Borrowing From Tisch

The circulation desk, located just inside the entrance of the library on level 2, is open all hours of library operation. All Tisch Library circulating materials, except media, are checked out at the circulation desk. Arts, Sciences and Engineering (AS&E) faculty, staff and students register their ID cards at the circulation desk. Registering an ID card activates borrowing privileges for faculty, staff and students. Library borrower card privileges are for personal use only and are not transferable.

All users must present a current, valid library borrower card in order to borrow Tisch Library materials. The circulation desk is where borrowers check out materials requested through the Boston Library Consortium (BLC) Virtual Catalog and Document Delivery. The circulation staff can assist borrowers with renewals, recalls, and traces of library materials. Fines and replacement fees are paid at the circulation desk. Address changes and lost ID’s should be reported to the circulation desk as soon as possible.

The phone number for the circulation desk is 617-627-3347.

Who Can Borrow

Loan Periods

Loan periods for Tisch Library materials vary depending on the type of material and status of user. The following is a list of loan periods for Tisch circulating books and books borrowed through the Virtual Catalog (VC) and Document Delivery (DD):

Recalls

Tisch Library books, government documents, and software are subject to recall at any time including between semesters and during the summer. All users are responsible for responding to recall notices even if the user is away from the Tufts campus. Materials that are recalled must be returned by the new due date specified on the recall notice, regardless of the original due date issued at checkout or renewal. Overdue recalled items accrue fines at the rate of $1.00 per day per item until the recalled item is returned. All library users are charged $1.00 per day per item for overdue recalled materials.

For more information on recalls, including placing a recall request, please consult the FAQ.

Holds

Returned recalled materials and materials found during library traces are held for 14 days for the user who requested the recall or trace. A library notice is sent to notify the requestor that the item is on hold. Items on hold that are not checked out by the requestor after 14 days are returned to the general circulating stacks so other users can access the material.

Library users who cannot provide an ID to check out library circulating print materials and software can request to have the materials held for 24 to a maximum of 48 hours until they can retrieve or replace their ID. After 48 hours the materials are returned to the general circulating stacks so other users can access the material.

Renewals and Renewal Limits

The option for renewals depends on the type of material and status of the user. Faculty, staff and students can renew Tisch Library books, software and government documents unless the item is recalled. Recalled materials, media materials and books requested through the Virtual Catalog and Document Delivery cannot be renewed. There are limits set for each user category for the number of renewals available for Tisch Library materials. Below is a list of renewal limits by user category:

Materials that have reached their renewal limit must be returned to the library. Borrowers who want to continue using the items can check them out again.

Library users can renew materials in person at the circulation desk, by phone to Circulation at 617-627-3347 and online using “My Account”. Overdue materials cannot be renewed online. If materials are overdue, please contact the circulation desk to request a renewal.

Traces

Library users who cannot locate a book in the general stacks can request a trace at the circulation desk. Library shelving staff will search the stacks and other locations 3 times at staggered time intervals in an attempt to locate the book. You will be notified when the book is found and it will be held for you at the circulation desk.

Returns

Library users can return all Tisch circulating print materials and Virtual Catalog or Document Delivery materials checked out from Tisch to the circulation desk, or to the discharge area located to the left of the circulation desk or to the 24 hour book return located outside the library’s entrance. Reserve material and Media Center material must be returned to the reserve desk and Media Center respectively.

Overdue Fines

Circulating materials that are returned to the library after the due date or are renewed after the due date incur overdue fines. Charges are posted to the user’s library account when the materials are returned or renewed. Library users can pay Tisch, Media and Music charges at the Tisch circulation desk. Cash, checks and points plus are accepted as payment. Overdue charges incurred on materials checked out from other Tufts libraries should be referred to the respective owning library. Below is a list of Tisch Library per item daily fines:

Replacement Fees

All Tisch and Music Library users are responsible for replacement fees for lost, damaged or unreturned library materials. Replacement fees are posted to the user’s library account. Library users can resolve these charges at the Tisch circulation desk. Cash, checks, points plus and Interdepartmental Requisitions (IDR) are accepted as payment.