Circulation policies

Borrower's responsibility

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 23:19:41 -0500

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.

But I've returned/never checked out this book

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 23:21:25 -0500

You receive an overdue notice for a book you believe you have already returned or have never checked out. What can you do?

Change in patron status: loan periods and renewals

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:18:37 -0400

If a patron changes patron types in the middle of a checkout period, the original loan period at the time of checkout applies to the item, even for subsequent renewals, until its return. Additionally any other policies relating to the initial checkout loan period applies until the item is returned; this includes fine rates.

Change of address

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 23:16:22 -0500

Please inform the Circulation/Reserve Desk of any change in your mailing address or phone number as soon as possible. You may do this in person or by going online and logging into My Library Account and changing your information there.

Email notifications

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:21:25 -0400

Virginia Tech undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff must use the vt.edu e-mail addresses assigned to them by the University for all courtesy library notices. If you are using a commercial account (such as hotmail.com, gmail.com, etc.) or an alternative server on campus (such as math.vt.edu or phys.vt.edu),you need to forward your vt.edu account by using logging into My VT.

Virginia residents who do not have a vt.edu account will receive courtesy notices by U.S. mail to the address on file for them. If you wish to have e-mail notices sent to you, please contact the Circulation Desk at 540-231-6340 to have your email address added.

Get a library card

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:59:40 -0500

Steps for obtaining a library card

Group viewing of videos

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:19:11 -0400

Copyright laws prevent group viewing of most of the library's videos, laserdiscs, and DVDs. However, group viewing is allowed for educational purposes and for members of the same family. The library does have public performance rights for some titles and these specific titles are exempt from the above restrictions. Inquire at the Circulation/Reserve Desk for the specific titles to which this applies.

IDs accepted

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:18:19 -0400

This number is what frequently appears on your Hokie Passport or University Library borrower card. The number is used by the libraries to access your library account and to checkout books in your name.

To protect our patrons, we require that everyone checking out an item present a valid form of identification. The libraries accept:

Hokie Passport
Virginia Driver's license
Virginia ID card issued by the DMV
University Libraries borrower ward

Lost or damaged items

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:17:27 -0400

If a book is returned damaged to the Library, the Circulation/Reserve unit assesses the damage sustained. A decision will be made if the book can be repaired or must be replaced. Patrons will be notified of any damage and the repair/replacement price will be added to the patron's account.

The standard replacement fee for books is $75.00 plus a $20.00 non-refundable processing fee. The library reserves the right to charge the actual value of the book listed in Bowker's Global Books In Print.

Proper identification

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 22:48:24 -0500

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. 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.

Renewals

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:20:39 -0400

The Library places a limit on the number of times a book may be renewed for a couple of reasons. The policy encourages borrowers to return books that they are no longer actively using. Having more books on the Library's shelves increases the ability of borrowers to browse the collection and provides more immediate access to materials than our recall system provides. We can also ensure a controlled physical environment for our books, thus aiding in their preservation. As a result of periodic review of loan records, we have fewer missing books when borrowers leave the University.

Reserve check-out and fines

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 22:45:42 -0500

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.

Unplanned closings

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:44:35 -0500

Sometimes the library must close unexpectedly for inclement weather, power outage, or other events beyond our control. In these cases, we make allowances for materials with due dates during the closed period. These changes are made once we have reopened, so overdue notices and fines that the system automatically generates will continue to accumulate, but will be adjusted later. (Regular fines will apply on days when there is a delayed opening.) After we have reopened, Circulation staff will adjust due dates and remove fines; please allow a few days for these adjustments to be made.