Below you will find information about library cards, library visitor access, behavior policies, borrowing books and media, material policies, study rooms, and food & drink. Please stop by the Circulation Desk, call 903-813-2236, or send an email if you have any questions or need help.
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:
Members of the community outside of Austin College are welcome to visit and use Abell Library during normal business hours throughout the year (during the academic year -- Mon-Fri, 8am to 5pm; during summer and interim sessions -- Mon-Fri, 9am to 4pm). Since the building is AC ID card access only, community members should call the Circulation Desk at 903.813.2236 and speak with a library staff member to gain entrance at the time of the visit, or make an appointment ahead of time to arrange for entrance at a later date. Email Library Director Andrew Smith with any questions or to make an appointment.
We request that all visitors follow library signage, adhere to our behavior policies, and respect students working in the library. Visitors under the age of 16 should be accompanied by an adult. Any visitor intentionally causing a disruption will be asked to leave if the issue persists. Additionally, there are a few considerations to keep in mind if you are planning a visit to Abell Library:
Abell Library is one of the most visited and utilized locations on the Austin College campus. The library is available to all AC students, faculty, and staff, and likewise welcomes College alumni and other members of the community to use the facility (see Community Members above). All patrons of the library are expected to adhere to behaviors that are appropriate in a semi-public setting, including treating others with kindness and respect. If you engage in behaviors deemed inappropriate or unacceptable while using the library, a library staff member may approach you to address and, ideally, resolve the issue. If the issue persists, further action will be taken which may result in you being asked to vacate the building.
Examples of inappropriate or unacceptable behaviors include, but are not limited to: creating excessive noise that is disruptive to others, engaging in dialogue considered inappropriate (explicit, demeaning, or derogatory language), bullying or harassing others around you, viewing or listening to content inappropriate in a public setting, engaging in violent behavior, etc.
If you are found to be in violation of our Disruptive Behavior Policy, the following are steps the library staff will take to resolve the issue.
If you have been participant to previous such instances, the process may be accelerated and loss of library privileges may result.
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.
Everyone is expected to return library materials on time so that others may have access to them. When this does not happen, the library user may be subject to fines, depending on the material borrowed. More details on fines may be found below.
Notices are sent out before and after an item's due date as a reminder. Please contact the Circulation Supervisor about fines. Lost or damaged books should likewise be reported as soon as possible to the Circulation Supervisor.
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.
Study rooms are located primarily on the 2nd floor of the library for individuals or groups of students to study together.
Library Study Rooms: Terms & Conditions
Food |
While small snacks are allowed in the library, food which constitutes a meal is highly discouraged. This means if you have food that results in excessive waste (fast food bags, wrappers, containers; pizza boxes; dirty dishes and/or silverware, etc.), you may be asked to take it elsewhere to consume. Trash and food waste should be disposed of properly. Please exercise caution when using library materials and/or equipment. (No food or drink is allowed in Special Collections.) |
---|---|
Drink |
Covered, non-alcoholic beverages are allowed in the library, but please exercise caution when using library materials and/or equipment. Trash and used beverage containers should be disposed of properly. (No food or drink is allowed in Special Collections.) |
Animals / Pets |
Animals are not allowed in the library, with the exception of service animals. (For more information on service animals, see the Center for Student Success and Access Services' Emotional Support Animal policy document.) |
Tobacco / Vaping |
The use of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and other vaping devices is not allowed. |
Alcoholic Beverages |
Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the library, per Austin College's Alcohol Policy. (For more information on the College's policy, please see the Office of Student Life's Alcohol Policy & Information pamphlet. Violators will be referred to the Austin College Police Department and Student Life. |
If you are found to be in violation of any of the above policies, loss of your library privileges may result. Help us to preserve your library!
![]() |
©2023 Abell Library Center | Austin College, 900 N. Grand Avenue, Sherman, TX 75090-4400 | Phone: (903) 813-2236 Please direct comments or questions about this website to Andrew Smith. |