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Borrowing privileges

Undergraduate borrowing privileges 

FormatLoan PeriodMaximum No. of ItemsNumber of RenewalsFines per Item
Books30 days504$0.25/day
Storage journals21 days0$0.25/day
Scripts30 days54$1.00/day
Newman bound journals3 days50$5.00/day
Videos, DVDs, optical discs3 days30$1.00/day
Compact discs, audiocassettes30 days104$0.25/day
phonorecords30 days54$0.25/day

50 total number of items allowed on an account at any given time.

All patrons are fined $1.00 per day late for not honoring recalled items.

Graduate student borrowing privileges 

FormatLoan PeriodMaximum No. of ItemsNumber of RenewalsFines per Item
Books90 days1001$0.25/day
Storage journals21 days0$0.25/day
Scripts30 days54$1.00/day
Newman bound journals3 days50$5.00/day
Videos, DVDs, optical discs3 days30$1.00/day
Compact discs, audiocassettes30 days104$0.25/day
phonorecords30 days54$0.25/day

100 total number of items allowed on an account at any given time.

Graduate Students with needs for extended use of materials may request a longer borrowing period.

All patrons are fined $1.00 per day late for not honoring recalled items.

VT faculty borrowing privileges

FormatLoan PeriodMaximum No. of ItemsNumber of RenewalsFines per Item
Books90 days1001See note below
Storage journals21 days0
Scripts30 days504
Compact discs, audiocassettes, phonorecords30 days4
Newman bound journals3 days50$5.00/day
Videos, DVDs, optical discs3 days30$1.00/day
See note below

100 total number of items allowed on an account at any given time.

As a general rule, faculty and staff are not fined for the late return/renewal of library books. However, faculty and staff are fined $1.00 per day late for not honoring recalls and the late return of videos for personal use, and $5.00 per day for late return of bound journals.

Faculty with needs for extended use of materials may request a longer borrowing period.

VT staff borrowing privileges 

FormatLoan PeriodMaximum No. of ItemsNumber of RenewalsFines per Item
Books30 days504See note below
Storage journals21 days0
Scripts30 days54See note below
Newman bound journals3 days50$5.00/day
Videos, DVDs, optical discs3 days30$1.00/day
See note below
Compact discs, audiocassettes, phonorecords30 days104See note below

50 total number of items allowed on an account at any given time.

As a general rule, faculty and staff are not fined for the late return/renewal of library books. However, faculty and staff are fined $1.00 per day late for not honoring recalls and the late return of videos for personal use, and $5.00 per day for late return of bound journals.

Other patrons (See definitions below) 

FormatLoan PeriodMaximum No. of ItemsNumber of RenewalsFines per Item
Books30 days504$0.25/day
Storage journals21 days0$0.25/day
Scripts30 days54$1.00/day
Newman bound journals3 days50$5.00/day
Videos, DVDs, optical discs3 days30$1.00/day
Compact discs, audiocassettes30 days104$0.25/day
phonorecords30 days54$0.25/day

50 total number of items allowed on an account at any given time.

All patrons are fined $1.00 per day late for not honoring recalled items.

Patron definitions 

  • Visiting faculty: Privileges are extended to faculty from other institutions who are sponsored by a Virginia Tech faculty member and who have an official letter verifying the length of their stay.
  • Retired faculty/staff: Retired Virginia Tech Faculty and Staff may keep the same borrowing privileges that they had when they were employed.
  • Other Virginia faculty: Faculty at other Virginia colleges and universities may borrow from the University Libraries upon providing a current college identification card.
  • Corporate Research Center staff: Staff from the Corporate Research Center may borrow materials upon providing a Hokie Passport to the University Libraries.
  • Virginia residents: Privileges are extended to adults with a Virginia Driver's License or Virginia Identification Card and in-state address and phone number. Please note: Borrowing privileges may be extended to a minor with the permission of a parent or guardian. The appropriate form is available at the Circulation/Reserve Desk, Newman Library.
  • Other Virginia college students: Upon providing a current identification card from another college or university in Virginia, public or private, a student may borrow from the University Libraries even if not a resident of Virginia.
  • OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowers: Faculty from OCLC reciprocol borrowing institutions with a reciprocal borrower's card and current ID from the member institution may borrow materials.
  • Special students: Any group of younger students enrolled in enrichment-type courses at Virginia Tech. Examples include Governor's School students, Upward Bound students, etc. Group Coordinators should contact Brenda Pratt at 540-231-9209.

Reserve checkout and fine policies 

Reserve items may be borrowed for the following loan periods determined by the instructor: 2 Hour Loan, 2 Hour Library Use Only, 3 Hour Media Loan (Library Use Only), 2 Day Loan, and 7 Day Loan.

Hourly Reserve items (2 Hour Loan and 3 Hour Loan) are fined $1 per hour overdue. Daily Reserve items (2 Day Loan and 7 Day Loan) are fined $1 per day overdue.

For more information on Reserve policies, please see the Reserve website.

Proper identification 

Persons affiliated with Virginia Tech must present a valid Hokie Passport or patrons not affiliated with the university must present a valid Virginia Driver's License or University Libraries Borrower Card to check out materials at any Circulation Desk.

You may obtain a University Libraries Borrower Card if you are a Virginia resident or if you are attending a Virginia college or university. You will need to present your Virginia Driver's License, Virginia ID Card, or your school ID card. A University Libraries Borrower card will be issued to you. Present this card when checking out books or inquiring about your library account.

Patrons affiliated with Virginia Tech who either do not have a Hokie Passport or who have an outdated ID card should go to 100 Student Services Building during regular business hours to have a Hokie Passport ID card made.

Large outside groups such as the Governor's School or Upward Bound should contact Brenda Pratt, (540) 231-9209, beforehand to make the necessary arrangements.

Change of address 

Please inform the Circulation/Reserve Desk of any change in your mailing address or phone number as soon as possible.

Important: Changes made at the Bursar's office in the Student Services building must also be made at the Library. Also changes made at the Library will not update your information elsewhere on campus.

Borrower's responsibility 

Until a Hokie Passport or a library card has been reported lost or stolen to the Circulation/Reserve Desk (540-231-6340), borrowers will be held financially responsible for the materials borrowed and the charges incurred on the assigned ID number.

If the borrower lends an item to a faculty member, a student, or a friend, the original borrower is still responsible for all fines, replacement costs and other charges incurred.

This rule applies to all library patrons.


Contact us

Circulation desk
540-231-6340

Newman Library fall hours

Sun, Nov 15: 12:00noon - 12:00mid
Mon-Thur, Nov 16-19: 7:30am - 12:00mid
Fri, Nov 20: 7:30am - 7:00pm
Sat, Nov 21: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sun, Nov 22: Closed

Current semester hours

My Library Account

Check My Library Account to view all materials checked out to you, due dates, awaiting materials you have requested, and any fines you may have.

Where to return items?