ATKINS LIBRARY

POLICIES GOVERNING FINES, REPLACEMENTS,

NOTICES, & DELINQUENT BORROWERS

Fines

 To insure maximum availability, the library penalizes all borrowers who do not return library material within the prescribed loan period. The purpose of fines is not to serve as a source of revenue, but rather an incentive for responsible social behavior when using shared resources. 

1. The date due receipt given at check-out to library borrowers indicates the date due (except for recalled items). After that date, the overdue fines apply.
2. Because overdue notices are sent as a courtesy to the borrower, failure to receive   such a notice does not excuse the borrower from the payment of fines.

 Notices

1. For General Collections items and ARC General Collections items:

2. Courtesy pre-overdue notice (email): Sent 1-6 days before any item is overdue

3. First overdue (email): sent at 7 days past due date*

4. Second overdue (email): sent at 14 days past due date

5. 1^st Bill (email): sent at 30 days past due date

6. 2^nd Bill (U.S. mail): sent at 60 days past due date

7. 3^rd & Final Notice (U.S. mail): sent at 100 days past due date. Charges are removed from the library and sent to the appropriate office:  

   1. Student – Student Accounts Office

   2. Faculty/Staff – Payroll Office for payroll deduction

   3. Other Borrowers – Business Office for NC Internal Revenue Refund     

 * For items with a shorter circulation period (videos, periodicals, etc.) the notification process is condensed in proportion to the shorter loan period.

 Lost & Damaged Library Material 

1. If an item is lost, the borrower will pay the replacement cost,  determined by the library, plus a $ 10 non-refundable processing fee.  This fee pays part of the cost of processing the material. Any item overdue for 30 days is automatically assumed lost.
2. The borrower will be held liable for replacement or repair costs of damages while items are checked out on their account. 

Refunds on the return of lost and paid books  

1. If a lost item is returned within 1 year of the payment date, or a billed item returned within one year of the due date, the cost of the item minus the processing fee (and fines if applicable) will be refunded.
2. Library items cannot be purchased. Regardless of whether payment has been made for the item, the library item will remain the property of the University. Any person who falsely claims to have lost library material simply to retain possession can be charged for illegally possessing State property.
3. Any item returned after one year of the due date will not be accepted for refunds.

Delinquent Borrowers:

1. Any account, which is not paid promptly to the library, will be turned over to the appropriate office(s) for further collection efforts. See ‘Notices’, f.  

2. The Circulation Unit will advise all borrowers when they are remiss regarding overdue loans.  Faculty and staff delinquencies that are unresolved by regular procedure must be handled as promptly as possible and, if necessary, through consultation with the University Payroll Office. This procedure will be used within two weeks of recalls for reserve purposes or for the use of other borrowers and within 100 days in the case of overdues of extended loans.  Students will not be able to receive their transcripts or register for classes if they have any past due indebtedness to the University, including the library.

3. Patrons will forfeit their right to borrow library materials when they have material that is more than 30 days overdue, owe $3.00 or more in fines, and/or have charges from the preceding academic year.

Faculty Borrowers

 Faculty are granted the privilege of 120 day loan periods, subject to recall, after a guaranteed loan period of three weeks. If an item checked out to a faculty member is requested by another patron, the faculty member is expected to return the item promptly upon notice by the library.

 Non-UNCC Borrowers

Alumni, Cooperative, Charlotte Area Educational Consortium (CAEC), Community, and other non-UNCC patrons holding a library privilege card follow the same circulation policies as undergraduate students (21 day circulation period, 2 renewals).  They can only borrow 6 items at any given time. They cannot recall library material.