LSU Libraries
Circulation Borrowing Policies

CIRCULATION POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

Regular Borrowing Privileges
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Current faculty, staff, and properly registered students of LSU may borrow library materials from the LSU Libraries Library upon presentation of a valid University identification. Individuals not affiliated with the University may use the library but may not borrow materials unless they have been granted special borrowing privileges.

Special Borrowing Privileges
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With the presentation of proper documentation and the approval of the Dean of the Library or her appointed representative, special borrowing privileges may be granted to the following categories of users:

VISA OR MASTERCARD CREDIT CARD REQUIRED. NO DEBIT CARDS OR OTHER CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED.

I. Paying Borrowers

• Donors:
  Contributions must be made to the LSU Foundation with a $50.00 fee per year. Fees must be paid at the Middleton Circulation Desk. (Checks must be made out to the LSU Foundation). The donation supports library materials for the collection and library services.
• Sustaining Members of the Friends of the LSU Libraries:
  Contributions must be made to the Friends of the LSU Libraries with a $50.00 fee per year. Fees must be paid at the Middleton Circulation Desk. (Checks must be made out to the LSU Foundation). The contribution is used by the Friends to pay its operating expenses.

II. Non-paying Borrowers:

• Visiting scholars and faculty from other academic institutions
• LALINC institutions
• Louisiana K-12 teachers
• Research staff from Louisiana state agencies
• Faculty spouses

(Requests for category II borrowing privileges must be submitted to the Head of Circulation Services or to the Dean and must be accompanied by proof of eligibility).

Temporary cards(T-cards) will be issued to eligible borrowers in categories I and II that will permit undergraduate borrowing privileges for regular circulating materials at the participating branches of the LSU Libraries.

T-cards are valid for periods not to exceed a year, depending on the category of the borrower.

All Special Borrowers are subject to all rules and regulations including all library fees incurred as a result of non compliance to the LSU Libraries policies.

Library Cards
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LSU FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS
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• LSU faculty, staff, and students must present a current LSU ID card in order to charge materials.
• ID cards are not transferable.

NOTE: A faculty member may authorize current LSU students to charge materials on his/her faculty ID card by presenting a signed letter to the Head of Circulation designating the students authorized to use the card. The letter will be kept on file and must be renewed each semester. The faculty member is responsible for all materials charged in this manner.

• Each individual is responsible for all library materials charged to his/her card.
• Lost ID cards should be reported immediately to the ID Office in the LSU Union and to Circulation Services in Middleton Library.
• Faculty and graduate students in good standing may obtain a LALINC card from the circulation desk or online which will allow them to get library privileges at other LALINC institutions. List of participating LALINC libraries may be obtained from the LOUIS homepage.
• A VISA or MASTERCARD back up will be required before a temporary card can be issued to LALINC users from other academic institutions.
T-CARD HOLDERS
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• An acceptable picture ID (e.g., driver's license) must be presented and the T-Card Borrower's Log signed each time the T-Card is used.
• T-cards are not transferable.
• Lost T-cards may be replaced for a $5.00 fee, payable at the circulation desk.
• For further T-Card Regulations and Application Forms, click here.

Study Carrels
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A limited number of study carrels are available for Graduate and Faculty use. Applications may be made at the circulation desk or you can use this online form.

Study Carrel Request Form

A $5.00 refundable deposit is required.

Study Rooms
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Study rooms are available for students on the 3rd and 4th floors. All requests for a study room by students should be referred to the 3rd or 4th floor. The number is 578-6927. The group using the study rooms can be no less than 3 and no more than 8 - 10. At least 3 must present their IDs when reserving a room and all must present their IDs when using the room.

Loan Periods
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Materials (excluding reserve materials) may be borrowed from and returned to the circulation desk of Middleton Library or any participating branch or unit of the LSU Libraries:

Middleton Library/Circulation	1st Floor, Lobby, Middleton Library
Education Resources	227 Middleton Library
Music Resources	202 Middleton Library
Government Documents/ Microforms	53 Middleton Library

Loan periods for the LSU Libraries include the following: Current semester, 90 days, 28 days, 21 days, 14 days, 7 days, 3 days, 1 day, 4 hours, 2 hours, and 1 hour depending on location, type of material, and category of borrower.

Some materials may be restricted to building use only. Please see the appropriate circulation desk for loan period of any item(s) you wish to check out.

Renewals
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Items borrowed from any LSU libraries' service point may be renewed for an additional loan period up to ten times. After the tenth time the items must be returned to the circulation desk from which they were checked out.

The following materials may not be renewed:

• reserve materials
• items on hold
• items held by borrower whose ID is blocked
• materials that have been renewed up to four times

In-person Renewals
Non-reserve items may be renewed at the circulation desk of any LSU Libraries' service point by presenting the items for renewal along with a current ID or T-card.

Self Check Renewals
Non-reserve items may be renewed using the Self Checkout machine near the Main Circulation desk or at any LSU Libraries' service point by having a staff member scan a current LSU ID or T-card.

Online Renewals
All renewals not done in person are now handled via the LSU Libraries new online catalog system. It can be accessed from the "Renew/Review My Materials" link on the main library home page. All the information necessary to renew online is available on that page. Please note that there is a limit of 7 renewals per journal and 10 per monographs before items have to be brought to the desk for re-checkout. For any problems or questions pertaining to the online renewal system, please contact the Middleton Library Reference Desk at 578-8875.

Recall/Hold
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Any library materials may be recalled. A recall is an official request for a book to be returned early. Any borrowed item not charged to a department may be recalled by a patron. Loan periods may be shortened and due dates changed as appropriate. Patrons with recalled items will be notified of the new due date. Failure to return a recalled item by the due date will result in:

• overdue fines ($1.00 per day per item)
• assessment of lost book charges
• denial of library privileges (the borrowing card will be blocked)

Right to Privacy
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Every library patron has a right to privacy while using properly charged library materials. Names of borrowers will not be disclosed (Louisiana Revised Statutes, Section 44:13).

Please be aware that this statute prohibits us from discussing patron accounts with third parties, except in the case of parents of minor children. For privacy and security reasons, we also do not discuss patrons’ accounts over the telephone. Patrons who have questions about their accounts should e-mail them to libcirc@lsu.edu and a library staff member will send a response to the patron’s PAWS account. In compliance with Policy Statement 16.15, “Use of Electronic Mail,” we will send e-mail communications only to the “lsu.edu” e-mail address if it exists. We will only use other types of e-mail addresses for correspondence in the case of temporary-card users or former LSU employees and students whose PAWS accounts are no longer active.

Copyright Policy
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The LSU Libraries' Copyright Compliance Policy provides guidelines regarding copyright law, frequently used library services, and other additional services.

Receipts for Returned Materials
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• Patrons may request receipts when they return library materials and before they are placed in the return book drop.
• While it is preferred that library materials be returned to the circulation desk from which they were originally charged, they may be returned to any of the LSU Libraries' campus libraries or service units.

Overdue Charges
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Overdue Charges as of July 1, 2009

• Patrons are responsible for returning the materials they borrow by the due date. As a courtesy, reminder notices are sent to patrons when material becomes overdue.
• Regular overdue charges are 50¢ per day per item.
• For information about overdue charges on electronics, see http://grok.lsu.edu/Article.aspx?articleid=3494.
• Overdue charges on journals and other short term loans are $1.00 per day per item.
• Charges for Reserve and unbound periodical items are $1.50/hr.
• The maximum fine is $20.00 per item.
• In addition to fines, service charges and lost book fees are assessed after the maximum fine is reached, or after 40 days, whichever comes first.
• Fines may be paid at the circulation desk at the time overdue materials are returned (between the hours of 7:15 am and 6:00 pm Mon-Fri; and 10:00 am and 5:00 pm Sat; and 12 Noon and 6:00 pm Sun). Unpaid billed charges must be paid at the Treasurer's Office, Thomas Boyd Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. However, if you are a T-card holder, your Visa/Master card will be charged.

Damaged Books

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Library patrons are responsible for returning books in good condition and will be assessed fines for damages. Types of damage for which a patron will be charged include, but are not limited to, water damage, pen/pencil marks, torn/ripped pages or covers, and sticky notes. Patrons will be assessed a fine of $0.50 for each sticky note found in a book at the time it is returned. Other fines will be assessed according to the severity of the damage and range from $10.00 to the replacement cost of the book.

If patrons wish to check out a book that is already damaged, they should show the damage to the circulation desk staff, who will make a note in the record and not hold them responsible when the book is returned.

Lost Materials Charges
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Report a Library Item Lost

If any item is lost, the library should be notified immediately in writing or using the lost materials form; overdue fines continue to be assessed until notification is received and/or until the maximum fine is reached.

All items not returned before the maximum fine is reached will be considered lost.

All library patrons, including faculty, are responsible for lost book charges.

Lost book charges consist of the following:

• replacement cost for new item,
• a nonrefundable processing charge of $30.00.
• accrued overdue fines.
• material returned within 180 days will be credited for the cost of the book only. All other charges are non refundable.

Lost charge for a laptop is $2900. Upon return, there will be at least a $50.00 non-refundable fee which may increase depending on length of time between billing and return of laptop.

Lost charge for either a digital camera or a digital video camera is $500.00. Upon return, there will be at least a $50.00 non-refundable fee which may increase depending on length of time between billing and return of the camera.

Lost charge for a Student Response System "clicker" is $30.00.

No adjustment in the charges may be made for items returned more than 180 days after billing.

Report a Library Item Stolen
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If an item belonging to the library is stolen from a patron, the patron should report the theft immediately to the proper authorities and notify the library as soon as possible. If the patron can provide a copy of the police report or official documentation from the police department with the file number, then overdue fines (if any) and service charges will be waived and the patron will be charged only for the replacement cost of the item. If a police report is unobtainable, then the patron will be charged a service charge of $25.00 in addition to the replacement cost. The patron is responsible for the replacement cost of the item in all circumstances.

If a stolen item is returned to the library within 180 days in good condition, then the library will issue a refund to the patron.

Appeal of Fees
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Patrons who are not satisfied with the resolution of their inquiries about library charges may file a formal appeal. If you wish to file a formal appeal, please fill out this online form:

Appeal Form: http://www.lib.lsu.edu/circ/appeal.html

If you wish to file a paper appeal or for some reason the online form is down, forms may be obtained at the circulation desk or the library office (Room 295).

Payment of Charges
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All library charges forwarded to the Treasurer's Office must be paid at that office prior to registration and/or before grade transcripts will be released by the University. Charges may not be adjusted for bills older than 180 days.

Current library charges may be paid at the circulation desk using cash, Tigercard or Visa/Master card credit cards. Current library charges may also be paid online with Visa/ Master card, using a link in the online catalog. Older bills (already at the Bursar's Office) may be paid with Visa/ Master card through PAWS.

LIBRARY PRIVILEGES MAY BE SUSPENDED UNTIL ALL LIBRARY CHARGES ARE PAID!!

CALL NUMBER LOCATIONS * Floor maps of Middleton Library
Non-Stack Areas Including a Wide Range of Call Numbers
Chemistry Reference	Inquire at Middleton Reference
Compact Shelving	Request items at Circulation Desk
Current Serials	First Floor
Education Resources	Second Floor
Hill - Special Collections	Hill Library
Middleton Collection	Second Floor
Oversize	Second Floor
Reference	First Floor
Documents Classification
Call Numbers that Include Colons(:) and/or Slashes(/)	Basement
LC Classification
A-B C-L M  N-PM PN-V Z	Second Floor Third Floor Second Floor Third Floor Fourth Floor Second Floor
Dewey Classification for Middleton Books
Most books with a Dewey Decimal number are in Compact Shelving (ask at Circulation Desk). However, some are in Educational Resources and some are in Room 53. Please consult the online catalog to find out the location of the item you are looking for. 378.76 is the Dewey Decimal call number for our LSU theses/dissertations, Second Floor

* Please note that some library items maybe in compact shelving. Check Online Catalog for the exact location of an item.

Reserve Forms

* Please use the online reserve book form.

Reserve Book Form
How to Place Materials on Reserve
Permission Form to Place Personal Copies on Reserve