Nimitz Library

Check out & Loan Policies

Circulation Desk: 410-293-6945

Borrowing Library Materials

Library materials may be checked out at the Checkout Desk on the first floor of the Nimitz Library or via the library’s self-checkout machine.

Self-Checkout is available on the library’s main floor diagonal to the Checkout Desk.

Midshipmen

Midshipmen will be asked to provide their alpha code when checking out library materials.

Faculty and Staff

All faculty and staff may be asked to show their USNA or military ID.

Eligible Borrowers

 The following users are authorized to borrow materials from Nimitz Library:

 
Those with USNA network access will have accounts automatically created and updated to match their USNA network ID. All others eligible users will be asked to present their government-issued ID and fill in a form at the library checkout desk and will have an account created within 2-3 business days.

Immediate family members (known as “dependents”) of civilian and military personnel (known as the “sponsor”) assigned to the Annapolis Area command must be at least 14 years of age to be granted borrowing privileges. The sponsor must already be an authorized Nimitz library user prior to the dependent registering for their own account.

To be issued a library account, the sponsor and their dependent(s) must present their IDs together at the library checkout desk. If the sponsor is already a USNA library patron but is unable to accompany their dependent(s) in the library, then the sponsor may email abdulrah@usna.edu from their USNA email account prior to their dependent’s visit, confirming the name and relation of their dependent(s).

Any overdue or lost materials on the dependent’s account will become the sponsor’s responsibility if they are not resolved by the dependent in a timely manner.

Expectation of Privacy

Both the sponsor and the dependent have a right to privacy regarding their library usage, including their circulation records and use of library resources and spaces. Library staff will not disclose information about a dependant’s library usage to the sponsor except in cases where the library is attempting to resolve matters of long overdue or missing library materials.

The library will contact the dependent’s sponsor to resolve issues with long overdue or lost materials if a dependent fails to respond to library outreach regarding the materials. During this contact, details about the overdue or lost materials may be shared with the sponsor.

Interlibrary Loan Policies

Nimitz Library will attempt to procure needed resources from other libraries for the use of Naval Academy faculty (including emeritus/emerita), staff, and midshipmen. The Library will procure those materials, free of charge to our users, using Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Emeritus faculty interested in creating an ILL account or needing help logging in can contact ILL@usna.edu.

To make ILL requests users must set up an account. Users should provide as much information as possible about the item being requested. If the information entered is not sufficient the library may attempt to locate the item, reach out to the user, or will cancel the request. Borrowers are limited to 30 physical items out at one time. There is no limit on the number of article requests a user can make. However, during times of great traffic users may be contacted by ILL staff to rank their requests and ILL staff will attempt to procure them in that order. Nimitz is able to get the following types of materials regularly:

Some materials are harder, and sometimes impossible, to obtain but ILL staff will do their best to acquire access to all requested materials within the limits of this policy. Nimitz will not borrow course textbooks via ILL.

ILL staff will send an email notification to users after their requests have been filled. Articles will remain available in a users ILL account for 30 days. Physical items will be available for pickup at the Check Out Desk in the Library. The due date is determined by the loaning library. Renewals are possible at the discretion of the lender and users must notify ILL staff prior to the due date if they would like a renewal. Failure to return Items in a timely manner can lead to suspension of ILL and other borrowing privileges. Users are responsible for lost or damaged items.

The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a copy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that a photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use" that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

Nimitz Library is committed to protecting user privacy. We will retain the most recent 5 years of ILL data to be in compliance with federal and Navy records retention policies. On an annual basis, in late June, we will delete the oldest year’s data so we maintain only the most recent 5 years of data in the system moving forward. For more information, review our Privacy Policy.

Any questions about this policy should be directed to ILL@usna.edu.

Loan Periods

*The most recent issue of a periodical does not circulate.

^At the end of the academic year, all library materials must be physically returned and may be immediately checked out again if there are no pending requests. In December, items may be renewed online, by phone, via email, or by bringing them to the Circulation Desk.

Missing and Damaged Library Materials

Library patrons are responsible for the safekeeping of Nimitz Library materials. Damaging Library books, periodicals, audiovisuals, and other materials is prohibited. Book damage may include: stains from food or water; torn or missing pages; underlining, highlighting or otherwise marking pages. Examples of damage to audiovisual materials include scratched or broken disks, broken tapes and tape cases. Patrons will be held liable for replacing the damaged item(s) with a new or like-new copy at their expense. If a replacement copy that meets the Library’s criteria cannot be located, patrons will be held liable for funding the cost to replace the damaged item(s) at a minimum of $50 per item.

Resolution for Missing and Damaged Materials

The Library expects the patron to replace the missing or damaged material with a new or like-new copy (same edition and publisher as the lost item). If there is a newer edition or a different publisher, the Library may accept that as a replacement. Replacement books must be new or in very good condition. The Library will not accept replacements that have highlighting, damaged bindings, or missing pages.

Missing or damaged audiovisual materials may need to be replaced in a new format or removed from the collection depending on the circumstance or age of the material. A decision about what replacement is appropriate, if any, will be made by library staff. 

Sources for finding replacements (this does not represent an endorsement by Nimitz Library):

• Amazon.com
• Alibris.com (a large used book selling site)

Replacement copies of lost or damaged materials may be mailed directly to Nimitz Library at the following address or given to staff at the Checkout Desk in Nimitz Library.

Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
ATTN Access Services
589 McNair Road
Annapolis, MD 24102

If the book or an audiovisual item cannot be replaced by the patron, they will be charged a minimum fee of $50.00. Checks must be made out to U.S. Treasury. Please note that refunds cannot be issued if the item is later recovered or replaced.

Questions about this policy can be directed to Amanda Rudd at 410-293-6947.