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, faculty 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, even for a student who works for you. You are responsible for all items checked out on your Valpo OneCard. If you lose your Valpo OneCard, please notify a Circulation Manager promptly so we can invalidate the lost barcode.

When you begin at Valpo, you must provide us with contact information in order to activate your library account. To do so, please fill out this form.

Loan Periods

Books, CDs/CD-ROMs, Government Documents, non-musical audiotapes: 16 weeks. The catalog indicates which are for "Library Use Only."

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.

Equipment loans, Interlibrary loans: See their policies:  Media Equipment Loans     Interlibrary Loans

Renewals

You may perform renewals yourself, using the library catalog’s View Your Account option. Items with holds or recalls may not be renewed.
If you are in the Christopher Center, you may request a Circulation Manager to renew items for you. We are unable to accept renewal requests by email, telephone, or U.S. mail.

  • Books: Two electronic renewals are allowed, including those you request in person completed by a Circulation Manager at the Circulation Desk. After two renewals, items must be presented to the Circulation Desk staff.
  • Videotapes, DVDs, LPs, and Non-Musical Audiotapes: Two remote electronic renewals are allowed for items not overdue.
  • Equipment loans, Interlibrary loans: See their policies:  Media Equipment Loans     Interlibrary Loans

Returns

  • Books (Valpo-owned or from Interlibrary Loan): Return books to the book drop at the Christopher Center Circulation Desk.
  • Course Reserve materials: Hand the material directly to the Circulation Desk staff for prompt check-in. Do not put them in the slot or leave them on the Circulation Desk counter. If the Christopher Center is closed, return books and Overnight Reserves to one of the overnight book drops, located outside the 1st floor entrance on the east (Chapel) side or by the staff entrance on the southwest (College of Arts & Sciences building) side.
  • 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 individual items and that you have what you need to complete assignments.

  • Items needed for Course Reserves: may be recalled at any time.
  • Items with 16 week 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 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.

Campus borrowers may initiate recalls within the library catalog by displaying the record for the desired item and selecting "Request Item." The catalog automatically adjusts the due date for a minimum 14-day loan and emails a recall notice to the current borrower on the following business day. This places a hold on the item.

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. Recalled items may not be renewed, but the user returning the items may place another recall on them, thus limiting the new borrower to a two-week loan.

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 from the library catalog’s View Your Account option.

Overdues and Lost Materials

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: When a regular item (not for Course Reserve or Recalled) is overdue, you receive three email notices reminding you to renew promptly. If you fail to renew promptly (14 days after the due date), we then assume the item is lost. At that time, the library catalog system automatically prevents 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.

DVDs, Videotapes, CDs, LPs, non-musical Audiotapes: One email notice is sent when the item is overdue. After seven days, the library catalog system automatically prevents 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.

Billing for lost materials

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

SPECIALTY ITEMS FEES AND PROCEDURES
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.

Equipment loans, Interlibrary loans: See their policies:  Media Equipment Loans     Interlibrary Loans