Library Policies: Library Fines & Charges, Reserve Check-Out, and Materials Not Loaned Out

 

Overdue Fines for Books:

Overdue fines for books are currently suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Patrons will only be billed for lost items.

• VU Faculty & Staff: No charge.
• VU Students: $4
• Community: $4

 

Non-Return Charges for Books:

If items are not returned at the end of the grace period, items will be billed as lost which includes the cost of replacement and a $10 processing fee.

Students & Community Patrons who owe fines and/or have not returned items will not be able to borrow items from the library until fines are paid and/or items are returned to the library.

VU Faculty & Staff who have lost five or more items and have not paid replacement costs for those items will have their borrowing privileges suspended.

If a patron returns an item after having paid "non-return charges," only the replacement fee will be refunded. The processing fee will be retained by the Library for previous costs of record keeping. After a period of one year, none of the charges will be refunded. Patrons are charged for damaged items as determined by the Public Services Librarian or Director of Library Services.

 

Fines and Non-Return Charges for iPads:

• Faculty and Staff = $25/day late fee
• Students = $10/hour late fee

The condition of the iPad will be assessed before checkout and upon its return. Users are responsible for damage, theft, or loss of equipment. Users are required to report any problems experienced with the iPad during their borrowing period.

The replacement cost for lost, stolen, or damaged iPads is $700. A charge of $40 will be assessed for each lost power cord, case, or adapter. Damage charges will be assessed based on actual repair costs. If an iPad is 3 days overdue, it is considered lost or stolen, and the user will be charged for its replacement. In this case, patron information including location data from the Find My iPad application will be turned over to university police for recovery of the iPad.

 

Payment of Fines & Fees

All library bills are to be paid in the library at the Shake Library Information Desk, not the Bursar's office. If in a rare instance a staff member who takes fines is not present, library patrons may be asked to come back at a later time.

 

Reserve Check-Out

Faculty members may place items on reserve at the Information Desk. Most items may be used in the library only for a period of 4 hours. A few items may be taken out of the library for a 24-hour period. VU students who have fines on their accounts are unable to check-out reserved items until the fine is paid.

Fines: $4 for overdue items.

 

Materials Not Loaned Out

Reference books, newspapers, and magazines in all formats may not be taken from the library. Photocopiers are available. Copies cost $.10 per page.  Digital scanners are also available and may be used at no cost. 

DVDs are available for student and community borrowers to use in the library only. Faculty and staff may check these items out for 1 week and may renew.