Student Borrowing Privileges
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The only valid library card for Oberlin College students is their validated college ID; students must present their ID every time they borrow library materials..
Student privileges expire at the end of the academic year or upon leaving the college. Registered students remaining in Oberlin for the summer may request an extension of their privileges.
As required in the College Regulations (Section XI. K. Mailroom Regulations), students should pick up mail daily. It may contain important and time-sensitive notification from the library. Students may request that notification be sent by e-mail as well. Contact a supervisor at any circulation desk to arrange this.
Loan Periods & Fines
Loan periods and fines vary by the format of the material and the current demand for the item. In general, the following rules apply:
| Type of material | Loan period | Fine rate |
| Books, Scores & Government Publications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regular | length of semester | not fined unless recalled |
| Recreational Reading (McNaughton books) | 3 weeks | $0.50/day |
| Faculty Publications | 3 weeks | $0.50/day |
| Seminar (Conservatory) | 3 days | not fined unless recalled |
| Reserve | varies, ask when checking out the item | $2.00/hour or portion thereof (more on hourly fines) |
| Bound periodicals | ||
| Art Library | library use only | n/a |
| Conservatory Library | 3 days | $1.00/day |
| Main Library | 7 days |
$1.00/day |
| Science Library | 1 day | $1.00/day |
| Unbound periodicals | ||
| Art Library | library use only | n/a |
| Conservatory Library | 1 day | n/a |
| Main Library | 1 day | $5.00 |
| Science Library | 1 day | $1.00/day |
| Microforms | library use only | n/a |
| Sound Recordings | library use only | $2.00/hour or portion thereof (more on hourly fines) |
| Videos/DVDs | ||
| Art Library | library use only | n/a |
| Conservatory Library | library use only | $2.00/hour or portion thereof (more on hourly fines) |
| Main Library | 2 days | $3.00/day |
| Reserve | varies, ask when checking out the item | $2.00/hour or portion thereof (more on hourly fines) |
| Laptop computers and accessories | varies, ask when checking out the item | $5.00/item/hour or portion thereof (more on hourly fines) |
| iPads | 3 days | $10.00/day |
| OhioLINK/SearchOhio books | 3 weeks | $0.50/day |
| OhioLINK/SearchOhio media materials | 1 week | $0.50/day |
Students must return or renew all overdue materials before they may enroll each semester. Students who leave Oberlin without returning library materials will be billed for the cost of replacement and processing.
Fine Payment
Library fines may be paid at the Main Library circulation desk and the Art and Science Library service desks during posted hours. Payment may also be mailed into the Main Library circulation desk. Students are often offered an immediate 1/2 off discount if the fine is paid within 2 weeks of being assessed. The discount and its deadline is documented on the fine notification email.
Unpaid fines totaling $150 or more result in an automatic suspension of borrowing privileges. Privileges are automatically restored when the fine total drops below $150.
Payment is due by the end of the semester in which the fine was incurred. We will hold a student's enrollment for the next semester until fines are paid. Graduating seniors, withdrawn students, and students on leave are billed for any outstanding fines.
More on hourly fines
Hourly fines start to accrue after a brief grace period. The first fine increment posts only minutes after an item is due, not after the first hour as many borrowers assume. To illustrate, here's an example of the accruing of a $5/hour fine:
returned... fine after grace period up to 1 hour overdue $5.00 1 to 2 hours overdue $10.00 2 to 3 hours overdue $15.00