Library Circulation Guide

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Borrowers

All WSU students, faculty, and staff are eligible for library privileges. Community Users are eligible for limited library privileges. A Community User is defined as a Kansas resident who is in the 9th grade or above, or a faculty member or student attending a college or university in Kansas, or a member of the WSU Alumni Association, or a member of the Library Associates.
   

Identification

A valid WSU Student, Faculty, or Staff photo ID is required to check out material. Community Users must have a current Community User library card. The Community User ID card may be obtained at the Circulation desk upon verification of current address and social security number. The first card issued is free to those persons who have not previously had a WSU ID card. Patrons will be charged a $10.00 replacement fee for any lost or damaged card.  Lost cards should be reported immediately to the Shocker Card Center.
   

Check out Information

Current students, faculty, and staff may check out as many items as they are willing to be responsible for.  Faculty and GTAs are eligible for extended loan periods on some items that are normally checked out for four weeks. GTAs must apply for this privilege each semester at the Circulation Desk. Following departmental guidelines the Access Services Manager may extend the number of books per patron or the loan period.

Community users may check out a total of four books or government documents at a time.

Reserve materials are only checked out to patrons with faculty, staff, or student privileges. Special Collections and Reference items may circulate if authorized by an appropriate person from the respective departments.  

Fines and Charges (Click here for tips on avoiding fines) Circulation fines: All four-week materials are subject to a $0.25 per day fine. The fine for unbound periodicals, bound periodicals, and special exception items is $0.50 per day per item. There is a five day grace period on books, annual reports, and government documents; however, on the sixth day a fine of $1.50 is owed. The grace period does not apply to periodicals or special exception items. Fines are cumulative. If fines remain under $3.00 during a semester, the fine will be dropped at the end of that semester. The maximum fine per item is $10.00.  A non-refundable $15.00 processing fee is added to any item which becomes a year overdue.

Patron borrowing privileges will be blocked when total obligations are $25.00 or higher.  Borrowing privileges are also blocked for fines totaling $3.00 or more from a prior semester.  Payment must be made before privileges will be reinstated.  If a patron's fines exceed $25.00, the patron is eligible for a one time only reduction in fines back to $25.00. This reduction must be requested at the Circulation Desk prior to any fine payment. Once the reduction option is used, the patron will be responsible for all future fines accrued.  Fines transferred to student accounts on Banner are no longer eligible for the reduction option.

Recall / Holds:
A patron needing an item that is checked out to another patron may place a recall on the item. A notice is sent to the patron who has the item notifying the patron that the item has a new recall due date. A $1.00 per day fine will be assessed if the item is not returned by this recall due date. Maximum recall fine is $40 per item.

Reserve Fines:
The fine for overdue reserve material is $0.50 per hour for "Library Only" items with a maximum fine of $3.00 per item per day. The fine for one day, three day, and seven day items is $0.50 per day with a maximum of $10.00 per item. There is no grace period on reserve items.

Lost Charges:
When an item becomes 40 days overdue, the patron is charged replacement costs plus a $15.00 processing fee per item. There is a $25.00 minimum charge per lost item. If payment has been made and the item is returned within one year after the due date, the difference between the lost charges and maximum fine will be refunded. Exception: Lost unbound periodicals are replaced immediately after they become forty days overdue. Patrons will be responsible for the replacement and processing costs of these issues. No refunds will be made for "lost and paid" unbound issues that have had replacement copies ordered.

Important Information About Circulation

Due Dates: It is the responsibility of patrons to return items checked out on their accounts by the due date stamped in the front of each item.

Notices: The date due slip serves as the official notice that an item is due. As a courtesy, overdue notices are sent when items are three days overdue. The Library accepts no responsibility for mailing delays due to weekends, holidays, incorrect addresses, etc.

Payment Methods: Payments of $3.00 or more can be made using cash, check, or credit cards. Payments less than that can be paid for in cash only.

Library Appeals: Library appeals may be filed at the Circulation Desk. A written appeal must be filed within six months of the situation being appealed. Appeals are heard by the University Senate's Library Appeals Committee once per semester. The Committee's decisions are final.

Address Changes: It is the patron's responsibility to notify Circulation of address changes.

Renewals:  Items can be renewed several ways: in-person, phone, by mail, online, or email.   If a hold has been placed on an item, that item cannot be renewed.  Click here for information on how to renew items.

Searches: Searches may be requested by patrons when library items that are not checked out cannot be found. Patrons should check the material's shelf location as well as the appropriate sorting area prior to requesting a search. Searches can take from two days to two weeks depending on the location of the item.

Returning Books: The Library provides four book return areas: the 24-hour book drop located at the east side of the library, the northwest vestibule book drop open when the Library is closed, and the book drop in the Library Foyer open during Library hours.  There is also a book drop at the West Campus at 37th and Maize Road.  Materials may also be returned by mail.

The mailing address is:

   Wichita State University
   Ablah Library - Circulation Dept.
   1845 N. Fairmount
   Wichita, KS 67260--0068

Telephone Numbers:

  Circulation Desk 978-3582
  Library Hours 978-3481
  Reserve 978-3583
  Reference 978-3584

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