Eligible Borrowers
Patrons wishing to borrow materials from Pierce Library must present a current, barcoded library card each time library materials are checked out. This applies to students, faculty, staff and all other patrons. Any of the following library cards are recognized and accepted at Pierce Library:
- Eastern Oregon University ID card
- Library card from a circulating Sage system library (see list of Sage libraries at http://eos.eou.edu/screens/directory.html)
- Library card from a library participating in Summit (see list of Summit libraries at http://www.orbiscascade.org/members.html)
- Town patron borrower’s card
Library patrons who are neither students nor employees of Eastern Oregon University or one of our recognized faculty partners (i.e. OHSU, OSU, ODFW, USFS) may apply for a town patron borrower's card at the Pierce Library circulation desk.
- Identification containing a current address is required for issuance of the card.
- The applicant must sign an agreement to abide by all Pierce Library regulations and policies, and to accept responsibility for all materials borrowed with the card. Failure to abide by library regulations and policies may result in the loss of library privileges and forfeiture of the Town patron borrower's card.
- The applicant must pay $15 per year, with the following exceptions:
- High school students under the age of 18, currently in school with a current student activity card from a high school, may obtain a free town patron card when a signed yellow permission card is on file. (These can be picked up at the circulation desk). This card privilege will expire upon high school graduation.
- High school students over the age of 18 can receive a free town patron card upon presentation of a current student activity card from a high school. This card privilege will expire upon high school graduation.
- The EOU Town Patron card entitles the person to receive unlimited ILL article requests through EOU, typically at no cost. Some exceptions do apply, ask the library for details.
Circulation Loan Periods
The following library materials or collections are designated for in-library use only:
- reference materials
- curriculum library collection
- *periodicals (including microfiche/microfilm periodicals)
- *newspapers (including microfiche/microfilm newspapers)
- archive collection
- aerial photos
- maps
*Although non-circulating, these library materials may be loaned to other libraries through ILL, for use in the borrowing library only.
Loan periods for circulating materials are as follows:
| Material Type | Student / Patron Loan Period | Faculty / Staff Loan Period |
|---|---|---|
| Records | No check-out | One week, with one renewal |
| CDs | One week, with one renewal | For the Term |
| Videos, DVDs | 3 days, with one renewal | 3 days, with one renewal for feature films; all other films for the Term |
| Items on Reserve | Varies by reserve type, generally 1 hr to 3 days | Varies by reserve type, generally 1 hr to 3 days |
| General collections, Government Documents (including microfiche) | 21 days, with three renewals | For the Term |
Renewals
Materials may be renewed in person at the circulation desk, online by accessing your library account, or by telephone at 541-962-3864. To avoid fines, renewal transactions must take place before the item due date. The patron barcode is required in order to renew the item.
Library Fines and Penalties
Lost or Damaged Library Materials
The borrowing library patron is financially responsible for lost, stolen, or severely damaged library materials and/or equipment. Materials cannot be purchased from the library. Patrons may keep the damaged copy of an item after furnishing the library with an acceptable replacement copy, however, the damaged copy must first be submitted to library staff to ensure that the item is properly withdrawn from the system. Any person who has falsely claimed to have lost materials simply to retain possession can be charged for illegally possessing state property.
- $50.00 minimum charge (lost item)
- Charge to be determined (damaged item)
- A $10.00 non-refundable processing fee will be assessed for each item declared lost/damaged. In addition, the borrowing library patron is also responsible for the replacement cost of each item damaged or not returned, and the amount of the fine incurred prior to the item being reported missing.
Overdue Library Materials
Overdue days are counted from the first day the material became overdue to the day the material was returned to the library. Days on which the library was closed are not counted.
To ensure maximum availability of materials, the library collects fines from patrons who do not return materials within the prescribed loan period. The purpose of imposing a fine is to encourage the prompt return of all materials to the library. Patrons receive two (2) overdue notices. All patrons with materials which are 21 days overdue receive a final bill for the replacement cost plus processing fee and any accrued fines. Borrowing privileges may be blocked until the debt is satisfied. The library reserves the right to order a similar work in the subject area as a replacement. If overdue material is returned or replaced within one year, the fee for replacement (but NOT the overdue fines or processing fee) will be refunded.
Fines and other charges per item:
- $ .25 per hour (materials on 1-hour reserve)
- $ 1.00 per day (materials on 24-hour reserve)
- $ 1.00 per day (audiovisual materials: DVD, VHS, CD, etc.)
- $ .25 per day (all other materials)
- $10.00 per item (maximum fine*)
*Upon reaching the $10.00 maximum fine, an additional $10.00 replacement charge will be automatically assessed.
Flagrant rule violation could result in a fine of $1.00 per day and/or a loss of library privileges.
Recall
All materials are subject to recall. The original borrower is guaranteed a normal loan period with no renewal, if the item is recalled. Materials needed for reserve are handled as rush recalls and take precedence over other recalls. In this event, patrons recalling the same item(s) will be notified that the item(s) is/are being placed on reserve.
Debt collection
All monies owing are collected in the Student Accounts Office. A library patron's borrowing privileges may be suspended until all library obligations are resolved. Students’ grades and transcripts are placed on hold until obligations are resolved. Library patrons wishing to dispute fines or other library obligations should appeal to the Circulation Supervisor or Library Director.
