About Jacobs Library
History
Though the book collection for the library was begun in 1967, the library's history goes back to 1924 when LPO Junior College, IVCC's predecessor, and LaSalle-Peru High School shared the same library. In the summer of 1968, when the college campus was moved across the river to the interim campus, the library consisted of 6,000 titles and was operated for the first semester without shelves or furniture.
After four years on the interim campus, the library was moved to the permanent campus in the summer of 1972. On December 1, 1972, the library was officially dedicated the Jacobs Library, in honor of Dr. Henry Jacobs (1912-1971), a member of the original Board of Trustees of IVCC.
On December 10, 1975, IVCC was designated a Federal Depository, and on July 21, 1977, it became an Illinois State Depository. With this designation, the library receives both federal and state documents free of charge from the U.S. Government Printing Office and from the State of Illinois. The depository collection had reached 25,000 units when it was moved to its permanent home in the library, in December of 1977. It currently has over 50,000 items.
Now after more than a quarter century of operation, Jacobs Library has a working collection of over 100,000 items, including books, bound periodicals, online databases, films, microfilm, microfiche, video tapes, and DVDs. The library also includes a computer lab for library instruction.
Mission
Jacobs Library provides resources to enhance the IVCC learning programs and services that enable our community to seek, evaluate, and use information. Access to worldwide information sources and culturally enriching materials is provided through standard library practices, cooperation with other libraries, and innovative uses of technology.
Philosophy
Jacobs Library, therefore, states the following objectives:
- To provide a collection to meet the varied needs of the college community:
- To assist the individual students, faculty, and staff members in the complete use of the library by providing a variety of services:
- To extend reference and library services, using the Jacobs Library Collection, to all persons of the district.
- To provide interlibrary loan to any requesting library.
Circulation
Students - When checking out library materials, students are required to present their IVCC picture ID. Your IVCC picture ID can also be used at over 71 academic libraries that are part of our consortium of Illinois academic libraries called CARLI. For example, if an IVCC student were to visit the campus of ISU, they would be able to locate books they wish to check out at ISU, take the books and their IVCC student ID card to the ISU circulation desk and check them out. These ISU books could also be renewed over the Internet.
Jacobs Library reserves the right to limit the number of items a patron can check out.
Community Borrowers - Residents of Illinois Valley Community College District #513, who are 18 years of age and older, may check out books from the library. They must fill out a borrower's data card which is kept on file in Jacobs Library, and they must agree to return materials within 48 hours if a student or faculty member requests them. Community borrowers will receive a special library card.
Returns - All library materials must be returned at the circulation desk or at one of the book drops. The library user must not re-shelve books being returned. Anyone who borrows a book from the library is responsible for its safe return; books should not be passed on to someone else, nor should they be checked out for the use of another patron. You are responsible for all materials checked out in your name.
Book Loan Periods - The nature of the book and the amount of demand for it determines how long a book may be borrowed. Most books circulate for four weeks with one renewal. Most books may be renewed once if they are not needed by anyone else.
Reserve Books are those books put on reserve by faculty members. They are usually kept at the circulation desk and may be used for one or two hours, or for overnight, as requested by the individual instructor. Reserve books may not be renewed.
Periodicals, which are not current issues, circulate for one week. Current issues do not circulate.
Fines
- Books and books on tape - 50 cents a day
- Periodicals – 50 cents a day
- Reserve books & take-home videos - $2 a day
Fines are payable when incurred, or they are recorded and may be paid at a later date. If a student accumulates a fine or has materials which are overdue, library service for the student is discontinued and a library hold is placed on his/her record until cleared by the library. The student will not be allowed to register for future classes, and transcripts will not be sent out for that student until the record is cleared.
Book Drop - For greater convenience in returning library materials, book drops are located at the circle outside the main entrance to the college and just outside the entrance to the library in Building A.
Security - The exit door of the library is equipped with a circulation control made by 3M. The purpose of this control is to remind users to check out ALL library materials before leaving the library. The library then has an accurate record of the location of its holdings and can be of greater service to its users. When library materials are carried through the exit without first being checked out, an alarm sounds. When this happens, the patron must open all briefcases and bags and show the contents to the staff member at the circulation desk.
General Operating Policies
The library provides a convenient, comfortable, and quiet place on campus for students to study and do research. It is the responsibility of all patrons of the library to maintain this atmosphere in order to ensure the effective use of its facilities.
Damaged library materials, including books that are written in, are repaired or replaced at the expense of the borrower. If a book is torn or damaged in any way, the borrower should point out the need of repair to a member of the library staff and should not try to repair it. Lost library materials should be reported immediately to a member of the library staff. If, by the end of the semester, the material has not been found, replacements are made at the expense of the borrower. A $40 processing fee is added to the cost of the lost item.