Borrowing Policies

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All members of the St. John's University community are eligible to borrow circulating materials. A valid St. John's University ID (StormCard) or St. John's University Library Courtesy Card serves as a library card. Borrowers must present their card with the items they wish to borrow. Borrowers are prohibited from lending their library card (StormCard/Courtesy Card) to others. Borrowers are responsible for maintaining current contact information with the Circulation Department.

Loan Periods
Some materials may have loan periods that differ from those listed below. Some items (Reference, Special Collections, Periocials, etc.) are non-circulating. Loan periods for print reserve materials vary from 2 hours of "Library Use Only" to a week. Patrons will be informed about due dates when they borrow materials.

  • Undergraduate Students, Staff, Courtesy Card holders: 28 days
  • Full-time & Adjunct Faculty, Administrators, Graduate/Law Students: 120 days

Blocks on Borrowing
Overdue items must be returned and fines and/or lost item charges paid before additional items may be borrowed. Student transcripts and/or course registration will be blocked until all items are returned and all fines and fees paid.

Renewals
Overdue items, items with an active hold or recall, or items that have exceeded the maximum renewals cannot be renewed. Most items can be renewed online through the Libraries' catalog.

  • Undergraduate Students: 2 renewals
  • Full-time Faculty, Administrators, Graduate/Law Students, Staff: 1 renewal
  • Adjunct Faculty, Courtesy Card holders: no renewals

Fines & Fees

  • Overdue fines accrue at a rate of 20 cents/day to a maximum of $5 per book.
  • After 25 days overdue, an item is considered lost and a replacement fee is charged.
  • Grace Period: All patrons are extended the courtesy of a 3 day grace period (beyond the due date) for overdue items. However, if an item is returned after the end of the grace period, the overdue fines are calculated from the due date, not the end of the grace period.
  • Recall Fines: overdue fines for a recalled item accrue at a rate of $5.00/day to a maximum of $50.00. This fine is applicable to all patrons.

Holds
A hold is a patron request for an unavailable (i.e., checked out) item. When the item is returned, the library will hold it at the Circulation Desk and notify the patron that it is available for pick up. Holds can be placed online through the Libraries' Catalog or in person at the Circulation Desk.

Recalls
A recall is a patron request that an unavailable (i.e., checked out) item be returned before its regular due date. The initial borrower will be notified that the item has been recalled and advised of its new due date (the initial borrower is given a minimum of two weeks to use the item before it must be returned). When the item is returned, the library will hold it at the Circulation Desk and notify the recalling patron that it is available for pick up. Recalls can be placed by students (both graduate and undergraduate), faculty, and administrators online through the Libraries' Catalog or in person at the Circulation Desk.