Fines

Please see your patron group chart under Use & Lending Policies for details on fine rates.

We try to keep fines to a minimum by the use of courtesy, overdue, and fine notices. (See below)

LOST ITEMS
For lost materials, borrowers have two options. The borrower may buy a replacement copy of the item for the library. The replacement must be the exact same version of the item as the one that was lost:  date of publication, publisher, edition, and ISBN must be identical, and the copy must be in good condition.  The borrower must order, purchase, and deliver the item and pay all overdue fines in full.  (If the exact version of the book is out of print and is not available through used book agents, the borrower may discuss other possibilities personally with the Director of Library Services.)

If the borrower chooses not to or is unable to replace the lost item with an exact version, (s)he will be charged the cost of replacing  the item, plus a processing fee of $35.00. Any Overdue fines that have accrued on the item(s) will be forgiven once the item is replaced and payment has been made.  The processing fee covers the cost of researching the replacement of the item, ordering it, shipping and handling on the order, processing its receipt, replacing the MARC catalog record, and preparing the item for addition to the library collection.  All borrowing privileges for the patron will be suspended until these fees are paid in full, or until acceptable arrangements are made with the Director of Library Services for their payment.

SUSPENSION OF BORROWING PRIVILEGES
Borrowing privileges will be reinstated immediately following the rectification of any of these issues:

1. Patron accounts expire annually and are easily renewed either by confirming current data or updating data with library staff.
2. Unpaid balances of Overdue Fines and other fees totaling $5.00 or more will result in suspension of all borrowing privileges for the patron until the outstanding fees are paid in full, or until acceptable arrangements are made with the Director of Library Services for their payment. Grades, transcripts and/or diplomas will be withheld until all outstanding balances are paid and/or items have been returned to the library.
3. Privileges may be suspended if an affiliate library (e.g. libraries in SEPTLA) notifies us of a patron's poor standing.

TERMINATION OF BORROWING PRIVILEGES
Borrowing privileges will be permanently suspended if a patron incurs a serious infraction (e.g., disrespecting library property, other library patrons, or stealing from the library).

COURTESY, OVERDUE, AND FINE NOTICES
Nearing or at the end of the three (3) week checkout period (or renewal period), a courtesy notice will be e-mailed to the patron as a reminder to return the item.

For patrons who have an active e-mail address registered in their library account, the library's database and server will automatically generate the following e-mail notices:

1. A courtesy notice will be generated and sent 3 days prior to the due date as a reminder of the items that are due.
2. An overdue notice will be generated and sent the day after an item is overdue and periodically after that until the system designates the item as lost and missing.
3. A fine notice will be generated and sent when items are returned and the fine is not paid or when a book is designated lost and missing.

NOTE: These notices are provided as a courtesy. Non-receipt of a courtesy, overdue, and fine notice does not exempt the patron from payment of overdue fines! E-mails may or may not be received by the time the item is due. Nevertheless, an overdue fine will be assessed if the patron exceeds the checkout period!

We are not responsible if your internet service provider or e-mail client rejects our notices or if you do not receive these notices prior to the due date.