Borrowing Information

Library Card

Your library card is your student I.D. card. It is available from Enrollment Services on the 1st Floor of the Garretson Woodruff Pratt (GWP) Building.

Borrowing Periods

You can borrow a book from the UW Tacoma Library for four weeks for most borrowers, 12 weeks for faculty and graduate students. When ordering from the Seattle or Bothell campus libraries, try to pick your materials up as soon as possible. Circulation periods for these libraries may be different from UWT, anywhere from three days to end of quarter. Check due dates carefully! Any borrower may place a hold for a non-reserve item that is on loan. The item will then be recalled from the current borrower. If another borrower has placed a hold on an item you have, it will not renew - return by the recall date or fines may accrue.

Renewing Materials

Renew any University of Washington Library books using your library account at https://catalog.lib.washington.edu/patroninfo/. You can also renew by telephone (253-692-4440) or in person. If you renew by telephone you may be asked to limit the number of books renewed at one time. If another patron has placed a hold on an item you have, it will not renew - return by date due or fines may accrue.

Bookdrop

You can return non-reserve items checked out from any UW Library location to any other UW Library. UW Tacoma Library has an indoor book drop for return of library items located at the front desk. There is also an outdoor drop-chute in the wall adjacent to the front door and an outdoor return drop along Dolly Roberson Lane and C Street near the library.

Overdue Notices

Overdue notices are a courtesy only, and non-receipt is not a valid reason for keeping materials past their due date. Library staff can print out date due information at checkout. Your library account (https://catalog.lib.washington.edu/patroninfo/) provides you with the most current due dates and is also how you can renew items, place holds, and complete other library transactions. You are responsible for returning your items by the due date. You may elect to receive overdue and hold availability notices by Email. See library circulation staff for details.

Fine Amounts

Fines of $.50 per day are assessed for non-reserve overdue books. If you don't return the item by the due date, fines of $.50 accrue to a maximum of $25.00. After 30 days, you will be billed the $25.00 fine and the replacement charge for the overdue item. UW Libraries standard replacement cost is $150.00.

Reserve materials or material with a loan period of less than three days incur fines of $2.50 for the first hour and $.50 per hour after that. When fines total $30.00, you will be charged the fine and the replacement charge for the item. Reserve materials cannot be renewed.

Paying Fines

Fines are payable through the UW Seattle cashier's office, or online with a credit card. You may pay in person at the Library Cashier's Office on the ground floor of the Suzzallo Library on the Seattle campus, Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 4:00pm during the quarter, noon - 4:00pm interims, or by mailing a check or money order made payable to the University of Washington to:

Library Cashier, Suzzallo Library
UW Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA. 98195-2900
http://www.lib.washington.edu/services/borrow/fines/

To Pay Online: https://digital.lib.washington.edu/payment/payfines.do

Appealing Library Charges

You may file an appeal if you think the library has made an error or if you have a special situation that made it difficult for you to return or renew materials on time. Charges may be upheld, reduced or cancelled. Appeals must be filed within six months of billing. Appeals based on not knowing the library rules or the amount of charges, claiming your need was greater than another's, being too busy, being out of town, uncertainty about the due date, failing to receive an overdue notice, or failing to read your e-mail are generally not regarded as valid reasons for canceling or reducing library charges.

*** ONLINE APPEALS FORM ***

To begin the appeals process complete the online APPEALS FORM. Please take time to read through all instructions carefully and be sure to refer to the FAQ if you have any immediate questions. You will receive an Appeals Confirmation Receipt via e-mail if you enter an e-mail address on your appeal form. If you do not enter an e-mail address, but wish to confirm the receipt of your appeal, contact the Library Cashier at (206) 543-1174. The final decision from the committee will be sent via US mail to the address you provide in your Appeal. Please notify the Library Cashier of any changes to your address. The Library Fines Appeals Committee consists of a faculty member and students and it makes its decision independently of the Libraries.

For additional information, see the complete text of the UW Libraries Loan Code.