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SHUShelf

Polices and Guidelines 

1. Book borrowing if you are *not* a first-semester student:
  • Students can borrow as many books as they donate; you can donate (and therefore borrow) up to 15 books to/from SHUShelf.
  • You cannot borrow from SHUShelf, unless you have already donated at least one book to SHUShelf that our team has approved.
  • You must return all borrowed books by the stated due date to remain in good standing.
2. Book borrowing if you *are* a first-semester student:
  • You can borrow one book from SHUShelf without having a book of your own to donate.
  • You must return the one book that you take out by the stated due date to remain in good standing.
3. Book Return Policy (all students):
  • A timely book return is hereafter defined by returning all borrowed books by the last day of the semester.
  • Students must consistently return all borrowed books in a timely manner to maintain their access to our collection in the future.
  • All borrowed books must be returned in the same or similar condition that they had beforehand.
4. To maintain good standing with SHUShelf, students should:
  • Avoid repeated tardiness in book returns; first-time offenders will be granted grace, but a second violation of this policy will lead to an indefinite suspension from using the SHUShelf collection.
  • Avoid poaching our books; SHUShelf maintains a zero-tolerance policy for poaching.
  • Take good care of our books; SHUShelf maintains a zero-tolerance policy for negligence or maliciously damaging our books.
  • Members of the SHUShelf team reserve the right to indefinitely suspend students from using our collection if they are suspected of any of the above behaviors that fall under the zero-tolerance policy.
5. Book Donation Guidelines (for approval and credit):
  • Minimal to no damage on book spine(s).
  • Few, if any, ripped or missing pages.
  • Front and back covers should be present and secured to the book(s).
  • Donated books must be required by at least one class being offered in the current academic year; students will not receive any credit for books that do not meet this criterion.
  • Students must provide their first and last name, and their campus ID, on every book they donate to receive credit for their donation(s).
  • SHUShelf will not give any credit to students who fail to identify the specific books they donate.
A solid rule of thumb: it should be expected that any book being donated is in good enough condition that it could be reused by someone else several years later, barring some unforeseen damage that the book suffers within that time.