FAQs
If you do not see your question answered here, you can search our additional Frequently Asked Questions as well as submit new questions to the Library.
Your Harper Student Photo ID card, known as your HarperCard, can give you campus benefits like access to the College's library and computer labs. The HarperCard can also entitle you to Box Office discounts and other savings and services.
After you have registered for the first time, you can obtain your HarperCard at the Harper College Box Office (Building J, Room J135). A photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, and proof of Harper College registration is required. Cards are valid for three years from the date of issue.
Credit Students
Credit students are provided a HarperCard at no additional cost. Your HarperCard is paid for by part of your Student Activity fee. Replacements for lost or stolen cards are available for $5.
Continuing Education (non-credit) Students
You can get your HarperCard for a small fee:
$5 - Photo I.D. ONLY (without access to campus benefits)
$21 - Photo I.D. including access to campus benefits.
$5 - Replacement for lost or stolen cards
Hours
Monday–Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: CLOSED
Please note: The ID Card Office is open only on days that classes are in session. Occasionally, the ID Card Office will close early for events happening on campus, if you are planning to visit in person, please call ahead for that day's operating hours.
15 study rooms are available to provide a space for academic study and discussion for students and community members. All study rooms are available by reserving above or through walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis.
Study room reservations can be made up to two weeks in advance in 30 minute intervals (maximum time limit of two hours per day). One form of identification is required from each member of a group to use a study room (students must provide their Harper IDs). IDs will be held at the Library's service desk.
If a group is not present 15 minutes after their reservation time, the room will be made available for another group if it is in demand.
Belongings found unattended in study rooms will be turned over to Public Safety (847-925-6330) in Building B.
If you are a faculty member seeking a study room to tutor or meet with your students, please contact the Tutoring Center (847-925-6539) on the first floor of Building F.
Patrons who do not cooperate with these rules forfeit the use of the study room.
Material is placed on Reserve by instructors to assure its availability and accessibility
for class use. Reserve items may be borrowed by Harper students, faculty and staff.
Items on reserve may include:
Library material.
Some items are on reserve to prevent loss. The loan periods of Reserve materials are:
- 2 hours: Materials are signed out for that period and are usually for Room Use Only.
- Overnight Materials circulate for one day including the day the item is checked out. The following day is the due date.
- 3 days: Materials circulate for three days including the day the item is checked out, the following day, and the third day, which is the due date.
- 1 week: Materials circulate for seven days from the day checked out.
- Electronic: Materials are accessible through the online catalog.
Limitations
- Reserve material may not be renewed.
- Faculty, staff, and administrators are required to adhere to reserve loan periods and restrictions.
Procedure for Putting Items on Reserve for Teachers
- Collect the materials you want to put on reserve and bring them with you when you submit your Reserve request
- Please remember that your students may not be the only patrons who wish to use items on a particular topic. We ask that you do not to put every item the Library owns, on a subject, on Reserve.
- You may place your own materials on reserve, provided that it does not violate copyright law.
- Fill out the reserve item form available at the circulation desk or using the following Form
- Items gathered for reserve can usually be processed and given a status of "Reserve" within 24 hours of the Library's receiving it.
- Please e-mail Amanda Oddo (x6904) with questions.
Procedure for Putting Items on Electronic Reserve for Teachers
- Collect the materials or citations you want to put on electronic reserve.
- You may place your own materials on electronic reserve, provided that it does not violate copyright law. For non-library items, or items not currently available through the library databases, faculty will need to show fair use compliance or a letter of permission to use the items electronically.
- Fill out the reserve item form available at the circulation desk, or via the U drive. (U:\Forms\LRC\ereserves.rtf) E-mail the form to Amanda Oddo (x6904), or drop it off at the Library Checkout desk.
- The library will check citations for online availability, download, scan and post them in the Library Catalog Course Reserves section.
- Items gathered for reserve can usually be processed and given a status of "Reserve" within 48 hours of the Library's receiving it.
Please e-mail or phone Amanda Oddo (x6904) with questions.
Harper College district residents over the age of 14 are eligible to receive borrowing privileges.
To sign-up, visit the library and provide the following: proof of residency and photo identification. The following are accepted proofs of residency: driver’s license, state ID, passport, mortgage or lease papers, vehicle registration or insurance card, utility bill, or bank statement. All forms of identification used for proof of residency must have name and current address listed. Your library account will be renewed yearly with proof of residency.
Borrowing policies:
District residents can borrow a maximum of 10 items at a time.
Books, audiobooks, DVDs, and CDs are all available for check-out.
Newspapers and magazines are available for in-library use.
Course reserves and laptops are only available to current Harper College students
and employees
Not sure if you are in Harper’s district? Click here for more information on residency.
Instructor's additional material (The Library is not responsible for these items).
| Media Type | Per Day Fine |
| Books and Audiobooks | $0.25 |
| DVDs and Blu-rays | $1.00 |
| Hourly Reserve Items | $1.00 (per hour) |
| Daily Reserve Items | $2.00 |
| Music CDs | $0.25 |
| Magazines | $0.25 |
| Laptops | $5.00 (per hour) |
Harper College faculty are fined for the following:
- Recalled Items
- Lost Items
Other fines are excused provided that the material is returned.
The Make Shop is a collaborative work space for making, learning, exploring and sharing using high tech to no tech tools. The Make Shop Will be opening over the summer or fall semester and will be open to students, employees, and Harper district residents. Users will be charged a small fee to cover equipment and supplies. Equipment for the Make Shop will include;
- Laser Cutter
- Large Format Printer
- Vinyl Cutter
- Sewing Machines
- Laminator
- Button maker
- Offsite 3d printing
Fees for the Make Shop are listed here.
Use I-Share: The I-Share integrated library system serves as the online public catalog for 91 CARLI member libraries. You can also use the Interlibrary loan form.
The Library is located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the David K. Hill Family Library (F) building. Campus Map
- Helpful librarians, always ready to answer questions
- Popular children’s books
- Reference collection of encyclopedias, atlases and bilingual dictionaries
- Popular magazines and journals in Spanish and English
- Paperback exchange
- Select collection of ESL books including ESL readers
- GED test preparation books
- Electronic journals and databases
- Computer/Internet access with MS Office software on select computers
- Free wireless Internet
- Main campus library books available upon request
- The daily Chicago Tribune
Bring your Harper ID!
- Materials available for checkout for current Harper students, faculty and staff only
- Children under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Español
- >Los bibliotecarios están siempre dispuestos a ayudar y contestar sus preguntas
- Libros populares para niños
- Amplia Colección de enciclopedias, atlas y diccionarios bilingües
- Diarios y revistas populares en español e inglés
- Intercambio de libros encuadernados
- Seleccionada colección de libros de ESL incluyendo la serie de ESL Readers
- Libros para prepararse para el examen de GED
- Diarios electrónicos y bases de datos
- Acceso a computadora e internet ciertas computadoras tienen el programa de MS Office
- Libros de la biblioteca principal de Harper están disponibles a petición
- Identificación de Harper requerida: unicamente estudiantes inscritos en Harper pueden sacar libros de la biblioteca
- Niños menores de 14 años tienen que estar acompañados por un adulto.
1375 Wolf Road, Prospect Heights
847.925.6212
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