About The Library

The James B. Duke Memorial Library is the core repository for information resources that support the academic curricula, applied research and graduate program at Johnson C. Smith University. The library is centrally located on JCSU’s campus. The facility provides access to printed resources, online resources, audiovisual materials, digital collections, e-books, and microforms.

The Center of Information provides a centralized location in which students, faculty and all users can receive support. Students, faculty and users can check books in and out, request study rooms, request course reserves, receive assistance with printing, coping, and reference services. The Center of Information is the first point of customer service that supports the undergraduate and graduate programs at Johnson C. Smith University.

The Multimedia Classroom is equipped with video/data projection equipment, ten computers for group training and provides seating for up to 30 individuals. The room is used for viewing videos, student presentations, training and programming.

Faculty Information Technology Sandbox is a dedicated space that allows faculty to experiment with emerging technologies before entering the classroom. The sandbox has a SMART board, Mac and PC stations. Faculty and staff can check-out iPads, tablets, and peripheral equipment.

The Inez Moore Parker Archives and Research Center contains manuscripts, journals, scrapbooks, photographs, clippings, and artifacts. The Black Heritage Room is a small collection of rare books, autographed books, manuscripts, and books written by and about Africans and African-Americans.

The Library’s web pages provide access to its online catalog, electronic resources, subject research guides, and other general information.

Borrowing privileges are available to all students (undergraduate, graduate, and online), faculty, and staff with a valid Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) ID, as well as library partners with a reciprocal borrowing agreement. Under this agreement, students must complete a registration form to receive borrowing privileges with proper identification. Online students can request books by mail but must adhere to the same checkout policies.

Undergraduate and Graduate Students

• Must present a valid JCSU ID to check out library resources.
• You can check out up to 30 books at any given time.
• Books may be checked out for 21 days.
• One renewal is allowed, provided no hold has been placed on the item.
• Students with fines over $10.00 or more will not be allowed to check out items (books, laptops, equipment, or reserves).

Faculty/Staff Usage

• Faculty can check out books for a standard loan period of one semester.
• Faculty and staff may check out audiovisual materials for a one-semester loan period.
• No fines are charged to faculty and staff; however, clearance forms will not be signed until all materials are returned, or fees for lost or damaged materials are paid.
• The Director of Library Services reserves the right to prohibit further checkouts if fees are unpaid, or materials are lost or not returned within the semester.
• JCSU staff may check out materials for a four-week period.

Overdue Fines

• General collection books: $0.25 per day, with a maximum fine of $10 per book.
• Reserves: $1.00 per hour, per item.
• Laptops: $5.00 per hour.
• Equipment: $5.00 per hour.
• Lost items are charged for replacement, including the item’s cost plus a $25.00 processing fee.

Overdue notices are emailed to patrons weekly. Patrons whose books are overdue for one week will receive first notice. A second notice will follow one week later, and a third notice will be sent one week after the second notice. After the third notice, the item’s status will be changed to ‘Lost’ in the system, and the patron’s account will be charged for the replacement cost plus the processing fee. Additionally, the patron’s account will be blocked from further circulation activity.

At the end of each semester, library staff compiles a list of students with overdue items, including their ID numbers, names, and fines, and sends it to the Student Accounts Office. Students who leave the University without paying fines or returning materials will have their transcripts withheld until payment is received.