Borrowing Library Resources
Borrow Materials
Checkout library materials at the Learning Commons Desk or service desk located in the lobby. A valid Tiger Card, community card or temporary card must be presented to check out materials.
Two self-checkout machines are located in the lobby. To use the self-checkout machines, simply scan your Tiger Card and place one book at a time under the lights until the title appears on the screen. If the item does not appear on the screen, look for a barcode to scan or ask for assistance at the Learning Commons Desk.
Grab and Go Lockers are located in the lobby. On the right column of lockers, you can browse and borrow any of the titles that catch your interest. On the left column of lockers, you can pickup any holds you've placed within the library catalog.
Who Can Borrow Materials?
- Any current faculty, adjunct faculty, staff, or student with a valid Tiger Card.
- Kansas residents can purchase a community card for $25.00 at the Learning Commons Desk.
- FHSU Alumni may receive a community card free at the Learning Commons Desk.
- Kansas High School students and North Central Kansas Technical College (NCK Tech) students can register for a temporary card (physical materials and on-campus access to electronic resources), which is valid for one year.
For How Long?
The table below provides a brief overview of loan periods for various materials. Consult our complete circulation policy for information regarding renewals, fines, and fees.
Undergraduate Students |
Graduate Students |
Faculty |
Community Card | Temporary Card | |
Books From the library's general, juvenile, and government documents collections |
21 days | 56 days | End of Semester | 21 days | 21 days |
Special Collections & Archives *select items are limited to "in library use only" or may have additional limitations |
7 days* | 21 days* | 21 days* | 7 days* | 7 days* |
Laptops, Tablets & Including cameras, video recorders, projectors, screens, cords, tripods, and more. |
72 hours | 72 hours | 72 hours | -- | -- |
Course Reserves |
4 hours | 4 hours | 4 hours | -- | -- |
Course Reserves
Faculty can make physical course materials available for students to borrow at the Learning Commons Desk. To place books or other physical materials on reserve for your course, please complete the Faculty Course Reserve Form and return it to Forsyth Library. To remove course reserve materials, complete the Faculty Reserve Removal Form.
Renewing
Books and library materials may be renewed through your library account, in person at the Learning Commons Desk, or over the phone at 785-628-4434. Laptops, tablets and technology must be renewed in person at the Learning Commons Desk. Interlibrary loan materials can be renewed through your interlibrary loan Illiad account, if the item is eligible for renewal.
Reserving
Most library materials may be reserved to pick up at the Learning Commons Desk up to two weeks in advance. When searching for a book in the library catalog, click on the book you want to reserve, and select “Place a Hold” under the "Get It" section of the item description. You can also call to have an item reserved and made ready for pickup.
Policies and Fines
Please refer to the Forsyth Library circulation policy for more information about borrowing and fines on specific materials. Borrowers are responsible for understanding the policies related to any library material they check out. Disregard for library policies may result in permanent suspension of Forsyth Library borrowing privileges.
Fines and fees will be charged for materials returned past the time and/or date due. Library fines can be paid at the Learning Commons Desk using cash or check.
Accessibility Services: Proxy Borrowing
If you are not able to come to the library in person to pick up books or other materials, you may specify one or more individuals who are allowed to check out materials for you. To add a proxy borrower to your account, please call the Learning Commons desk at 785-628-4434 or email us at forsyth@mail.fhsu.edu. You can also reserve materials for pickup in advance as described above under “Reserving.”
Kansas Library eCard
There are several databases and e-book platforms that are accessible from the Research Databases page that require a Kansas Library eCard and are funded by the State Library of Kansas.
To access these materials, register for an eCard by visiting the Learning Commons Desk, email refserv@fhsu.edu, or register at any public library in the state of Kansas. Any Kansas resident or FHSU student living out of state can register for an eCard.