Circulation and Fine Policies

The Circulation Services Department is responsible for the lending of materials from the library collections to Taylor University students, faculty, and staff, community borrowers, and to eligible consortia members. In the sections that follow, many functions and policies of Circulation Services will be detailed, and often you will be advised to go to the Circulation Desk for help or information.

The basic policy for Circulation is as follows: In order to borrow library materials, you must bring your valid Taylor University ID/library card with you to the Circulation Desk. Some materials, including Reference books and periodicals, do not circulate and must be used in the library.

Loan Periods and Fines

All books in the main collection and Instructional Materials Center (IMC) check out for a three-week period. A fine of 25¢ per day is charged for overdue materials. AV items have a one-week loan period with a $1.00 per day fine.

Reserve materials are materials that a professor has asked the library to place in a particular location so that the maximum amount of students can have access to that material. The library has two types of reserve materials,

  1. Overnight/Open reserves may be checked out of the library two hours before closing and to avoid an overdue fine of $.50/hour, returned one hour after opening. Open reserves are located at the south end of the main level near the current periodicals and newspapers
  2. Closed Reserves may only be used in the library. These materials are located behind the Circulation Desk and students must use their Taylor ID to check these materials away from the desk.

Any variation of the reserve policies must be approved by the professor who must contact library staff to indicate his/her approval.

Renewing Materials

Library materials may be renewed, unless the item has been requested by another patron or falls in the category of overnight Reserve. Call 260.744.8625 to renew, or bring the materials with you to the Circulation Desk.

Placing Holds

If the item you need is checked out and you wish to be notified of its return, a Hold can be placed on it by staff at the Circulation desk. When the item is returned and available for check-out, you will be notified and the item will be held at the Circulation Desk for seven days.

The library protects the confidentiality of all borrower information. Staff may not disclose the name of a patron who has an item checked out. The library will honor the initial loan period for library materials (usually 3 weeks), but after an item is renewed, it may be subject to Recall if needed by another patron. Materials needed for Class Reserves can be recalled at any time.

Returning Materials

There is a book return at the Circulation Desk for use when the library is open. The book drop in the front entry offers convenient return of materials after hours and during open hours as well.  Audio-visual items should be returned to the Circulation Desk.

Overdue Notices

If materials become overdue, fines start accruing and notices are sent from the library. These overdue notices are provided as a courtesy only. Failure to receive a notice is not a valid excuse for neglecting to return library materials.

Lost Materials

After four weeks have passed, any overdue item will be declared lost. The patron is then sent a bill that includes the replacement charge for the item and a $10.00 processing fee. If the library item is returned the patron will be charged the late fee only.