Lending policies are designed to provide maximum use of the University's collection while simultaneously ensuring its availability for all current and future generations of students, staff, and faculty. These policies also ensure that every campus borrower has equal access to individual items and that items not being used by some are on the shelf ready for you to find. Checking identification and requiring you to renew and return items helps to protect the collection.

For everyone's protection, all borrowers must present a barcoded Valpo OneCard to check out materials. This ensures that only your record is called up in the catalog and not the record of someone else with a similar name. We advise you never to loan your Valpo OneCard to someone else or to check out materials for another person. If you have a student working for you and want them to be able to borrow on your behalf, email library@valpo.edu (from your Valpo account) and request proxy access for that student. You are responsible for all items checked out on your Valpo OneCard as well as those borrowed on your behalf by an authorized proxy. If you lose your Valpo OneCard, please notify a Circulation Manager promptly so we can invalidate the lost barcode.

Loan Periods

Books (excluding Stager Collection), CDs/CD-ROMs, Government Documents, non-musical audiotapes: 16 weeks. The catalog indicates which are "Limited Use" (non-circulating) items.

Stager Collection books: 28 days.

DVDs, videotapes, and LPs: 14 days.

Course Reserve books and journal articles: Loan periods are set by the instructor when putting the materials on reserve.

  • 2-hours--No Overnight
  • 2-hours--Overnight
  • 3 days
  • 7 days

Media Reserves: 3-hours--Overnight.

Journals, periodicals, and reference books in the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS): 3 days.

Reference books, current journals and periodicals, maps, microforms, and books marked "Non-Circulating" or "Reference": May be borrowed only under special circumstances with the permission of the librarian in charge of that collection. Ask a Circulation Manager for assistance.

Musical audiotapes: May be borrowed only by Music Department faculty under very special circumstances with permission. For permission, email the Circulation Department at moecirc@valpo.edu.

Rare books and Archival collection materials: May not be borrowed.

For information on equipment loans or interlibrary loans, see the following:  Equipment Loans     Interlibrary Loans

Renewals

All loans may be renewed for the same time as the original loan period, provided no other campus borrower has requested the item. Items with holds or recalls may not be renewed. You may perform two renewals yourself (for items that are not overdue) by logging into your library account. For further renewals, items must be presented to the Circulation Desk staff. We are unable to accept renewal requests by phone.

For information on equipment loans or interlibrary loans, see the following:  Equipment Loans     Interlibrary Loans

Returns

  • Books (Valpo-owned or from Interlibrary Loan): Materials can be returned to either the first or second floor Circulation Desks or to one of our book drops. Book drops are located outside the first floor entrance on the east (Chapel) side or by the staff entrance on the southwest (College of Arts & Sciences building) side.
  • Course Reserve materials: Hand the material directly to the Circulation Desk staff for prompt check-in. Do not leave course reserves on the Circulation Desk counter. If the Christopher Center is closed, you may use the book drops.
  • LPs, CDs, DVDs, videotapes, audiotapes, and CD-ROMs: Return these items only when the library is open, handing the item/s directly to the Circulation Desk staff. Never put these materials in one of the overnight book drops.
  • Media Library equipment: Return to the 1st floor Circulation Desk during the hours it is open, handing the equipment directly to the Circulation Desk staff.

Recalls and Holds

The library reserves the right to recall any borrowed item and borrowers are expected to comply willingly. This ensures that every campus borrower has equal access to library materials.

  • Items with 16 week loans: may be recalled 4 weeks after being checked out.
  • Items with 28 day loans: may be recalled 14 days after being checked out.
  • Items with 14 day loans:  may be recalled 7 days after being checked out.

When an item is recalled that you have checked out, you will receive an email notice indicating the new due date. If the item is not returned by the new due date, you will be fined $1/day from the new due date until the item is returned.

Campus borrowers may initiate recalls within the library catalog by displaying the record for the desired item and selecting "Place a hold." The catalog automatically adjusts the due date and emails a recall notice to the current borrower. At your request, a Circulation Manager may place a hold without initiating a recall. This allows the original borrower the full length of the current loan, but prevents them from renewing the item.

Once returned, the item is kept on the Hold Shelf at the Circulation Desk and you are notified of its availability. You have seven days to pick it up before it is offered to the next person on the hold queue or returned to the shelves. If you no longer need it, you may cancel the request at any time by logging into your library account.

Overdues and Lost Materials

Regular item overdue fines

Fines: There are no overdue fines for regular items. The only overdue fines the library charges are for Course Reserves and for recalled library materials (see below). We do bill for lost items.

You are expected to reimburse the library for lost materials. Charges will be waived when items are returned. If you have questions about notices and extended loan periods, please call and speak directly with one of the Circulation Managers (219) 464-5500.

Books, CD-ROMs, Government publications, DVDs, CDs, LPs, non-musical Audiotapes: When a regular item (not for Course Reserve or Recalled) is overdue, you receive email notices reminding you to renew promptly. If you fail to renew promptly (14 days after the due date), the library catalog system automatically considers it lost and may prevent you from borrowing additional items or placing recalls. The system also bills you for the item’s replacement value plus a processing fee of $15.

Specialty items
Course Reserves Items:  Fines are assessed according to the loan period and will not be reduced.

  • 2-hours--No Overnight: $1/hour until the item is returned. After three days, you are billed for the cost of the item, plus the accrued fines.
  • 2-hours--Overnight: $1/hour beginning one hour after the library opens until the item is returned. After three days, you are billed for the cost of the item, plus the accrued fines.
  • 3 days: $1/day until the item is returned. After three days, you are billed for the cost of the item, plus the accrued fines.
  • 7 days: $1/day until the item is returned. After seven days, you are billed for the cost of the item, plus the accrued fines.

Recalled Items: All borrowers are expected to respond to recalls; fines on recalls will not be reduced. When an item is recalled, you receive an email notice indicating the new due date. If the item is not returned by the new due date, you are fined $1/day from the new due date until the item is returned.

For information on equipment loans or interlibrary loans, see the following:  Equipment Loans     Interlibrary Loans

Billing for lost materials

If you still want to renew after receiving a bill but before the item is declared lost and removed from the catalog, you may do so, but you have to bring the item to the library so we know that it is not truly lost. Once you’ve done this, the block on your borrowing privileges will be removed and the charges dropped. Once we remove an item's record from the catalog, you cannot return it anymore, and must pay for replacement plus a processing fee.

Once you've been billed for an item's replacement, your library borrowing privileges (including interlibrary loan) may be blocked. In order to regain borrowing privileges, the bill must be paid or the item must be returned (before removal from the catalog).

It sometimes happens that a library patron reports they have already returned an item that the library circulation system indicates is checked out to them. If you find yourself in this situation, file a claim (after thoroughly searching your belongings), and the library will make every effort to work with you to locate the item.