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General Information & Policies

Mission Statement

Mickel Library exists to support the mission of Converse University. As an academic support department, the library serves the needs of the Converse community by providing access to quality information resources in a setting conducive to study and research and by helping students develop appropriate library research skills.

Circulation Desk

Circulating materials may be checked out at the circulation desk. The loan period is 21 days for books, musical scores, CDs, and LPs, and three-to-five days (depending on the user category) for DVDs and videos. Items may be renewed once if no other patrons have requested them. Professors often place reserve materials at the circulation desk for the use of their students.

There are currently four types of reserves:

  • Library-Use-Only (4 hours)
  • Overnight Reserves (due the following day)
  • Three-Day Reserves (due the third day after checkout)
  • Five-Day Reserves (due the fifth day after checkout)

Converse students, faculty, and staff are offered full borrowing privileges and related library services (e.g., reference and interlibrary loan). The following types of users may check out a limited number of items from the library, but do not receive other services:

  • Students and faculty with a valid college ID from another South Carolina college or university that provides reciprocal checkout privileges through the “PASCAL Delivers” system
  • Converse alumni (i.e., those with a Bachelor’s or master’s degree from the College)
  • Community borrowers (i.e., local residents who have paid a $25.00 fee for a two-year period)

Computers, printers, and a copier in common areas of Mickel Library are provided for the use of Converse students, faculty, staff, administrators, officers, formal guests (e.g., visiting scholars), and, in rare cases, at the discretion of the library staff. With the exception of reciprocity for users from PASCAL-affiliated colleges or universities and access to the online catalog by Converse alumni and those who have purchased a community borrower’s card, all other uses are prohibited.

Borrowers should return all books or other circulating materials by the due date. Renewals may be requested for most items. A replacement and handling fee is charged for any long-overdue unreturned materials.

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary loan policies

  • Interlibrary loan service is available ONLY to the students, faculty, and staff of Converse University. Borrowers should use the online forms provided in the library section of the Converse website to submit their requests. PASCAL Delivers enables borrowers to identify and request books from other academic libraries in South Carolina.
  • The interlibrary loan department does not accept requests for textbooks or other classroom materials that are needed for currently offered courses.
  • Failure to return materials in a timely manner may result in a circulation block being placed on the patron’s library record until all overdue ILL materials are returned.
  • The replacement costs for all lost and/or damaged materials are the responsibility of the patron.
  • Any fees charged by lending institutions will be the responsibility of the patron and are expected to be paid in full when an item is picked up at the circulation desk. Requested books and scores generally arrive in two to eight days, recordings in two to three weeks, and journal articles in one to seven days. However, depending on such factors as distance and method of delivery, arrival times can vary significantly. In some cases, owning libraries may decline to loan certain items, resulting in delays or unfilled requests.

Curriculum Resource Center (CRC)

The CRC (second floor) houses a collection of textbooks, methods, curriculum guides, children’s literature, and academic materials which support the undergraduate and graduate education programs at Converse University. All but reference materials in the CRC may be checked out.

Copies

A self-service photocopier is available on the first floor. Copies made by Converse students, faculty, or staff are debited to their individual printing accounts. Microform copies are 10¢ each. Users should pay for copies at the circulation desk.

Archives & Special Collections

The Archives is a secure, climate-controlled facility that contains valuable documents, photographs, and other materials pertaining to the history and students of Converse University. Special Collections consists primarily of Converse publications, books by faculty and alumni, student theses, and Caroliniana. Access to these materials is available by appointment only.

Converse’s special collection features the Harriet Quimby Collection. Harriet Quimby, the first licensed American woman pilot, was also the first woman to pilot an aircraft across the English Channel.

In March 1999, Ed Y. Hall loaned the Archives his personal collection of materials to establish the Harriet Quimby Collection. These materials are available to researchers by appointment.

Reference Service

Reference service is provided to Converse students, faculty, and staff who need assistance in locating academic information. The librarians serve as consultants, advising students on the use of appropriate information sources and helping them begin their library assignments. Reference librarians also teach basic library skills to students in bibliographic instruction (BI) sessions. These sessions are arranged by individual faculty members and librarians. The goal of the BI program is to make students as self-sufficient as possible in their use of libraries.

Carrels & Meeting Rooms

A number of enclosed study carrels are available to Converse students and faculty on a first-come, first-serve basis. Carrels are not assigned to individuals and are kept unlocked. The A.B. Taylor Room on the third floor is available for meetings of recognized campus organizations. Reservations can be made by calling Becky Dalton at 864.596.9020.

Converse students may also use this room on a first-come basis during unreserved periods to view videos/DVDs or for informal study groups. Mickel Library has a second-floor classroom, which is primarily used for library instruction sessions and as the assigned classroom for several courses. The classroom may also be reserved for meetings of recognized campus organizations, and Converse students may use it on a first-come basis during unreserved periods for informal study groups.

Music Library

The Music Library on the first floor maintains an extensive collection of CDs, LPs, and scores, as well as music books and periodicals. The Mary Hart Law listening room contains turntables, CD players, and cassette decks for individual listening. Headphones are available at the circulation desk.

Library Collections

Mickel Library houses over 155,000 books and other cataloged materials (including 21,000 audiovisual items) and 87,000 units of microform. The periodicals collection consists of 500 titles in a combination of print and microform, as well as electronic indexes containing more than 20,000 unique journal titles in full text. The library also provides access to a number of online reference databases (e.g., encyclopedias, biographical material and art images).