Ekstrom Library: Circulation

Circulation Policies

All patrons must show a photo ID. Faculty, Students, and Staff members must show their Cardinal Cards to check out any items. All others must show a state issued photo identification card with their University Libraries Borrower Cards to check out any items or to discuss their personal library records.
Remember! Your Cardinal card is your library card and, like a credit card, you are responsible for all items checked out on it. If your Cardinal card is lost or stolen, immediately notify the Library Circulation Desk at 852-8746.
Items may be returned at the Ekstrom Circulation Desk in the bookdrops to the left of the Circulation Desk and in the outside bookdrop. Please note: Do not return Interlibrary Loans, Course Reserves, or damaged books to the book drops.
Each borrower is responsible for the safe keeping and timely return of library materials charged on his/her account. Notifying borrowers of overdue books is a service provided by the Circulation Department. However, failure to receive either an overdue or a fee notice does not relieve the individual from responsibility.

Browsing books have a maximum loan period of 21 days.
Interlibrary Loan periods are set by the lending institutions and are not negotiable. They may be renewed once provided that the lending institution allows it and provided that you make your renewal attempt at least three days prior to the due date.
Course reserves have loan periods set by the instructors. Renewals are possible if the item is not in heavy demand.
Reference items and scholarly journals may not circulate.
Videos, media books, CDs, and other media-related items are circulated from the Media desk.

Recalls are a means to provide fair access to the University Libraries collection for all borrowers.
In the event that another borrower wants an item that you have checked out, that person will submit an online recall to Circulation. Recall Form
A recall notice will be mailed to you with the new due date.
Once the recall is placed you have 7 days to return the item.
The book will become overdue, if not returned, by the new due date and a fee notice will be sent after 14 days beyond the new due date.
The consequences for not complying with the request includes a suspension of library privileges until the book is returned; and a Bursar block will be placed on your University account if the item is not returned within 28 days past the recall due date.

Renew items online!
Items must be renewed online before the day they are due.
Items may be returned to any UofL library or the bookdrop by Information Center North. Items deposited in bookdrops may not be removed from your account until the next day.
Regular loan period items (including browsing books) may be renewed, in most circumstances, as long as a patron's record is not blocked for any reason or another patron has not placed a hold or a recall on the item.
Interlibrary Loan items may be renewed through ILLIAD or you may call 852-6757 to renew your items three days before the day they are due.
Course Reserve items may be renewed as long as there is not heavy demand for the item.
Items that do not circulate outside the building must be renewed at the Circulation Desk.

UofL Faculty and Staff: 99 Books for 120 days
UofL Graduate Students: 99 Books for 120 days
UofL Undergradute Students: 99 Books for 28 days
Browsing books circulate for a maximum of 21 days
Community Borrowers (including Alumni): 10 Books for 14 days
Consortia Students (including students from Greater Louisville and Kentucky State supported Universities): 10 Books for 28 days
Visiting Academia (including SAALCK and Metroversity faculty): 15 Books for 120 days
Temporary Borrowers (including authorized high school students): 10 Books for 14 days
Non-profit institutions: 30 Books for 14 days

An overdue notice is sent to the e-mail address on file in the Circulation Department when an item is 14 days overdue.
An item is considered lost after 28 days overdue. What is a lost book?
A fees notice is sent to the borrower at this time. The fees for lost items include a $55 replacement fee per item and a $20 processing fee per item. Borrowing privileges will not be allowed when fees are placed on the individual's account.

If a borrower believes the lost item(s) were returned, a "claims returned" form needs to be filled out online. This form should be completed as soon as the individual receives an overdue notice. Once this form is received, we will look for the item(s) for 30 days. During this interval normal borrowing privileges will be allowed.
The borrower is encouraged to search for the item during the time period Circulation staff is searching for the item.
If the item is found the book will be discharged from the patron account and all fees will be waived.
If the item is not found after 30 days, borrowing privileges will be suspended until either the book is returned or the fees paid. A Bursar block will also be placed on all University of Louisville student accounts. This means that a hold will be placed upon the student's academic account (no access to transcripts, registration, grades, etc.).

No replacement copies will be accepted to waive a fee.
Fees are payable in cash for the exact amount due, or check made out to University of Louisville Libraries. Fees must be paid at the Circulation desk between the hours of 8am-4pm Monday-Friday.
A borrower will be allowed ONE OCCASION with a maximum of two items without assessment of fees if a "claims returned" form was completed and the item(s) were not found. The item will be removed from the patron record and Bursar blocks removed (if any). After this one occasion, or if more than two items are being claims returned (even if on the first occasion), the borrower will be responsible for paying the $55 replacement fee and the $20 processing fee for each item.
A Bursar block may take up to three business days to remove.

updated 5/30/2008