Circulation Policies: Borrowing Information
Loan periods | Late Fees | Renewals | Reserves | Holds | Confidentiality
All registered Saint Mary's University students with a valid Saint Mary's ID have library user privileges, as do current faculty and staff. Currently enrolled Winona State University students and faculty also have user privileges with appropriate library/ID card.
User privileges are also extended to staff at Saint Mary's Press and students and faculty at Cotter High School. Guest privileges may be requested; contact Laura Oanes, library director, at (507) 457-6909.
You may check out, renew, or return materials anytime the library is open. You must have a valid ID to check out materials. You may go to the Fitz catalog ("Your Borrowing Record") to check the status of your library account or to renew materials.
Loan Periods
Undergraduate Students | SMU Staff |
|
| Books & other media | 28 days, 1 renewal |
| DVDs, videos | 7 days, no renewals |
| Newspapers, journals | In library use only |
| Reference materials | In library use only |
| Honors Theses in Archives | In library use only |
Graduate Students |
|
| Books in General Collection | 2 renewals |
| Curriculum materials, non-video media items | 1 renewal |
| DVDs, videos | 7 days, no renewals |
| Newspapers, journals | In library use only |
| Reference materials | In library use only |
| Honors Theses in Archives | In library use only |
SMU Faculty |
|
| Books & other media | 1 semester, 1 renewal |
| DVDs, videos | 1 semester, no renewals |
| Newspapers, journals | In library use only |
| Reference materials | Circulate with permission |
| Honors Theses in Archives | In library use only |
Winona State Faculty & Students |
|
| Books & other media | 28 days, 1 renewal |
| DVDs, videos | 7 days, no renewals |
| Curriculum materials | In library use only |
| Newspapers, journals | In library use only |
| Reference materials | In library use only |
| Honors Theses in Archives | In library use only |
Cotter Students & Guest Card Holders |
|
| Books & other media | 28 days |
| DVDs, videos | No privileges |
| Newspapers, journals | In library use only |
| Reference materials | In library use only |
| Honors Theses in Archives | In library use only |
Late Fees
In the case of overdue materials students will receive an initial and a final notice and then they will be billed. The library does not collect the fine; it is debited from the student account. The late fee is $10.00 and, if the item is not returned, a replacement fee ($50.00 minimum) will be charged. There is a $60.00 minimum fee for lost videos or DVDs. Overnight fees are .50 per hour, per item and begin 1 hour after the library opens.
A block will be put on the accounts of any SMU students who have overdue materials from Winona State University and, at the end of Spring semester if students still owe book bills or fines to WSU, their transcripts will be held until payment is received in the Business Office.
Renewals
Books and other items from the general collection may be renewed once provided no one else is waiting for them. You may do this online from the Fitz catalog ("Your Borrowing Record") or in the library with your ID card. Call (507)457-1561 if you have questions about online renewal.
Videos and DVDs may not be renewed.
Interlibrary loans may also be renewed online, but you will need to check back on your account to see if the renewal was accepted by the loaning institution.
Reserves
Materials on reserve are held at the Circulation Desk. Unless otherwise indicated, items may be used for two hours. You must have your Saint Mary's ID to check out reserves. Videos and DVDs on reserve must be viewed in the library and do not leave the building.
Holds/Recalls
You may ask to have an item that is checked out placed on hold either at the Circulation Desk or online from the item record. The library staff may call to ask for the return of the item, but the patron who has the item has the right not to release it until it is due. In either case, you will be notified when the item arrives.
If a faculty member requests a charged item for the reserve shelf, the library staff will recall it, and the patron must return it.
Confidentiality
Your borrowing record is confidential. Unless the FBI provides a warrant requesting the information, library circulation transactions are not released.