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Community Loans

General Information

  • Adults who live in the Permian Basin area and are not students, staff, or faculty of UTPB.
  • Cost for a library card is $25 per year
  • When checking out books, both the Community User card and a photo ID (driver’s license or passport) must be presented.
  • 5 book maximum check-out for a 14-day period with 2 renewals allowed
  • May not check out from any of the special collections.
  • Items checked out must be renewed or returned in good condition by the borrower on or before the due date in order to avoid fines.
  • There are several computers available with internet accessibility
  • No printing for non-students.
  • Scanning to a USB flash drive is available.

Borrowing Limits

The total number of library materials (books, CDs, government documents, etc.) patrons can have checked out at one time varies depending on the patron's classification with the University.

Community members may check out 5 items at a time.

Loan Periods

Materials lent through the Circulation Desk include books, Bound periodicals, DVDs, CDs, and Laptops

  • Books:14 days
  • Bound Periodicals: Do not circulate
  • DVDs & CDs: Do not circulate
  • Library Laptops: Do not circulate

Renewals of library materials are allowed if there has been no request for that material by any other patron. Materials that are not overdue can be renewed by phone or in-person at the Circulation Desk. Overdue materials will need to be renewed in-person.

Library Fines & Fees

All communication to these patrons from the Library is via email. Please keep your email address up to date! If you do not have email make sure that we have a current phone number.

The Library sends two (2) overdue notices. The third overdue notice is a bill for the replacement costs of the item. Overdue items cannot be renewed.

Patrons may renew books by going calling or coming in to the Library Services Desk.

When an item is 14 days overdue the library will charge the patron for the replacement of the item. That is, when a patron exceeds the grace period the result is the accrual of substantial fines and fees.

If a patron loses an item, they should notify the library immediately in order to halt the accrual of fines or fees. The patron will be billed for the replacement of the item, processing fees, and accrued fines.

Depending on material type, bill-for-replacement charges may consist of up to 3 parts.

  1. A non-refundable processing fee of $10.00
  2. The actual replacement cost of item. For videos and non-print media, replacement charges are always the full price of the materials. Videos have a particularly wide price range.
  3. The overdue fine of $0.25 per day per item, as applicable.

Borrowing privileges are suspended until outstanding fines are paid.

Payments

Payment of fees is made through the Accounting Office. This allows payments to be made at the patron's convenience, and allows fees to be paid in cash, by check, or by credit card; in person, by telephone, or online through the MyUTPB system.

Appeals

Access Services will research library charges at a patron's request. The form is available at the Library Services Desk. The Library Fines Committee will investigate and provide follow-up information.

Examples of reasons that do not constitute a valid basis for changing fines or fees include, such things as:

  • Change of Address. University policy requires that students notify the university ASAP when addresses, phone numbers, etc. are changed.
  • Not know circulation policies
  • Not agree with Library policies
  • Forgetting the due date
  • Loaning the material to a third party
  • Allowing another person to use your ID card
  • Arrangements can be made with the Accounting Office to enable students who owe library fees totaling more than $100, to pay in installments. Enquire at the Accounting Office about this.