Circulation
- Borrowers are required to present a valid library card (Penn State ID+ or non-affiliated card) for checkout of material.
- All borrowed materials are subject to recall. All materials returned after recall due date are subject to daily fines.
- Borrowers are financially responsible for all materials charged out on their cards. Borrowers should report a lost or stolen card to library staff at once to minimize responsibility for its unauthorized use.
- Borrowers should note time and date that material is due. Overdue notices are sent as a courtesy. Failure to receive notification does not relieve the borrower of the obligation to return materials when they are due or justify a reduction in fines.
- Borrowing materials "for" someone else with your card, loaning library materials charged to your account to another, or giving library materials to someone else to return for you does not alleviate your responsibility for such materials.
- Returned checks due to insufficient funds will result in a service charge of $25.00.
- Registered students, faculty and staff.
- All faculty, staff and students of the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, who have a valid HMC/PSU ID (this includes ALL Penn State Campuses) and non-University health care professionals can be issued a valid Penn State library card. Faculty, staff and students including wage or part-time staff and non-degree or part-time students are eligible for Penn State IDs that will serve as library cards. Non-University health care professionals are eligible for a valid Penn State library card. Inquire at the circulation desk or call 717-531-8626. [University Libraries borrowing privileges]
Circulation Services
All materials leaving the library must be checked out and may be returned here or at any Penn State library, with the exception of special permission loans which must be returned to the library from which they were borrowed. Users needing help locating specific titles should inquire at the circulation desk located at the entrance of the library.
Services offered at the Circulation Desk:
- Reserve materials
- Inter Library Loan
- Vend card services for Pay to Print
- Password pickup / signature station assistance
- Public computer access and printing
- General questions
Reserve Collection
The Reserve Collection is located at the Circulation Desk. The current editions of most basic medical textbooks are kept on Permanent Reserve at the Circulation Desk available for 2 hour checkout in or out of the library. Overnight checkout is permitted for registered HMC/PSU library users.
Carrels
Individual study carrels are located on the first and second floors. Carrels on the second floor can be accessed 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
The George T. Harrell Health Sciences Library provides study carrels for students, staff, and faculty of Penn State Hershey. All carrels are unreserved and available on a first come, first served basis. The library is not responsible for loss or damage to personal belongings left in the study area or carrels. Users of this area are advised to take all belongings with them whenever they leave the area.
Cleaning of carrels is performed 3 times each year: the end of the fall semester, the end of the spring semester, and in late July. This is absolutely necessary to maintain sanitary conditions and to periodically remove personal items so that equal access can be maintained for all library users. Notices of carrel-cleaning are posted far enough in advance to allow you the opportunity to take possession of your items. Please keep this common space neat, clean and accessible.
Printing
Penn State Hershey faculty, staff, and students are able to print through pay to print services. Vend cards are available at the circulation desk for patrons to purchase. Vend cards can be recharged at the coin towers or at the circulation desk. Vend cards cost 60 cents and printing is 5 cents per side of printing.
Public printing is available for the 5 public computers at a cost of 10 cents per page.
Photocopying
Photocopy machines are available on the first floor and accepts: Vend cards, coins, or bills. Patrons can also utilize the photocopiers to save scanned materials on a USB flash drive or email themselves the copied material without having to print.
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of the specified conditions is that the photocopy 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. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.
Signature Stations / Password Pickup
Location: There are three Penn State Access Account Signature Stations available in the George T. Harrell Health Sciences Library.
Students: Take your Penn State photo ID card to one of the Penn State Access Account signature stations and follow the instructions on the screen. Make note of your user ID and password when they are displayed on the screen. Your account should be active within one business day. For assistance or to report a problem with the signature stations please see the front desk.
Faculty and Staff: PSU Access Accounts are created for all Penn State Hershey employees but the account is only activated if the employee agrees to the terms and conditions at a PSU Signature Station. You can activate your Access Account after 3 to 5 business days of starting employment with Penn State Hershey. Take your Penn State photo ID card to one of the Penn State Access Account signature stations and follow the instructions on the screen. Make note of your user ID and password when they are displayed on the screen. Your account should be active within one business day. For assistance or to report a problem with the signature stations please see the front desk.
ePass
The ePass is a personalized electronic passport used for PSHMC information systems access. The PSHMC ePass Service is an electronic user credentialing service which assigns a permanent unique username/password combination to each user and verifies individuals' identity upon user logon to information systems.
Account Request Process
Forms can be found at the library or you can print out the IT Account Request Form.
Currently, Account Management administers accounts for:
- ePass/network access
- Exchange/Outlook email
- Connected/Powerchart
- Lawson
- DocFinity/IntraVIEWER
- Eclipsys
- Signature
- HBI/HPM
- PowerInsight
- Oncore
- REDCap
- Aeromed
- Remedy
The Account Request form should be completed by the manager of the person needing accounts. Please remember to include all requested information; failing to do so may result in a form being returned for completion.
Submit all Account Request forms to Account Management:
a. Scan and email to acctmgmt@hmc.psu.edu (after all signatures are complete)
b. Fax to 717-531-0261
c. Deliver to drop box in the George T. Harrell Health Sciences Library
After 3- 5 days you should receive an email confirmation. You can then obtain your user ID and password by taking your Penn State ID Card or a Driver's License to the front desk of the George T. Harrell Library where you will receive a password packet.
Overdue Materials
Overdue notices are sent ten days after the due date; an email notice of "presumed loss" is sent thirty days after the due date.
- Fines will be charged, if overdue, at $3.00/day.
- 30 days after its due date, an item is presumed lost, and the borrower is charged the cost of the item, plus a $25 processing fee, and an overdue fee when applicable (overdue fees follow).
- The borrower is responsible for the full $25 processing fee plus any overdue fees regardless of the return date.
Loans and Recalls
Length of Loan Period:
- Books - 1 Semester Check Out
- Bound Journals - 24 hour Check Out
- Unbound Journals - Do not circulate
- Videos - 7 day Check out
Regular Loan Renewals
A borrower may renew all regular loans- in person at the Circulation Desk, by calling 717-531-8626, or on the CAT online (authenticate using their Penn State Access Account).
Materials are subject to recall after the current borrower has had them for seven days. All materials are subject to recall if another borrower needs them or if a faculty member wishes to place them on reserve for a course. The Library may recall materials immediately needed for course reserve. The Library will allow an additional ten days for use after it sends a recall notice. After ten days, overdue fees will be assessed at the rate of $3.00 a day. Recalled items must be returned to a circulation desk on or before the recall due date. Materials returned after the recall due date are subject to daily overdue fees.
Reserve Collection: Reserve Collection items must be returned by opening of the Library the next day or there will be a fine of $3.00 per hour thereafter until the item has been returned. Items may also be dropped in the overnight box.
Special Permission Loans/Non-Circulating Items:
Materials that do not usually circulate, such as unbound periodicals, reference books, and the MEDHIST Collection may be borrowed by special permission. Special permission materials must be returned to the library from which they were borrowed. Materials returned after the special permission due date and time are subject to daily fines.
Video Policy:
Videos are subject to a fine of $3/day, to a maximum of $30. These fines begin to accrue the moment the material is due back in the Libraries. After 30 days, the Libraries presume the material is lost and bill the borrower the cost of the item, a $25 processing fee, plus the overdue fees. Borrowers are responsible for fines that accrue on videos that are renewed after their due date.
Delay in Response to a Recall Notice: Recalled material is $3/day to a maximum of $30 (reached on the tenth calendar day late). These fines begin to accrue the day after the recall due date (11 calendar days after the Libraries send the recall notice). After 30 days, the Library presumes the material to be lost and will bill the borrower the cost of the item, a $25 processing fee, plus the overdue fees.
Special Permission Loans:
All special permission loans are subject to a fine of $3/day to a maximum of $15 (reached on the fifth calendar day late). These fines begin to accrue the moment the material is due back in the Library. After 30 days, the Library presumes the material to be lost and bill the borrower the cost of the item, a $25 processing fee, plus the overdue fees.
FAILURE TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION DOES NOT RELIEVE THE BORROWER OF THE OBLIGATION TO RETURN MATERIALS WHEN THEY ARE DUE.
Appealing library charges
Reasonable concerns related to library charges will be considered; however, reasons NOT considered a basis for appeal include the following:
- Lack of knowledge or understanding of library policies.
- Unwillingness to take responsibility for materials checked out to you which you loaned to another person or allowed others to use.
- Non-receipt, late receipt, or inattention to library notices. This applies to notices sent via e-mail or U.S. mail.
Returned Checks
Returned checks due to insufficient funds will result in a service charge of $25.00 for each returned item. If two checks are returned, you will no longer be able to use this form of payment.