We reserve the right to suspend borrowing and/or access privileges as deemed fit.

Updated 9 October 2024

Alex Fergus, Public Services and Circulation Supervisor

afergus@whitworth.edu

Whitworth Library Circulation Department

(Front desk on the first floor)
circdesk@whitworth.edu
ill@whitworth.edu

Library info 509.777.3260

Circulation desk 509.777.4200

Alex Fergus 509.777.3767

Library Cards

Current students, staff, and faculty can use their Whitworth ID to borrow materials from the library. Users can also access their library account to check hold requests, renewals, and checked out items. Whitworth ID cards are used to gain access to the library on evenings and weekends. 

Guests: Guests are defined as local alumni, clergy, Rockwood at Whitworth residents, and Spokane community members with a demonstrated need for a Whitworth Library guest borrowing card. All guest users may apply in-person for a library card for borrowing privileges. Official Washington state ID and local mailing street address verification are required. The guest user annual fee is $40. Annual fee is waived for alumni and for local, active ministers with proof of current position, such as a business card. 

Guests do not have access to reserve materials, Summit borrowing, Interlibrary Loan services, study room reservations, or electronic collections/databases. Guests likewise do not have access to the library after 5pm and on weekends when a Whitworth-issued student or staff ID card is required for entry. Guests are welcome to the building before 5pm during our designated weekday business hours. 

Privacy

Records of requested and borrowed materials are maintained only so long as necessary to ensure delivery, tracking, return, and damage assessment of Whitworth materials. Only the circulation manager has access to contact information and borrowing history. When you check out a book the staff person assisting you will see only your full name, unless you request information on your current loans or holds.

Loan Periods

*Alumni, Clergy, Rockwood at Whitworth, Spokane community members with a guest borrower card

**Only selected videos, DVDs, and audiovisual material may be checked out. Use the library search for more information on specific titles.

Reserves

If you use Course Reserves, please contact Alex Fergus.

The Permanent Reserve Collection will be maintained for DVD titles for in-library use only. Reserve DVDs may be borrowed by faculty for course use, visit the Circulation Desk to pick up the desired title(s).

Special Collections

Whitworth Library houses several special and archival collections not specifically listed in these policies. Access and borrowing policies vary based on the collection. If you have questions, contact the Archives and Special Collections Librarian Nancy Bunker 509.777.4481 or nbunker@whitworth.edu or archives@whitworth.edu.

Placing Holds on Whitworth Materials

Request

• Place a hold on a checked-out item through the library catalog
• Check the status of a hold in your Library Account

Notification

• Notification of a processed hold is sent through your Whitworth email account
• Hold requests expire after 30 days for books currently checked out
• Materials will only be held for 7 days

Delivery

• Processed holds can be picked up at the circulation desk and checked out with your Whitworth ID card

Renewals

Students, faculty, and staff can renew online through their library account, over the phone (509.777.4200), or in person at the circulation desk. Items that have hold/recall requests attached to them will not be renewed.

Overdue Notices

Students, faculty & staff

• Courtesy and overdue notices are sent to your Whitworth email.
• Account will be blocked for excessive overdue items.

Guest users

• All notices are mailed to home address or emailed.

Lost or Damaged Materials

For all patrons

• Items that are 25 days overdue or more will be declared lost.
• For lost items, a minimum of $90 replacement fee is charged to your account. The fees is waived with the timely return of the overdue item in good condition.
• Failure to return materials results in the blocking of your borrowing privileges and billing.

Additionally, for faculty & staff

• At 60 days overdue, the patron’s dean or department head may be notified and borrowing privileges suspended until resolved.

For guest users

• Failure to pay fines or return books may result in the permanent revoking and blocking of borrowing privileges

Updated 9 October 2024.

Summit borrowing

Whitworth Library is part of the Summit lending group - 38 regional academic institutions (including Gonzaga, EWU and WSU) whose physical collections are findable in your home library catalog and may be borrowed by current students, faculty, and staff.

Requests for items held at Summit libraries can be made through the Whitworth Catalog and will be delivered and processed like a standard hold (see Placing Holds section). Items may be borrowed for 12 weeks with one renewal.

Making an ILL request

If you cannot locate the research materials you need in the Whitworth Catalog or Journals by Title, you may request materials through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). The ILL office will notify you by email when your requested item arrives.

The average turnaround time for articles is 3 working days and 6 working days for books, however delivery times may vary greatly depending on the lender of the material. If the material is needed by a specific deadline, please indicate this on the request form.

ILL Borrowing Policies

Eligible Borrowers: ILL and Summit lending is available for current Whitworth students, faculty and staff only. Guest borrowers may not use ILL services.

ILL Fees: The library covers all loan transaction fees, except for any special fees for "rush" requests, which are passed on to the requestor.

ILL Fines/Replacement Costs: You are expected to return all physical materials in good condition by the due date and are responsible for any overdue fines or replacement costs for lost items. You are also expected to comply with any special loan conditions imposed by the lending library.

Renewals: If a renewal is needed, ask the ILL staff to request it before the due date, but realize that some libraries will not renew ILL materials.