Policies

Creighton University Libraries serve the students, instructors, and staff of Creighton University. Borrowing privileges and network access are granted only to these individuals. In some cases, however, we can accommodate visitors unaffiliated with Creighton, including:

• Alumni and retirees of Creighton University
• Students and faculty from other Nebraska colleges and universities
• Clergy who serves in the metropolitan Omaha area
• Visiting clergy or scholars with a Creighton host or affiliation

Please note that guest cards are not issued to spouses or dependents of Creighton employees unless they meet one of the above criteria. Alumni may borrow up to 10 items at one time and other approved guests may borrow up to 5 items at one time. Guest card holders cannot renew library materials. Please see Borrow or Renew for additional information.

All Creighton University users must present a valid Creighton ID to borrow items.

The following tables describe user groups and item check out periods for the University Libraries:

Reinert Alumni Memorial Library 

Additional items such as cameras, projectors, microphones, and other equipment can be checked out from the library, for loan periods and additional information visit the Technology & Equipment page.

Health Sciences Library 

Item Holds and Recall

If the item you need is checked out by another borrower, you may request a hold. This reserves the item for you when it is returned. You may place a hold from your library account or by requesting assistance from the Service Desk. When your item arrives, you will be notified by email. If your item is not picked up within 3 days, the hold will expire, and the item will be returned to the shelf.

Sometimes items may need to be recalled for use by the library or other patrons. In these cases, a recall can be placed on the item. If a recall is issued, you will be notified by email of the new due date. If it is not returned in time, a block will be placed on your account.

You can view and/or cancel your holds or recalls using the My Requests option in JaySearch, or by visiting the Service Desk.

To place a hold or recall:

• Make sure you are signed into JaySearch.
• Search for the item using the Search Anything search box in the library’s catalog.
• Click on the book’s title to retrieve more information about the item.
• Under the “Request Options” section, click on the “Request” link.

Lockers are available for checkout on a semester basis at the Reinert-Alumni Memorial Library; the cost for locker use is $5/semester. Please visit the service desk at Reinert for locker checkout.

The Creighton University Reinert Alumni Memorial Library and Health Sciences Library welcome all current Creighton University students, faculty, and staff, as well as Creighton University alumni and retirees, and sponsored guests during posted open hours. A Creighton ID is needed to access library facilities after 7:00 pm and on weekends.

The University Libraries reserves the right to deny access to any person whose behavior disrupts or hinders Library use by Creighton University students, instructors, and staff.

Potential guests may contact University Library Head of Access Services for permission to access library facilities.

Use of the Library's resources, including computer equipment and software, must occur in a manner consistent with pertinent University policies, procedures, and codes of conduct, in addition to applicable international, federal, state, and local laws.

Our libraries include spaces for both group work and quiet study. Please be aware of those around you and take your conversation to a more private area if needed. Any persons being disruptive may be asked to leave. Patrons needing a quiet study environment may use the designated quiet study area in the Lower Level of the Reinert Alumni Memorial Library or designated spaces within the Health Sciences Library.

Archives

Access to University Archives and the Rare Books room are by appointment only regardless of University affiliation. Please contact University Archives for appointments.

Food and Drink

Food and drinks in covered containers are allowed in the library. Library users are expected to clean up after themselves, use waste receptacles provided, and to immediately report spills or messes to a Service Desk. The University Libraries reserves the right to ask users to remove any food or drink that disrupts or hinders library use of others.

Study Rooms

The Reinert-Alumni Library and Health Sciences Library both offer reservable study rooms for use by our students, faculty, and staff. We offer 1-2 person rooms to help you concentrate or group study rooms where you can collaborate and talk freely. Our group study rooms are equipped with whiteboards and wall monitors. You can reserve all library study rooms online. Reinert Study Rooms. 

Study Room Regulations:

• Reservations are limited to Creighton University students, faculty, & staff.

• Study rooms should be booked in advance using this reservation system.
• When not reserved, rooms are first come-first served.
• Reservations should be made at least 2 hours in advance and up to 2 weeks in advance
• Maximum 2-hour reservation length
• 8 hours of reservations per day allowed; 24 hours of reservations per week allowed

• The Group Study Rooms are meant for two or more people.
• The Individual Study Rooms are meant for one to two people.
• Check each room description for information about the contents of the study room.
• The Libraries reserve the right to cancel reservations on Group Study Rooms if the reservation is for only one person.
• Reservations for Podcasting room and One-Button Studio are the same as above. However, reservations are mediated by library staff to ensure that these rooms are used for intended purposes.

Lost & Found

Do not leave purses, book bags, or any personal belongings unattended in the library facility.

When an item has been found in, or on, the library facility it is immediately taken to the Circulation Desk and given to a staff worker. Items will be held at the Circulation Desk for 24 hours and after are transferred to long term Lost and Found storage

If the item is a Creighton ID, staff will attempt to contact the owner by email. If the item is a government issued ID, credit/debit card, money, or other similarly valuable item, staff will contact Public Safety.

Posting and Exhibits

Posting of promotional materials in the University Libraries is prohibited unless by special permission of the Assistant Vice Provost for Library Services/University Librarian.

Exhibiting and tabling within University Libraries, including the Commons is prohibited unless by special permission of the Assistant Vice Provost for Library Services/University Librarian.

The Reinert-Alumni Library participates in reciprocal borrowing with other participating academic libraries in Nebraska. This program allows Creighton instructors, staff, and students to check out items in person at other area libraries, as a faster alternative to Interlibrary Loan.

You must present your current Creighton ID card when visiting another library. Your ID will either be used as your library card at that library, or be used to verify your status at Creighton so that a separate library card can be issued. You are expected to:

• Return items by the date due. You are encouraged to return books directly to the library you borrowed them from. If returning materials through the Creighton University Libraries, allow extra time for transit. Overdue items must be returned by you, in person, to the lending library.
• Assume responsibility for fines. Fines must be paid directly to the lending library, not through Creighton. Having fines in any of the reciprocal libraries will be enforced in the same way we enforce them at the Creighton Libraries, by placing a hold on library privileges, registration and diplomas, if necessary.
• Abide by the rules of your host. As the guest of another library, you are expected to follow whatever policies and procedures they may have. Your courtesy is critical to sustaining program participation.

Creighton students are also eligible for borrowing privileges from the Omaha Public Library, with evidence of Douglas County residence. Please call the Omaha Public Library at (402) 444-4800 for more information.

Our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) team fills requests to access print and electronic content regularly; this service is available at no cost to faculty, staff, and students. Requests for articles or chapters from books will be delivered electronically, with an average turnaround time of 2 business days. On average, it takes 6 business days for print content requested to arrive at one of our libraries.

The loan period for items we borrow from other libraries varies by institution, with the average loan period being 4-6 weeks. Most items can be renewed upon request, users will submit the renewal request within their ILLiad account.

For questions about ILL, please contact University Interlibrary Loan.

Creighton University Libraries support instruction and research with print and electronic course reserve services. The primary function of these services is to ensure that students and instructors will have timely access to course-related library resources.

Items on Course Reserve are available for check out at the Circulation desk. The length of check out depends on the individual item. Please see Course Reserves for more information.

E-Reserve

University Libraries can post course materials for online access in our E-Reserves system, which will be linked in your Blueline course in the Library Research/Resources Tab.

We will upload files or scanned copies that adhere to Copyright and Fair Use guidelines or add stable links for journal articles and other content.

Please submit your fully cited readings list and any comments to the webform for each item to be posted.

Please allow 10 working days to process items that have no Copyright issues. If obtaining licenses of copyright permissions is required, the processing of those items could take up to 6 weeks. To ensure all content is available by the first day of the semester, please submit your requests as early as possible.

All published material must be accompanied by a complete citation. If a complete citation is not included and staff need to obtain it, processing time will be substantially slowed. 

Instructors are responsible for determining if their use of copyrighted material falls within Fair Use or if they need to obtain permission to use the material. Visit our Copyright Quick Guide website for information on how to make this determination. 

Lists are processed in the order they are received so that all instructors and students are treated equally. 

Please review our Streaming Video Policy and Streaming Media Flowchart if you include requests to use these items in your course.

Print Reserve

University Libraries can hold course materials for physical access at both the Reinert Alumni Memorial library and Health Sciences Library. Physical materials that can be held on reserve include books, print journals, DVDs or other media, technology items, and kits and models for health sciences education.

Please allow 10 working days to process physical reserve items owned by the University Libraries. To ensure all content is available by the first day of the semester, please submit your requests as early as possible. If a new item must be ordered from vendors or the item requested is currently checked out by another patron, these timelines may be significantly increased.

All published material must be accompanied by a complete citation. If a complete citation is not included and staff need to obtain it, processing time will be substantially slowed. 

Lists are processed in the order they are received so that all instructors and students are treated equally. 

Please submit your fully cited readings list and any comments to the webform for each item to be posted.

Personal (non-library) reserve items may be put on reserve, with the following considerations: 

• Items are subject to minimal library processing. Processing time for the item may be longer than 10 days.
• Personal materials may be placed on reserve with the understanding that loss or damage is a possibility. University Libraries cannot replace missing items or repair damaged personal materials.
• If the item will be used in multiple semesters, consider requesting that item be purchased for our collection to ensure it will be continually available for future reserves and for students. Please contact your Library Liaison or fill out the Recommend Library Purchase form.

Reserve items may be checked out for the loan period set by the faculty member. Loan periods are generally 2 hours or 4 hours, with alternative loan periods for specialized items or circumstances. The borrower is responsible for returning reserve items on time. Overdue reserve items will result in assessment of fees to your library account. Items on reserve may not be taken out of the library without prior permission.

Definitions

Print reserves are required texts, course packs, DVDs or other media, technology items, and kits and models used in health sciences education. University Libraries provides physical access to these materials in the library. 

Electronic reserves, or e-reserves, are scanned materials, web links, links to full-text articles from databases, streaming video, and any other material access electronically. Many e-reserve readings are protected under copyright and should not be shared or distributed beyond the class