Library Cards
Gateway Community College IDs serve as the library cards for students, faculty, and staff. CSCU students, faculty, and staff and Connecticut State Library ID holders may use their institutional IDs or other form of picture identification to check out materials. GCC alumni and non-GCC or CSCU patrons (herein identified as community users) may obtain a guest borrower card by registering with the GCC library and having a valid photo ID.
Circulation Periods
Library patrons are allowed to borrow materials for differing lengths of time depending on the item type as follows:
- Books – Faculty/Staff – 120 days (unlimited renewals); Students and community users – 28 days (limit of 1 renewal)
- Audiovisual – 14 days (limit of 1 renewal, maximum of 4 items)
- Magazines – 1 week (renewable)
- Graphing calculators – semester long on first-come first-serve or 3 hours calculators are available.
- Reserve items – 2 hours (in-library use only)
- Laptop computers – for the semester on a first-come first serve. A contract needs to be signed and replacement cost ranges from $1,200-2,000. A 3 hours laptop can be borrowed to be used in the library and on campus only.
The maximum total borrowed item amounts are as follows:
- GCC and CSCU faculty and staff – unlimited
- GCC and CSCU students – 30 items (all institutions)
- GCC alumni, CSL ID holders, and community users – 4 items
Item Renewals
Renewals can be effectuated in person, over the phone, or online through the patron library record. The library does not charge overdue fines. If a borrower does not return items by the due date, s/he will be emailed a reminder notice. If items are not returned after the reminder notice, the overdue items will be declared lost.
Library users may check the status of their accounts and renew materials online using the following procedure:
- Bring up the library homepage: http://www.gatewayct.edu/Library/Library-Home
- Click on “GatewaySearch (Books & More)”
- Sign in with your NetID number and password
- Click on "My Library Account"
- Overview "Loans" and renew item(s) you needed
Lost Items
Once any overdue items have been declared lost, the patron will be billed for the cost of replacing them plus a $5.00 processing fee per item. In addition, borrowing privileges will be suspended and a Banner hold will be placed preventing registration for classes, transcript requests, and participation in graduation.
Patrons have the choice of returning items, replacing them, or paying for them. Patrons can find out their outstanding fees by contacting the library at https://www.gatewayct.edu/Library. There are two ways of paying for fees:
- Online - Patrons wishing to pay online will need to make a request to the library that their fees be added to their student accounts. The library will contact the Bursar's Office to have the fees added. Patrons can then pay online.
- In Person - Patrons may make an appointment to visit the Bursar's Office during their regular business hours (https://www.gatewayct.edu/Bursar/Contact).
Please contact Miguel García at mgarcia3@gwcc.commnet.edu for any questions. Once items are returned, replaced, or paid for at the Bursar’s Office, borrowing privileges are restored and the Banner hold is removed typically within one business day.
Requesting Items that are Checked Out
If in searching the library catalog a patron finds a note reading Charged - Due on (date) this means that the item has already been borrowed by another user. Users may place a hold on the item by clicking the request button in the item record. Once the item arrives, the patron will receive an email from the library indicating that the item is available. The will be retained on the hold shelf at the service desk for 7 days. After that time it will be returned to the shelf or to the originating library.
Course Reserves
The library maintains a collection of reserve materials behind the service desk. These materials are placed on reserve by faculty members and include textbooks, support materials, and audiovisual materials. Reserve materials are for in-library use only. Patrons who remove reserve materials from the library will have their borrowing privileges suspended and billed the full replacement cost of each item plus a $5.00 processing fee per item. In addition, a Banner hold will be placed blocking class registration, transcript requests, and participation in graduation. Once items are returned, replaced, or paid for at the Bursar’s Office, borrowing privileges are restored and the Banner hold is removed typically within one business day.
Right to Privacy
All library records remain confidential. The library will not provide the names of patrons to whom items are charged.