Library Policy

Sawyer Library Terms of Use

The following policies pertain to students in CAS and the SBS.

General Information

The Sawyer Library on-campus services include reduced seating, enhanced e-services, provisions for safer access to collections, socially distancing traffic flows, and other modifications where appropriate. Services will be based on safety precautions, therefore access to some items and areas will be restricted during some phases of the reopening.  A reservation will be required for access in all cases. Please check the Sawyer Library page for the most up to date information.

There will be no eating or drinking in the Sawyer Library for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks must be worn at all times and individuals must social distance six feet.

Interlibrary Loan

  • Interlibrary loan (ILL) provides access to materials not available from Suffolk University’s Sawyer Library or Moakley Law Library. An international network of libraries shares physical materials via mail, and may also share electronically available resources- subject to copyright and contractual obligations.
  • ILL requests can be made via web-based forms (available on Sawyer Library’s website).
  • The ILL process takes time; please allow at least two weeks for materials to arrive. In some cases, materials will come much sooner. In rare cases, materials may not be available for loan or photocopying, or provisions of the copyright law may restrict the library from requesting materials.
  • Students will be notified by phone or email when the requested materials arrive.
  • Most individual articles or book chapters are received electronically and will be sent to the email address provided on the request form.
  • All other physical ILL materials (i.e., books, videos) must be retrieved from—and returned to—the Circulation Desk of Sawyer Library. These are called “returnable materials” since they must be returned to the lending library.
  • Since returnable materials do not belong to Suffolk University and are generously loaned by other institutions’ libraries, please treat them with the utmost care. Do not deface (write in, highlight, or otherwise mark-up) or damage any returnable materials.
  • Returnable materials are checked out for the loan period determined by the lending library.
  • Renewals on returnable materials are at the discretion of the lending library.
  • Anyone who borrows returnable material via ILL is responsible for any charges for late, lost, or damaged materials.
  • Anyone who consistently ignores ILL policies or abuses Interlibrary Loan borrowing privileges will be denied future use of the service.

Library Laptops

  • In order to borrow a laptop, a patron must be a student of the College of Arts and Sciences or the Sawyer Business School and be a borrower in good standing.
  • Patrons are responsible for laptops loaned to them at all times. Therefore, laptops should not be left unattended.
  • Patrons will be charged for any damage to a laptop loaned to them beyond normal wear and tear.
  • Patrons are forbidden to attempt to change any program or setting on a borrowed laptop or download any software or applications. Patrons noticing a hardware or software problem should report it immediately to Circulation Staff. Otherwise, they may be liable for the damage.

Printing, Copying and Scanning

There will be limited access to printing, copying and scanning in the library due to the inability to socially distance at printing and copying locations throughout the library.

Study Rooms

  • Two (2) study rooms are available for one (1) individual to conduct confidential video meetings, interviews, appointments, etc. These are available at 30-minute increments.  Limited to one reservation per day.

Course Reserves

  • Course reserves may not be available for your course this semester.  We are working to ensure the safety of all our patrons when borrowing and using library materials.  Updated information will be available when you arrive on campus.

Circulating Library Books

  • Books shelved in the general stacks on the 3rd and 4th floors may be borrowed for 28 days, plus three (3) renewals.
  • Library materials will be placed in quarantine for up to 72 hours before they will be placed back on the shelves.
  • To borrow books, you must have a valid Suffolk ID. You may borrow an unlimited number of circulating books.
  • Due dates are indicated on the receipt printed at the end of your transaction. Library privileges may be restricted if items are not returned on time. Use the online catalog to identify the books Sawyer library owns, and to renew books you have already checked out.
  • If your account becomes restricted you have the following options in order to restore your access to library resources. You may return your overdue materials in person to the Circulation Desk at Sawyer Library. Upon check in, your access to library resources will be restored. You may purchase replacements for your overdue materials. Replacement copies must be in good condition and of the same edition as the missing material.  Please deliver replacement material to the main Circulation Desk at Sawyer Library.  Once the replacement is accepted, restrictions on your library account will be cleared.

Kindles

  • The Library has Kindles available for checkout.
  • Each Kindle can be borrowed for 28 days, and may be eligible for up to three (3) renewals.
  • One eBook may be downloaded onto the Kindle with your first checkout, granted we do not already own a physical copy of the book.

Other Items Available for Checkout Include

  • Calculators
  • Phone chargers (iPhone and Android)
  • USB Mice

At Closing Time

All reserve books, laptops and other items must be returned to the Circulation Desk 30 minutes prior to closing. Research computers (at the library entrance) turn off at 15 minutes prior to closing.

Failure to comply with these Terms of Use can result in loss of laptop privileges, loss of access to other library resources, including Reserves and Study Rooms and fines and fees for laptop repair and replacement. Students who fail to comply with these terms of use may be referred to the Student Conduct System for disciplinary action.