Public Services - Using the Library

The VIVA Cooperative Borrowing Program allows Regent students, faculty, and staff in-person borrowing privileges from any participating library (Students must show school ID and login to home university Blackboard for proof of enrollment). Not all VIVA schools participate in the program, and there may be restrictions on the number and type of items one can borrow.  

Program guidelines can be found here, and a list of participating institutions can be found here. 

Regent faculty, staff, and students must comply with all policies of the participating library they are utilizing. This program is especially helpful for those living closer to another participating VIVA library.

The American Theological Library Association (ATLA) Reciprocal Borrowing Program is an arrangement between participating North American ATLA Institutional Members to grant in-person borrowing privileges to each other’s patrons/students.

A patron/student goes to a participating library, shows proof of current enrollment at another participating library, and checks out materials based on the library’s local lending policies. ​ Click for a list of participating school libraries and their contact information.

The Association of Christian Librarians (ACL) Reciprocal Borrowing Program is a program whereby participating ACL institutions extend in-person borrowing privileges to authorized patrons from other ACL institutions. This service allows Regent University students, faculty, and staff reciprocal access to the physical collections of participating Christian libraries. A list of libraries participating in the program can be found here. A map of participating libraries and their contact information can be found here (if this page doesn't display properly, open with private/incognito browsing).

How to Borrow:

• The borrower completes the top portion of this Authorization Form and either drops it off at the Regent Library Circulation Desk, emails it to Dorothy Hargett, Head of Access Services, at dorohar@regent.edu, or mails form to Regent University Library, Attn: Dorothy Hargett, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23464, where your form will be processed, and a signed copy from Regent University Library provided to you in order that you may receive borrowing privileges from a participating library. Currently, enrolled students in good standing and employed faculty and staff are eligible. Regent University Library has the authority to issue or deny this privilege.
• The borrower takes the signed Authorization Form along with a photo ID to a participating library. Privileges and loan periods (such as loan periods, fines/fees, material types loaned, etc.) are determined by the lending library and may vary from those of the borrower’s home institution (Regent University).
• Borrower returns materials to the lending library by the requested due date and pays any applicable fines and fees for late, lost, or damaged materials as determined by the lending library.

Distance students should always consider Regent University Library as their primary library for requesting materials and research assistance. However, Regent University distance students who live close to and utilize another academic library may be reimbursed for the cost of purchasing a library card to borrow books at that institution. The terms of this reimbursement program are as follows:

• Distance students may be reimbursed for one library card per academic year (July 1 to June 30).

• The maximum reimbursement limit is $100.00 per academic year.

It is the responsibility of distance students to obtain the following information in order to make an informed decision:

• How long is the library card valid?
• How long may materials be checked out?
• What types of materials may be checked out (i.e., books, videos, etc.)?
• How many items may be borrowed at one time?
• What are the overdue policies of that library?

Distance students living in a large metropolitan area should consider whether other libraries' holdings are more relevant to their course of study.

Before purchasing a local library card...

• Please email Dorothy Hargett, Head of Access Services, at dorohar@regent.edu or call 757.352.4150 and inform her of the cost of the library card that is desired.
• When purchasing the library card, you must request a receipt. Please copy this receipt for your records.
• Please complete the Reimbursement Request Form below and send it with the original receipt to the address on the form.

NOTE: Regent University Library will not pay for a local library card prior to purchase or contact another library for you.