Last Updated February 2024
Services / Book Drops / Borrowing/Renewing/MSSU material / Loan Periods / Library Accounts / Overdue / Lost or Damaged Item Charges / Appeals / Reserve Policy / Lending to MSSU Distance Students / Locker Policy / MOBIUS Delivery Policy / Proctoring Study Hours / Sabbatical Room / Study Rooms /Reserve Spaces /Miscellaneous
The Library provides two Circulation Desks. The Main Circulation Desk is located on the third floor; a Secondary Circulation Desk is available on the second floor. Any questions about circulation services can be directed to the Main Circulation Desk at (417) 625-9362 or to the Library Operations Specialist at (417) 625-9310.
Both desks allow patrons to check Library material in and out; provide assistance with online journals, catalogues, databases, and ordering MOBIUS/SWAN material; and provide the use of basic office supplies such as staplers and hole-punches. Only the Main Circulation desk can accept payment for Library fines
The Main Circulation Desk also creates new Library accounts, maintains a lost and found, ILL requests, and donated material, provides assistance in locating Library material, prepares and stores course reserve material and MOBIUS/SWAN orders, provides access to standardized test guides and writing guides, provides study room keys, and provides free incoming and outgoing domestic and international faxes only for MSSU students and employees. The Library will not provide fax services to community patrons.
Items may be returned to any of the following locations:
Faculty, staff, and students must provide their valid MSSU identification card to borrow material. A valid driver’s license is a reasonable substitution.
Graduate students, cooperative undergraduates, and other area students must show valid ID from their institution.
Community borrowers must provide valid photo ID and the community card issued to them.
Items can be renewed by coming to the Circulation Desk in person, by phoning the Circulation Desk (417-625-9362), or through your online Library account.
Items with holds placed on them cannot be renewed.
Loaner technology devices (Laptops and Hotspots) check out for the entire semester, and cannot be renewed. Loaner devices must be returned at the end of each semester, by the last day of finals. Loaner devices must be re-requested by a full time MSSU Staff or Faculty member on the student’s behalf for the upcoming semester, including the summer term, using the online MSSU Device Loan Program form.
Please note that students who live in the dorms on campus are unable to have loaner hotspots requested or have the mobile internet (sim card) turned on in loaner laptops, as WIFI internet is available on campus. As these resources are quite limited, requests for hotspots and mobile internet will remain exclusive for students that live off campus. Students who live on-campus are able to borrow loaner laptops, which will all come with WIFI capabilities by default.
| PATRON | BOOKS | PERIODICALS, VIDEOS, CDS, AND CURRICULUM | MOBIUS/SWAN | RESERVE |
| MSSU Faculty | Semester | Four Weeks Periodicals - Semester |
Twenty Eight Days | Check-out differs No renewals |
| MSSU Staff | Four Weeks | Four Weeks | Twenty Eight Days | Check-out differs No renewals |
| MSSU Student | Four Weeks | Four Weeks | Twenty Eight Days | Check-out differs No renewals |
| MSSU Community | Four Weeks | One Week Periodicals – Four weeks |
Non-Circulating/ Cannot Check Out |
Non-Circulating/ Cannot Check Out |
| Faculty/Staff/ Students of Area SWAN/MOBIUS Libraries |
Three Weeks | Non-Circulating/ Cannot Check Out |
Twenty Eight Days | Non-Circulating/ Cannot Check Out |
| Cooperative Graduate Students | Four Weeks | One Week Periodicals – Four weeks |
Twenty Eight Days | Check-out differs No renewals |
| MSSU Emeritus, Long-term Retiree, and VIP | Semester | One Week Periodicals – Four weeks |
Twenty Eight Days | Check-out differs No renewals |
Community members can purchase Library cards. All purchased Library cards are good for one year from the last day of the month that the account was purchased. Library accounts for local college faculty, staff, and students are good until the end of the current MSSU semester.
| PATRON | FEE |
| Alumnus with valid alumni card | No charge |
| Faculty/staff’s spouse and children | No charge |
| Carthage resident Must provide valid ID with Carthage address |
No charge |
| Community Borrower | $15.00 |
| High School Students Students 15 years of age and younger must have a parent’s signature |
$10.00 |
| MSSU Emeritus, Long-term Retiree, and VIP (with verification) |
No charge |
Spiva Library patrons are responsible for returning materials when they are due and in good condition. The library will send one courtesy notice for borrowed items to a patron’s email account three days before they are due. The courtesy notices and overdue notices are sent as an accommodation via email and to physical addresses, and failure to receive them does not absolve the user from the responsibility of returning materials or from financing overdue charges and/or replacement costs. MSSU students and employees will receive notices to their MSSU email account. Additionally, and at its sole discretion, when it has not received payment for unpaid fines and/or the return and payment of lost materials, the Library may visit employees at their departments and offices, and may contact an employee’s supervisor/department chair. Records will be encumbered for these reasons:
A. Item or items 14 days or more overdue
B. Reserve material four hours or more overdue
C. Aggregate fine of $2.00 or more
D. Material that is lost or damaged
E. Late return of Loaner Laptop kit or Hotspot
Students
A Library encumbrance will prevent a student from borrowing Library material. Library charges will be transferred to the student’s Bursar’s Office account. Holds preventing registration, transcripts, grades, etc. will be placed on the balance of the aggregate student account balance in accordance with University hold policies.
Faculty and Staff Employees
Overdue fines, unreturned fines and/or damaged materials are the responsibility of the individual who borrowed them and not the responsibility of the department to whom the individual is a member. A Library encumbrance will prevent staff and faculty members from borrowing Library material. Library encumbrances that are not resolved pursuant to these procedures will be deducted from the staff’s or faculty member’s wages or salary. Prior to wage or salary deduction, the Library will contact a staff or faculty member with a final standardized notice, sent to his or her MSSU email account, to request the return of lost materials and/or the payment of fines/material replacement charges, and to stipulate the next step to reach a resolution is wage or salary deduction. If non-compliant, the Human Resources Department and Library will collaborate to ensure the deduction of wages or salary. At the request of the Library, Human Resources will deduct ten percent per month until the fines and/or lost material charges are fully paid. The deduction of wages or salary is a last resort. The timeline for this process is as follows:
1. An overdue notice is sent to a staff or faculty member’s MSSU email account – up to four overdue notices – or one per week – are sent over the course of 35 days.
2. A “billed” notice is sent to the staff or faculty member’s campus office or residence.
3. If the staff or faculty member has not returned the material and paid the fine/material replacement charges 28 days after the billed notice was sent, the Circulation & Resource Sharing Specialist will visit the staff or faculty member at his or her campus office or work space.
4. The Circulation & Resource Sharing Specialist will contact the staff or faculty member’s department chair or supervisor.
5. The Library will send a final notice to the staff or faculty member’s MSSU email account.
6. Human Resources and the Library will collaborate to implement wage or salary deduction.
7. When full payment is not made, the Library will notify the Bursar’s Office to request enforcement through the Library’s tax intercept program, which the Bursar’s Office administers.
The Library and Bursar’s Office will collaborate to ensure fines and lost materials are paid by students and employees who owe them. The Bursar’s Office will administer the Library’s tax intercept program.
Replacement cost for lost or damaged material will be determined by the Library. After 90 days, any billed item if it is returned to the Library, will not be accepted back by the Library. During the 90 day window, any billed item that is returned in an unsatisfactory condition, will not be accepted back by the Library. Patrons will face full replacement cost for the item. Patrons who have paid the replacement cost for a billed or claimed returned and later locate and return the missing item during the 90 day window may receive a refund up to 30 days after the bill was paid. This decision is up to Library staff. Patrons who have paid the replacement cost for a billed or claimed returned and later locate and return the missing item after the 90 day window will not receive a refund. SWAN/MOBIUS fines are non-refundable and non-negotiable.
The Library will determine if returned Library materials are considered damaged. The Library considers items – books, curriculum kits, et cetera – that are checked-out and returned with missing pieces to be damaged. The cost of the damaged Library materials will be assessed by the Library. Patrons will pay the replacement costs of each damaged material and a processing fee, as outlined below:
MOBIUS/SWAN fines are non-refundable and non-negotiable. A hold will be placed on
MSSU patrons’ accounts, as well as prevent them from receiving anymore material until the matter is resolved.
During the initial pick up of the loaner Laptop or Hotspot, the student must note if there is any prior damage to the device or any part of the loaner device kit. They must document this damage, with specific details, on the Loaner Device Agreement form. This must also include their initials and the date this damage was noted, as well as the initials of the staff member assisting them. This student inspection and notation must occur during the checkout process, before the loaner device has been officially loaned to the student. Once the loaner device is checked out to the student, no additional notes can be made regarding physical damage to any part of the loaner device kit. Any damage found upon return will be the responsibility of the student.
Any damage found upon inspection by I.T. after the laptop was returned, that was not previously noted by the student during the initial checkout, will be the student's responsibility. The student's account will be charged accordingly. These replacement fees are non-negotiable.
Loaner Laptops and Hotspots must be returned by the last day of the current semester, regardless of when they were checked out. Laptops and Hotspots must be returned to the Main Circulation desk of Spiva Library, located on the 3rd floor of the building, by the individual to whom it was checked out to. Loaner Laptop kits and/or Hotspots will not be removed from the patron’s account until after all of the items have undergone an inspection by the MSSU I.T. department and been approved for check-in. The I.T. department will determine if any repair or replacement costs will be applied to the borrowing student’s account.
Late return of the Loaner laptop or Hotspot (returns occurring after the final day of the current semester) to the library will result in the following:
If the Loaner Laptop/Hotspot is not returned by the final day of the semester, then a hold will be placed on the student’s account the next day.
If the return of the laptop or Hotspot has not occurred the first Tuesday after finals week, a $20 non-waivable late fee will be applied to the account each week that the item is overdue. This fine will continue to accrue each week the laptop or hotspot is not returned.
If the return of the laptop has not occurred a week after the due date, the device’s hard drive will be remotely reset, and the mobile Internet will be suspended by the I.T. department. If the return of a hotspot has not occurred a week after the due date, then the device will be suspended and deactivated by the I.T. department.
If the laptop has not been returned to the Main Circulation desk after a three week period post due-date, the replacement cost for the laptop kit and/or Hotspot will be applied to the account.
Students that fail to return their loaner device by the last day of the semester for two semesters, consecutive or not, will lose further access to the Device Loaner program and will be unable to borrow any devices via the program from that point on. Requests submitted on the behalf of a user who has had this privilege revoked will not be fulfilled, and the full-time employee who submitted the request, and the student on behalf of whom it was submitted, will be notified via email that the request will not be fulfilled and the reason it will not be fulfilled.
All loaner devices must be returned to the Main Circulation desk at Spiva Library no later than 30 minutes prior to closing to give library staff sufficient time to inspect the returned item and to process the return.
Any damages that occur to the laptop or Hotspot while checked out to the user, regardless of whether they were caused by the user or another party, will require the student to pay for the damages. Damage that will result in a fine will include, but is not limited to, the following: cosmetic damage to laptop, missing kit or laptop pieces, damage that renders the hotspot or laptop and/or kit pieces unusable, etc
The amount owed for damage or replacement will be determined by the I.T. department after the returned item has undergone a thorough inspection. This fine will be applied to the student's library account.
If a student wants to borrow the same loaner hotspot or loaner laptop for the next consecutive semester, the following must occur:
1) A request for loaner laptop/hotspot the must be submitted by a full-time MSSU staff or Faculty member on the student’s behalf via the Loaner Device Request Form
2) If applicable, all late fees and repair costs for loaner devices must be paid off.
The above must occur no later than 1 week from the start of the semester, otherwise the loaner device will be wiped and prepared for the next student on the list to check out for the semester, and any submitted requests will be added to the loaner device waitlist in the order it was received.
The Library will determine if returned Library materials are considered damaged. The Library considers items – books, curriculum kits, et cetera – that are checked-out and returned with missing pieces to be damaged. The cost of the damaged Library materials will be assessed by the Library. Patrons will pay the replacement costs of each damaged material and a processing fee, as outlined below:
| MATERIAL | FINE RATE | REPLACEMENT COST |
| Main Collection Book | $.10 per day per item $5.00 maximum |
$95.00 or cost of item + $10.00 processing cost |
| Curriculum, Government Documents, CDs, Videos, Software | $.10 per day per item $5.00 maximum | $95.00 or cost of item + $10.00 processing cost |
| Periodicals | $.10 per day per item $5.00 maximum | $55.00 or cost of item + $10.00 processing cost bound journals will be the cost of every issue in that volume + $10.00 for binding + $20.00 service cost |
| Reserve Material | $.50 per hour per item $12.00 maximum | Replacement cost varies with material type. |
| MOBIUS/SWAN Book | $20.00 per item Non-negotiable |
$120.00 per book |
|
Loaner Laptop Kit and Hotspots |
$20.00 late fee incurred per week overdue Non-negotiable | Replacement cost determined by the I.T. Department – Amount due will be to replace the entire laptop kit or Hotspot |
MOBIUS/SWAN fines are non-refundable and non-negotiable. A hold will be placed on
MSSU patrons’ accounts, as well as prevent them from receiving anymore material until the matter is resolved.
Patrons who return MOBIUS/SWAN materials without the MOBIUS/SWAN bookband on each book will receive up to three email notifications that will remind them that the removal of the bookband is not permitted. After the third email notification, patrons will be fined fifty cents for each removed MOBIUS/SWAN bookband.
Patrons will be billed for SWAN books when the item is 28 days overdue.
Patrons will be billed for MOBIUS books when the item is 45 days overdue.
Patrons will be billed for Loaner Laptops kits and Hotspots when the item is 21 days overdue.
Holds and fines will not be removed until the lending school receives payment.
All borrowers have the right to appeal Library charges and encumbrances by following this process:
Send the email to the Library Operations Specialist Clark-M@mssu.edu or MSSULibrary@mssu.edu
Reserve material is restricted by copyright and fair use guidelines (www.copyright.gov/title17). It is the instructor’s responsibility to obtain copyright permission through the Copyright Clearance Center (1-978-750-8400 or www.copyright.com). A form letter is also available at the Main Circulation Desk.
The Circulation Desk will accept:
The Circulation Desk will not accept:
Although the Circulation Department will add material as quickly as possible, it is asked that instructors allow 48 hours for the material to be added to their course reserves. Material will not be added on the weekends.
The Library will deliver books ordered by faculty and staff from the MOBIUS/Prospector service to their office or campus location identified in the MSSU directory. Faculty and staff must be current employees with an assigned office or campus location. The library will not deliver off-campus. When ordering MOBIUS books, faculty and staff must select the delivery option for materials to be delivered.
Faculty and staff are responsible for returning materials to the Library.
Deliveries will occur once a week on days selected by the Access Services Librarian as help is available.
Faculty and staff who order traditional interlibrary loan (ILL) books can ask the Library to ship them to their office or campus location. ILL books are covered by the MOBIUS Delivery Policy.
Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Circulation Department at Clark-M@mssu.edu or MSSULibray@mssu.edu
Spiva Library is a member of the MOBIUS consortium and is assigned to its SWAN cluster. MSSU students and employees can electronically order materials from MOBIUS libraries and have them shipped to Spiva Library or though the MOBIUS Pick-Up Anywhere option. Students can request materials be delivered to the MOBIUS library closest to them. For example, an MSSU distance learning student (DLS) who lives in West Plains, Missouri, and enrolled in online only courses, can order a MOBIUS book through Spiva Library’s website, and have it shipped for pick up at the Missouri State University’s library in West Plains.
However, when a DLS does not live close to a MOBIUS library and wishes to check out library materials, the following steps are required:
In order for Distance Learning students to participate in this service, they must meet the following requirements:
The George A. Spiva Library (library) offers 12 lockers adjacent to the Main Circulation Desk on the third floor. Locker keys may be checked out at the Main Circulation Desk for general MSSU student use. Locker keys checkout for four or twenty-four hours.
No one is permitted to use a locker without a library provided-lock. Any materials found in lockers without locks will be turned over to the University Policy Department.
Rules for lockers:
24 hour locks:
The library is not responsible for proctoring study hours for any group on campus. Groups may keep a sign in folder near the catalog browsing computers on the third floor but library staff is not responsible for signing off on study hours. For study hours proctoring, please contact the Student Success Center (Hearnes Hall Room 301, 417-659-3725, studentsuccesscenter@mssu.edu.) Additionally, test proctoring is available via the Advising, Counseling and Testing Services (ACTS) Department (Hearnes Hall Room 314, 417-625-9559). Please report any issues to the Main Circulation Desk.
Study room keys may be checked out at the Main Circulation Desk for general MSSU student/faculty use. Students may check out study room keys for two hours and may not reserve more than a week in advance. Reservations can be made in person at the Main Circulation desk or online via the libguides (http://libguides.mssu.edu/reserve-library-study-room).
Patron Type: Allowed to check out study rooms:
MSSU Undergrad Yes
MSSU Grad Yes
MSSU Faculty Yes
MSSU Staff Yes
MSSU Friend Yes
MSSU VIP No
MSSU Community No
MSSU Friend No
MSSU Area Student No
MSSU Area Faculty No
MSSU Coop Faculty No
MSSU Coop undergrad No
Alumni with an active library card may checkout a study room for one hour per day, with no renewals. Current MSSU students, faculty and staff have priority access to study rooms.
MSSU students may renew a study room twice unless there is a reservation or request for the room. The key may not leave the building. Student MSSU IDs will be held at the desk until the key is returned.
Reservations cannot be made for a student. The student who makes the reservation must be physically present at the Main Circulation Desk to check out the room. Individuals who do not show up within 15 minutes of their reserved time forfeit the reservation.
Faculty and Staff are asked to reserve study rooms in advance at https://libguides.mssu.edu/reserve-library-study-room to ensure space is available for the times and dates needed. The library will do its best to accommodate extended time periods requested by Faculty and Staff.
Outside-MSSU usage of study rooms is a rare exception that can be granted to out-of-state students for academic purposes only. Permission to use study room space must be granted by Library Director and requested two weeks in advance with valid intent of use stated. Permission to use space is up to library discretion, and permission to use the space is not guaranteed upon request. Priority for study room usage is for MSSU students, staff, and faculty.
The individual who has the study room checked out is responsible for all use made of the room, including any damage, and should be present at all times. Individuals/groups are responsible for returning the room to the same condition as when they entered. If a study room is found to be in unsatisfactory condition, the Circulation Desk should be notified immediately to avoid being held responsible for any damages.
If a maintenance staff member has to do extensive cleaning of the room (clear cups or bottles off the table, sweep or clean food residue off the floor or furniture, etc.) the person who checked out the room will be billed for the custodian’s time. If the bill is unpaid, an encumbrance will be placed on that patron’s record.
The room should be locked before returning the key to the Circulation Desk.
If the key is returned and the room is found unlocked, a fee of $2 may be added to the patrons account per instance of the study room being left unlocked.
At that time, all items and persons must be vacated from the room. The library assumes no responsibility for personal possessions in the study rooms.
Failure to abide by the study room policy may result in being denied room access.
If a student or group violates this study room policy, he/she or they will be referred to the MSSU Dean of Students.
The following rooms are available for check out and can be reserved at the Main Circulation Desk (625-9362):
Color coding for room noise levels:
Active Learning: Moderate level talking is expected, indoor voices are still expected. These areas are intended for collaborative learning experiences.
Conversational: Mid-low level conversations. Noise is permitted, but needs to be moderated.
Reading/Studying: Intended as a quiet sanctuary for readers and students who want to concentrate. These zones are considered to be as quiet as possible.
Reading/Studying Room 427- 1 desk, 1 chair, 1 computer, 1 webcam (Test Room, priority to students testing)
Reading/Studying: Room 426-1 table, 2 chairs, 1 computer, 1 webcam (Test Room, priority to students testing)
Reading/Studying: Room 439-1 table, 2 chairs, 1 computer, 1 webcam (Test Room, priority to students testing)
Conversational: Room 203-1 table, 4 chairs, 1 white board
Conversational: Room 210A-2 tables, 8 chairs, 1 white board
Conversational: Room 210B- 2 tables, 10 chairs, 1 white board
Conversational: Room 230-2 tables, 8 chairs, 1 white board
Conversational: Room 408- 3 tables, 10 chairs, 1 white board
Conversational: Room 210C- 3 tables, 10 chairs, 1 white board, 1 projector, 1 computer
Reading/Studying: Room 424- 4 tables, 12 chairs, 1 tv/dvd/vhs player
Conversational: Room 410 – 5 tables, 12 chairs, 1 computer, 1 whiteboard
Conversational: Room 204-5 tables, 13 chairs, 1 tv, 1 computer, 1 webcam, 1 whiteboard
The following are available for special use:
Spiva Library has a private lactation available for MSSU employees and students. This space is located in room 205 and is found on the second floor of the library. The lactation room key is located at the Main Circulation desk on the third floor, and must be checked-out for use. This space is reserved for lactating individuals only, and users must provide their own pump kit, storage container, and other supplies such as baby wipes or hand sanitizer.
The reservable spaces in the George A. Spiva Library are intended for academic services and programs. Please allow a minimum of 24 hours for reservation approval. Groups/individuals who violate study room policy, leave excessive cleanup, or otherwise fail to abide by library standards will be ineligible to request a reservation. Food and beverages are allowed in all reservable spaces, but must abide by the campus catering/food policy. The persons reserving a space are responsible for communicating their Physical Plant, IT, and food service needs to the appropriate contact. The Library reserves the right to relocate a reservation to a comparable space within the Library.
All reservations are up to the Library Director’s discretion. Please contact the Administrative Coordinator (625-9386) to make reservations.
This seating area may be reserved by staff and faculty for campus or work related
events including filming, class meetings, receptions, and other approved functions. Because the 3rd floor is a quieter floor of the library, groups that need to converse are encouraged to meet elsewhere.
This meeting room may be reserved by staff and faculty for campus or work related events including conferences, workshops, presentations, committee meetings, and
other approved functions. When events are scheduled in L-413, this room will be unavailable.
The Belk Quiet Room is only reservable for library-related or Academic Affairs
events, and only when it does not pose a significant inconvenience to students.
The Circulation Department is responsible for the three card catalog computers – two adjacent to the Main Circulation Desk on the 3rd floor and one on the 2nd floor, near the southeast stairwell – the community typewriter, and the one 3rd floor color copier in the alcove next to the Main Circulation Desk. Any maintenance issues should be reported to the Library Administrative Coordinator.
The Circulation Department is also responsible for maintaining the following collections:
This site is maintained by the librarians of George A. Spiva Library.
If you have a question or comment about the Library's LibGuides, please contact the site administrator.