"Mother" LibGuide

Checkout periods for students

Books: 1 semester, or until recalled by another user

Reserve items: Materials placed on reserve by faculty may be used in the library, for up to 4 hours

Magazines and journals: Issues may be checked out for 7 days.

Graphing calculators: 1 semester. You will be asked to fill out the graphing calculator agreement form when you check one out.

Laptops: Laptops may be checked out for up to 48 hours, with a waiting period of 7 days between checkouts. Subject to availability. Please fill out laptop agreement.

Hotspots: A limited number of hotspots are available for semester-long checkout to current Kirkwood students. Contact the library to find out if any are available. If no hotspots are available, you may place a hold in our catalog. Before checking out a hotspot, you will need to complete a Hotspot Checkout Agreement Form.

Reference and Special Collections: for use in library only.

Other items available for use in the Library 

Technology items 

• Headphones 
• USB flash drives
• Phone chargers (as available)

Miscellaneous other resources

• Dry erase markers
• Staplers & 3-hole punch
• Paper cutter
• Photo copier & printers
• Study rooms are available on the 2nd floor of the library for small group or individual study. Non-reserved rooms may be used on a first-come, first-served basis. A room can be reserved in advance.

Renewing Materials

• To renew library materials, contact us or renew online via My Library Account. 

Request delivery or place a hold

• Request library materials to be delivered to your campus or center by locating the item in the online catalog and clicking "Place Hold". Directions on the Center Delivery page.
• Request library materials that are checked out to another user be placed on hold by following the same directions on the Center Delivery page. Your request will prevent the current borrower from renewing the item, and you will be notified when the item is ready for pickup.

Fines & Stops

• The Library no longer charges late fines for most items. However materials must still be returned promptly, and students will be charged for the replacement cost of unreturned items.
• The Library may send courtesy reminder(s) of overdue materials to your student email. It remains the responsibility of the borrower, however, to return materials promptly.​ 
• Failure to return materials will result in blocked class registration, graduation and receipt of transcripts. 

We have hotspots available for student use, for semester-long checkout. To make sure there is a hotspot available for you, you may submit a hold in our catalog. Scroll down to the "Place Hold" button, click on it, and fill out the form.

Please fill out this agreement before checking out a hotspot: 

Checkout periods for faculty & staff

Most materials can be checked out for 1 term

Renewing Materials

Contact us or renew online under "My library account". 

Recalls & Holds

• Request library materials to be delivered to your campus or center by locating the item in the online catalog and clicking "Place Hold". Directions on the Center Delivery page.
• Holds for materials checked out to another use may also be placed following the directions on the Center Delivery page. 
• Materials requested will be delivered directly to the borrower through campus mail. Holds for staff or faculty at a center will be delivered to the center office.  

More Faculty Services

• Visit the Faculty Services page to see the many different ways the Library can help you with your teaching needs!
• Locate resources
• Instruct students in research skills
• Collaborate with you on innovative approaches to creating research assignments, and more.

Books and library equipment

Where and when can I return my library books or equipment? What if I get a notice saying something is overdue?

When: To check the due date of a book or other item you have checked out, log into your library account or call the library. You may also be able to renew a book that's due, if no one else is waiting for it.

Overdue materials: Please return any overdue materials as soon as possible, even if it's already late. If something is late and you can't make it to the library to return it, please call or chat in to let us know. We may be able to renew it, or stop a hold from being put on your record. 

Where: 

1. Books and other equipment may be returned to the Cedar Rapids Campus library, at the service desk.
2. Books may be returned to the outside drop box. It's located at the Cedar Rapids Campus in the parking lot across from the Benton Hall library entrance. Please return equipment to the library service desk during open hours. 
3. If you are not on campus:
   1. You may mail your library books back to campus. The Library's mailing address is: Kirkwood Community College, Library, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.
   2. You may return your books to any Kirkwood Center, at their main office during regular business hours.
   3. You may also return equipment such as graphing calculators or hotspots to the Learning Commons, located in rom 052 at the Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa in Coralville. 

4. If you have any additional questions about returns, please use the Ask a Librarian chat on this page, or send an email to circulation@kirkwood.edu.

Circulation records and other records identifying the names of library users are confidential. By law the library is prohibited from revealing the name of any person who has checked out, requested, or used library materials, except to the person themselves.

Kirkwood Libraries are open to use by community members, with the following policies:

• You may request a community card for checking out books. Current photo ID and current email required. Ask at the service desk.
• Up to 5 books may be checked out at a time. 
• Community members may not check out laptops, calculators, or hotspots.
• You may use a computer, just ask at the service desk.
• On our computers, you may access our online databases.
• You may access our wifi using your own device.