unless at a catered university event.

Tobacco Use

We follow Lynn’s overarching tobacco use policy. All tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are prohibited inside the library, on our patios and near our entrance. There is a designated smoking area on the north side of the library building.

Damage to Library Property

 

  • All library items should be checked out or otherwise authorized before they are removed from the library.
  • Please be careful not to damage library books, DVDs, furniture, computers, or other equipment. Users will be charged for any damage.

 

Use of Library Computers & Printers

 

  • Library computers and printers are provided for research and academic work. Library staff may request you vacate the computer if you appear to be playing a game, watching a TV show or some other non-academic activity, if someone needs the computer for academic purposes.
  • Alumni may use Lynn Library’s computers and databases (Database access is on-campus only- Remote access is not allowed for alumni) with a valid ID and login information. Alumni must contact the Office of Alumni Affairs (561-237-7433; alumni@lynn.edu) to get an ID card and request an account to be able to use the computers. For more information click here.
  • We provide access to two guest PCs for non-Lynn visitors. All of our other computers are reserved for the Lynn community and Lynn alumni.
  • Non-Lynn visitors are welcome to use our spaces for reading and research, and can browse collections and tour the building. Non-Lynn visitors who wish to check out our materials can do so if you have an active library card at one of several regional public and academic libraries, through the OneCard program. Contact us, or your local library, for more information. 
  • We will be happy to fax documents for you, to local or long-distance domestic fax numbers. We cannot fax internationally. We do not receive faxes.
  • When it comes to using Lynn’s computers and networks, we adhere to Lynn’s overarching computer acceptable use policy. Lynn’s computers and networks may not be used to view sexually explicit material, conduct any illegal activities, or provide unauthorized use to non-Lynn users. Lynn computer users are responsible for the security of their devices, including implementing anti-virus and anti-spyware software. 

Personal Property

Do not leave valuables unattended in the Library. The Library is not responsible for any thefts or loss of property. We do keep found items at the Information Desk and we actively try to identify and contact owners of lost items whenever possible. We discard lost items after each semester.

Service Animals

Trained, registered service animals are welcome in the library, in accordance with Lynn’s service animal policy. Other pets are not permitted.

Children

Children under the age of 14 must be attended by a responsible adult. 

Library Collection Development Procedures

Updated Summer 2023. 

Collection Guidelines 

The Lynn University Library bases its purchasing decisions on whether a resource supports the undergraduate and graduate curricula. While we also support faculty research needs, items are primarily purchased for faculty and staff if the library staff believes that the materials in question will also benefit undergraduate and graduate students.  
 
Faculty and student input is highly valuable, and librarians make it a point to communicate with them regarding optimal library purchases. Students, faculty, and staff may suggest items for purchase by filling out our Suggest a Purchase form online, or contacting a librarian. Decisions will be made based upon whether the item fits the collection's current needs. If a suggestion is unable to be purchased, the user who suggested the item will receive a response from a librarian explaining the decision. 
 
While the library will collect some popular or general interest materials as they relate to the research needs of students, we do not acquire a large collection of popular works typically found in a public Library. Patrons are invited to visit the nearby public libraries, as well as to utilize Lynn’s Interlibrary Loan system to acquire materials not in our collection. 

Selection Responsibility

Ultimate responsibility for the development and maintenance of the Libraries’ collection rests with the Director of the Library. The Director’s authority for routine purchasing decisions is delegated to the librarians. While librarians routinely consult with instructional faculty on materials to be added, all decisions about the Libraries' collections are made by librarians holding ALA-accredited Master’s degrees in librarianship or other terminal degree in a related field.  

Selection Criteria 

Librarians select items for acquisition based on the following criteria:  

  • Relevance to curriculum 
  • Authority (reputation) of creator 
  • Currency and enduring value of material 
  • Format of content (electronic, print, DVD, etc.) 
  • Strength of Library's present holdings in the subject 

General Selection Practices 

  • New selections prioritize recently published material. 
  • Ebook format is prioritized for maximum accessibility. Exceptions are made for materials preferred in print, such as popular fiction, children’s books, memoirs, etc.  
  • English-language acquisitions (including translations) are prioritized. Materials in other languages, including notable original-language texts, are acquired as needed. 
  • Duplicate copies of an item are purchased as usage statistics indicate demand/continued relevance. 
  • Lost or damaged items are replaced as usage statistics indicate demand/continued relevance. 
  • One print copy of every course-required text (textbooks and other print items) is acquired for a limited-circulation collection and available for 3-hour loan. 
  • Acquisition of cost-prohibitive items is determined by the Director of the Library. 
  • Self-published works (with the exception of faculty publications and Lynn iBooks) are not collected.  

Databases and Journals

Continuing commitments in the form of journal subscriptions (online or print), databases, newspapers (print, electronic, and/or microform) and other ongoing resources are a yearly commitment of funds, Library staff time, and shelving space. Database and journal selection and renewal is based on use, and closely monitored.

They also represent a regular rise in costs on a yearly basis, usually between 5-10%. The Library usually begins new continuing commitments only when a curricular need has been identified. In addition, the Library generally funds subscriptions in only one format, primarily electronic (when available). 

New Curricular Areas 

Because the acquisition of material is driven by curricular interests, there may be gaps in the collection when a new course is taught. Faculty should work closely with the Library staff in preparation for a new course. Although the primary goal in developing the collection is acquiring material recently published, the Library will make every effort to fill existing gaps when possible. Library staff attend Curriculum Committee meetings so they will be aware when new programs and courses are proposed and approved. 

Gifts 
Please see our Gift/Donation Policy for information about items offered as gifts to the Library. 
 
Display Criteria 
Library staff may create public displays, exhibits and bibliographies. These may include materials relevant to Lynn's curriculum, campus events, internationally/globally recognized observances, or seasonal topics of interest. These are intended to support student learning and reflect the experiences and interests of our diverse student body. 
 
Collection Evaluation and Maintenance 
In order to maintain a current and pertinent collection, the Library staff frequently evaluates the collection to ensure that it continues to meet the user population's needs. Faculty are often consulted during these evaluations and offer useful input on discarding and replacement decisions. 

Deselection Criteria 

The Library frequently deselects or “weeds” items from its collection. We base weeding decisions on the following criteria: 

  • Physical condition 
  • Lack of use 
  • Duplicate copies 
  • Availability of newer edition or format (e.g. electronic) 
  • Outdated information 
  • Irrelevance to college curriculum 
  • Availability through interlibrary loan 

 
Intellectual Freedom 

The Lynn University Library pledges to uphold the tenets of intellectual freedom as denoted in the following documents of the American Library Association: 

Challenge Statement  

In providing service to the Lynn community, Lynn University Library holds to the principles incorporated in the United States Constitution and in particular the First Amendment. The Library's collection is curated with the goal of supporting the information needs of the Lynn community, including students, faculty, staff, and public patrons of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs. In pursuit of this goal, the Library curates materials that reflect diverse points of view. Materials that meet our collection development criteria may contain language or ideas that some may find upsetting. An item's content being perceived as upsetting or offensive will not, on its own, be considered grounds for removing an item from the collection or in any way restricting access to an item. Censorship will not be exercised in a manner that promotes partisanship, coerces belief, or suppresses expression. The inclusion of an item in the collection does not constitute an endorsement of its contents.  
 
The Library's juvenile reading collection is curated chiefly to support the information needs of Lynn students, faculty, and staff in related fields of study. The organization and location of these materials likewise gives priority to the needs of Lynn students, faculty, and staff. Use of any Library materials by minors is the sole responsibility of their parent/guardian.    
 
Any individual who uses the Lynn University Library may challenge the inclusion of an item or resource in the collection. A challenge to a resource in the library must be based on the failure of that resource to fall within the library’s selection and collection development policies. Challenged items will remain in place during the challenge process. 
  
An individual who wishes to challenge the inclusion of an item in the Library's collection must complete and submit the Lynn Library Challenge Form. The Director of the Library or their designee will convene a committee to consider the complaint and draft a response to the complainant, referring to these Collection Development Procedures. Following a review, the complainant will be notified of the Library's decision regarding the challenged item. The complainant may appeal the Library’s decision to the Vice President of Academic Affairs for a final ruling. The appeal must be in writing via email not more than 30 days after the Library’s decision is made, and must include specific facts supporting the position of the complainant. 

Library Gift/Donation Policy

The Lynn University Library welcomes and encourages gifts to the Library in support of the University's programs. Gifts of books and other materials are much appreciated, as are bequests, endowments, and larger contributions.

The same criteria used for the purchase of new materials are applied when gift materials are reviewed.  In both cases, the decision is based upon the demands, present and anticipated, of the University’s programs of teaching and research.

How to Make a Gift or Donation

The initial contact person for gifts to the Library is the Director of the Library or a designee, who will discuss the materials with the donor and indicate whether or not the gift would be of value to the Library.  In order to help make such a decision, a list of the items to be donated is very useful.  In addition, the gift may have to be examined.  If necessary, transportation of materials can be arranged after the gift has been reviewed and accepted.

The Director of the Library will consult with the Manager of Gift Accounting within the Development Office, who works with the Library to manage all gifts and gifts-in-kind that come through the University.

Occasionally, current Lynn students, faculty and staff may donate small numbers of items to the library on an ad-hoc and informal basis, in the case of graduating students, office moves, department clean-ups, etc.

Appraisals

Federal tax law generally allows individual donors who give non-cash gifts to the University to claim a charitable contribution deduction for the fair market value of the gift. The Library encourages donors to consider, for their own interest, obtaining an appraisal of their gifts for income tax purposes. Such appraisals are the responsibility of the donor and should be made, if possible, before the gifts are transferred to Lynn in order to establish their fair market value. The Internal Revenue Service considers the University to be an interested party, and therefore the Library is not permitted to make appraisals of gifts (nor is any employee of the University). For this reason, donors must bear the costs of appraisal, but the costs may be deductible expenses. Donors can find appraisers at the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America, the American Booksellers Association or the American Society of Appraisers, to name a few.  The acceptance of a gift which has been appraised by a disinterested party does not in any way imply endorsement of the appraisal by the Library. Because tax laws change frequently, it is advisable that donors seek professional tax or estate counsel prior to making a gift.

Types of Gifts Welcomed

The Library accepts gifts of books and other materials that will enhance the strengths of its collections, and support Lynn’s programs of study and student and faculty research and cultural interests. Of particular interest are scholarly items with research value that are in good physical condition, CDs and DVDs, and quality paperback literature. Papers and manuscript materials relating to the University’s history, curriculum, or research interests are also considered. 

Due to the high cost of processing donations, the Library reserves the right to decline gift offers at its sole discretion. Donors who offer materials or collections which the Lynn University Library declines may be referred to other libraries or charitable book donation programs.

Received materials will be evaluated in accordance with criteria consistent with the Library Collection Development Policy. Upon receipt of a gift, the materials become the property of the Lynn University Library. Once items are accepted, the Library is responsible for determining the retention, location, cataloging treatment, and other considerations relating to the use or disposition of these materials.

Those materials not added to the collections will be disposed of at the discretion of the Library – including donating to another library or non-profit, re-selling to a local bookseller, or recycling. Recycling gifted materials will generally be the last option after attempts to donate or re-sell are not successful.

Items not Accepted as Gifts

In general, the Library considers the following to be not acceptable as gifts:

  • Gifts to which the donor has attached conditions or restrictions, such as retention, housing, classification, and use
  • Materials which duplicate existing holdings or fall outside the scope of the Library Collection Development Policy
  • Periodicals and subscriptions
  • Photocopies or facsimiles of original materials
  • Damaged and/or brittle materials
  • Materials that may be affected by mildew or mold
  • Outdated media formats such as LPs, cassettes, etc.
  • Materials heavily marked by pen or pencil
  • Materials discarded by other libraries

Acknowledgments and Records

After gift items are accepted, an acknowledgment letter from the Director of the Library will be sent to the donor. The letter will note the number of volumes accepted but will not list individual titles or estimate the value of the donation.

The Library will keep a record of correspondence relating to gifts and will document, for each formal donation, the names of donors, the dates of donations, a brief description of each donation, and the number of items donated.

User Privacy and Confidentiality

The Lynn University Library believes strongly in protecting the privacy of all who use its services, in person and online. In this library the right to privacy is the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one’s interest examined or scrutinized by others.

Library staff will not reveal the identity of patrons or materials checked out, except as required by law (Florida Statute Section 257.261). Our commitment to patron privacy and confidentiality has deep roots not only in law, but also in the ethics and practices of librarianship.  In accordance with the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics: “We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted.”

Consequently, Library staff members hold in confidence to the extent allowable by law all information about individual Library users and their choices of research or study material.  Please help the Library protect your friends' and colleagues' right to privacy, and your right, by not asking staff members for this kind of information. This information will not be shared with any other individual, including family members.

Your Rights of Privacy & Confidentiality

The Rights of Privacy and Confidentiality include but are not limited to these services:

  • Materials checked out at the Circulation and Reserves Desk
  • Interlibrary Loan
  • Reference questions, interviews, and consultations
  • Use of e-books, articles, and periodicals
  • Database search records
  • Use of library facilities, equipment, or services
  • Discussions with library staff concerning your account, fines, and money owed