University Libraries

Circulation Policies and Circulation Desk Services

Circulation Policies | Circulation Desk Services

Circulation Policies

General Information:

University Libraries circulation policy requires borrowers to present their own University of Akron ID card (Zipcard) or other valid picture ID at the time of check-out. This policy is strictly enforced at all University Libraries locations. Faculty may elect to apply for a proxy card, which enables materials to be checked-out to a student in an instructor's name.

Ask about the circulation of audio-visual materials at the Audio-Visual Department in Bierce Library. Some Microforms circulate as well; please ask for assistance at the Bierce Reference Desk or the Science & Technology Library Reference Desk.

Borrowing Terms:

UA Undergraduate Students

--- 28 day loan period * - Fines - $0.10 per day ** - 3 renewals ***

UA Graduate Students, Faculty, and Staff

--- 150 day loan period - Fines - $0.10 per day ** - 3 renewals ***

Alumni, Community, and High School Borrowers ++

--- 28 day loan period * - Fines - $0.25 per day ** - 3 renewals ***

OhioLINK Borrowers

--- Books: 21 day loan for all borrowers - Fines - $0.50 per day - 4 renewals ***

Audio-visual materials

--- 7 day loan period for all borrowers - Fine - $0.50 per day - No renewals

* Every book is subject to recall after 21 days; the due date on a recalled item will be electronically changed to reflect the new due date. You will be notified via e-mail of any changes. Reserve, Audio-visual, Curriculum Center materials, and materials from other special collections have limited circulation periods.

** Fine schedules differ for Reserve and Audio-visual materials and for materials from other special collections. Fines for recalled materials are $1.00 per day.

*** Renew materials in person at the Circulation Desk, via telephone at Bierce 330/972-5355, Science and Technology 330/972-8323, or using the View Your Circulation Record option on the University Libraries homepage (if materials are not already overdue). Recalled materials cannot be renewed.

++ Persons not currently affiliated with the University of Akron (including alumni) seeking borrowing privileges must request, in person, borrowing privileges by presenting a picture ID that includes their social security number and current street address. Borrowing privileges are available free of charge to all patrons.

Checking-out Library Material:

Hold Requests:

Materials from UA Libraries Catalog, OhioLINK, and ILL for which a borrower has placed a hold request will be available for pick-up at the selected University Libraries Circulation Desk. Materials available for pick-up will be held for 10 days. Pick-up notices are sent via e-mail to all borrowers.

Renewals:

Borrowers may renew their checked-out materials any one of three ways: in person at the Circulation Desk of any University Libraries location; via the telephone at Bierce 330/972-5355, Science and Technology 330/972-8323; or using the View Your Circulation Record option on the University Libraries homepage (if materials are not already overdue). Recalled materials cannot be renewed.

Recalled Materials:

Every book is subject to recall after 21 days; the due date on a recalled item will be electronically changed to reflect the new due date. You will be notified via e-mail of any changes. Fines for recalled materials are $1.00 per day.

Returns:

Materials checked-out from any University of Akron library can be returned to any other University of Akron library location. Two new book drop boxes have been added to the campus locations you can return materials. They are located inside the Student Union, near Starbucks, and outside the front doors of Bierce Library. Additional Bierce Library drop boxes can be found at the following locations: at either end of the Main Circulation Desk, and outside at the rear of the library, just off the S. College St. circle. Please return audio-visual materials directly to Audio Visual Services, located on the ground floor of Bierce Library. For the convenience of University Libraries patrons, an additional drop box can be found on the third floor (High Street level) of the Polsky Building, across from the Bookstore entrance. Materials may be returned to the Science & Technology Circulation Desk during library hours and in the book drop at the library front door after library hours.

Fines:

All University Libraries materials are electronically assigned a due date at the time of check-out. Borrowers are expected to return materials on or before the assigned due date. Materials kept beyond their assigned due date are electronically fined. Materials from the University Libraries circulating collection have a three day grace period.

Lost Books:

Bierce Library materials that are more than 100 days overdue are considered lost and will be billed to the borrower at a cost of $100.00 per item. Upon return, the fine will be reduced to $20.00 per item.

Bierce Library Reserve materials that are more than 100 days overdue are considered lost and will be billed to the borrower at a cost of $180.00 per item. Upon return, the fine will be reduced to $100.00 per item. Reserve materials are considered a special collection. They are placed on reserve for the benefit of the entire class. Overdue fines for reserve materials reflect the impact of late or missing material on all students enrolled in the course and will not be waived.

OhioLINK books that are more than more 30 days overdue are considered lost and will be billed to the borrower at a cost of $125.00 per item. Upon return, the fine will be reduced to $50.00 per item.

Science and Technology Library materials that are more than 100 days overdue are considered lost and will be billed to the borrower at a cost of $160.00 per item. Upon return, the fine will be reduced to $20.00 per item.

Science & Technology Library Reserve materials that are more than 100 days overdue are considered lost and will be billed to the borrower at a cost of $180.00 per item. Upon return, the fine will be reduced to $100.00 per item. Reserve materials are considered a special collection. They are placed on reserve for the benefit of the entire class. Overdue fines for reserve materials reflect the impact of late or missing material on all students enrolled in the course and will not be waived.

Once an item is electronically billed to a borrower, an actual bill is sent out via U.S. mail to the borrower's home address. In addition, a hold will be placed on both the borrower's library record and their University of Akron record. Payment for billed items must be directed to the Bierce Library Circulation Department. Checks must be made out to the University of Akron. For specific information or for questions concerning lost/billed books, call the Bierce Library Circulation Department.(330/972-5355).

Circulation Desk Services

Disk and Headphone Sales:

Floppy disks, zip disks, jump drives (USB keys), CD-RWs (Readable/Writable CDs), and headphones are available for sale at the Bierce Library Circulation Desk. Prices are as follows: floppy disks $0.50; CD-RWs $1.00; and headphones $2.00. We also sell zip disks and flash drives at low prices. The cost of these items varies, but is always low. Bierce Library accepts cash, personal checks, and Zipcard (all campus) funds for payment.

Floppy disks are available for sale at the Science and Technology Library Circulation Desk for the price of $.50. Science and Technology Library accepts cash and personal checks for payment.

Items in Storage Retrieval Requests:

Visit the University Libraries Storage Retrieval Request Page to access library materials in local and remote storage. Materials available for request in local storage include microfilms, microfiche, record albums, and bound serial volumes. Patrons should place requests for articles in remote storage through the Request an article from storage form. Requests for books in remote storage should be placed through the UA Libraries Catalog (ZipLINK) online catalog.

Library Notices Via E-mail:

University of Akron library notices are now sent to all borrowers electronically via e-mail. If you prefer notices to be sent to an alternate e-mail address, forwarding instructions are available at Library Notices to be Sent Via Email page.

OhioLINK/ILL Document Delivery to Campus Offices:

University of Akron faculty and Staff may elect to have OhioLINK and ILL materials delivered directly to your department or administrative office. This service is available free of charge to faculty and staff persons only. To use this service, simply fill out a Document Delivery Request Form and return it to the Bierce Library Circulation Desk (zip + 1706).

Sale Books and Other Materials:

Discarded books and other library materials are available for sale at Bierce Library and the Science and Technology Library. Sale books are located just off the elevators on the ground floor and in the Bierce Coffee Shop. Science and Technology Sale books are located next to the circulation desk. Prices are as follows: hardbacks $1.00; paperbacks $0.50; magazines $0.10; record albums $1.00; videocassettes and films $1.00; cassette tapes $0.25; maps $0.25; sheet music $0.10. Sale items can be purchased at the Circulation Desk. Bierce library accepts cash, personal checks, and Zipcard (all campus) funds for payment. Science library accepts cash and personal checks as funds for payment.