Checkouts, Renewals, & Holds

The Mary and Jeff Bell Library is open to members of the TAMU-CC community (students, faculty, and staff) as well as members of the wider community.

To borrow library materials, students, faculty, and staff must:

• be enrolled/employed in current term
• present a valid university identification card or other state photo ID
• keep their library account in good standing (fines / charges less than $15.00)

Community members must purchase a Community User card to borrow library materials. The card costs $10 for one year of borrowing privileges.

• Community users can borrow books from the Main, Juvenile, and Oversized collections, as well as DVDs and government documents.
• Community users cannot check out periodicals, materials in noncirculating collections, or books in the Popular Reading collection.
• The Community User card does not grant off-campus access to library databases.

• Do not let others use your ID to check out materials, or give materials you've checked out to someone else. Library borrowing privileges are non-transferable. You are responsible for all items checked out to your account.
• Keep your information up to date. The library sends notices to your email address on file; if that address is wrong, you may miss notices. You are responsible for returning materials on time regardless of whether or not you received a notice.
• Use library materials with care. Do not write or highlight in books, turn pages down, or remove pages. Keep DVDs and CDs protected in their cases when not in use. You are financially responsible for any lost or damaged items. If you notice damage before checking items out, please bring it to the attention of library staff.

*All 3-hour checkouts (except for calculators) are in-library use only.

To view your due dates and fines visit your library account.

View more details on library fines.

Renewals

Bell Library materials can be renewed three different ways:

• Online through your library account
• In person at the Circulation Desk
• By telephone (361-825-2340).

Overdue materials and items that have been placed on hold cannot be renewed online.

For information on renewing Interlibrary Loan materials, see: Materials Not in my Library.

Holds

You may request that items be retrieved from the Main Collection, DVD Collection, Juvenile Collection, or Popular Reading, and be placed on hold at the Bell Library Circulation Desk for you to pick up. 

You can also place a hold on a book or DVD that is currently checked out. When the item is returned, you will be notified.

To place a hold:

1. Use the Quick Search on the library page to find the item. 
2. Click on the title of the item to view more information.
3. Under Get It: Request, use the link to sign in to your account.
4. You will now see the option to "Request first available copy." Click the text to open the request form. 
5. Complete the form, choosing the pickup location "Mary and Jeff Bell Library."
6. You will receive an email notification when your item is available to pick up.

The library does not charge fines for the late return of materials from the Main Collection, Juvenile Collection, DVDs, or Popular Reading. However if an item is overdue and someone else requests it, failure to return the item within a 3-day grace period will lead to fines ($0.25 per day to a maximum of $15.00).

Fines are assessed for the late return of laptops, calculators, and other reserve items. For more information about our fines and fees, please refer to the Fines and Fees Policy.