Check Out Policies

For more information, contact us at 406-243-4071 or library.circ@umontana.edu.

How to Check Out

To check out library material you must present a current, valid picture ID. You can place holds, renew materials, cancel pending requests, and determine if fines have been assessed, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through your OneSearch account. The check out policies below are for items owned by Mansfield Library. Check out periods vary for items borrowed from other libraries.

Overdue and Damaged Materials

Check out and Interlibrary Loan policies, and schedules of fees and fines, are created to ensure timely access by all users to library materials. All loan policies will be available in print and on the Library’s Website. Library fines and associated fees are subject to Board of Regents’ approval. Access privilege levels and borrowing checkout times have been set in accordance with electronic resource licensing agreements, library personnel resources, and the needs of diverse types of library users with consultation from appropriate campus groups including: Faculty Senate Library Committee, ASUM, Graduate Council, Staff Senate, Human Resource Services and the Alumni Association.

Material borrowed from the Mansfield Library will be due back on the date and time specified at the time of checkout. Paper due-date receipts are not automatically printed: if one is desired, please request it prior to check out. Library users will be notified by e-mail about overdue material. All notices are sent via e-mail to UM library user's official University of Montana e-mail address for faculty, staff and students.

Checked out items have different loan periods based on the type of item and type of user. Library users can see an up to date list of items checked out to them and the due dates by checking their accounts on the library catalog. The Mansfield Library sends a series of courtesy notices to users about checked out and overdue items. The Library assumes no responsibility for incorrect address or contact information. The borrower bears sole responsibility for returning materials on time and in the same condition as when the item was checked out.  Non-receipt of courtesy notices, nor non-use of e-mail is not a factor in regard to overdue charges.

Time intervals for notices are listed below and are based on typical library hours during the academic year; when the library is closed notices may be delayed accordingly.

A Courtesy Notice is sent via email or text 4 days before an item is due back.

An Overdue Notice is sent via email or text 1 day after the item’s due date. Subsequent Overdue Notices are sent via e-mail or text two more times at 7 day intervals (i.e. on the 8th day overdue and on the 15th day overdue).

A Lost Notice is sent once via e-mail or text. Lost Notices for books are sent via e-mail or text 45 days after they were due. Lost Notices for most media items are sent via e-mail or text 7 days after they were due.

After 45 days overdue the material will be declared lost and any overdue fines, lost and processing charges will be assessed. Unpaid fines and lost book fees for faculty, staff and students are turned over to UM Business Services for collection once each month. All lost and subsequently returned materials remain the property of the Mansfield Library.

Recall notices for items requested by another user are sent as a due date change.  For a book, a recall notice will change the due date to 3 weeks after it was originally checked out or for one additional week if it has already been checked out for 3 weeks.

Lost item replacement charges are based on yearly average replacement costs published in YBP Annual Book Price Update or the actual replacement cost of the item.

Unpaid library material charges may lead to temporary loss of library privileges and further billing by UM Business Services.

Mansfield Library observes the strictures on "Nondisclosure of Library Records" as stated in the Montana Code Title 22-1-1103. The library will not reveal the names of people who have checked out library materials.

Fines and Fees

Items must be returned or renewed on or before their due dates or overdue charges may be assessed. Items returned in damaged condition will be subject to replacement and/or processing fees.

The Library assumes no responsibility for incorrect address or contact information. The borrower bears sole responsibility for returning materials on time and in good condition. Non-receipt of courtesy notices and email is not a factor in regard to overdue or lost charges.

The following is a list of the most common fines. It is not a comprehensive list of all possible fines. If an item reaches a status of "lost", a maximum overdue fine may be assessed as listed below 

All lost and/or damaged and subsequently returned materials remain the property of the Mansfield Library.

General item check out for undergraduate students will extend from 3 weeks to 4 months.

 University of Montana students, faculty and staff will no longer receive overdue fines on general items.

Renewable materials at the Mansfield Library - general loan items with loan periods of 28 days or more - will not be fined; however, failure to renew or return an item after it is 40 days overdue will result in the item being billed to the borrower as lost.

To avoid receiving a bill for renewable items, borrowers must renew within 40 days of the date due.

Fines for non-renewable items, reserves, recalled materials, study room keys, technology equipment, as well as damaged and replacement fees remain unchanged.

Lost item charges for renewable general loans are a $10 process fee and the actual replacement cost of the item.

Users can renew general items online anytime from the library website by logging into their My Library Account.