Library Hours Academic Semester

Monday-Thursday 8:00a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

The Library Staff is available from 8:30-4:30 Monday-Friday
Requests for professional services outside of those hours should be directed to
Melody Layton McMahon - Library Director

Summer and Semester Breaks

Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

General Policies

Patron Categories

The CTU faculty, adjunct faculty, scholars-in-residence, students, and staff are the primary patrons of the CTU Library and must obtain a valid institutional identification card and register with the Library between the hours of 8:30 and 4:30 Monday through Friday. All CTU user I.D. cards must be validated, or re-validated at the Circulation Desk at the time of registration or at the time of a change in status. Graduates of CTU are given a card for access to the Paul Bechtold Library upon verification of their status as graduates. This card must be updated annually.

CTU patrons who use the libraries of ACTS Schools (Association of Chicago Theological Schools) need to obtain a valid ACTS Borrower Identification Card before going to these schools.

All ACTS (Association of Chicago Theological Schools) users must have an institutional ID from their school and a valid ACTS Borrower Identification Card (see FAQs). ACTS users are required to register with the CTU Library and receive a 14-digit library barcode, which will be attached to their identification card to be able to use the CTU Library. ACTS students must have their CTU Library privileges validated each semester at the circulation desk M-F between 8:30 a.m.– 4:00p.m.

Students from the CARLI (Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois) member schools must have a current and valid identification card from their institution.

Researchers unaffiliated with CTU may use the Library for short time periods with the approval of the Library Director, but without borrowing privileges.

Circulating Materials

When borrowing materials directly from The CTU Library or through the OPAC (On-line public access catalog) system you will need to have a validated Institutional I.D. with an attached 14-digit library barcode.

Non-Circulating Materials

Periodicals and reference books are for in-library use only.

Reserve Books and Materials

Books and materials placed on class reserves are to be read or photocopied in the Library. Students may borrow two items at a time for in library use only. Reserve items may be borrowed overnight one-half hour before the library closes and returned by 9 a.m. on the next school day [There is a two (2)-item limit]. Books returned late are fined at $1.00 for any portion of the first hour overdue and $1.00 for each additional hour up to a maximum of $10.00 per each reserve book overdue.

Loan Periods:

• Books for CTU faculty and students is the length of the semester
• One renewal of 60 days
• For all other patrons the loan period for books is 30 days with one renewal of 30 days.
• AV materials the loan period is 7 days with one renewal of 7 days.

Renewals are the responsibility of the patron and can be done by computer either in the library or remotely by accessing the “My Account” button on the library web page.

If a book is needed for Reserve or recalled by another patron it should be returned immediately. Books that are only available in the CTU library can be recalled by another student after two weeks from the date borrowed. All other titles may be requested through I-Share or Interlibrary Loan (see Book Requests below.)

Book Requests

Requesting books that are currently in circulation, is the responsibility of the patron. Book requests should only be made for books from other libraries. If a book reads “available” in the catalog, the student should retrieve the book. Staff cannot retrieve books available on the shelves of the CTU library. A request for books can be transacted by clicking on the REQUEST button found on the Catalog at the Library or from a remote location with Internet access to the Paul Bechtold Library webpage and clicking on “Find Books & Other Materials” to access the I-Share catalog.

Book Renewals

Renewal of books is the patron’s responsibility. Renewal of books can be transacted in “My Account” in the OPAC System at the Library or from a remote location with Internet access to the Paul Bechtold Library web page: http://www.ctu.lib.il.us/. One renewal of 60 days per book is allowed.

Fines

Three days after the due date, books are fined at .25¢ per day/per book up to a maximum of $5.00 per book. Reserve books that circulate overnight are fined at $1.00 for any portion of the first hour overdue and $1.00 for each additional hour up to a maximum of $10.00 per each reserve book overdue. Books recalled for Reserve should be returned immediately, or will be subject to a fine. Books not returned in (5) working days will be charged $5.00 per book per day.

Lost/Damaged Books

Replacement charges for lost/damaged books include the price of the book plus a $15.00 processing fee and a $5.00 late fee if applicable. The library staff will determine the need for replacement of a damaged book. The out-of-print book charge is $100.00 or the prevailing price of the book in the used book market, plus a mandatory-processing fee of $15.00. Books that were assumed lost, and are found and returned to the CTU library are subject to the overdue fee of $5.00 and/or a book processing fee of $15.00 for each book. Fees for lost books that are returned to the library within 6 months of payment, will be refunded.

Interlibrary Loan

Patrons are responsible for requesting books from other CARLI Libraries (Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois) by using the “Request” button on the CTU online catalog. Periodical articles and books that are not available at CTU, or in other CARLI Libraries, may be ordered using the interlibrary loan forms found at the Circulation Desk of the CTU library, or click here to use the online form. Interlibrary loan services are available to registered CTU faculty and students. See the Interlibrary Loan staff between 8:30 and 4:30 Monday through Friday for assistance with interlibrary loan requests.

Audio Visual and Room Reservations

Reservation forms for borrowing audio visual equipment or to use the Weber-Killgallon Room or the Stuhmueller Room should be submitted to the Library Circulation Desk at least twenty-four hours prior to use. Reservation forms are located at the Circulation Desk or click here to view and print (PDF Viewer Required)

Library Staff

Melody Layton McMahon Director 773-371-5460
Frances Hankins Office/Public Services/ILL Manager 773-371-5464
LaToya Thompson Public Services Assistant (Circulation) 773-371-5465
Juventino Lagos Acquisitions 773-371-5461
Catherine Meaney Cataloger 773-371-5462
Lisa Gonzalez Electronic Resources Librarian 773-371-5463
Kenneth O’Malley Archives/Acquisitions 773-371-5466