Circulation Department

Checkout Policies

Fines | Renewals | Reserves | Laptops | Lost Books | Copiers | Material Type Policy

Checkout Procedures:

Each item taken from the library must be checked out. Patrons must present a valid Winthrop I.D. or loan privilege card at the Circulation Desk in order to borrow Dacus Library materials. Federal Government Documents may be checked out by any U.S. citizen who presents a photo I.D. or to anyone holding a valid Winthrop I.D.

Fines:

A fine of 20 cents per day from the due date is charged for each overdue general collection item. The library will not collect any fine less than $1.20 on two-week loans. As a courtesy, the library sends borrowers one notice of materials soon to be due and one notice of overdue books; however, it is the borrower's responsibility to know when books are due and to return books on time. Any fines not paid promptly in the library will be referred to the Cashier's Office for collection. Students cannot receive transcripts, register for classes, or graduate from Winthrop until accounts are cleared.

Patrons who wish to contest their fines may fill out a Fee Appeal form at the Circulation Desk.

Renewals:

 Renewals are limited only when an item is requested by another patron.  Patrons may initiate the first two renewals online.  Subsequent renewals and all renewals of overdue materials require physical presentation of the materials at the Circulation Desk. 

Reserve Materials:

Materials on course reserve are shelved behind the Circulation Desk. These items are checked out for two-hour periods any time during library hours. Some reserve books may be checked out for overnight use, but must be returned by 9AM Monday-Friday or within 1 hour after the library opens on Saturday or Sunday. Each item is subject to a 50 cent per hour overdue fee. "3 Day" reserve books may be borrowed for three days.   "7 Day" Reserve books may be borrowed for one week. The fine is 20 cents per book per day from the due date.  There is no grace period.

Many reserve items are also available electronically through the library's Web site.

Laptop Computers:

The library has 20 laptop computers available for 3 hour checkout.  The computers must be used in the library.  The overdue fine is $5.00 per hour (or any portion of an hour), and the patron is responsible for damage or theft which occurs while the item is checked out to him or her.  (Laptop Computer Circulation policy)

Lost Books:

If a book is lost or destroyed by a borrower, the borrower will pay the cost of the book plus a $10 non-refundable processing fee. Any book 50 or more days overdue will be declared lost. A borrower should notify the library immediately if a book is lost so that it may be replaced as soon as possible.

Loss of Borrowing Privileges:

A patron's right to borrow library materials will be suspended when he or she has 10 or more overdue books or owes $10.00 in fines.

Copiers:

Photocopiers,  microform reader-printers, and a computer print station are provided for our patrons' convenience. Cost for black and white copies or printouts is 10 cents per page or microform frame.   Color printouts are available at the computer print station for 20 cents per page. (Two-sided printing or copying counts as two pages.) Copiers are debit card operated rather than coin-operated.  Winthrop I.D. cards may be encoded and used as debit cards; copy cards may also be purchased for 50¢. Patrons may charge amounts of $5.00 or more to their University accounts.  Lesser amounts must be paid in cash.

Materials by Type:

Journals, Magazines and Newspapers:

Periodicals may be used in the library; they are not available for check out.

Reference Books:

Reference books may be used in the library only and are not available for check out.

Government Documents:

South Carolina State Documents, United States Government Documents and some United Nations publications may be checked out, with the exception of journals and reference materials.

Microforms:

The library's collection of microfilm, microfiche, microcards and microprint maybe used in the building only. Reader/Printers are available for patrons to make copies of these materials for personal use.