Eligible Borrowers
The following patrons may borrow materials with an ID card:
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Students, faculty, and staff of Penn State University
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Non-University patrons who have received permission from the Behrend College Library
Loan Periods, Renewals, and Recalls
Personal Circulation Information
Personal Circulation Information allows you to renew your Penn State library materials and view your patron account information without calling or visiting the library. Account information includes books you've charged out, overdues, recalls, personal reserves, and fees.
E-mailing Library Notices
Library patrons can now receive their library circulation notices, including overdues, recall, pick-ups, and final bills via email. Patrons who choose this option will receive their emailed notices more quickly than printed notices which are sent through the mail. To receive notices by email, ask any staff member at the circulation desk. Please note that University Libraries is not responsible for any notice which remains unread or is deleted from your account.
Regular Loans
The standard period for regular loans is four weeks. Faculty, staff and honors and graduate students have semester loans. All loaned materials are subject to recall as described below.
Regular Loan Renewals
A borrower may renew all regular loans twice. After two renewals, a borrower must return the materials to the Library, but may immediately "re-borrow" them if he or she chooses. All materials must have a current due date in order to leave the Library. Materials to be renewed must be brought to the Circulation Desk and a new date obtained before they can be taken out of the Library.
Special Permission Loans
Materials which do not usually circulate outside the library, such as reserve or reference books, may be borrowed by special permission for two hours during the day, overnight, three days, or seven days. The circulation policy for reserve materials is set by the professor of the course, not by the library. Non-University patrons are not eligible for special permission loans. Materials returned after the special permission due date and time are subject to daily fines describe below.
Recalls
All Materials are subject to recall if another borrower needs them or if a faculty member wishes to place them on reserve for a course. The Library may immediately recall any materials needed for course reserve. Materials that other borrowers request are subject to recall after the current borrower has had them for a minimum of seven days. The Library will allow an additional ten days of use after it sends a recall notice. Materials returned after the recall due date are subject to daily fines described below.
Restrictions, Penalties, & Assessments
Overdue Materials
The Library follows this schedule in sending out overdue notices: an overdue notice is sent ten days after the due date; a notice of "presumed loss" is sent twenty-five days after the due date. All users are responsible for the proper return of library materials. Borrowing privileges will be suspended for individuals with overdue materials and/or unpaid fine or lost book charges.
Typical Assessments for Non-returned Materials
The Library assesses all categories of borrowers (a) the replacement cost of the lost item, (b) a $12 processing fee, (c) a $3 search and mailing fee, and (d) a $9 overdue fee when applicable (see below). If a borrower returns the overdue item, the Library will waive the replacement and processing fees, but the $3 search and mailing fee and the $9 overdue fee must be paid.
Assessments for Overdue Special Permission Loans
All special permission loans are subject to a fine of $1 on the first day late and $2 a day thereafter, to a maximum fine of $9 (reached on the fifth day later). These fines begin to accrue the moment the material is due back in the Library. If a borrower does not pay the fines upon returning overdue items, the Library will mail the borrower a bill and assess an additional fee of $1. After twenty-five days, the Library presumes the materials to be lost and will bill the borrower according to the process described above.
Delay in Response to a Recall Notice
Recall fines on materials requested by another borrower are $1 on
the first day late and $2 a day thereafter, to a maximum of $9 (reached
on the fifth day late). These fines begin to accrue the day after
the recall due date (eleven days after the Library sends the recall
notice). If a borrower does not pay the fines upon returning overdue
items, the Library will mail the borrower a bill and assess an additional
fee of $1. After twenty-five days, the Library presumes the materials
to be lost and will bill the borrower according to the process described
above.
Notes
1. It is each borrower's responsibility to maintain a current address on file with the Library. Changes of address should be reported immediately.
2. Borrowers expecting to be away for prolonged period should return or renew all library materials and supply a temporary address where they may be reached.
3. Borrowers are responsible for all materials charged out on their cards. Library cards and borrowed materials should be kept in a secure location and never loaned to others. A lost or stolen card should be reported to the Library at once to minimize responsibility for its unauthorized use.
4. Non-University patrons may have no more than eight items charged out on their accounts at any one time.
5. The Library will suspend borrowing privileges if a patron does not pay accumulated fees and fines.
6. Materials borrowed from the Behrend College Library and returned to other campuses in the University Library System on the due date will be treated as though they were returned to the Behrend College Library on that date and will incur no assessment.
7. Special permission materials must be returned to the library desk from which they were borrowed.
8. The Library reserves the right to initiate legal procedures to recover library materials.
Policies & Procedures
You can obtain further information from Pat Gainer, 814- 898-6313, or 814-898-6061.
University Library System
Libraries in the University Libraries system at locations other than the Behrend College Library may follow variations in these policies. Direct your inquiries to the head librarian at each campus.