Student Resources: Reciprocal Borrowing Programs

To be eligible for TALC you must be a currently enrolled student or be employed (full or part time) at a participating institution.

You must be able to log in to your campus portal to show that you are enrolled in course(s) for the current semester or that you are employed at the institution. 

You will also be asked to show home campus ID. If you do not have a home campus ID, you may be asked to present a driver's license or other government-issued photo ID.

Borrowing privileges from a participating TALC library require that the borrower accept full responsibility for the items borrowed. As a TALC borrower, you agree to follow all rules and guidelines established by the lending library. Borrower responsibilities include returning materials in time and paying replacement cost of materials and fees, if charged by the lending library.

The BCLA Reciprocal Use Program permits faculty, staff, and students of participating ACA institutions to use any participating ACA library in person. The user pays any standard fee charged by the lending library for a special borrower’s card.  On campus use of electronic resources is subject to local campus policies. Interlibrary loan policies and procedures will be followed when the user does not go in person to the lending institution, but uses the resources of another institution to secure needed materials.

For more information regarding patron eligibility, loan periods, returns, and fines, see the full BCLA Reciprocal Use Program policy.

Reciprocal borrowing is a voluntary program whereby ACL institutions choosing to participate would extend in-person borrowing privileges to authorized patrons from other ACL institutions. Patrons, including faculty, students, and staff, have reciprocal access to the physical collections of participating Christian institutions. This access is especially valuable for those who may not live near their home institution. 

Borrowing Procedures:

• The borrower obtains a signed Authorization Form from the home library to receive borrowing privileges from a participating library. This Authorization Form can be downloaded and signed digitally.
• Currently employed faculty and staff and currently, enrolled students in good standing are eligible. The home library has the authority to issue or deny this privilege.
• The home library determines the length of a valid authorization. The authorization period may vary depending on the status of the borrower but should be no longer than a year.  When the authorization period expires, the borrower may request another signed authorization form from the home library.
• The borrower takes the signed Authorization Form along with a photo ID to a participating library. Privileges and loan periods are determined by the lending library and may vary from those of the borrower’s home institution.
• Borrower returns materials to the lending library by the requested due date and pays any applicable fines and fees for late, lost, or damaged materials as determined by the lending library. 

Lending Procedures:

• The lending library collects Authorization Form and any additional contact information needed from the borrowing patron in order to create a library record for the patron.
• The lending library provides the patron with a due date and the applicable circulation/fines policies.
• The lending library communicates directly with the patron regarding overdue/replacement fees, however, may contact the home library for assistance if needed.