Spring Break
Clark Library extends due dates for books
Tammy Krikorian, Daily Staff Writer
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Alleviating those concerns, Julie Kowalewski Ward, department head of circulation, said the extension on due dates, which is usually four weeks after check out, is actually intended to help students.
As part of the move to the new library, she said, Senter storage - which houses older books (half of the library's collection) and journals from 1979 and earlier - closed on Friday.
Kowalewski Ward said Clark Library will close May 23 and the new library won't open until Aug. 1. Although there will be limited services in Modular A during the interim, including interlibrary loan, reference materials, reference librarians and online databases, she suggests that students plan ahead for summer research.
"We wanted to extend the privilege to students to keep (books) during that period," she said. "Right now is the time to be getting books and checking them out."
Kowalewski Ward also said that if a student needs a book that has already been checked out, there are several ways to get it before August.
"They can be recalled if another student needs them. On the due slip it says every book is recallable, and there are also signs posted in the library," she said. "(Extending the due date) has been a way to educate people and alert them that we are moving and allow them to keep the material."
Angelo Wood, an undeclared junior, who works part time at the circulation desk, said any time a book is recalled, the student has two weeks from the recall date to return it. Once the two-week period is over, there is a seven-day grace period. On the eighth day, the fines begin accumulating - 15 cents per day.
Other options in obtaining checked-out books are interlibrary loans as well as Link+. Through Link+, books can be requested from roughly 20 other local libraries and will arrive at San Jose State University within three to four days. However, this service won't be available after May 27.
Wood said, so far, most students are happy with the extension.
"There have been a few upset people," he said. "But I tell them it's beneficial. They don't have to return the books until August or pay fines."
Nikki Crawford, a graduate student in music, said there shouldn't be a problem because students can still request books.
"As a graduate student, it's very cool because you can keep books longer," she said.
Van Nguyen, a senior majoring in broadcast journalism, also thought it was good to be able to keep the books longer but doubted that many college students would plan ahead for summer research.
"I think students have a tendency to procrastinate," she said. "I don't think they are going to think or plan that far ahead."
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