RIT Library -- Borrowing Material

RIT students, faculty, emeritus, staff, alumni, Osher Lifelong Learning members and associates may borrow library material by presenting a current RIT ID card at the Circulation Desk or Reserve Desk at the time of check-out.

Family members may also be eligible to borrow library material by presenting a current RIT Library ID card at the Circulation Desk. Family borrowing is restricted to RIT owned collections. It does not include access to material via ConnectNY, IDS Express(interlibrary loan), the library's digital collections or eonline databases.

By borrowing library material that is shared by the entire RIT community, you are responsible for:

A fines balance of $5 or more suspends your borrowing privileges. The entire balance must be paid to reinstate your account. Please be aware, the library requires full payment of all outstanding fines and fees at the start of the academic year too.

An Overview of Loan Periods

The library's circulating general collection is located on the 3rd, and 4th floors. Loan periods:

Located on the first floor are many bestsellers, known as the '14 Day Collection'. Books from this collection circulate to all borrowers for 14 days and can be renewed for additional two week periods if not requested by another user. Fines for overdue '14 day' books are .25/day and are collected from all borrowers.

Also on the first floor, across from the '14 Day Collection' is our '5 Day Video Collection'. The Library has a recreational video collection designed for the RIT community's entertainment. Videos are provided on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be put on hold or reserve. Videos may be kept for 5 days only and may not be automatically renewed. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO SUPPLEMENT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. Using these videos for classroom viewing may be a violation of copyright. Faculty should continue to work with ETC to purchase, rent or schedule videos for instructional purposes. We appreciate your cooperation and hope this will continue to be an enjoyable service for the RIT community.

Class materials, popular magazines and some newspapers are some of the items kept at the Reserve Desk. The majority of Reserve items cannot leave the library. Loan periods and fine rates appear on the cover of most Reserve items.

All library material must be properly checked-out prior to exiting the library. All books, bags, briefcases and other hand-carried items are subject to inspection. Exiting the library with items not properly checked-out is considered theft and is reported to Campus Safety.

Renewals

Renew a book as often as you like. You may renew by contacting the Circulation Department in person, by phone or online. We are unable to renew when:

Receiving Notices via Email

To receive library notices through email update your account with an email address by calling 585-475-2562 (voice) or 585-475-2962 (TTY) or email Gina Bush at gebwml@rit.edu

Need a Book that is Checked-out? How to place a Hold:

If you need a book that is checked-out you can recall it by using Einstein, the RIT Library's on-line catalog. Just click on the ‘Request’ button by the item’s record.

Once requested, the Library issues a recall asking for the return of the book by its 3-week due date. If it is already past due, the book’s immediate return is requested.

Books checked-out to faculty (full-time or emeritus) and staff often have a May due date so a recall will shorten this date to ensure the book’s prompt return.

The library recalls from all borrowers: RIT students, faculty, staff, alumni, family borrowers, and associates.

Once the book is returned you will be notified by e-mail that it is available at the Circulation Desk. Books from our 14 day collection will be held for 4 days. Normal circulating books will be held for 7 days.

Can't Find a Book?

Can't find a book on the shelf yet the status on Einstein states 'AVAILABLE'? Come to the Circulation Desk for help. Many times we can locate the book for you!

Overdue Fines and Fees:

$10 Billing Fee

A book that is 28 days past due is considered inaccessible to other library users. Once a book is 28 days overdue you will be billed:

the cost of the book
a $10 billing fee

When you return a book that is 28 or more days overdue--the charge to cover cost of the book is dropped. We do collect the $10 billing fee to cover expenses incurred in our attempt to recover and/or replace the severely overdue book.

$1/day Recall Fine

If a checked-out book requested by another user is not returned when due, recall fines accrue at $1/day from due date.

All library users (students, faculty, staff, alumni, family borrowers and associates) pay recall fines, billed book fees and lost book reimbursement charges. A $5 or more fines balance suspends borrowing privileges.

Please help us by filling out the Circulation Fines Referral Form, detailing your reasons for disputing the Circulation fine on your library account. Once completed, this form will be referred to the Coordinator of Circulation Services for a prompt decision and action regarding your concerns.

Students, Alumni, Osher Lifelong Learning and Family borrowers: Important Recall Info!

If a book that is checked-out to you is not due and you receive a recall notice you may keep the book until the 3-week due date. You need to return the book by or on the due date to avoid recall fines of $1/day. Fines begin to accrue once the 3-week due date has passed.

If a book checked-out to you is overdue AND is recalled you must return the book immediately to avoid fines of $1/day. Another user has requested this now overdue book and an overdue book recalled by another library user IS a problem. Recall fines accrue at $1/day from the due date.

Faculty, Staff, Graduate Students, and Emeritus: Important Recall Info!

Faculty and Staff: When a book checked-out to you is requested by another user, the library will send a recall notice--issuing a new, shortened due date and requesting the book’s prompt return. This recall notice cancels the original due date of the item.

If you have had a recalled book for less than the guaranteed 3-week loan period, you may keep the book until the 3 weeks are up. Please return the book by the 3-week due date to avoid $1/day recall fines.

If you have had a book for 3 weeks or longer and it is recalled, please return it by the newly issued due date to avoid recall fines of $1/day. This new due date will be stated on the recall notice.

Questions or Concerns Regarding Your Library Account? Let Us Know!

Borrowing of an RIT library book implies agreement to abide by RIT Library's loan policy. The basis of our borrowing policy is equitable access to shared resources for all members of the RIT community. Fines and fees are employed only to administer and enable 'access to shared resources' for all. Please feel free to contact the Circulation Department with questions or concerns.

Borrowing RIT Library Material

Borrowing Library Material