FINES, OVERDUE NOTICES AND REPLACEMENT CHARGES

The staff of William Smith Morton Library would like to announce the following policy changes for all student and faculty account holders of Union and BTSR :

• Overdue fines will no longer be assessed or collected for most library items and we are in the process of canceling all existing overdue fines.  Only interlibrary loans, equipment and course reserve items will accrue overdue fines.  Replacement fees will still be charged for items that are damaged, lost or simply not returned.
• Due dates for library books will now be set on a “term of study” basis (end of semester/summer) for most students and on an annual basis (June 1st) for ThM students, PhD students and faculty.
• Students who owe replacement charges will not be permitted to graduate until their accounts are setted.  The Registrar will be informed of any charges owed.

A. Fines (still pertain to public patrons and alumni/ae)

Circulating Collection overdues: 10¢ per day per item
Course Reserve overdues: 50¢ per hour per item
Interlibrary Loan overdues: $1 per day per item;
Interlibrary loaned Items overdue 7 days will result in suspension of library privileges.
Recalled items not returned within 4 days of recall notice: $1 per day per item

Replacement charges: The library staff will determine the appropriate charge for items that must be replaced in the collection because of lost items or excessively overdue items. If a hard copy of an item is in print, replacement charges will be include the cost of the hard copy plus $30 processing fee. If an item is not in print and a valid replacement cost cannot be identified, the replacement cost will be $60.

When a patron’s bill for fines or replacement costs exceeds $10.00, that patron’s borrowing privileges will be suspended until the items are returned and the full bill paid.

Students who owe replacement charges will not be permitted to graduate until their accounts are setted.  The Registrar will be informed of any charges owed.

In case of noncompliance with Library policy, the patron’s privileges may be revoked and the patron barred.

B. Overdue Notices and Replacement Charges

a.  First notices: As a courtesy to patrons, an email will be sent to patrons one week prior to a borrowed item’s due date.
b.  Second notices: Patrons will be sent either by U.S. mail or via e-mail (if an email address is available to the library) a notice that a borrowed item is overdue one week.
c.  Third notices: Patrons will be sent either by U.S. mail or via e-mail (if available) a notice that a borrowed item is two weeks overdue. This communication will indicate the patron’s borrowing privileges have been suspended and warned that the next notice will include a bill for the replacement of the overdue item (replacement cost plus processing fees).
d.  Final notice: A final notice will be sent via U.S. mail or via e-mail (if available) when a borrowed item is three months overdue. This notice will be a bill for replacement costs plus a $30 processing charge. If an item is not in print and a valid replacement cost cannot be identified, the replacement cost will be $60.
e.  Suspension of Patron Privileges: A patron’s privileges will be suspended if fines and/or charges to his or her account exceed $10. Privileges will be restored when all financial obligations have been settled and overdue items returned. All patrons will be sent a bill for unpaid overdue charges by June 1 of each year. No patron privileges will be renewed until fines/bills are paid.

C. Morton Library reserves the right to revoke access

Morton Library reserves the right to revoke patron access and borrowing privileges in cases of noncompliance with Library policies, abusive language, and/or inappropriate behavior.