Poynter Library has developed a procedure to facilitate the use of its resources by non-USF researchers. By contract, many of our services are available only to USF faculty, staff, and students; however, the services listed below may be available to visiting scholars.
Visiting scholars should obtain a letter of introduction from the College Dean (or College accountable officer) who is sponsoring their visit. The letter should include the proposed term of the visit and a guarantee of financial responsibility for fines, lost book fees, or other library obligations of the visiting faculty member. The visiting scholar should then present this letter and legal identification (e.g. passport or driver’s license) to the library front desk to have a courtesy USF St. Petersburg library card made.
Presentation of the courtesy card entitles the visitor to check out ten books at a time (no media). One renewal is permitted except for Recreational Reading and juvenile books. Overdue books incur a fine of fifty cents per day per overdue item to a maximum of $10.00 per item borrowed. Borrowing privileges are blocked when account accumulates $50.00 in fines. If a patron loses an item, it should be reported to the Circulation Desk as soon as possible. Patrons are liable for lost book replacement charges but the fine will stop accumulating once the book is declared lost. Two overdue notices are sent to the patron. If the patron does not return the item, it progresses to a lost status. The patron is then billed $70.64 replacement cost for the book as well as any accrued fine. All bills turned over to Accounts Receivable must be paid at the Cashier’s Office. The library staff should be informed when the visiting faculty member is ready to leave so that circulation desk staff can verify that books have been returned and fines are cleared. If the visiting scholar does not clear all fines associated with the card, the library will submit an invoice to the sponsoring department.
Contractual obligations do not allow remote access to the library’s online resources by non-USF St. Petersburg campus researchers. However, many researchers may use the library’s online resources in the library. To obtain access, visitors should request permission from the staff at the library service desk to use the affiliate research computer station. Please refer to guideline entitled Public Use of Computing Resources in the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library for additional information.
Laptop access to the library network within the building may be arranged by following the steps outlined on our companion page, Wireless Services Guide, Guest Access to USF Wireless.
Color and black-and-white printing and copying is available at a per page cost. A Bullbucks visitor card is required and charging the card with a minimum of five (5) dollars through a Visa card is required upon initial use. Drivers, detailed information and locations found on our companion page, Library Printing
The library is unable to offer interlibrary loan services to visiting faculty at this time.