Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about the library? Chances are it's been asked before! We've constructed a library FAQ page to try to address our most frequently asked questions. We've organized the questions in the following manner:

General Information, Checking Out Materials, Library Services, Electronic Access,
Library Collections, Reserves, Directions & Maps

General Information

What are the library's hours?

Regular library hours are as follows: 

     Monday - Thursday: 7:30am - 12 mdnt
     Friday: 7:30am-8:00pm
     Saturday: 9:00am-8:00pm
     Sunday: 12noon - 12mdnt

The library's hours may vary during holidays or between semesters. Check postings for winter and summer session schedules. You may pick up a personal copy of each semester's schedule at the circulation desk or access the hours online. 

I am not affiliated with Carroll University. Can I use the library?

Any person from the community (who is not affiliated with Carroll University) has the opportunity to purchase a Community Borrower card for a non-refundable fee of $25.00 which will allow that person to check out materials from the Carroll Library in a manner consistent with the general circulation policy. The Community Borrower card is valid for a period of one year from the date of purchase. At the end of the one-year period all patrons who have no monetary obligation to the library have the opportunity to renew his/her card with an accompanying payment of $25.00. 

To purchase a Community Borrower card, please go the circulation desk in the front lobby of the library. If you are not interested in checking out materials, but wish to browse our collection in house, you may do so free of charge. Copiers are available throughout the building for photocopying of materials.

I am an alumna/alumnus of Carroll University. Do I have special library privileges?

We are happy to offer library access to our alumni with a valid Carroll ID. If you don't have a current alumni card, please contact the alumni office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. by calling 262-524-7237 or send an email to alumni@cc.edu. Please let the alumni office know how to contact you as they will need to notify you when your card is ready to be picked up; it will take approximately 2-3 days for the entire process. Your alumni card will be valid for a period of one year from the date it was issued. At the end of the one year period, you may re-instate your alumni card providing there are no monetary obligations to the library.

When is the computer classroom open?

The Instructional Services Classroom is open based on availability. When Information Literacy sessions are scheduled, the room is closed to the campus community. Regular Classroom hours are as follows:

Monday - Thursday 7:30am-11:50pm
Friday 7:30am-4pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday 3pm-11:50pm

View this week's classroom schedule!

Where is the Learning Commons located in the Library?

Located on the lower level of the library, the Learning Commons continues to provide Carroll students, free of charge, opportunities to strengthen their academic skills through peer tutoring and study skills assistance. For more information, please click here.

How do I find a writing assistant?

Writing Assistants are located in the Learning Commons. For more information on academic support services provided by Writing Assistants,, please click here.

Is there an after hours library book drop?

Yes! There are in fact TWO book drops that can be used when the library is closed. One is located just outside the library's front doors. The second is located in the basement of the Campus Center near the vending machines across from the Pit. Please feel free to use these book drops to deposit library materials after hours.

Are food and drink allowed in the library?

The library enforces a strict food and drink policy for the protection of library equipment, furniture and materials. More 

Are there any group study areas in the library?

Yes! The Learning Commons provides space for group study, individual study and tutoring. In addition to the large, open space of the Learning Commons, there are currently four designated group study rooms on the lower level of the library. Group study rooms operate on a first come, first served basis. Two of these rooms are equipped with a television and VCR/DVD for viewing videos. Many are equipped with white boards. Dry erase markers and erasers are available at the circulation desk. Simply leave your student ID at the desk and pick it up when the markers/erasers are returned.

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Checking Out Materials

How long can I keep a library book?

The normal circulation period for most books is 28 days with one renewal. If the circulation period differs for your materials, you will be notified at the time of check-out.

Can I recall a book that another person has checked out?

If you are interested in a particular book/material that is already checked out by another patron, you may notify the circulation desk in person or call 262 524-7175. We will take your personal information and in most cases, put a hold on the book to be saved for you upon it's return. If the material is grossly overdue, we will recall the item for you by contacting the current borrower. Once the material has been returned to us, we will contact you to let you know that it is ready for pick up.

How can I renew my books online?

Go to the Library Catalog, then My Your Record and type in your name and student ID number as directed. Once you are viewing your account, click on the button indicating the number of items you have checked out. You will then see a list of all titles in your account. Click in the box to the left of the title/s you would like to renew and click on the button labeled "Renew Selected Items." If you would like to renew all of your items at once, you may simply click on the button labeled "Renew All." Only one renewal is permitted for each item and the renewal period is the same as the original circulation period. If you are given any kind of error message in red letters, your item has not been renewed.

Can I renew Interlibrary Loan materials?

ILL renewals are at the discretion of the lending library.  Unless stated on the book strap "NO RENEWALS,"  we will try to renew the item for you.  Please notify the ILL office at 262-650-4889 if you desire to renew the item 3 days prior to the due date.  Most libraries will not renew overdue items, even if it is only one day. More on ILL.

Does the library charge for overdue items?

Yes! It's important to return all library materials on time in order to avoid costly late fees. A fine of 25 cents per day is charged for most materials. Reserve items accrue fines at a higher rate of 50 cents per hour. If fines are paid at the time the materials are returned, we will cut the fine in half! 

What do I do if the catalog lists the status of a  book/item as "CHECK SHELF" but I cannot find the book/item on the shelf?

The words "check shelf" mean that the item has not been checked out. Therefore, the item is still somewhere in the building. The first thing to do is check the shelves immediately surrounding the spot in which the book should be housed. Often patrons browse and will set the book down at the end of the shelf or in a nearby area rather than reshelving the item. If the book is not in the immediate area, check the reshelve carts located throughout the library. Chances are, someone has set them there to be reshelved. If the item is not there, check at the circulation desk. It's possible that the item has recently been returned and has not yet been shelved. If we cannot locate the book for you on the spot, we will conduct a library-wide search for the item and will contact you once the item has been found.

What do I do if the catalog lists the status of a book/item as "IN PROCESS?"

The words "in process" indicate that the book or material has been recently purchased and has not yet been cataloged for patron use. Usually, the material will be processed, checked in and on the shelves within a few days. Check back in a few days and in most cases the book will be on the shelf. 

What do I do if the catalog lists the status of a book/item as "NEW BOOKS?"

The words "new books" indicate that the book or material has been recently processed and has been placed on our new book tower in the lobby.

What are my options if the library does not own a book that I want?

First, you may check the library catalogs of other academic or public libraries in the area to find out if any own the item. It may be possible to get an InfoPass from the Reference Desk which will allow you to check out the item as if you were a library cardholder there. 

If there are no local libraries who own the item, you may request the item via  Interlibrary loan. More on ILL.

If you feel strongly that it is an item our library should own in the future, we encourage you to fill out and submit a book suggestion form. All suggestions are reviewed by our acquisitions department and are taken into consideration when we purchase new books for the library.

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Library Services

I am a new student/faculty member. Where can I sign up for a tour of the library and an orientation of its services?

The library offers freshman tours in conjunction with FYS in the first few weeks of school. New faculty and staff are also given a tour of the library at orientation. If you are a transfer, non-traditional or international student, you are welcome to stop by the Reference Desk at any time to set up a one-on-one session to tour the library or receive a personal orientation session regarding the library's services. For more in depth information on the library, students and faculty are encouraged to contact their Library Liaisons. 

I am having trouble finding articles/books for my research paper. Where can I get some help?

The library has put together a list of subject guides  for many of the departments on campus. These guides are designed to help students at the beginning of a research project. They list general reference resources, recommended databases and specific academic journals available in the library for each field. For more specific information on your topic, please stop by or contact the Reference Desk.

I am a faculty member. Can a librarian talk to my class about electronic & print sources that would be useful for a particular assignment?

Yes! We call them information literacy sessions and they are taught by your departmental liaison. Each session is tailored to fit the informational needs of your class specifically. For more information on setting up a session, please contact your  Library Liaison.

Where are the copy machines located?

Copiers are available on each floor of the library. 

How much do photocopies cost?

If you use cash, copies are 10 cents per page. If you use a campus copy card, copies are 7 cents per page. New Carroll IDs will not work in the vending machines at this time.

How much does it cost to print from the laser printers?

Right now there is no charge for printing from our laser printers. We rely on our patrons to print only what is absolutely necessary to avoid excess waste. Please be aware that the printing policy on campus is that you may print up to three copies of academic material from a laser printer. All other copies must be made at a photocopier.

Where can I get change?

If you need change, you may ask at the circulation desk.

I am a graduate student on campus and would like to have my thesis bound. How can I do that?

The library binds two copies of every approved thesis written by our graduate students. To have your thesis approved, please fill out the library binding form.  Once your form has been returned to the library, we can begin the binding process.  Of the two bound copies, one of the copies is cataloged and added to our main collection. The other is cataloged and kept in Special Collections. If you would like to bind one or more personal copies of your thesis at the same time, please bring the following materials to the circulation desk: the number of copies you'd like bound (printed on good paper and separated into individual copies), $25.00 per personal copy you'd like bound, and contact information so that we may contact you once the finished copies come back from the binder.

Does the library have a fax machine I can use?

No. The library does not have a fax machine for patron use. However, there is a fax machine located at the Information Desk in the Campus Center that students and staff are welcome to use.

Where can I have a document laminated and then bound?

Materials to be laminated and/or bound may be dropped off at the Reference desk on the main level of the library. Patrons are asked to fill out and submit a form to aid staff in the processing of materials. 

Lamination and spiral binding services are available for library patrons. Materials to be laminated and/or bound will be processed within 24 hours of drop-off (Monday through Thursday). The cost for lamination is $.25/foot (rounded up to the nearest whole foot).  The cost for binding is $.25 per comb. 

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Electronic Access

Where can I plug in my laptop?

Wireless access is now available in the library. Please take your laptop to ITS to receive access information.  The best areas in the library for wireless access include the coffee shop, the classroom and the reading room.

There are also ports and outlets available along the walls throughout the library. Two specific areas that are popular for students working with laptops include the Coffee Shop and the group study rooms located on the lower level of the library. For more information regarding the use of laptops in the library, please ask at the Reference Desk.

Can I access the library databases from home? If so, how?

Yes! With our EZ Proxy method, off-campus access to online databases has been made simple. To access a Carroll library database from home, simply click on any library database hyperlink found on List of Databases or Subject Guides.  Type in your name (as it appears on your student or staff ID) and ID number in the security boxes on the Carroll University Library Patron Verification page and you will be granted access through our server.

I am having trouble accessing the library databases from home/work. What should I do?

If you have followed the directions above and are still not able to gain access to the library databases, please contact the Reference Desk at (262) 650-4892. If you have never checked out any materials from the library, it is possible that your name is not in our library database. If you are not in our database of patrons, the system will not recognize you as a valid user and will effectively block your access. We should be able to get information from you over the phone which will enable us to add you to our system.

AOL users often as have trouble accessing Carroll library databases from off campus.  If you encounter trouble while using AOL as your Internet Service Provider, stop using your AOL icon and start using your Internet Explorer icon to open up an Internet Explorer browser.  If you do not have Internet Explorer available as an Internet program on your computer, consider downloading the browser from the Microsoft website. 

If there are any further problems, we will work with you to solve them to ensure that you will have home/work access.

Do any of the computers at the library have Word, Excel, or PowerPoint? Can I work on a paper at the library?

Yes! The computers in the Instructional Services Classroom have Word, Excel and PowerPoint. When a class is not in session, patrons are welcome to use the Classroom as an open computer lab for writing papers, conducting research or working on academic projects. You will need your username and password to log onto the computers.

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Library Collections

Does the library have video or CD or DVD collections?

Yes! The library offers videos, CD's and DVD's for patron use. Videos, DVD's and CD's all circulate for a period of 7 days.. All three collections are growing and exist to support the Carroll University curriculum. Most of our videos and DVD's are housed in the Reading Room under the mezzanine on the main level of the library and the music CD's are housed in the Coffee Shop. However, some CD's with text material can be found in the main collection and the CMC has its own collection of videos, CD's and DVD's. Please note the location of the item you are looking for in the catalog record.

Where can I learn more about the CMC?

The CMC, or Curriculum Material's Center, is located on the  library's main level-- just beyond the Reference Area. The purpose of the CMC is to support the curriculum material needs of students preparing for careers in K-12 education. For questions on CMC materials or policies, please ask at the Reference Desk or view our CMC website.

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Reserves

My professor put something on "reserve" for our class. What is this? Where can I find it?

For more information on accessing reserves as a student, please click here.

I am a faculty member. How do I put an item on reserve?

For more information on putting materials on reserve as a faculty member, please click here. 

Are there late fees for overdue reserve items?

Yes! Overdue fines for reserve items (50 cents per hour regardless of whether or not the library is open) begin to accrue one minute after an item is due. All reserve items MUST be returned to the circulation desk on time in order to avoid hefty fines. If a fine is paid at the time the material is returned, we will cut the fine in half!

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Directions & Maps

Where is the TWM Library located?

The library is located at the top of the hill, directly to your right as you climb the path coming up from the Otteson Parking lot. If you are looking at the first square of buildings (lining the green) in toward campus from East avenue, the library sits between Ganfield and Shattuck Auditorium and directly across from old Main. Click here to connect with our virtual campus tour. Note the library is # 21 on the tour.

Where should I park when I am using the library?

Anyone may park in the Otteson parking lot at the bottom of the hill between East and Barstow Avenues. You may then walk up the path past the Art Building, Van Male and Shattuck and turn right to get to the library at the top of the hill. Or, if there's space, you may park in the Campus Center parking lot on the other side of East Avenue and walk across the road and green to get to the library. 

Where is the library lost & found?

If you've lost something at the library and would like to check our lost and found, please go to the circulation desk. Most items that are found in the library will be placed there. If you left a disk in the Classroom, please go directly to the front desk in the Classroom and ask the monitor on duty to search for your disk.

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