REFERENCE SERVICES
The librarian is available to help answer your questions. You may view the library's catalog on the web, or you may ask the librarian to locate an item for you. Use the library to keep current with the professional materials in your field. The Library subscribes to over 40 journals in the field of education. A photocopier is available for use at 5 cents per copy.

PREVIEW PUBLISHERS' NEW MATERIALS
Receive advice about buying materials and contacting publishers and their representatives. The library maintains lists of classroom materials recommended by The Center consultants. Most of these items are available for preview in the library.

ELIGIBLE BORROWERS
The Center Library serves teachers, educators, professionals or staff affiliated with educational institutions, child-focused programs or adult learning programs in Illinois.

BORROWING ITEMS
When you visit the library and wish to borrow some materials, show your I.D./driver's license and we will then add your name, address and phone number to our database. There is no library card, nor any need to register in advance.

LOAN PERIOD
You may check-out items for one month, and renew items for an additional month if no one else is waiting for them. You may renew by phone, email or in person. There is a 15 item limit and one renewal only.

FINES
If you do not return or renew materials by their due date, fines accrue at $0.25 per item per day (maximum fine $35 per item). Charges for lost or damaged items are calculated separately. Excessive fines or other abuse may result in the loss of library privileges.

CONVENIENT DELIVERY OF MATERIALS

Delivery by interlibrary loan
The Center Library participates in interlibrary loan delivery service with all libraries in Illinois. Your local public library card allows you to request items through the interlibrary loan service.

Ask the librarian at your local library for more information. You need to know some basic info about what you want (title, author) and the librarian will do the rest.

RETURNING ITEMS

You may return items by mail (at your own expense) or in person during regular library hours. There is no after-hours dropbox. However, a staff person is at the reception desk til 8pm Mon - Thurs during the semester; you may leave materials with the staff person and they will see that they are returned to the library.

You are responsible for items until they are received by us.

Returning items via your public library
It may be possible to return The Center Library materials to your local public library (except the Chicago Public Library system and its city branches--they do not participate).

This option also depends on your library's policies (you'll have to ask them first--it's their decision).

This return option is for 'regular' books and videos. Do NOT return boxes or big books through your local library (you must mail them to us or return them in person).

Be sure to bring items to the attention of a library staff person; do not leave them in the drop box! The yellow due card inside the items tells your public library how to return the items to us.

You are still responsible for the items' safe return. Be aware that it may take a week or longer for those materials to be delivered to us, and overdue fines may accrue as usual.