Borrowing Policies



Beginning February 1st, 2021, GVSU University Libraries will temporarily stop borrowing and loaning books through MeLCat. This means non-GVSU affiliates will be unable to check out GVSU materials during that time. 

Loan Limits

The University Libraries allows users to check out a number of items at once. Current limits are:

  • Undergraduate Students: 50 items
  • Graduate Students: 100 items
  • Faculty: 100 items
  • Staff: 100 items
  • Retirees: 50 items
  • Alumni: 10 items

 

Books

Loan Periods

 

Books

Popular Reading

MeLCat Books

Undergraduate Student

8 Weeks

4 Weeks

3 Weeks*

Graduate Student

20 Weeks

4 Weeks

3 Weeks*

Faculty/Emeritus

20 Weeks

4 Weeks

3 Weeks*

Staff

`20 Weeks

4 Weeks

3 Weeks*

Alumni

4 Weeks

4 Weeks

N/A

* Depending on the lending library, loan periods for MeL books may be up to 90 days with one 30-day renewal.

Renewals

  • GVSU-owned books:
    • Faculty, Staff, and Emeritus faculty have 12 renewals per checkout.
    • Graduate students have 4 renewals per checkout.
    • Undergraduates have 1 renewal per checkout.
    • Popular Reading books are limited to 1 renewal per checkout for all users.
  • MeLCat books can be renewed once. Depending on the lending library, the renewal period may be anywhere from 3 weeks to 30 days.

Holds

  • Books will be held for 7 days. MeLCat books will be held for 10 days.

Fines & Fees

  • The University Libraries does not charge overdue fines on materials. Borrowers will still be responsible for the replacement cost of items that are lost or damaged.
  • You will be charged $100.00 for books that are not returned. Getting an overdue notice but sure you returned the book? Fill out our Claimed Returned Form.
  • Overdue books or outstanding fees will prevent you from checking out additional items and may affect your ability to register for classes or graduate.

Non-circulating Materials

Reference materials can only be used in the library.


Audio & Video

Loan Periods

 

Audio

Video

Undergraduate Student

4 Weeks

4 Weeks

Graduate Student

20 Weeks

20 Weeks

Faculty/Emeritus

20 Weeks

20 Weeks

Staff

20 Weeks

20 Weeks

Alumni

3 hours in the library

3 hours in the library

Renewals

  • Audio and video materials can be renewed once.
  • Videos borrowed from MeLCat cannot be renewed.

Holds & Recalls

  • Items will be held for 7 days. MeLCat items will be held for 10 days.
  • All checked-out items are subject to recall by another library user. If an item you have checked out is recalled, you will be given a new due date.

Fines & Fees

  • The University Libraries does not charge overdue fines on materials. Borrowers will still be responsible for the replacement cost of items that are lost or damaged.
  • You will be charged $100.00 for lost or damaged items. Getting an overdue notice but sure you returned the book? Fill out our Claimed Returned Form.
  • Overdue books or outstanding fees will prevent you from checking out additional items and may affect your ability to register for classes or graduate.

Laptops

Loan Periods

  • Laptops can be checked out for 4 hours and may be taken out of the building.
  • Laptops can be renewed once.

Fines & Fees

  • The University Libraries does not charge overdue fines on materials. Borrowers will still be responsible for the replacement cost of items that are lost or damaged.
  • You will be charged $600.00 for non-returned laptops.
  • Overdue materials or outstanding fees will prevent you from checking out additional items and may affect your ability to register for classes or graduate.

Journals & Magazines

Loan Periods

  • Magazines and journals may be checked out for 1 week with no renewals. Alumni may use magazines and journals in the library only.
  • Curriculum Materials Library magazines have the same loan periods as books.

Renewals

  • Magazines and journals cannot be renewed.

Fines & Fees

  • The University Libraries does not charge overdue fines on materials. Borrowers will still be responsible for the replacement cost of items that are lost or damaged.
  • You will be charged $100.00 for bound periodicals that are not returned. Getting an overdue notice but sure you returned the book? Fill out our Claimed Returned Form.
  • If you damage a bound periodical, you will be charged for repair or replacement, whichever is cheaper.
  • Overdue books or outstanding fees will prevent you from checking out additional items and may affect your ability to register for classes or graduate.

Curriculum Materials

Loan Periods

 

Books & Magazines

Educational Media

Undergraduate Student

8 Weeks

4 Weeks

Graduate Student

20 Weeks

20 Weeks

Faculty/Emeritus

20 Weeks

20 Weeks

Staff

20 Weeks

20 Weeks

GVSU Alumni

4 Weeks

4 Weeks

Renewals

  • All CML materials can be renewed once.

Fines & Fees

  • The University Libraries does not charge overdue fines on materials. Borrowers will still be responsible for the replacement cost of items that are lost or damaged.
  • If you damage or lose an item, you will be charged for repair or replacement, whichever is cheaper. The minimum charge is $100.00. Getting an overdue notice but sure you returned the book? Fill out our Claimed Returned Form.
  • Overdue books or outstanding fees will prevent you from checking out additional items and may affect your ability to register for classes or graduate.
 Bookmark link for this page:  https://www.gvsu.edu/library/policies


Page last modified June 5, 2023