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Loan lengths are listed followed by the (number of times) an item can be renewed.You must renew items before their due date. (MeLCat items must be renewed 7 days before the due date.)

Items may be requested by another patron, which would shorten your loan period to two weeks. You are responsible for checking your email or online account for notices, and returning books accordingly.
Status (# of Items) Books & CML Periodicals Video/DVD Audio & Ed. Media Laptop
Undergraduate (20) 6 weeks (2*) 2 weeks (1) 4 weeks (2) 4 hours (0)
Graduate Student (30) 12 weeks (2**) 2 weeks (1) 4 weeks (2) 4 hours (0)
Faculty (50) 15 weeks (2) 2 weeks (1) 15 weeks (2) 4 hours (0)
Staff (50) 6 weeks (2) 2 weeks (1) 4 weeks (2) 4 hours (0)
Emeritus (50) 15 weeks (2) 2 weeks (1) 15 weeks (2) N/A
Michicard / Alumni / GRBA 4 weeks (1) 3 hours in library 3 hours in library N/A

* Undergraduate renewal periods are three (3) weeks.
** Graduate renewal periods are four (4) weeks.

  • Paperbacks: 4 weeks (2)
  • Popular Reading: 4 weeks (0)
  • Bound Periodicals: 4 days (2)
  • MeLCat items: 3 weeks (1) [more information on MeLCat policies]
  • Reference Books: In library use only
  • Unbound Journals/Periodicals: In library use only

Overdue Charges

  • After an item is due and NOT returned, your account is charged $75.00. If you return the item in good condition within 60 days, $75.00 is refunded. An e-mail notification will be sent to you. (The library is not responsible for the receipt of the notification). Late/processing fees may be charged.
  • If an item is lost or stolen you will be charged the actual replacement cost of the item plus an additional $10.00 processing fee. The library will not accept a replacement item to compensate for lost items.
  • Outstanding fines and fees will prevent you from checking out additional items. If there is a pending hold or recall on an item currently checked out to your account, you will be prevented from renewing this item.
  • Holds and recalls can be placed on circulating items by using the Catalog. If an item you have checked out is recalled, you will be notified and given a new due date. The late fee on a recalled item is $1.00/day until the item is returned.
  • Materials returned damaged will be billed at the lower of the repair or the replacement cost.
  • Any fines or fees over $5.00 will be sent to the accounting office 60 days after the billing date. This charge may impact your ability to register for classes and your graduation status.
  • Laptops: The late fee is $4.00 for every hour overdue. The replacement fee for a lost, stolen, or damaged laptop is $1500.00

Holds

  • If you place an item on hold, it will be held at the desk for 7 days. MeLCat items will be held for 10 days.
  • We will e-mail you to let you know when your item is available for pick-up at your specified location.

MeLCat

MeLCat is the statewide resource sharing project to share materials among all types of libraries in Michigan. GVSU students faculty and staff can borrow books, videos, CDs, DVDs and more. There is no fee, though normal GVSU overdue fines, damage or replacement fees apply.

  • Regular loan period is 21 days, with one 21 day renewal, no earlier than 7 days before due date; some audio-visual items can only be checked out for 7 days with no renewal
  • An email is sent when an item is available for pickup, the item will be held for 10 days
  • The status of active requests, including renewals, can be viewed in your library account
  • 50 outstanding requests can be active at any time
  • Items may be returned to either the supplying or borrowing/home library
  • Request cannot be made on materials available at GVSU. In addition, individual journal articles are not requestable. For these, please use Document Delivery. Holds or recalls cannot be placed on unavailable items.
  • Delivery can take up to 2 weeks
  • The lost book fee for a MeL book is $102.00.
  • Items requested through MeLCat can not be placed on Course Reserve of the borrowing library

If patrons return materials to a different participating MeL delivery library, they may be responsible for fines accrued until the items are checked in by the borrowing library.

MichiCard

If you are affiliated with GVSU, you can check out books from over 250 Michigan libraries that participate in the MichiCard program. Two important things to note:

  • To check out items from other MichiCard libraries, you need to get a MichiCard sticker from one of the GVSU libraries. Ask about this at any service desk.
  • You must physically go to another library to check out items from other MichiCard libraries. If this is inconvenient or impractical for you, try MeLCat - you can request that books be delivered here to GVSU, at no cost.

If you are not affiliated with GVSU, you are still welcome to use materials at the University Libraries. You may qualify for a MichiCard, if your home library is affiliated with the program.

To use your MichiCard at the GVSU Libraries, you must:

  • be at least 18 years old
  • have a MichiCard-stickered library card from a participating public or academic library
  • present a State of Michigan picture ID
  • present current address
  • fill out a brief application form