A fine of 10 cents per book is charged for each day that a book is overdue. Fines are not calculated for days when the Library is closed, and fines do not exceed the cost of the book. Patrons are liable for the replacement cost for lost materials plus a $10 nonrefundable processing fee. If the material is returned within 6 months of the payment, a refund for the replacement cost (minus the processing charge and fines calculated from date due to the date returned) can be made.

Note: Students who have overdue materials or fines will have their borrowing privileges suspended 2 weeks after the fine notice. It is WSU policy that students (including former students) owing money to the Library will not be permitted to register for classes or to be issued a transcript. Accounts must be paid in full before we can clear you with the Registrar's Office.

Our faculty members often place additional required materials on reserve at the Circulation Desk. Loan periods are determined by the professor and items can circulate either for 24 hours, 3 days, or be restricted to use only within the Library for a 2-hour period. 

Fines for overdue reserves are 50 cents per hour or fraction thereof that the Library is open, including those only used within the Library. There is no limit on fines for reserve materials. Reserve materials cannot be renewed, and items must be left at the Circulation Desk for a 24-hour period before the same person can check them out again. A separate policy for reserve items is available.

In-Person Renewals

Most library material circulates for 28 days. Items must be renewed on or before the due date. Fines must be paid before items can be renewed. There is a one-time renewal of 14 days from the original due date, and you can make the renewal in person with the items or online at the HELM online catalog.

Online Renewals

Directions for renewing materials using the HELM online catalog:

• Login into your account on the right-hand side of the HELM Catalog page.
• Displayed under the heading Checked Out Items, will be a list of all material that you have checked out along with the due dates. Material must be renewed on or before the due date. If the material is already overdue, the system will not permit a renewal.
• A small box under the heading "Renew?" appears to the left of each title. Click inside the box next to each title you wish to renew. (If you make a mistake, just click again, and the check mark will disappear.)
• After checking the titles, click on the box that reads Renew Items following the list of charged items.
• When you have finished with your personal information screen, click the Logoff button in the top row of small buttons. This will clear your personal information from your web browser as well as the screen.

If you see "Not Renewed?" next to the item you have checked out, it may mean the following:

• A hold may be placed by someone else on items you have checked out.
• You have already renewed; there is a limit of only one renewal.

There are 2 categories for special borrowers due to our participation in 2 consortia:

• WILL is a walk-in interlibrary loan arrangement with other Massachusetts state academic libraries, such as UMass Medical, Fitchburg State University, Quinsigamond Community College. Students need to have a valid OneCard.
• ARC, the Academic Research Collaborative, is administered by the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System.  

Borrowers in the above categories are expected to comply with all regulations of the participating libraries. 

If you are a special borrower, the cards you're issued are not transferable and do not include borrowing privileges for non-print materials or the use of interlibrary loan services.