- HOW DO I CHECK OUT BOOKS?
- HOW LONG IS THE LOAN PERIOD FOR BOOKS I CHECK OUT?
- HOW DO I RENEW MY BOOKS?
- WHAT ARE THE FINES FOR OVERDUE BOOKS?
- WHAT DO I DO IF I LOSE A BOOK OR DAMAGE IT?
- WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I NEED A BOOK THAT IS CHECKED OUT?
- WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I CANNOT FIND A BOOK ON THE SHELF?
- UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD MY BORROWING PRIVILEGES BE SUSPENDED?
- DOES THE LIBRARY OFFER BORROWING PRIVILEGES TO NON-AFFILIATED INDIVIDUALS?
- WHAT OTHER INFORMATION DO I NEED TO KNOW?
- VALE Reciprocal Borrowing Program
Books are checked out at the Circulation Desk. Your valid Monmouth University ID card is required to check out materials. Patrons are responsible for all material borrowed on their cards.
2. HOW LONG IS THE LOAN PERIOD FOR BOOKS I CHECK OUT?
The usual loan period is 3 weeks. One 3-week renewal is allowed. The due date for Faculty and Administrators is June 1 of each year. The due date appears on a slip placed in the front of each book. It is the responsibility of each patron to know the book’s due date.
Graduate students can borrow material for the entire semester. However, if at any time during the extended loan period the material is requested by another patron, it will be recalled, a notice will be sent and the material must be returned as soon as possible.
Undergraduate seniors registered for Senior Seminar Thesis are also eligible for extended borrowing privileges but must supply an email from his/her instructor verifying the need for the extension. The email must include the course number and title, student’s name, instructor’s signature and an estimated date of completion.
If other students need to borrow the material for the entire semester, they must supply an email from their instructor verifying the need for extended borrowing privileges. The letter must include the course number and title, student’s name, instructor’s signature, and estimated date of completion.
For convenient return of books, there are 4 book-drop containers located around campus:
- Outside the Student Center
- Outside the Health Center and
- Outside the front entrance to the Library.
Books can be brought to the Circulation Desk and renewed in person or renewed online by opening “MU Catalog” on the home page, then “My Account”. Note: Items can only be renewed twice online. Please call 732-571-3693 for assistance. To avoid overdue fines, please return or renew books by the due date stamped inside the front of the book. Recalled books and/or books placed on hold will not be renewed. Books will not be renewed without a valid Monmouth University ID card.
4. WHAT ARE THE FINES FOR OVERDUE BOOKS?
Fines for overdue books are 10 cents per day, per book, with a maximum of $10.00 for each book. Fines must be paid at the Circulation Desk.
5. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I LOSE A BOOK OR DAMAGE IT?
Inform the Circulation Desk staff if a checked out book is lost or damaged. If a book in print is lost or damaged, the replacement charge is the cost of the book plus a $10 processing fee. If an out-of-print book is lost or damaged, the cost is $30 plus a $10 processing fee.
6. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I NEED A BOOK THAT IS CHECKED OUT?
A “hold” can be placed for a book checked out to another patron. This is done at the Circulation desk by filling out a “hold request card.” The patron will be notified by telephone when the material is available. Items on hold are to be picked up at the Circulation Desk no later than one week after notification unless other arrangements are made. Non-affiliated patrons can not place holds for items.
7. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I CANNOT FIND A BOOK ON THE SHELF?
Requests to have a missing book searched may be placed at the Circulation Desk by filling out a “search card.” The staff will attempt to locate the item for 3 weeks. Patrons will be notified when the item is located and will have one week to pick up the item after notification.
8. UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD MY BORROWING PRIVILEGES BE
SUSPENDED?
Your borrowing privileges will be suspended if:
- One or more checked out items are more than one month overdue
- There are unpaid fines or bills totaling more than $20.00
- There are 2 or more unresolved problem transactions
- There is a “recalled” item still checked out or
- There are more than 50 books checked out.
9. DOES THE LIBRARY OFFER BORROWING PRIVILEGES TO NON-AFFILIATED INDIVIDUALS?
Non-affiliated memberships are available as follows:
- Recent graduates are entitled to a courtesy card for borrowing privileges that expires one year following the date of their graduation.
- Alumni are entitled to individual, non-transferable privileges for an annual fee of $20. Proof of graduation is required.
- General Public may pay an annual fee of $100 for individual, non-transferable borrowing privileges. A valid NJ driver’s license and credit card are required as identification.
Current Library Association members and immediate family members of faculty, staff and administrators are entitled to courtesy memberships.
Special yellow cards are issued at the Circulation Desk when an application is completed and the fee is paid.
10. WHAT OTHER INFORMATION DO I NEED TO KNOW?
Overdue Notices – Up to 2 overdue notices are sent at 2 week intervals after the due date of the book. If the book is still not returned after the second overdue notice (4 weeks after the due date), a bill is sent for the replacement cost of the book.
Lost ID Card – If you lose your ID card, promptly report it to the Circulation Desk. Patrons are responsible for all materials borrowed on their cards.
Change of Address – If you have a change of address, promptly report this to the Circulation Desk
11. VALE (Virtual Academic Library Environment of NJ) Faculty and Staff Reciprocal Borrowing Program
As of January 2002, the college and university libraries in the VALE consortium agreed to extend reciprocal borrowing privileges to their respective full-time faculty and staff.
As of September, 2004, graduate students may also participate in the program.
Effective September, 2008, eighteen VALE Libraries agreed to expand their participation
and extend reciprocal borrowing privileges to each other’s undergraduate students.
Borrowing from participating VALE libraries.
Full-time Monmouth University faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students may apply for borrowing privileges at participating libraries by completing an application form at the circulation desk in the Monmouth University Library.
Borrowing from Monmouth University
To be eligible, one must be a full-time faculty, staff member, graduate or undergraduate student of a participating VALE institution.
The borrower must present a valid photo I.D. and the original completed VALE Faculty Reciprocal Borrowing Application Form which has been signed by his/her home library. Registration for VALE reciprocal borrowers is valid through June 30th of each year.
VALE Reciprocal Borrowers may have a total of five (5) items checked out to their account at any given time. Only circulating materials may be borrowed.
Reciprocal Borrowers have a three week loan period. One renewal is permitted on each item provided there are no holds or recalls. Fines for overdue books are 10 cents per day, per book, with a maximum of $10 for each book.
The Reciprocal Borrower is responsible for the replacement cost of lost or damaged items. The replacement charge is the cost of the book plus a $10 processing fee. If an out-of-print book is lost or damaged, the cost is $30 plus a $10 processing fee.
VALE Reciprocal Borrowers cannot place holds, recalls or interlibrary loan requests.
Borrowing privileges will be suspended if one or more checked out items is overdue; if there are unpaid fines or bills totaling more than $10; or if there are any unresolved problem transactions.
All items must be returned directly to the Monmouth University Library.