Circulation

Location
Eligible Borrowers
Carrells
Photocopiers
Loans and Recalls
Reserve Collection
Overdues
Policies

Location

Eligible Borrowers

The following patrons may borrow library materials: registered students, faculty and staff who have a valid HMC/PSU ID (this includes ALL Penn State Campuses) and non-University health care professionals who have been issued a valid library card.

Carrells

Photocopiers

Regular Loans

Faculty, staff, graduate and medical students, are given semester loans.  Bound journals may be checked out for 24 hours. Unbound journals do not circulate.  All loaned materials are subject to recall and fines.  

Recalls

Materials are subject to recall after the current borrower has had them for seven days. All materials are subject to recall if another borrower needs them or if a faculty member wishes to place them on reserve for a course. The Library may recall materials immediately needed for course reserve. The Library will allow an additional ten days for use after they send a recall notice.  Recalled items must be returned to a circulation desk on or before the recall due date.  Materials returned after the recall due date are subject to daily fines.

Regular Loan Renewals

A borrower may renew all regular loans twice- in person, by telephone, or on the Web.  Call 717-531-8626 to renew books via the phone.  Renew books via the Web at http://www.libraries.psu.edu  click on  “My Library Account”  tab then authenticate as a PSU user.  After two renewals, a borrower must return the materials to the Library, but may immediately “re-borrow” them unless a recall exists.

Reserve Collection

The Reserve Collection is located at the Circulation Desk.  The current editions of most basic medical textbooks are kept on Permanent Reserve at the Circulation Desk for “in library use only.”  Overnight checkout is permitted when an individual signs a responsibility contract and is a registered HMC/PSU library user.  The items must be returned by opening of the Library the next day or a fine of $3.00 first hour and $1.00 per hour thereafter until the item is returned. Items may also be dropped in the overnight box.

Special Permission Loans/Non-Circulating Items 

Materials that do not usually circulate, such as unbound periodicals, reference books, and the MEDHIST Collection may be borrowed by special permission.  Special permission materials must be returned to the library from which they were borrowed.  Materials returned after the special permission due date and time are subject to daily fines.

Overdue Materials

The library follows this schedule in sending out overdue notices. An overdue notice is sent ten days after the due date; a notice of “presumed loss” is sent thirty days after the due date.

Regular Loans: For regular overdue items, fees are base on the following criteria:

• Bound journals are circulated within HMC for 24 hours. Fines will be charged, if overdue, at $3.00/day.

• 30 days after its due date, an item is presumed lost, and the borrower is charged the cost of the item, plus a $25 processing fee, and an overdue fee when applicable (overdue fees follow).

• The borrower is responsible for the full $25 of the processing fee plus any overdue fees regardless of the return date.

Delay in Response to a Recall Notice: Recalled material is $3/day to a maximum of $30 (reached on the tenth calendar day late).  These fines begin to accrue the day after the recall due date (11 calendar days after the Libraries send the recall notice).    After 30 days, the Library presumes the material to be lost and will bill the borrower the cost of the item, a $25 processing fee, plus the overdue fees. 

Special Permission Loans:  All special permission loans are subject to a fine of  $3/a day to a maximum of  $15 (reached on the fifth calendar day late).  These fines begin to accrue the moment the material is due back in the Library.   After 30 days, the Library presumes the material to be lost and bill the borrower the cost of the item, a $25 processing fee, plus the overdue fees.

Appeal of Library Charges: 

Reasonable concerns related to library charges will be considered; however, reasons NOT considered a basis for appeal include the following:

• Lack of knowledge or understanding of library policies.
• Unwillingness to take responsibility for materials checked out to you which you loaned to another person or allowed others to use.
• Non-receipt, late receipt, or inattention to library notices.  This applies to notices sent via e-mail or U.S. mail.

Policies YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. With the exception of special permission and Course Reserves, materials borrowed from one campus library location and returned to another campus library location on the due date will be treated as though they were returned to the lending library on that date and will incur no fines. Special permission and Course Reserves must be returned to the specific library from which the items  were borrowed.

2. All categories of borrowers are subject to library fines.

3. It is each borrower's responsibility to maintain a current address and correct e-mail address (when applicable) on file with the Libraries. Changes in either should be reported to the Libraries immediately, either in person or on the web at http://www.libraries.psu.edu (click on the "My Library Account" tab, then on "Update Address").   Unless otherwise instructed all communication is sent via email, including recall notices and material requested information.

4. Borrowers expecting to be away for a prolonged period should return or renew all library materials and supply a temporary address where they may be reached.

5. Borrowers are responsible for all materials charged out on their cards. Library cards and borrowed materials should be kept in a secure location and never loaned to others.  

6. Borrowing privileges will be suspended if a patron does not pay accumulated fees and fines.  

7. Fees accessed against a student's account that are not paid before the end of the current semester will be charged to the student's Bursar account.

8. The University reserves the right to initiate legal proceedings to recover library materials.