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Circulation Policies and Library Regulations

Following is a summary of regulations and penalties for infringement of these regulations:

A: The following are not permitted in the library:

food (except in Matthew's Bean)
beverages not in covered, non-spill containers
the use of sport equipment of any kind

B: Overdue library materials:

Circulating books, browsing books, scores, floppy disks, government documents, and Main Library audio cassettes and CDs.
Failure to return these materials four weeks after the original due date results in suspension of a student's library borrowing privileges, except for the borrowing of reserve materials. In addition, the student is sent a bill which includes replacement costs, processing, and billing fees for each overdue item. Borrowing privileges are restored upon return of the material or payment of the bill or upon the transfer of the charges to the student's college bill. Replacement and processing fees, but not the billing fee, are dropped upon return of the overdue item if it has not been reordered.
Music Library circulating sound recordings
Failure to return these materials by the due date results in fines of $.20 a day per item. If these materials are not returned within 10 days, the student is sent a bill as for other overdue items. Replacement and processing fees, but not the billing fee, are dropped upon return of the item if it has not been reordered.
Music Library Reference CDs and Video Recordings
Failure to return these materials by the due date results in fines of $1.00 a day per item. If these materials are not returned within 10 days, the student is sent a bill as for other overdue items. Replacement and processing fees, but not the billing fee, are dropped upon return of the item.
Main Library Reserve
The majority of items on reserve circulate for three hours; however, the student may check his/her record from the online library catalog to verify the exact time any item is due. The fine for three-hour material is $.50 for the first hour and $1.00 per hour thereafter until the material is returned. There are a very small number of items that circulate for three day or two-week seminar loans. Fines for three day and seminar loans are $5.00 per day. Three-day and seminar material must be returned and checked-in at the Reserve Desk before midnight or closing (whichever is earlier) on the date due.
Main Library Videos [DVD, Laserdiscs and VHS]
Laserdiscs, DVDs and VHS films are shelved in the Reserve Room and circulate from the Reserve Desk. Video material not on reserve for any course circulates for only one day. This material must be checked-in at the Reserve Desk before closing or midnight (whichever is earlier) on the date due. The fine for overdue non-reserve video materials is $5.00 per day. Students will be billed for replacement if the material is damaged or not returned within fifteen days. The replacement bill will include replacement costs, processing, billing and late fees. Replacement and processing fees, but not the billing fee, are dropped upon return of the item if it has not been reordered.
Art Library and Music Library Reserves
Art Library Reserve fines are $1.00 per hour per item, except during exam week, when the fine is $5.00 per hour per item. Music Library Reserve fines are $1.00 per hour per item.
Recalls
If materials, including those on Senior Loan, are recalled and are not returned by the new due date, the borrower is fined $1.00 per day per item.
Blocking
The automated system will block a reader from taking out library materials if 50 or more fines are outstanding. A student must come in to speak with the Circulation Supervisor during daytime business hours to pay the fines before the patron record will be cleared.
Billing
After two weeks, any unpaid fines are transferred to a student's college bill and a $1.50 billing fee is added to the bill. Unpaid replacement fees are also transferred to a student's college bill.

C: Lost Library Materials

If library material is lost, the student under whose name it is checked out is responsible for paying the cost of the item plus a processing fee. The processing fee varies by material type from $10.00 to $25.00.

D: Interlibrary Loan Materials

Late fees, charges for damages or replacement cost for materials borrowed through the Interlibrary Loan service are at the discretion of the lending library. Replacement changes for materials borrowed through Connect NY are set at $100 per item.

E: Damaged Materials

All library materials are assumed to be in good condition when borrowed unless poor condition is reported at that time. Borrowers will be held responsible for any damage to library materials while these materials are in their possession, and may be subject to charges for replacement computed on the basis used for lost library materials.

F: Depriving other students of fair and equal access to library resources may be considered academic dishonesty

Included are such actions as unauthorized removal of library materials; destruction of, tampering with, or defacement of library materials; abuse of student faculty assistant library privileges; failure to return a reserve item when it is due; or failure to return an item that has been recalled. Abuses of this kind may be reviewed by the Academic Panel and subject to penalty, accordingly.