Library Circulation Policy

Borrowing Policies

ID Requirements

• Patrons must have a current Universities of Wisconsin card to borrow items.
• Community patrons can purchase a library card for borrowing privileges only. Community patrons do not have access to resource sharing or e-resources. 
• Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) students and high school students can obtain a community patron card at no cost by showing their CVTC or high school ID.

Loan Periods by Patron Type

Renewals by Patron Type

Borrower’s Responsibilities

• Borrowers are responsible for items checked out to them. 
• Borrowers are responsible for returning or renewing items by their due dates. 
• Borrowers are responsible for overdue and replacement fees for lost or damaged items.

Fines and Fees

• If an item is returned late, there may be overdue fees, replacement costs and/or processing fees associated with it. 
• Patrons with fines may be blocked from further borrowing privileges.
  • Patrons will be blocked if they have $15 or more in fines.
  • Patrons will be blocked if they have 10 or more overdue items.
• General collection items will be moved to lost status when 28 days overdue. Reserve items will be moved to lost status when three days overdue. 
• Replacement fee will be waived for an item if it is returned within six months past the lost status date. 
• Unauthorized possession of library materials violates Wisconsin statutes.  WI Stat § 943.61

Overdue and Replacement Charges By Item Type

Damaged and Missing Items

• Patrons may be held responsible for damage beyond normal wear and tear. 
• Items damaged by food, water or other liquids, pets and marking on pages typically incur charges, as can broken spines and torn pages. 
• For media or kits, losing a single piece may result in charges. 

Fine Appeals

• Patrons must appeal a fine using this form within 28 calendar days from the fine notice.
• Appeals will be reviewed and answered within two weeks from the date submitted. 
• The following are NOT reasons on which an appeal may be based:
  • Lack of knowledge of circulation policy
  • Disagreement of fine and fee structure
  • Inability to pay fines/fees
  • Material loaned to a third party
  • Material returned to wrong library
  • Non-receipt of library courtesy notice
  • Forgetting due dates
  • Being out of town

Holds

A patron may put circulating items on hold. Items will be held for 10 days. 

Distance Education

• Distance Education students may have items mailed to their address. 
  • Patrons may return items via mail at their own expense or to their nearest UW library.
  • Patrons are responsible for any loss or damage that occurs in the return mailing process.

Resource Sharing

Requests may be made by UW-River Falls students, staff, faculty, emeriti and honored retirees. 

• Patrons may request an unlimited number of items.
• Course reserves, streaming media and physical copies of journal articles or book chapters may not be requested.
• Patrons will be notified by email on request status/availability.
• Patrons will have 10 days to pick up a physical item from the help desk before it is returned to the lending library.
• Electronic items will remain available in the patron’s account for 30 days. Electronic items may be retrieved/downloaded up to 100 times.
• Loan periods are set by the lending library.
• Renewals are allowed at the discretion of the lending library.
• Lost or damaged items from another UW library will be billed at the standard replacement cost of $100. Additional processing fees may apply.
• Lost or damaged items from a non-UW library are subject to replacement and other applicable fees as determined by the lending library.

Wisconsin Statutes Governing Library Records and Materials

Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes § 43.30, library records indicating the identity of any individual who borrows or uses the library’s materials, resources or services will not be disclosed except by court order or to persons acting in the scope of their duties in the administration of the library.

University of Wisconsin River Falls Chalmer Davee Library materials are covered under Wisconsin Statute 943.61 and the Wisconsin Administrative Code UWS 18.12(4)(a).