UTPB Student Loans
General Information
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Presentation of a valid UTPB ID card is required for all circulation of materials as well as some other services.
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.
Alumni members may check out 25 items at a time.
Loan Periods
Materials lent through the Circulation Desk include books, Bound periodicals, DVDs, CDs, and Laptops
- Books: 28 days
- Bound Periodicals: Do not circulate
- DVDs & CDs: 3 days
- Library Laptops: 3 days
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 students from the Library is via their UTPB email. Please keep your email address up to date!
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. When library materials are returned after their due date, overdue fines are charged.
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.
- A non-refundable processing fee of $10.00
- 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.
- The overdue fine of $0.25 per day per item, as applicable.
Borrowers may not have outstanding fines, fees, or overdue books at the time of laptop checkout.
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.
Holds
Faculty, staff, and students may request an item available in the Circulating Collection be put on the Hold Shelf to be picked up within 7 days.
Requests to put an item on hold is done by the patron through Falcon Finder on the Library’s Home Page. Type the title of the item, click “Search” under Falcon Finder, then “continue”. Next click on the item's location link. Sign in to make the "request" to place the item on hold. An email notification will be sent when the item is on the hold shelf and is ready for pick up.
Request for Recalls
If a student requires an item that is currently on loan, they may request for a recall of the item.
Requests to recall an item is done by the patron through Falcon Finder on the Library’s Home Page. Type the title of the item, click “Search” under Falcon Finder, then “continue”. Next click on the item's location link. Sign in to make the "request" to recall the item. An email notification will be sent when the item has returned and is on the hold shelf ready for pick up.
Course Reserves
Books and articles put on reserve by the faculty for student use are available at the Library Services (Circulation) Desk. Lists of reserve items appear in the OPAC and the Reserve Binder at the Library Services Desk. A student should know the instructor's name, course number and the title of the item to facilitate requests for reserve materials. Most materials are available for two hour in-Library use. Overdue fines are $0.25 per hour. Some materials are available for longer periods of time and have a $1.00 per day fine.