Borrowing and Fines Policies

Recalls

• If someone has borrowed a book you need, you can request it
• Library staff will find the quickest way to get it for you, including requesting another copy through Omni

Account management via Omni

You can sign in to Omni and:

• Check personal information. (Please report any changes to the Library)
• See a list of books borrowed and due dates
• Place requests for available items
• Check the status of requests
• Review any fines owing
• Renew books online

Returning Library Material

Return items to:

• Book bins between the front doors of the Waterloo Campus Library
• Services and Help Desk, main floor, Waterloo Campus Library
• Circulation Desks at Brantford Public Library and the Social Work Library (Kitchener Campus)
• University of Waterloo, University of Guelph or any of the 17 other partner Omni university libraries across Ontario
• Note: Course reserves and items on loan from public, U.S. or international libraries must be returned to the desk from which they were borrowed

Transferring materials to other users

If you have borrowed an item and wish to pass it along to another users, bring the item to the Service Desk and have it signed out on the other user's card. Users are responsible for all materials signed out on their cards

Suspension of Borrowing Privileges 

All borrowing privileges will automatically be suspended until the issue is resolved, if any borrower has:

• 1 recalled item overdue
• or has accumulated $20 in unpaid fines and fees

Fines and Lost Books

Overdue fines will not be charged for regular loans of any materials. Patrons will be given 30 days to return materials that are overdue before the item is declared lost. 

For recalled materials, overdue fines apply. Materials recalled must be returned to the library within 7 days. Following the 7-day period, fines of $4.00 per day will be assessed to a maximum of $56. Fines for media will be assessed at $10 per day with a maximum fine of $100. 

Patrons will be given 14 days to return recalled material before the item is declared lost. 

Items declared lost will incur the following charges:

• $25 non-refundable administration charge
• $125 default replacement charge

Charges are in addition to assessed fines for recalls.

Patrons can purchase an identical copy of the book they lost and bring it to the library and the $125 default replacement charge will be waived if the book is deemed acceptable. The $25 non-refundable administration charge will still apply.

These fines and policies are standard across all Omni partner institutions. 
 

Borrowing privileges

Laurier students, faculty, staff and retirees are automatically granted borrowing privileges for borrowing from Omni as long as they are actively enrolled, employed, or retired, and have a OneCard.

Faculty, student, staff users, as well as students in TUG joint programs, have borrowing privileges of print materials from the other 17 partner Omni university libraries through a resource sharing agreement.

Faculty and students can borrow up to 500 print resources at a time.

Additional borrowing privileges for faculty

In addition to borrowing from Laurier and the other 17 partner Omni libraries, faculty may borrow materials directly from all universities who are members of the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL). To use the libraries at these universities, a current Laurier card in good standing is required and must be presented at the appropriate desk. Any necessary registration form must be completed and collateral identification may be required. The lending library's policies on circulation of materials, fines, loan periods, etc. apply. Faculty members may also borrow directly from Canadian university libraries through the Canadian University Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement. Some Universities may still require an IUBP card. This card may be obtained from the User Services desk in the library at the Waterloo campus.

Borrowing period

• Laurier students, faculty, staff and retirees may borrow books for 120 days (most recent issue of periodicals cannot be borrowed)
• Reserve materials may be borrowed for three hours or one day depending on the item
• Media such as DVDs or audio recordings, and government documents that have barcodes may be borrowed for 14 days
• In most cases, reference materials may not be borrowed but some exceptions are made. Please contact the service desk for more information.

The Library sends renewal reminders prior to items becoming due however it is the responsibility of the user to renew or return the items prior to the due date.

Arrangements may be made for Research Assistants to borrow Library materials in a faculty member's name (proxy). Contact Michelle Goodridge and please allow 5 business days for proxy requests to be processed.

Sometimes users require access to our resources who are not affiliated with the university in a traditional way. Examples of these includes;

• Visiting Scholars
• Visiting Professors
• Visiting Researchers
• Visiting Research Chairs
• Independent Scholar

These affiliated researchers that are outside of the 17 partner Omni libraries will be issued a Special Borrowers Card upon receipt of their appointment letter as a visiting scholar/researcher from their Dean or department. This letter must include the term of their appointment and email address the user can be reached at. Once we receive this information we will create an account for the user so they have access to print and e-resources.

Please use the Affiliate User Account Request Form to submit your requests. 

All submissions will receive an email confirmation, followed by a second email once the user's library account and online access has been configured. Most requests will be completed within 5-7 business days.

Affiliated borrowers from outside of the 17 partner Omni libraries may borrow print materials for 14 days. They may borrow videos or music CDs for three days.

Register to borrow

Laurier alumni are eligible to obtain a library card through the Alumni Office by downloading the Golden Perks app.

Obtain your digital alumni card through Golden Perks

Register your alumni card with the Library by completing the Library Activation Form and you will be emailed once your account is activated.

Your alumni account will be valid for 5 years and can be renewed by contacting us.

Borrowing privileges

Alumni are able to:

• Borrow print materials (a total of 20 items at a time) in person from the Laurier Library for 14 days (no renewals)
• Borrow DVDs and audio recordings such as music CDs, for three days
• Visit the Annex in person by arrangement
• View material from Archives and Special Collections Department (the material must remain in the department)
• Access a defined list of online resources from off campus
• Access online resources (journals, databases) on public access computers at the Laurier Waterloo campus site. Note: public access computers for alumni are not available at the Social Work Library in Kitchener.

Alumni are not able to:

• Order materials on Interlibrary loan
• Borrow items on reserve
• Book library group study rooms
• Renew books

Borrowing period

Alumni may borrow items, including books, past issues of periodicals and most government documents, for 14 days. DVDs and audio recordings may be borrowed for three days. An e-mail reminder is sent prior to the item becoming due.

Register to borrow

Community members are welcome to apply for a community borrower's card upon presentation of a valid government issued photo ID. There is no fee for the card. Registration is valid for one year.

Separate cards from University of Waterloo and University of Guelph are required in order to borrow from those libraries.

Community borrowers include, but are not limited to:

• Adults or high school students who reside in the immediate area
• Full-time faculty members from community colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (may register their home institution cards for no fee)
• Beckett School instructors
• Lifelong Learners (obtain a card from the Laurier Association for Lifelong Learning)

Borrowing privileges

Community Borrowers are able to:

• Borrow print materials (a total of 20 items at a time) in person from the Laurier Library for 14 days
• Borrow DVDs and audio recordings for three days.
• Visit the Annex in person by arrangement
• View material from Archives and Special Collections Department (the material must remain in the department)
• Access online resources (journals, databases) on public access computers at the Laurier Waterloo campus site.

Community Borrowers are not able to:

• Order materials on Interlibrary loan (RACER)
• Book study rooms
• Borrow items on reserve
• Renew items
• Due to licensing restrictions, most electronic resources are not available from off campus. Community borrowers may visit the Laurier library and access electronic resources (journals, databases) on site. (Please note these public computers are temporarily unavailable)

Borrowing period

Community borrowers may borrow print items, including books, past issues of periodicals and most government documents for 14 days. Audio recordings and DVDs may be borrowed for 3 days.