Blocks, Fines & Fees

Circulation Fines & Fees Policies

This page defines the privileges and responsibilities of persons who borrow materials from the Libraries at Texas Woman’s University. These are continually reviewed and revised by appropriate TWU administrators to reflect current library operations.

If library materials are not returned within 30 days of the due date, or if fines exceed $5.00 *as of Sept. 1, 2010, borrowing privileges will be revoked and records at the Registrar's Office will be blocked.

• Students may pay fines over the telephone. Please call during Library Open hours. 940-898-3719
  Additional information can be provided by contacting Circulation.

• Payment of Fines and Fees
  Payment of fines by cash (exact change only) or check are accepted at the Main Library, and Dallas Center Circulation Desks. Credit card payments by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are only accepted at the Main Library Circulation Desk. Failure to pay fines and fees may result in your account being turned over to a collection agency.

• A $30 fee will be charged for ALL RETURNED CHECKS including electronic/web checks. TWU processes all eligible returned checks through the Denton County District Attorney’s Hot Check Division. There will be an additional charge assessed by the Denton DA.

• Notification of Fines and Fees
  Library patrons are responsible for returning all borrowed items on time, whether or not an overdue notice is received. A courtesy notice is sent 7 days in advance of the due date, as a reminder.
• Overdue Notices are provided to patrons as a courtesy.
• When an item becomes overdue, five (5) notices are sent to the patron:
  
  1. At 1 day overdue
  2. At 8 days overdue
  3. At 15 days overdue
  4. At 22 days overdue
  5. At 30 days overdue, at which point it is considered Lost and additional fees are applied

All notices are processed daily and are sent via the patron's TWU e-mail account by default.  Courtesy Card patrons will be notified using the email address on file. If there is no e-mail address, notices will be sent by U.S. postal mail to a patron's local address or if Faculty/Staff, by campus mail.  Failure to receive a notice does not excuse patrons from fines and fees. Borrowers are responsible for providing a current mailing address, email address, and telephone number in order to receive timely information from the TWU Libraries. Failure to provide this information can result in a revocation of all library privileges.

• Fines For Overdue Materials
  Regular Circulating Materials:
  $.35 day per item to a maximum of $11.00 per item
  
  Reserve Materials:
  Hourly items: $3.00/hour-per item (accrues at 5 cents/minute)
  One day items: $5.00/day per item
  Weekly items: $5.00/day per item
  Laptops: $1.00/minute

All reserve materials have a maximum fine of $50.00 per item, except laptops ($25)

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Materials:
$1.00/day per item to a maximum of $50.00 per item
Note: Due dates for ILL materials are determined by the lending institution. ILL materials cannot be renewed.
A $5.00 fee will be assessed for every ILL due date band that is removed from ILL materials.

Media Items:
Videocassettes, DVD's, and Media Kits: $1.00/day (maximum $31.00 fine)
Audiocassettes, CD's, and LP's: $.35/day (maximum $11.00 fine)
Only one (1) renewal is allowed on media materials and new due dates must be confirmed.
Please refer to Media Collection for more information on Media items.

Laptops:
$1.00/minute with a maximum of $25 fine

Headphones:
$3.00/hour

• Replacement Fees
  
  FINE AND FEE SCHEDULE FOR LOST, DAMAGED AND OVERDUE MATERIALS (effective 10/5/09)

STATUS	FEE	FINE	PROCESSING/BILLING FEE
Lost/Damaged Books	$50	Amount due (max of $11)	$10
Lost/Damaged Media	$100	Amount due (max of $31)	$10
Lost/Damaged Books Returned	$0	Amount due (max of $11)	$10
Lost/Damaged Media Returned	$0	Amount due (max of $31)	$10

NOTE: Books with accompanying media are considered media items.
The replacement cost of items only available in sets will be the replacement cost of the entire set.

Faculty are not charged fines except for those that are a result of holds, recalls, checked out media items, and Interlibrary Loans. Faculty also pay fines and fees for lost and damaged materials.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Materials:
Cost of the item as determined by the lending library, including penalties paid by the TWU Library for failure to return the item. Minimum fine is $75.00.