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Services

Borrow from McDermott Library

What Can I Borrow?

Cadets, faculty, and staff may borrow items available for circulation from McDermott Library using their library barcode, which is available for pickup at the Information Services Desk. Different collections have different loan rules. You may also borrow from libraries in the region or worldwide if you do not find the title you are seeking in the catalog.

General Collection Non-Fiction Titles:

  • Cadets and Staff: 3-week loan, with up to 2 renewals
  • Faculty: Semester-long loan

General Collection Fiction Titles, Government Documents, Playaways, and CDs:

  • All Groups: 3-week loan, with up to 2 renewals

DVDs:

  • All Groups: 1-week loan, with no renewals. Instructors who need items for a course should inquiry about an extension.

Bound Periodicals:

  • Cadets & Faculty: Overnight loan

Other military personnel and civilians may be authorized to borrow items upon approval of written application by the Director of the McDermott Library. 

Place a Hold and Pickup Later

McDermott Library borrowers can place a hold to have circulating items from the library pulled from the shelf and held for them to pickup at the Information Services Desk. You will receive an email notification when the item is available for pickup.

If an item is currently checked out, the item will be placed on hold at the Information Services Desk once it is returned. If there are other holds already placed on the item, you will be added to the queue in the order the holds were placed. You will receive an email notification when the item is available for pickup.

Placing a Hold

  1. Login to your library account.
  2. Search the library catalog.
  3. Click the "Reserve Item" button to the left of the book information. Screenshot of Library Catalog with red arrow pointing to blue reserve button under book details
  4. If the hold is successful, a confirmation message will appear.
    Screenshot of successful reserve pop-up indicating the hold was requested and specifying number in line

Renew Items You Have Checked Out

Cadets, faculty, and staff are able to view the items currently checked out to them and renew them by logging into their Library Account Loans. Books renew for an additional 2 weeks and can be renewed two times online. Note that if the item is already overdue or if another user has a hold placed on the item, it will not be renewable and will need to be returned by the due date.

Borrow from other Libraries

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) - How to request any item from libraries worldwide

 

What is an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Request? 

An Interlibrary Loan request allows you to obtain library materials from other libraries worldwide which are not available at McDermott Library. Use our online request form to let us know what you need and we will find a library that can provide it.

What can I Request?

PDF scans of journal articles, book chapters, and news publications can be requested in accordance with copyright law. Books, government documents, theses, music, and some videos may be borrowed, depending on availability. Requests for rare publications, if available, may be designated "In Library Use Only" and can be viewed at the Information Services Desk. Click on Requesting Items for access instructions.

> Requesting Items

You must have a library account to submit an ILL request.  Requests may be submitted using our online request form. Articles will arrive in 2-3 business days while books and other items may take 7-10 business days. Books and films may be obtained faster through Prospector.

I received my ILL book. How long can I keep it?

The loan period is determined by the library we borrow from, but is typically a month. Please be aware of the due dates. Contact our ILL Office via email or phone to see if a due date can be extended. Not all lending libraries allow renewals, so ask our ILL Office in advance of the deadline.

Picking Up and Returning Items

You will receive an email notification when a requested item arrives for you at McDermott Library. Please come to the Information Services Desk to complete your checkout. Items should be returned back to McDermott Library by their due date so they can be shipped back to the lending library.

Prospector - Faster borrowing through regional libraries

 

What is Prospector?

Prospector is a shared catalog of academic, public, and special libraries in Colorado and Wyoming providing access to over 30 million books and other materials, subject to availability.

Why would I use Prospector?

Borrowing through Prospector is generally the quickest way to obtain print materials not available at McDermott Library. Books borrowed through Prospector can arrive within 3 to 5 days, and Prospector provides expanded access to request electronic chapters of eBooks and streaming films. Items in Prospector may be borrowed for 6 weeks only so if you need it for longer please use the Interlibrary Loan form and specify your requirements. 

How do I search Prospector?

Users can search the Prospector Union Catalog just as you would our catalog. Click on Requesting Items for access instructions.

> Requesting Items
  1. If a copy of an item is available to borrow from another Propsector institution, the Request Item button or link will appear. Click on it.Screenshot of Prospector results with red arrow pointing to Request it button
  2. Select "Alliance - Air Force Academy" for the institution you are affiliated with and submit. Screenshot of Prospector pop-up nasking "With which institution are you affiliated?" with the dropdown selection set to "Alliance - Air Force Academy"
  3. Enter your name and McDermott Library Account username, then submit.
    Prospector request verification window screenshot showing name and library account user name filled in

Picking Up and Returning Items

You will receive an email notification when a requested item arrives for you at McDermott Library. Please come to the Service Desk to complete your checkout. Items in Prospector may be borrowed for 6 weeks only and need to be returned back to McDermott Library by their due date.  Presently, the McDermott Library is not allowed to extend the due date on items borrowed from Prospector.

Managing Your Prospector Account

You can view requests and check-outs in your Prospector Account online by logging in with your name and McDermott Library Account Username. 

Suggest a Title for our Collection

McDermott Library collections are developed through librarian selection, donations, and recommendations. USAFA faculty, staff, and cadets are welcome to suggest new additions to the collection through our Collection Recommendation form.

Recommendations are reviewed by the Library Collection Committee on a number of criteria, including but not limited to:

  • Curricular relevance
  • Access options
  • Licensing terms
  • Purchasing compliance

A librarian will follow-up with requestors within two weeks on access, alternatives, and other issues which may arise.

> Collection Recommendation Form