Abell Library does not issue a special library card to its users; instead, your Austin College ID doubles as your library card for checking out materials here. If you are interested in checking out and using materials at other libraries who are members of the local Bibliographic Association of the Red River (BARR) Consortium, your status as an Austin College student, faculty, or staff member may help grant you this privilege. (NOTE: Abell Library does not issue BARR cards. See below for more information on obtaining a BARR library card.)
To apply for a BARR library card account, visit the Sherman Public Library and present your Austin College ID. (Your AC ID is valid while you are enrolled at or employed by the College, and your account must be in good standing with us.) You may be required to provide an additional form of identification as well as proof of local address. Please contact the Sherman Public Library at 903-892-7240 with any questions.
The BARR Consortium member libraries:
| Borrower Type | Loan Period | Restrictions | Renewals |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC faculty | 1 year | 100 item limit | 2 renewals |
| AC staff | 1 year | 100 item limit | 2 renewals |
| AC student | 28 days | 100 item limit | 2 renewals |
| AC retired faculty & staff | 28 days | 100 item limit | 2 renewals |
| AC guest (on campus for limited time) | 14 days | 3 item limit | 2 renewals |
| AC spouse | 14 days | 3 item limit | 2 renewals |
| AC dependent (must be 16+ years of age) | 14 days | 3 item limit | 2 renewals |
| BARRcard holder--Grayson College (must be 18+ years of age) | 14 days | 3 item limit | 1 renewal |
| BARRcard holder--Denison Public Library (must be 18+ years of age) | 14 days | 3 item limit | 1 renewal |
| BARRcard holder--Sherman Public Library (must be 18+ years of age) | 14 days | 3 item limit | 1 renewal |
| TexShare card holder (non-Grayson Co. resident) | 14 days | 3 item limit | 1 renewal |
| TexShare card holder (Grayson Co. resident - use appropriate BARRcard instead) | 14 days | 3 item limit | 1 renewal |
The privilege of borrowing Blu-Ray, DVD, or VHS videos is limited to the following groups.
| Borrower Type | Loan Period | Restrictions | Renewals |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC faculty | 14 days | 5 item limit* | 1 renewal |
| AC student | 7 days | 5 item limit* | 1 renewal |
| AC staff | 7 days | 5 item limit* | 1 renewal |
| AC spouse | 1 day | 1 item limit | 1 renewal |
| AC dependent (must be 16+ years of age) | 1 day | 1 item limit | 1 renewal |
*Counts toward the 100 item limit listed above in the Borrowing Books section.
All patrons of Abell Library are expected to return library materials on time so that others may have access to them. When this does not occur, the library user may be subject to fines, depending on the material borrowed. More details on fines and fees may be found below.
Notices are sent out before and after an item's due date as timely reminders. Please contact the Circulation Supervisor about fines. Lost or damaged books (and other materials) should likewise be reported as soon as possible to the Circulation Supervisor to determine next steps.
More information on lending policies for materials can be seen above.
All materials are to be returned to the circulation desk. Reserve materials should be handed directly to a circulation staff member to ensure that the items are discharged in a timely manner to prevent fines. All items must be returned in the same condition they were when checked out. Any damage, including pen or pencil markings, may result in a library fine. Any material checked out from other BARR libraries or a TexShare participating library must be returned to the appropriate library by the date due.
Any member of the Austin College community (faculty, staff or student) may request that an item checked out to another be recalled. Please make your request at the Circulation Desk. Books are not recalled until the person has had the item for at least 2 weeks, and no one is obligated to return a book until their loan period is over, unless the material is needed for a course reserve. Material needed for a course reserve is requested to be returned to the library immediately.
If a book is not on the shelf where it belongs, please report it to the circulation desk. The library's catalog should indicate whether a book is checked out or not. If it is not on the shelf and not checked out, please request that the library conduct a search for the material. When the item is located, a circulation staff member will send you a notice that the item is available for checkout.
Click My Account in the navigation bar above to access your library account online. You can view (and renew) any items you have checked out, check the status of hold requests, and see any accrued fines.
The following items are not renewable:
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