Getting a Student ID/Library Card
The Library issues campus ID cards for both Victoria College and the University of Houston-Victoria. This campus ID card is also your library card. All ID cards are issued at the Main Library Circulation Desk.
Campus ID's will be issued to enrolled students under the following guidelines:
- Your name must appear on enrollment rosters provided to the library by the registrars. If your name is not on the roster, you must have a valid fee statement to verify current enrollment.
- Please have your Texas Driver's License with you to verify your address.
- Your student ID will be updated with a semester validation sticker each semester you are enrolled.
- Replacement fee is $3.00.
How long can I check out books?
Most library materials may be checked out for two weeks (14 days). There are a few exceptions:
- Videos and DVDs - 7 days
- Reserve materials - date set by instructor
- Literature Seven Day Loan items - at the request of the English Department, literary criticism has a seven day loan
- Reference books - cannot be checked out
- Magazines and Journals (periodicals) - cannot be checked out
Items may be renewed once. Renewals may be placed in person or by telephone.
Overdue fines and fees
The library does not generally charge overdue fees. However, some items, primarily multimedia items and 7-day loan books have overdue fines of $.50 per day. An additional $5.00 processing fee is charged per item for late items over 42 days.
If you owe a library fine or fee, a registration block will be placed against your student record in the registrar's office. This block will prevent you from registering until the block is cleared.
Research Services
The VC/UHV Library Reference Desk is staffed by a professional librarian at all hours the library is open. Librarians can assist you with your research and provide assistance and instruction on Internet-related searching as well.
You can get help without coming to the library. Our Ask-A-Librarian service provides:
- Email reference services. You can expect an answer within 24 hours
- Chat services
- Toll-free phone line
Check out more about Ask-A-Librarian
Computers and Wireless Access
There are 36 computers on the 1st Floor of the Library available for student use. Computers are available to all students with login with their library/ID card. The library supports the Microsoft Office Suite, Internet Explorer, and software necessary for WebCT. Email, other than Internet mail, is not supported. Students are expected to comply with the Library's Acceptable Use Policy. Students are also bound by campus computer use policies.
Wireless Internet Access is available with guest privileges on all four floors of the Library.
Printing, Photocopy, and Fax Services
Printing from Library microcomputer workstations is to a central networked printer located at the Circulation desk. Color printouts are available for school-related needs only and must be done by library staff at the Library. Inquire at the Reference Desk for assistance. Requests for special papers cannot be honored. Charges for printing from microcomputer workstations are:
- 5¢ (five cents) per page
- Color printouts 25¢ (twenty-five cents) per page
A photocopy machine is available as self-service on the second floor of the Library. Photocopy charges are 10¢ (ten cents) per page. The machines will accept up to a $5.00 bill and make change.
Telefax services
- Outgoing
- Long distance - $2.00 long distance fee plus $1.00 a page
- Local - $1.00 a page
- Cover sheet is optional, but if desired, the fee is $1.00
- Incoming
- $1.00 per page
- International
- Long Distance charges for international fax will be based on prevalent charges. International fax requests should be referred to the Library's Administration Secretary
Getting Materials from Another Library
If our library does not own the book or periodical article you need, we can get it for you. The service is called Interlibrary Loan. Through interlibrary loan, we borrow books and photocopied periodical articles on your behalf from other libraries. Interlibrary Loan service is available to all students without charge.
Turnaround time for a periodical article is about 48 hours, for a book about 7 days. Online REQUEST FORMS Paper forms can be found at the library's reference desk.
Study and Conference Rooms
The 3rd floor of the Library has been designated as a quiet zone for individual study. Study carrels along the perimeter of that floor provide the quiet and isolation sometimes necessary for intense study and reading.
Conference rooms are available to all for group study.
- Room 301 - seats 12. White Board available.
- Room 302 - seats 6. White Board available.
You may reserve a study room at the Media Center Desk (570-4199) on the 2nd floor of the Library.
The Library lecture hall (Room L-2), seating approximately 65 (sixty-five), is available to campus organizations. You may schedule this room through the Library's administrative secretary, Kathy Sullivan (570-4151).
Keys to study rooms must be checked out at the Media Center desk. Keys for the lecture hall are checked out at the Circulation Desk on the Library's first floor. You must have a current VC/UHV Library Card to check a key out.