Borrowing from LSU Libraries

Library patrons are responsible for returning books in good condition and will be assessed fines for damages.  Types of damage for which a patron will be charged include, but are not limited to, water damage, pen/pencil marks, torn/ripped pages or covers, and sticky notes.  If books are returned with 20 or more sticky notes, patrons will be assessed a fine of $0.50 for each sticky note.  Other fines will be assessed according to the severity of the damage and range from $10.00 to the replacement cost of the book.

If patrons wish to check out a book that is already damaged, they should show the damage to the Access Services Desk staff, who will make a note in the record and not hold them responsible when the book is returned.

Because we may need to consult with repair specialists about the extent of the damages to books and electronic items, we may not bill patrons for damages immediately after they have been returned. In most cases, patrons will be contacted and billed within five business days after returning a damaged item.

If a book from the main collection is not renewed or returned within 40 days after its due date, it will be considered lost, and the borrower will be billed accordingly. Reserve items are considered lost if they are not returned within 24 hours after their due date. 

If any item is lost, the patron should notify the library immediately in writing or using the Lost Materials Form; overdue fines continue to be assessed until notification is received and/or until the maximum fine is reached. If a book is reported lost before its due date, no overdue fines will be assessed, and the service charge will be reduced to $25.

All library patrons, including faculty, are responsible for lost book charges.  Charges for lost materials are assessed to replace the items lost.  They do not constitute purchase of lost materials, which remain the property of the State of Louisiana.  LSU Libraries does not accept patron-purchased replacement copies of lost materials instead of payment of the replacement fee.

Lost Materials Charges

Lost book charges consist of the following:

• Replacement cost for new item
• A nonrefundable service charge of $30.00
• Accrued overdue fines

Materials returned within 180 days will be credited for the cost of the book only. All other charges are non refundable.

Lost charge for a laptop is $1680.  Upon return, there will be at least a $50.00 non-refundable fee which may increase depending on length of time between billing and return of laptop.

Lost charge for a digital video camcorder are $630.00.  Upon return, there will be at least a $50.00 non-refundable fee which may increase depending on length of time between billing and return of the camcorder.  Repeated or extremely late returns of electronic items may result in the loss of electronics checkout privileges.

No adjustment in the charges may be made for items returned more than 180 days after billing.

If an item belonging to the library is stolen from a patron, the patron should report the theft immediately to the proper authorities and notify the library as soon as possible.  If the patron can provide a copy of the police report or official documentation from the police department with the file number, then overdue fines (if any) and service charges will be waived and the patron will be charged only for the replacement cost of the item.  If a police report is unobtainable, then the patron will be charged a service charge of $25.00 in addition to the replacement cost.  The patron is responsible for the replacement cost of the item in all circumstances.

If a stolen item is returned to the library within 180 days in good condition, then the library will issue a refund to the patron.