Length of Loans & Fines

Length of Loans & Fines for Faculty, Staff, Students, and Special Card Holders
 FacultyStaffGraduate StudentUndergraduate StudentSpecial Card1
Maximum Number
of Books		No LimitNo LimitNo LimitNo Limit10 (3) 1
General Loan Period1 academic year21 academic year21 academic year21 academic year214 days
Renewals 3 UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedOne
Journals7 days/no renewal/3 item limit/$17 days/no renewal/3 item limit/$17 days/no renewal/3 item limit/$17 days/no renewal/3 item limit/$1NA
Media14 days/1 renewal/10 item limit14 days/1 renewal/10 item limit14 days/1 renewal/10 item limit14 days/1 renewal/10 item limit7 days/no renewal/3 item limit
Fines
 		$.25 day/item
$100/item		$.25 day/item
$100/item		$.25 day/item
$100/item		$.25 day/item
$100/item		$.25 day/item
$100/item
Reserve Materials
 		$1 hourly or daily per item
$100/item		$1 hourly or daily per item
$100/item		$1 hourly or daily per item
$100/item		$1 hourly or daily per item
$100/item		NA
Recalled Materials$1 day/item
$100/item		$1 day/item
$100/item		$1 day/item
$100/item		$1 day/item
$100/item		$1 day/item
$100/item
Alldred Collection 4
$.25 day/item
$100/item
$.25 day/item
$100/item
$.25 day/item
$100/item
$.25 day/item
$100/item
$.25 day/item
$100/item
Borrowing
Suspended		$25/1 recalled item/1 lost item$25/1 recalled item/1 lost item$25/1 recalled item/1 lost item$25/1 recalled item/1 lost item$25/1 recalled item/1 lost item
Lost Material
Replacement Cost		As per current acquisition costAs per current acquisition costAs per current acquisition costAs per current acquisition costAs per current acquisition cost
Processing Fee$25$25$25$25$25

NOTE: Some ULS libraries may have collections with more restrictive policies.

  1. Special Library Card (See Policy 10-03-03: Special Library Cards and Access to University Libraries). This policy to be reviewed and/or revised annually.
  2. Due date April 30
  3. Renewals for upcoming academic year are available 2 weeks before due date. NO renewals on recalled/requested items.
  4. Alldred Collection books circulate for 4 weeks with 1 renewal for University of Pittsburgh faculty/staff/students. For ULS Special borrowers 2 weeks with 1 renewal. 

*If you are a participant in a Pitt program such as The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), please contact the library for questions regarding loan policies. 412-648-7800.<

Paying Fines

Fines may be paid at any ULS Library Service Desk whenever full-time staff are on duty. Make checks payable to University of Pittsburgh. Fine payments may also be sent directly to the following address:

Hillman Library
Donald S. Wood Service Desk
3960 Forbes Ave
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

If you have questions or concerns about payments to your library account, please Ask Us.

Purpose of Overdue Fines

The purpose of fines is to encourage the prompt return of borrowed materials so that they will be available for use by others. Fines for overdue items are charged to all categories of borrowers. Grace Period: The library offers a seven-day grace period for normal circulating items. Grace periods do not apply to journals, recalled items, reserve, reference, or other material in specific subcollections.

Notices

Overdue notices sent by the ULS are courtesy reminder notices only. The ULS is not responsible for delayed delivery of notices due to inaccurate addresses or other delivery problems. The first overdue notice is sent the day after items are due. When an item is 14 days overdue, a final notice is sent, and the user's borrowing privileges suspended until the situation is resolved. Once overdue material is returned, a bill that includes the total amount of the fine is generated and sent within one business day.

Lost Item Replacement Charges

A library service block is applied when materials are declared lost, 14 days for most collections.  The replacement amount will be billed after one month. The amount is based on current acquisition cost plus a non-refundable $25 processing fee for each item. "Lost" items cannot be renewed and must be returned to the library or paid for your account to be credited. Library users who wish to provide a replacement copy for lost or damaged library materials may do so, however, the replacement copy is subject to approval of the ULS bibliographer. In addition, the $25 lost item process fee will be assessed. Students with outstanding unpaid overdue fines of $100 or more will be forwarded to the University Collections Office on a monthly schedule. 

Updating Your Address

To update your address see the Office of the University Registrar Personal Information page