Fines  

Bills are calculated when overdue material is renewed or returned. Although materials are not due on days when the Libraries are closed, overdue fines accumulate. Borrowing privileges are suspended immediately for University borrowers with charges of $10.00 or more or 10 overdue items.  

While they have no obligation to, in dire circumstances and if you plead a good case, any librarian can temporarily over-ride a block and extend your privileges. Alternately, as soon as you petition your fines, your privileges will be reinstated while the library processes your form. The petition form can be picked up at the counter and filled out right there.  

Lost and Damaged Materials  

Lost or damaged materials must be reported to the appropriate Circulation Department. Library materials are assumed lost and charges for the cost of replacing these materials are levied after 15 days following the due date for reserve loans, and 50 days for regular stack materials. Borrowers losing or failing to return materials, or returning materials in damaged condition are subject to a $45.00 charge to cover the cost of replacing the material, a $15.00 service charge, plus any outstanding fines. In lieu of the $45.00 replacement charge, after consultation with library staff it is possible to purchase an acceptable replacement copy. The service charge is not refunded if a book billed for replacement is found and returned.  

If the library believes that a book or other library resource has been lost and you believe you returned it you can file an inquiry at the circulation desk. Once filed, every week for a month, a member of the library staff will search their stacks and holdings for the missing material. If found, they will contact you. If the material does not turn-up you will then have to pay for a replacement.  

Additional Sanctions  

The following additional sanctions may be applied where appropriate:

Withholding of transcripts, permission to re-register or permission to graduate being denied. Potential graduates with charges of $25.00 or more may not be permitted to graduate until the charges are paid.  

Appeals 

Inquiries concerning the application of the Lending Code may be made to the appropriate Circulation Department. Inquiries will be investigated and responded to if submitted in writing within 60 days of the due date. All borrowers may appeal the application of fines or sanctions.  

There are four possible steps in this process. At each stage in the process the borrower is provided with the opportunity to have the decision reviewed by the individual or committee with the particular responsibility for the application of the fines and/or sanctions. At each step the borrower is afforded the opportunity to provide additional information to assist the reviewer. Library staff will assist the borrower at each step in the process.  

The steps are as follows:  

Petition: to the head of the Circulation unit concerned;

Appeal Stage 1: to the head of that Library/Department;

Appeal Stage 2: to the University Librarian;

Appeal Stage 3: to the Senate Library Committee;

To appeal library fines you need to fill out a petition form at the circulation desk of the library you borrowed the materials from. While it is always wise to attach supporting information, you can be as brief as to simply explain on the form why you were unable to return the materials on time. Compassionate grounds, illness or being unable to reach the university due to circumstances beyond your control are all-acceptable. Within two to four weeks the Records Co-coordinator will contact you in writing and ask you to come in and speak with her. If successful, you may have to pay part of your fines or can have all of your fines forgiven.