Loss of Borrowing Privileges, Billing, and Payment

Access & Use
Lending Policies
Other Library
  Policies

Contact Circulation

The Rensselaer Research Libraries' collections are a resource to be shared and used cooperatively by members of the Rensselaer community. When library users fail to comply with the libraries' lending policies, they are subject to the following actions.

Loss of Borrowing Privileges

Ten (10) days after the date of loan expiration or recall from loan, items on loan are OVERDUE; and borrowers may be billed for the full replacement cost plus a $10.00 processing fee for each unreturned item.

Borrowers also may be billed for the repair or replacement cost of library materials if the Circulation Unit finds library materials are damaged upon return from loan.

Replacement costs are generally obtained from library acquisitions data, Books in Print, The Bowker Annual, or specific publisher catalogs. Replacement costs may include an additional $150.00 search fee for out-of-print materials.

General borrowing privileges may also be suspended for individuals who

• do not return materials within specified time periods to the Rensselaer Libraries or to other libraries borrowed via a Direct Access Card issued by the Rensselaer Libraries;
• owe the Libraries fines or fees; or
• fail to comply with other library conditions of access and use.

Payments and Billing Adjustments

Replacement costs of billed materials and processing fees will be canceled if billed materials are returned promptly except when items have been Recalled From Loan for use by another person or for Class Reserve.

Unsettled bills are considered DELINQUENT 30 days after issue. DELINQUENT bills of Rensselaer students are forwarded to the Bursar's Office for collection. Bills to all other borrowers must be paid at the Libraries' Circulation Desks. Processing fees for DELINQUENT bills are not waived and full credit may not be given towards replacement costs when these items are returned.

Borrowers reporting the loss or damage of library materials to the Circulation Unit before the expiration of a loan will not be charged processing fees. Processing fees are not otherwise negotiable.

Ownership of Library Materials

Ownership of billed library material resides with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Payment of replacement costs or other charges of does not transfer ownership.

Borrowing privileges may remain suspended until billed materials are returned to the Library regardless of the payment status of bills.

Inquiries and Appeals

Inquiries concerning billing and other circulation records should be directed to the Folsom Circulation Desk Mondays through Fridays between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM and to the Architecture Circulation Desk Monday through Fridays between 8:3O PM and 4:30 PM. Borrowers believing a billing or other record-keeping error has occurred may appeal loss of borrowing privileges, bills or both in writing to the Department Head of Public Services.