Germanna students, faculty, and staff do not need a library card to access the library's online resources. (Your myGCC login credentials may be required for off-campus access of online resources.)
A library card is required to check out physical items. Library borrowing privileges are extended to all GCC students, faculty, staff, and community members who are 18 years of age or older and are permanent residents of Germanna's service region.
Library Cards
Students: please visit the Germanna College Police Office at the GCC location nearest you to obtain your GCC student ID card. This card will function as your library card and must be presented to borrow books, DVDs and/or equipment.
GCC Faculty and Staff: your GCC Faculty/Staff ID card is required to borrow books and DVDs. Your Faculty/Staff ID card will be issued to you upon hire – please contact your supervisor if you do not have one. Faculty and staff are not eligible to borrow library equipment.
Community members: come to any Germanna Libraries branch to obtain a Community Member borrowing card. You will need to fill out a short library card application when you arrive, and your home address must fall within Germanna's service region to receive a community member borrowing card. Community members are not eligible to borrow library equipment.
VIVA: the Germanna Libraries are part of the Virtual Libraries of Virginia consortium. Students from VIVA member institutions are eligible to obtain a library card and borrow books and DVDs at any Germanna Libraries branch. Students must present a student ID card from their home institution to apply. VIVA borrowers are not eligible to borrow library equipment. For more information on VIVA, please visit their website: https://vivalib.org/viva/homepage
Borrowing Materials
A GCC ID card or a community member borrowing card must be presented to check out materials. Materials will not be checked out to patrons who present another person's GCC ID card or community member borrowing card, including a spouse's or that of another family member.
Items in all circulating collections are eligible for check out. Reference materials, periodicals, special collections, and other items not in the circulating collections may not be checked out of the library.
Loan (Borrowing) Periods - Books & DVDs
Students: 4 week loan period, plus one 4 week renewal period
Faculty/Staff: Duration of current semester
Community Members: 3-week loan period, plus one 3-week renewal period
Renewing Items
Students: One 4 week renewal
Faculty/Staff: Renewal permitted when items are not in demand
Community Members: One 3 week renewal
Maximum Number of Items
Students: 20 items
Faculty/Staff: 25 items
Community Members: 6 items
Equipment: Laptops and other library equipment
See Library Equipment Borrowing Guidelines below for current guidelines.
Returning Materials
Materials may be returned to any GCC library help desk or book drop box. We have one outdoor book drop box at the Fredericksburg campus in the SP2 building/Workforce building parking lot.
Recalled Items
Currently checked out items such as books and DVDs are subject to recall by other library patrons. The patron from whom the item is recalled will be permitted to keep the item for 3 weeks or for the remainder of their original loan period, whichever is shorter.
Overdue Materials
The Germanna Libraries do not charge overdue fines. Three overdue notices will be sent at 10-day intervals once an item becomes overdue. If materials are not returned after 3 overdue notices (30 days), library staff may be required to make a student conduct referral to the Dean of Student Development.
Lost, stolen, or damaged materials should be reported immediately to library staff. Books or DVDs deemed too damaged to circulate may be subject to replacement fees, or borrowers may submit a new or like-new condition replacement copy.
Questions
If you have questions about circulation or other library policies, please give us a call, send us an e-mail, or stop by one of our library locations.
1. Students (referred to below as Borrower) must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester at Germanna Community College to borrow library loaner laptops.
a. If a borrower drops below 6 credit hours of enrollment during a semester, the loaner laptop in their possession will be subject to recovery procedures by the Germanna Libraries staff as detailed in point 4 on this form. Please see point 4 for additional rules regarding enrollment and laptop borrowing.
b. The 6-credit hour minimum does not apply to CCAMPIS laptops, Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, Wacom tablets or Logitech webcams. These devices are still subject to recovery procedures as detailed in point 4 if the borrower drops/withdraws from all classes at Germanna.
2. Equipment may not be loaned by the borrower to another person.
3. Germanna Libraries equipment is intended for academic use. This use must conform to the Germanna Community College Student Handbook section titled Responsible Computing, which may be viewed at:
https://catalog.germanna.edu/content.php?catoid=4&navoid=121#responsible-computing
4. Loan periods are granted for one semester at a time only and are contingent on borrower enrollment being maintained throughout the full enrollment term each semester. Due dates will be 5 business days after the final exam date each semester as listed on Germanna’s Academic Calendar. Renewals are NOT available – borrowers must turn in equipment at the end of the loan period each semester; a new equipment loan may then be requested the following semester for borrowers continuing their enrollment. If a borrower drops/withdraws from all classes early/prior to the end of the semester or is not continuing their enrollment, the borrower must return all equipment they have on loan within 5 business days following the last date of their enrollment; after this 5-day period equipment will be considered overdue and will be subject to recovery procedures as initiated by Germanna Libraries staff.
5. CCAMPIS laptops and Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots are available for loan by special referral only. Library staff must receive an appropriate referral before loaning these devices.
6. Borrowers may not attempt to repair equipment malfunctions. Equipment malfunctions must be reported to library staff. Borrowers are encouraged to return damaged or malfunctioning equipment as soon as possible.
a. Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots and loaner laptops contain lithium-ion batteries. Students are responsible for using these devices in accordance with appropriate safety measures regarding lithium-ion batteries. Any damage or changes in the batteries (such as battery swelling or extreme heat) must be reported immediately to library staff: 540-891-3015. In the event of smoke or fire coming from a lithium-ion battery, call 9-1-1.
7. Equipment, including laptops, may not be returned locked or with personal access codes in place.
8. Privileges to borrow library equipment may be suspended or revoked due to repeated late returns of equipment and/or returning equipment that is damaged or otherwise no longer in working condition, including loss of critical components. Damage includes permanent stains and/or removing Germanna badging and decals.
9. In the event of damage, loss or theft of equipment, borrowers are responsible for any equipment checked out under their name, including all accessories included at the time of loan. Any damage determined to be the result of borrower use and that is NOT covered by an existing warranty or repairable by Germanna Technical Services staff will be billed to the borrower once a repair quote is generated by the Germanna Technical Services staff. Reports of theft must be accompanied by a police report or case number from the jurisdiction in which the theft occurred.
10. The fees below for non-returned equipment are subject to change annually. Final costs and any applicable processing fees may be higher depending on the final estimate for any repairs or parts as determined by the Germanna Business Office and Germanna Technical Services staff:
a) HP loaner laptop w/carry bag and power cable (all models EXCEPT Engineering laptops) - $1855.00
Note: Engineering model loaner laptops will have additional fees above $1855.00
b) HP laptop power cable - $90.00
c) Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot with USB charging cable and case - $200.00
d) Wacom Intuos tablet w/USB cable and stylus - $85.00
e) Logitech webcam - $120.00
f) Processing fee - $10.00
Germanna Libraries equipment is the property of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In the event of missing/non-returned equipment, borrowers will be subject to equipment/asset recovery procedures as initiated by Germanna Libraries staff.
Please contact the Germanna Libraries with any questions: 540-891-3015 / library@germanna.edu
