THE MYRIN VIRTUAL LIBRARY

Frequently Asked Questions

BORROWING LIBRARY MATERIALS

Library users may borrow materials by presenting a currently valid Ursinus ID or community borrowers card.

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LOAN PERIODS

The standard loan period for books is 30 days. Ursinus faculty and staff may borrow books for six months. Loan periods for special formats (i.e., videos, DVDs, popular books, etc.) may vary. All borrowed materials are subject to recall. Students doing Honors research should see the Circulation Supervisor to obtain a longer loan period for the materials they are using for their research. These materials are subject to recall.

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RENEWALS

Books may be renewed in person, by telephone, or, for Ursinus students, faculty and staff,  through the "My Account" function in the library catalog*. Books may be renewed once for an additional loan period. However, items on hold for use by another patron or needed for reserves may not be renewed. DVDs and Videos are not renewable online.

* Overdue items are not renewable through the "My Account" function.

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WHY CAN'T I RENEW ALL OF MY MATERIALS ONLINE?

You can renew books online once before they are due. DVDs and Videos are NOT renewable online. If a book has been requested by another patron, you will not be able to renew it. No overdue library materials are renewable online.  Please e-mail mdamiano@ursinus.edu  with any renewal issues.

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WHAT IS MY LOGIN PIN FOR LOGGING INTO THE SYSTEM?

First- time users: try using changeme as your PIN. Please change your PIN to something more secure the first time you login by clicking the "User PIN change" link. If you need to reset your PIN because you’ve forgotten it, please e-mail mdamiano@ursinus.edu.

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HOW DO I RESET MY LOGIN PIN FOR THE SYSTEM?

If you remember your login PIN, you can simply access your account and choose the “User PIN change” option and follow the prompt. If you need to reset your PIN because you’ve forgotten it, please e-mail mdamiano@ursinus.edu

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PLACING AN ITEM ON HOLD

You may request to place a book on hold through the library catalog by clicking on the "HOLD" button attached to the item's record. You can ONLY place a book on hold if it is checked out. If the item is available on the shelf, patrons may retrieve it on their own on a first come-first served basis.

Placing an item on HOLD will not immediately recall an item. The library will not allow the item to be renewed and you will be notified via e-mail when it has been returned. It will then be held at the circulation desk.

Note that some items requested for the reserve room may be recalled. A notice will be sent to the borrower who currently has the item. A recalled item must be returned promptly.

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FINES & OVERDUES

Fines are assessed for library materials returned after their due dates. You will receive a courtesy e-mail notice a few days before any materials are due to remind you to return them or renew them before the due date.

Patrons have a one day grace period to return books. Fines for overdue books will start to accumulate two days after the book is due. Fines for overdue books accumulate at the rate of $0.10 a day per book. The overdue fines for audio/visual materials accumulate at $0.50 per item per day. There is no grace period for audio/visual materials.

A total of three overdue notices will be sent if a material is not returned by its due date. Any material overdue for 30 days will automatically be considered lost and a bill for the replacement cost will be sent.

Overdue fines MUST be cleared by the end of each semester. If they are not, the bill will be sent to the Business Office to be included with your Tuition Bill.

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WHY DO I HAVE A FINE IF I RENEWED MY MATERIALS?

If you renewed your materials after they were already due, you are still responsible for the fines for the time between when they were due and when you renewed them.

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SUSPENSION OF BORROWING PRIVILEGES

The privilege to borrow library items will be suspended for the following reasons:

1. Patron has 10 or more overdue items.
2. Patron has excessive unpaid Library fines.

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