Circulation Services   Tags: borrowing_privileges;, circulation;, cls;, library_passport_program;, nvcc, overdue_books;, renew_your_books;, wrlc;  

• Check your Mason library account. Find out what you have charged out from all George Mason University Libraries and when the items are due.
• Check your WRLC myAladin account. Find out what you have charged out from all WRLC libraries.
• Renew books borrowed from the George Mason University Libraries online.
• Renew books borrowed from WRLC libraries online.
• Find out if the University Libraries have the resource you need.
• Request a book, media item, or article from another George Mason Campus.
• Request a book or article from another WRLC library.
• Request a book or article through Interlibrary Loan from a library outside the WRLC.

The University Libraries are a rich source of research materials, and we offer great services too. To make it all work for you, there are a few responsibilities that go with your library privileges:

1. Library patrons are financially responsible for all items charged out on their library account. Lost items will result in a replacement charge, along with a processing fee and overdue fines. If you ignore the due dates and run up a large bill for fines, the Libraries will block your ability to borrow materials or request interlibrary loans, and will even block your registration and access to your transcripts until you pay the fines. Don't let this happen to you!
2. Pay attention to the due date! We give you a slip with the due date when you check out materials, but you can also check your library account at any time to see a complete list of of materials you have checked out and when they are due. Overdue charges are $.25 per day per item, to a maximum of $10.00 per item for books. For media items, fines are $10.00 per day per item up to a maximum fine of $50.00.
3. If you are a student, faculty or staff member, all notices that you receive from the University Libraries (courtesy notices, overdue notices, and bills for lost books) will be sent to your George Mason University email account. If you have set up your email to be forwarded to another account, it is possible that you may not receive our emails. The University Libraries are not responsible for whether or not you receive the emails that are sent. You will be held responsible for all overdue fines regardless of whether you receive our email.
4. Make sure you renew your books online before they are overdue. Once they are overdue, you can't renew them online any more, and  you have to bring them to the library. Media items cannot be renewed.
5. Any book that is more than 40 days overdue is automatically declared lost by our system. After that happens, your library account will automatically be charged $67.00 for replacement, $30.00 for processing, and $10.00 in maximum overdue fines, for a total of $107.00 per lost book. If you find the book and return it, we remove the replacement and processing charges, but you are still responsible for the overdue fines.
6. If you receive an email or telephone call from the Libraries stating that we are recalling something you have charged out, be sure to return it by the new due date. If you don't, the overdue fines for a recalled book are $5.00 per day, to a maximum of $25.00 per item.
7. If fines and fees on your library account reach a total of $25.00, you will not be able to check out more library materials. In addition, a hold will be placed on your Patriot Web account, which will affect your ability to register for classes or obtain transcripts.
8. Bring your Mason ID or other approved library card with you to check out materials. Because the owner of the Mason ID or approved library card has financial responsibility for items checked out on it, we do not permit any person to check out materials on anyone else's ID. This policy includes spouses and other family members. The only exception is for faculty/graduate student proxy arrangements, which require a faculty signature and must be set up in advance.
9. If you receive an overdue notice or a bill for a book or media item that you are absolutely certain you returned, let us know immediately. We have a formal process to search our stacks, and occasionally we find an item that was not checked back in properly. If we made an error, we'll correct it.
10. Patrons will be held financially responsible if library items are damaged while in their possession. Writing or underlining in books, attaching sticky-notes to the pages, food spills, water damage, and torn or missing pages are examples of damage that will result in charges to your library account. If you notice that a book has damage, bring it to the attention of the Circulation Desk staff before you check the book out so they can document it, and you won't be held responsible.

George Mason University Libraries are open to members of the University community and to the general public.

Students, faculty and staff of the University may check out materials from the Libraries. The George Mason University photo ID serves as a valid library card for members of the George Mason University community. Books and media items from the circulating collections may be borrowed, but periodicals, reference books, and some audiovisual materials do not circulate outside the libraries.

Members of the general public may purchase borrowing privileges by joining the Library Passport Program. Information about this program and applications are available at the Circulation Desk in any of our four libraries.

George Mason University is a member of the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC). Members of the Mason community are eligible to participate in the WRLC reciprocal borrowing program which includes direct borrowing in person at any member library, and the Consortium Loan Service (CLS) through which Mason students and faculty may place an online request for a book or article held by another member library. A current, valid Mason photo ID serves as the library card for Mason patrons at all WRLC member libraries. Member libraries are: George Mason University, American University, Catholic University, Gallaudet University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Marymount University, and the University of the District of Columbia.

Mason Faculty and Staff

• There is no limit to the number of items that may be borrowed at one time by faculty.
• The borrowing period for books is one semester. Due dates are 1/31, 5/31, and 9/30.
• The borrowing period for media is 7 days, with no renewals.
• Books may be renewed online up to 3 times.
• Faculty have access to Interlibrary Loans, Consortium Loans, and Intercampus Document Delivery.
• Faculty have remote access to licensed electronic resources.
• Fines are not charged, but faculty must pay for lost items.

Mason Graduate Students

• Graduate students may borrow up to 50 books.
• The borrowing period for books is 6 weeks.
• The borrowing period for media is 3 days, with no renewals.
• Books may be renewed online up to 3 times.
• Graduate students have access to Interlibrary Loans, Consortium Loans, and Intercampus Document Delivery.
• Graduate students have remote access to licensed electronic resources.
• Fines are charged for overdue items and replacement costs are charged for lost items.

Mason Undergraduate Students

• Undergraduate students may borrow up to 25 books.
• The borrowing period for books is 4 weeks.
• The borrowing period for media is 3 days, with no renewals.
• Books may be renewed online up to 3 times.
• Undergraduate students have access to Interlibrary Loans, Consortium Loans, and Intercampus Document Delvery.
• Undergraduate students have remote access to licensed electronic resources.
• Fines are charged for overdue items and replacement costs are charged for lost items.

Library Passport Patrons

• Passport patrons may borrow up to 10 books. Passport Patrons may not borrow media.
• The borrowing period is 3 weeks.
• Books may be renewed online 1 time.
• Passport patrons do not have access to Interlibrary Loans or Consortium Loans. Library Passport patrons do have access to Intercampus Document Delivery.
• Passport patrons do not have remote access to licensed electronic resources.
• Fines are charged for overdue items and replacement costs are charged for lost items.

WRLC Faculty and Students

• Faculty and students of institutional members of the Washington Research Library Consortium have borrowing privileges at the George Mason University Libraries. Privileges and responsibilities are discussed at the WRLC website.

NVCC (Northern Virginia Community College)

• Students must show NoVa Community College ID and proof of current enrollment.
• NVCC patrons may borrow up to 10 books. NVCC patrons may not borrow media items.
• The borrowing period is 3 weeks.
• Books may be renewed online 1 time.
• NVCC patrons should use Northern Virginia Community College Libraries for Interlibrary Loans.
• NVCC patrons do not have remote access to Mason's licensed electronic resources. NVCC patrons should use Northern Virginia Community College online resources.
• Fines are charged for overdue items and replacement costs are charged for lost items.

Other Borrowers

There are several other groups which have borrowing privileges at the University Libraries. For information about these privileges, please contact the Circulation Department at any of our Libraries.

Overdue fines and replacement charges that are owed to the George Mason University Libraries can be paid at any George Mason University Libraries Circulation Desk (Fenwick, Arlington, Prince William or the Johnson Center Library) or at any of the member libraries of the Washington Research Library Consortium (American University, Catholic University, Gallaudet University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Marymount University, or the University of the District of Columbia). At WRLC libraries, fines and fees can be paid in cash or by check. At George Mason University Libraries Circulation Desks, overdue fines and replacement charges can be paid by cash, check, or Mason Money. The University Libraries do not accept credit cards, and fines cannot be paid over the telephone.

If paying by mail, send a check made out to George Mason University to:

Fenwick Library Circulation Department MS2FL

George Mason University

4400 University Dr.

Fairfax, VA 22030