Circulation Policies

• Library materials are the property of the State of Louisiana.
• Each user is financially responsible for all penalties incurred, including damage, misuse, and late fees, up to the cost of repair or replacement.
  • Items returned with missing pieces are considered damaged.
  • Return or renew materials on or before the due date.  Log in to your Library Account to keep track.
    • Eligible items with a semester-long loan period cannot be renewed until after the semester end date.
• Items returned when the Library is closed will be processed the following business day.  See Library Hours.
• The Library’s primary method of communication is Southeastern email.
• The Library will send email reminder notices regarding due dates, overdue items and accrued fees.
• In the event of a declared emergency library closure, students may return devices to the Southeastern Louisiana University Police Department.
• Students who experience an extenuating circumstance (ie. medical emergency, family emergency) impacting the timely return of their library-owned materials should contact [email protected] prior to their due date. Once the due date has passed, the student should fill out and submit a Library Appeal Form.
• Library privileges may be suspended at any time due to damage, late returns, or other misuse.
  • Equipment checkout privileges may be suspended when an item is more than thirty (30) days overdue.
  • Book checkout privileges may be suspended when 3 or more books are more than sixty (60) days overdue.

Maximum Checkouts

Faculty and staff may have a maximum of 100 items checked out at one time. A faculty or staff borrower will receive an email alerting them when they have 95 items checked out, explaining that they are five (5) items away from reaching their limit. Once the borrower has reached that limit, they will receive an email alerting them that they will not be able to check out additional items unless they return other items to the library. This includes any format of library items that may be checked out, including Interlibrary Loan items.

Renewals

The loan period for physical books and scores is one semester, and may be renewed up to one (1) time, for a total checkout time of two semesters. After two semesters, the item must be returned to the library. Once the item is thirty (30) days overdue, the borrower will be charged the replacement cost of the item, plus a $20 service fee per item. 

If a hold is placed on a book checked out by a faculty member, a recall will be issued for it. When a recall is issued, the due date will automatically be changed to seven (7) days from the date of the recall and a recall notice will be emailed. If the item is not returned by the due date, future checkout privileges may be blocked. This policy is in place to ensure that all students, faculty, and staff have access to library materials.

Replacements, Fees, and Refunds

Faculty and staff will be billed the replacement cost for items not returned thirty (30) Days* after the final due date has passed. This is not refundable after three (3) months.

A refund (for cost of the book only) will be issued if:

• You return the lost book (in the same condition it was in at time of check out).
• You replace the book.**

**The Acquisitions Librarian MUST inspect and approve the replacement; it is not guaranteed that the replacement will be accepted. (The book must be in good condition, no ripped pages or missing pages, no water or mold damage, no writing, highlighting or other markings and must be the same edition.)

• Most library materials do not accrue a late fee.
• Special items not returned on or before the due date will be marked as unreturned library items and may accrue applicable late fees of $5.00 per business day, up to $60.00. Special items include:
  • Laptops
  • Calculators
  • Course Reserves
  • Hourly Equipment
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Fees & Fines
  • Library users will be charged a $15 fee for each overdue Interlibrary Loan (ILL) book after 7 business days late.
  • Library users will be charged a $15 fine PER ITEM the day after their final pick up date (up to $45) for items not picked up/used.
  • Library users will be charged a $20 processing fee for damaged or lost IIL books (in addition to the lender’s fees).

• Specialists may be consulted regarding repair costs. Therefore, repair costs may vary, and users may not be billed immediately.
• Replacement costs may fluctuate due to market and supply trends.

• Users are responsible for returning library materials and associated pieces in the same condition as when they were checked out.
• Types of damage that will result in charges include, but are not limited to:
  • Books and Scores: water/drink/food stains, pen/pencil/highlighter marks, torn/ripped covers or pages, sticky notes/tape, offensive odors, missing pieces
  • AV: water/drink/food stains, pen/pencil/highlighter marks, torn/ripped case or inserts, scratched/damaged media, offensive odors, missing pieces 
  • Equipment: water/drink/food spills, stains/stickers, scratches/cracks, offensive odors, missing pieces

• Sims Library does not accept user-purchased replacement items in lieu of replacement charges.
• Users will be billed the replacement cost for items not returned within a specified time after the due date.
  • Books/AV – 30 Days* after due date
    • Not refundable after 3 months
  • Equipment – 7 Days* after due date
    • Chromebooks will also be remotely disabled at this time.
    • Not refundable after 30 days

           *Past due time periods may be shortened at the end of the semester.

If Library materials are stolen from a user, the user should report the theft immediately to the proper authorities and notify the Library as soon as possible. If the patron can provide a copy of the police report or official documentation from the police department with a file number, then overdue fines and service charges (if any) will be waived, and the user will only be charged for the replacement cost of the item. The user is responsible for the replacement cost of the item in all circumstances.

Library Appeal Form

• Users who are not satisfied with the resolution of their inquiries regarding library fees or loss of privileges may file a formal appeal, as long as they have not paid the charges under dispute.
• Only users who were charged library fees or lost privileges may use the appeals process. Appeals made on behalf of others will not be accepted.
• The following circumstances are not grounds for filing an appeal:
  • Lack of knowledge of Library policy
  • Lack of understanding of Library policy
  • Lack of understanding of Library operating hours
  • Inability to pay fees
  • Failure to receive a courtesy email notice
  • Instances where the user loaned Library materials to others who failed to return them.