Borrowing Policies & Procedures

Eligibility

A barcoded Touro ID is required to borrow material. College alumni may use material in the library but may not check it out. Alumni may not borrow print material but may use library computers to access electronic databases available to them in the Alumni Portal. Alumni may also use all proprietary electronic resources in the library and selected resources remotely.

On-Site Use Policy

Anyone having a valid Touro ID or a Metro referral card is permitted entry to a Touro Library. Those with a Metro referral card do not have borrowing privileges.

Loan periods

  • Circulating books and accompanying media: two weeks (faculty, one semester), see conditions below.
  • Audio CDs, videotapes, DVDs: four days (students), two weeks (faculty), see conditions below.
  • EBSCO ebooks: 24 hours.
  • iPads: 7 days, no renewals.
  • Periodicals, reference, microfilm, and microfiche do not circulate.
  • Reserve items do not circulate, but may be checked out for in-library use for periods of three hours and accrue a $1 penalty for every hour overdue (no grace period). They may be checked out overnight one hour before closing if there are two copies on reserve and if the item can be returned no later than one hour after opening the next day.
  • Items with multiple requests placed: five days.

Renewals

Items may be renewed after being checked out seven days unless other patrons place holds on the items. Renewals are processed by staff at any library, in person or by telephone, or online by using our My Account feature. To use this feature, you must enter your library barcode.

Returns

When possible, return items to the library from which they were borrowed.

Requests

If an item is checked out to another patron, or located at a library you do not use frequently, you may place a hold on it and/or have it transferred to the library of your choice by clicking on the REQUEST button at the top of its Books & More (Library Catalog) record. The catalog can be found on our library homepage. You cannot request items that are ebooks, ejournals, reference, or reserve. Do not request items with a Status of MISSING. Make your requests well in advance of need since the loan period is two weeks and it often takes as long as two weeks for material to arrive from other libraries. To use the REQUEST feature, you must have previously activated your catalog account in person with library staff. You will be notified when the item is available and given one week to pick it up. To cancel a request, contact library staff.

Recalls

The library reserves the right to shorten a preexisting borrowing period.  This procedure is termed “recall”. All items are subject to recall after 14 days in your possession. Should an item you checked out be recalled, you will receive a “Recall Notice” with the new due date by which the item must be returned. Recalled items not returned accrue a penalty of $1 per day.

Limits

Students are limited to borrowing 10 items total; faculty to 20 items total.  The library reserves the right to limit the number of items that can be checked out due to demands on the collections.

Overdues

There is a grace period of three days for overdue circulating items except for audio CDs, videotapes, and DVDs (“media”). The overdue charge for media is $2 per item per day. After three days overdue, the charge is ten cents per item per day for books. After 20 consecutive overdue days, the fine becomes $15 for each overdue book.  The maximum overdue charge for each circulating book is $20.

Lost Items

Report lost items immediately. The charge for a lost item is our cost, a $15 billing fee, a $5 processing fee, plus any overdue charges accrued to the date the item is declared lost. Items not returned within a semester after the due date will be deemed lost, with the borrower responsible for the cost of its replacement.

Penalties

Patrons who fail to return items or clear outstanding fines will be reported to the Bursar. The library reserves the right to suspend borrowing privileges of patrons who have three overdue items, accumulate overdue charges in excess of $15, have overdue reserve material, have reached the maximum number of circulating items, or have failed to return overdue recalled items.

Damaged Items

The charge for an item returned in such poor condition that it can no longer be circulated is our cost plus a $15 billing fee and $5 processing fee.

Adjustments

If a lost and paid for item is found within 3 months of payment, the Library will issue a refund, providing the material has not been reordered and is returned to the Library in good condition. A $15 processing fee is non-refundable. Receipt of payment must be presented to receive the refund.

Inter-Library Loans (ILL)

All library materials are available for ILL, except for reference material or any material currently on reserve.