Reader Services

About Reader Services 

Reader Services includes Circulation, Course Reserves, library accounts, and study spaces. Resource Sharing is composed of Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery services.

Borrow, Renew, Return

Borrowing Privileges
Borrower Type Item Limit Loan Period *

Current faculty & staff; Visiting faculty & scholars; Emeritus faculty; Graduate students

 200 1 year
Undergraduates 100 16 weeks
Binghamton alumni; Current SUNY students, faculty & staff 15 6 weeks
NYS residents within 50 miles ($25 annual fee) 15 6 weeks
BU clinical, BU auxiliary, older adult learner, volunteer, and retiree 50 6 weeks
* Certain items have defined loan periods, regardless of patron status. For example, DVDs, CDs, and bound periodicals have a two-week loan period.

Your Binghamton University ID serves as your library card. All other patrons can fill out the Courtesy Borrower Account form or visit the Reader Services desk Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm at Bartle Library to obtain a library card. Submitting the form ahead of your visit will save you time at checkout. We'll notify you once your account is set up and ready for use.

Proxy Borrowing

When authorized by the Libraries, an individual sponsor may designate a proxy borrower to pick up library materials on their behalf. Sponsors are responsible for material that is checked out on their account by authorized proxy borrowers. See Proxy Borrowing Form.

Due Dates

As a courtesy, an email notice is sent one week before the library material is due. The Libraries use the University's binghamton.edu email accounts as primary communication for notification of available materials, overdue notices, and late fees. If the item is not returned after 30 days, the item is considered lost and the library will send an invoice for the material.

All materials are subject to recall by the Libraries. Patrons are responsible for keeping their accounts in good standing, including renewing and returning materials on time. Patrons are responsible to turn materials in by their due dates regardless of receipt or acknowledgment of email communications.

Renew

Visit your library account online, call, or stop by a service desk to renew your library materials.

Returns

Materials can be returned to the Bartle, Science or UDC Library Reader Services Desks. Course reserves should be returned to the service desk from which they were borrowed.

Exterior book bins are available at the entrances to the Bartle and Science Libraries. A drive-up bin is located at the loading docks between the Bartle and Engineering buildings.

Materials can be returned to any SUNY library for a courtesy return to Binghamton or shipped directly to us. We recommend using package-tracking when shipping, as you will be responsible for the items until they reach us:

Binghamton University
LS 1501, attn: Bartle Library Circulation
4400 Vestal Parkway East
Binghamton, NY 13902

Recall

The Libraries reserve the right to recall items from all patrons, reducing the loan period. Notification of recalls will be sent via email; patrons are responsible for checking their Binghamton University or other officially designated email. Materials must be returned by the date given on the recall notice, regardless of the original due date.

Search

If an item in our catalog is not checked out and you cannot find it on the shelf, you may request a search at any service desk. If not found, staff will submit an Interlibrary Loan request on your behalf.

Claims Returned Search

Fill out this form to report a library item as claims returned or never borrowed. Claims returned items are searched for three times by library staff in one-week intervals. Patrons will be notified via email after each search. 

The Libraries maintain a systematic procedure of discharging returns. Returns are discharged once at the service desk and a second time before reshelving. This double-discharging procedure significantly reduces error on the library's part. If a claims returned item is not located at the end of the search period, the patron assumes responsibility for the lost charges.

Request an Item from the CMF

If a book is housed in the Collection Management Facility (CMF) in Johnson City, click on the Request link that appears next to that item in Find It! to have the item delivered to a library pickup location. Requested items are generally available within two business days at the library location of your choice, and held for ten business days. You may also request a chapter to be digitized.

Library Account

Patrons may access their accounts here. Students, faculty, and staff can log in with their Binghamton University Computer account. Community users can log in with the email address associated with their account. Having trouble? Email libraryaccounts@binghamton.edu or call Bartle Reader Services at (607) 777-2194.

Fines and Fees

A fine structure has been established to assure all patrons maximum access to library materials. Repeated violations may be considered cause for suspension of borrowing privileges.

  • Late fines
    • Reserves material: $0.05/minute per item to a maximum of $50.
    • Equipment/technology (i.e. phone chargers, laptops): $.25/minute per item to a maximum of $50.
  • Lost items
    • Books/media: $100 per item after 30 days overdue. If a lost book is returned, the $80 replacement charge is credited. The account holder will be responsible to pay a $20 processing fee.
    • Equipment/technology: A sliding scale replacement charge will be applied after 72 hours overdue. If lost equipment is returned, the replacement charge is credited. The account holder will be responsible to pay the late fee.
      • Equipment A (basic/scientific calculators, markers, cords) = $15
      • Equipment B (phone chargers, laptop chargers, headphones) = $50
      • Equipment C (keys, graphing calculators) = $100
      • Equipment D (Omni power banks) = $250
      • Equipment E (laptops, projector) = $2,200
  • Damaged items: Borrowers will be billed for items which are returned damaged.
  • Interlibrary Loan
    • Once you are billed for a lost ILL, you are no longer able to return the material for a credit.
    • Lost, damaged, and late ILL fees are assessed by the lending library. 

Payment

Pay fines/fees online via QuikPay  or at the Student Accounts Office. 

Discuss or pay fines/fees during regular business hours at the Bartle Library with check, Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover or BUC$. If you are being prevented from registering for classes by a library fine, please contact us at libraryfees@binghamton.edu.

Community borrowers may pay fines/fees by visiting or calling Bartle Library Reader Services at (607) 777-2194 during business hours.

Study and Research Spaces

All Libraries locations provide a variety of study environments to suit your needs.

Group Study Rooms

In the Bartle and Science Libraries, group study rooms are available to all Binghamton University.
Reserve a room

Locked Study Carrels

Applications are no longer being accepted for the 2024-25 academic year.

Registered PhD and ABD students can apply online for locked study carrels located on Bartle Library's 4th floor. Carrels are typically assigned at the beginning of Fall and Summer depending on space available. Two people will be assigned to every carrel. If a partner is not specified in your application, one will be assigned to you. Carrels are assigned for the full academic year.

The following policies must be adhered to maintain study carrel access:

  • All library materials in the study carrels must be checked out to the carrel occupant's library account.
  • No eating or storage of food in study carrels. All liquids must be in a container with a lid.
  • Objects are not to be attached in any manner to study carrel walls, doors, glass or furniture.
  • Windows may not be covered or blocked.
  • Study carrels are not to be used or occupied by anyone other than the assigned occupants.
  • Appliances (including heating and/or cooling devices) are prohibited in study carrels. Fans are allowed.

Carrel occupants will receive a reminder email to renew or return their carrel key at the end of Spring semester. Lost keys incur a $100 replacement charge after 30 days overdue.

Occupants who do not wish to keep their carrel can return their key to the Bartle Library Reader Services Desk at any time during the semester. Returning the key early can help free up carrel space for someone on the waitlist.

Faculty Research Room

The Faculty Research Room is a quiet room where up to two faculty can conduct research. Access to this room is requested at Bartle Library's Reader Services desk. Access to the Faculty Research Room is granted on a first come, first served, basis until midnight that day. 

Microfilm and Microfiche Readers

If you are a first-time user to Binghamton University microreaders, we highly recommend you make an appointment ahead of time by emailing readerservices@binghamton.edu. You may use the machines without an appointment but we cannot guarantee assistance.

Two microreader machines are located in Library North 1358 in the Fine Arts Collection. Obtain a room key from the Bartle Reader Services desk.

The machines are not directly connected to printers. Images must be saved first before printing.

Course Reserves

Course Reserves increase availability and use of course materials by providing centralized access to items in both electronic and physical form. Instructors are invited by library staff to submit Course Reserve requests.

Resource Sharing: Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Services

Interlibrary Loan services expand the range of materials available by obtaining items from libraries around the globe. Document Delivery services allow faculty and students to request items owned by the Libraries for delivery at any Reader Services location or chapter scans delivered via email.  

SHARES On-site Borrowing Program

A small number of SHARES libraries are offering the opportunity to create a library account and check out materials. Partners in the pilot program are: Binghamton University, Brandeis University, Cornell University, Northwestern University, Syracuse University, Temple University, University of California, Los Angeles, and Washington University in St. Louis.

For more information, visit SHARES Program.