LIBRARY >>
LIBRARY SERVICES

• Circulation
• Reserves
• Interlibrary Borrowing
• Instruction & Reference
• Online Services
• Acquisitions
• Rooms and Resources

Library Services

All Clifton Fowler Library services and collections are fully available to students, staff, and faculty at CCU's Lakewood Campus and to College of Adult and Graduate Studies centers. The Clifton Fowler Library is located in the Beckman Building at the Lakewood Campus. There is ample parking.

Circulation and Access Services

The Circulation Desk provides an array of services. It is the main information point for quick information both on site and via telephone. It also serves as the checkout point for all materials, including reserves and CDs/DVDs/videos. Desk staff can indicate over the phone if the Library owns a specific item.

Students should present their ID to check out materials, and community borrowers need to be entered into the system in order to check out material. Renewals are allowed, and holds can be placed on materials already checked out. Overdue materials do accrue fines and large debts may affect one’s ability to check out additional materials or be subject to referral. Students and faculty can see their check outs online via the Library Catalog,  and they can renew and place holds both on the phone and at My Account in the Library Catalog.

Checkout Policies

• Books – Three weeks with two renewals, maximum of 25 items*
• Videos, CDs, Back Journals – One week, with two renewals*
• Reference & Latest Journal Issues – non-circulating; may be copied in the Reference Room

*Renewable by phone and from the Catalog Online (if not overdue) at the My Account Tab (use your CCU ID#). At My Account you can see what you have out, overdue, etc. You may also place a 10-day hold on a desired item.

Book Return

Books may be dropped in the bin at the Circulation Desk inside the Library, or when the Library is closed, the book drop outside next to the West entrance door may be used.

Reserves

Faculty place high-use personal and library-owned course materials on reserve for limited-time checkout. Most items are two-hour reserve, but professors can designate other periods, such as one day reserve or seven day reserve. Materials to be placed on Reserve are submitted to the Reference Librarian generally at least a week before the beginning of the course. When students request reserve items, they should have the name of the professor and course and the name of the item being requested.

Download the Faculty Reserve Request Form (PDF).

Interlibrary Borrowing

The Library participates in cooperative borrowing agreements that allow students and faculty to freely borrow items from other Colorado libraries and elsewhere. Requests for books not owned at CCU or in Colorado/Wyoming (use Prospector) are submitted on an interlibrary loan form available at the Circulation Desk, online, and below. Turn around is typically a week via courier. The Library calls the requestor to notify the individual that the item has arrived and is being held at Circulation. Books must be returned to CCU for final return to the original lending library. The lending institution determines the borrowing time. Renewal and any fees for loss are also at the discretion of the lender. For journal articles, fill out an article request form for the Interlibrary Loan Librarian, Tracey Lane. Journal articles become the property of the requestor. Most libraries do not lend reference items, archival material, or entire journal issues.

Before submitting a request, look for books and other materials in the  Online Catalog (includes Colorado/Wyoming Prospector libraries) determine if CCU or Prospector holds. Look for journal articles in CCU's Full-Text Journal Databases.

Book/Materials Borrowing Request Form (PDF)
Journal Article Borrowing Request Form (PDF)

Most local libraries allow individual borrowing via a Colorado ID. Also, all CCU students are automatically Prospector members through the CCU Online Catalog. Additionally, any resident of Jefferson County (all students on Lakewood campus),  Denver County, and other counties can become a public library cardholder and Prospector member. Prospector members are entitled to borrowing directly online from the largest Colorado libraries. Delivery is within two to three days.

Instruction and Reference

Every semester librarians teach interactive First Year Integration (FYI) modules tailored to each of the FYI classes offered to all CCU freshmen. They are designed to provide a skill and information baseline. Focused instruction is also an option for other groups, such as incoming Master's students, English honors classes, etc. Typically librarians teach classes in how to conduct research, how to do company research, and how to approach a particular subject area. Instruction in research methods is also offered on a request basis for both classes and for individuals. Reference, research assistance, and advice on selecting appropriate print and electronic databases for all students is provided one-on-one on site by Library faculty Monday through Saturday.  All current students and associated personnel have 24/7 access to Ask a Librarian E-mail Reference  regardless of location. Fowler Library also participates in Ask Academic, a free online 24/7 chat reference service.

Various research handouts are available above the New Books Shelf near the Circulation Desk. The online services described below are always available equally to all regardless of location.

Online Services

The Library Web offers virtual online resources, the Library Catalog, journal and reference databases, subject and writing guides, the Library, Information, & Research tutorial, and 24/7 Ask the Librarian and Ask Academic services. CCU Library databases are licensed for use only by currently registered CCU students, faculty and staff. (CCU Login required.)

CCU Library has an Adult and Distance Reference Librarian, whose normal schedule includes Saturdays.  For hours when he is not available,  you have the option of leaving a message for him to contact you (please leave email) or being transferred immediately to a student assistant manning the Fowler Circulation Desk.

Acquisitions and Collection Development

To maximize its collection development, the Library utilizes a number of purchasing agents that provide quality service with high discounts.

Faculty and students are encouraged to suggest books for consideration for purchase at any time. The Library Director initiates orders for specific book and video requests. Each school also has a Library liaison that can facilitate addressing collection needs in specialized subject areas.

Journals represent a continuing, indefinite commitment of funds and are renewed once a year in the summer. The Technical Services Librarian handles new journals requests.

New books are available for checkout on the New Books Shelf near the Circulation Desk.

Book Sale

The Library readily accepts gifts. Any gifts not needed for the collection are added to the Library’s ongoing book sale whose proceeds go toward enhancing the collection through new book purchases. There is always an ongoing sale with $1.00 books that runs continuously on the book shelves of the central aisle of the Library.  These books either duplicate material already in the collection or that are not closely related to the curriculum. 

Rooms and Resources

Ample study space is available throughout the Library. Students desiring a quiet, enclosed individual or group study area can reserve individual or group study rooms at the Circulation Desk. Also, at Circulation one may request a TV/VCR combo to view audiotapes within the Library or audiophones for audio.

A Computer Lab with multiple workstations and a number of individual computers are located on the main level. There are also four computers on the lower level. Wireless access is available throughout the Library.

A Copier that takes coins, dollar bills, five dillar bills, and ten dollar bills is available for students.  It gives change.  It is in the Reference Room on the East wall near the exit.  There is a separate faculty copier at the East entrance that is programmed to take Faculty codes only.

Microfiche Reader/Printer is available in a group study room in the Reference area for viewing fiche from the Microfiche Collection.