Circulation Policies
General Circulation Policies
Circulation policies in addition to those governed by patron privileges or material types include:
Confidentiality
- Information on a current checkout is available ONLY to the patron who has the item checked out.
- Our commitment to your privacy and confidentiality has deep roots not only in law but also in the ethics and practices of librarianship. In accordance with the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics: "We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted."
Fines
- No fines are charged for overdue books.
- Overdue DVDs accrue fines of $1 per day. Recalled DVDs accrue fines of $5 per day (DVDs are recalled only when they are needed for class instruction or reserves).
- Once overdue fines reach $50, checkout of circulating material and DVDs will be blocked until fines have been paid.
Fees
- Damage fees are charged for books requiring repair or treatment when returned. The charge is determined by the Preservation Librarian. Wake Forest Students may pay these fees using Deacon Dollars credit card, cash, or check.
- Replacement fees are charged for unreturned items. Patrons who do not return books are charged an $80 flat fee. DVDs are charged a $50 flat fee. Wake Forest students may pay these fees using Deacon Dollars, credit card, cash, or check.
- If lost books are found and returned within three (3) months of payment, the charge will be refunded.
Loss of Library Privileges
- Library privileges may be restricted for abuse of these privileges, for not returning recalled or overdue Interlibrary Loans, having large numbers of overdue books, or for failure to pay for lost books.
- The failure to respond to a recall of a checked-out book will result in a suspension of all check-out privileges.
- Attempted theft or damage of library materials by WFU students is an honor council violation and can result in suspension from the University. Depending upon degree of severity and value of items involved, these and other violations by the general public can be considered Class H felonies in the eyes of the state of North Carolina and can result in arrest and court action.
Library Borrower Cards
The library’s collections are open to the general public for research, photocopying and scanning. In many cases, borrowing privileges are extended to guests free of charge. Special arrangements have been made to provide borrowing privileges for free for certain categories of guest borrowers. Unaffiliated borrowers can purchase a library card for an annual fee of $50.
Provision of a library card for guests entitles borrower up to 10 books for 30 days. Access to other services (i.e. Interlibrary Loan, DVDs, Study Rooms, Recalls, and off-campus electronic access to databases or e-journals) is restricted.
Free of Charge
- Members of the WFU Board of Trustees and the Board of Visitors
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- No charge for borrowing cards
- No limit on the number of books checked out
- Loan period is one month for books
- DVDs cannot be checked out, but can be viewed in the library. VHS tapes, provided they are not on reserve, can be checked out for 3 days.
- Spouses, Domestic Partners, and Children of WFU Faculty, Staff and Students
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- No charge for borrowing cards
- Entitles borrower to have up to ten books out at one time.
- Loan period is one month.
- DVDs cannot be checked out, but can be viewed in the library. VHS tapes, provided they are not on reserve, can be checked out for 3 days.
- NOTE: This privilege also includes parents residing permanently with university patrons.
- Retired Wake Forest University Faculty and Staff
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- No charge for borrowing cards
- Entitles borrower to have up to ten books out at one time.
- Loan period is one month.
- DVDs cannot be checked out, but can be viewed in the library. VHS tapes, provided they are not on reserve, can be checked out for 3 days.
- Wake Forest University Alumni
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- No charge for borrowing cards
- Entitles borrower to have up to ten books out at one time.
- Loan period is one month.
- DVDs cannot be checked out, but can be viewed in the library. VHS tapes, provided they are not on reserve, can be checked out for 3 days.
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine
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- No charge for borrowing cards
- No limit on the number of books checked out
- Loan period is 90 days for books
- DVDs and VHS tapes may be borrowed provided they are not on reserve. Loan period is 3 days and overdue fine policies apply.
- TALA Library Borrower
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- No charge for borrowing cards.
- Entitles borrowers to 10 books out at one time.
- Loan period is one month.
- DVDs cannot be checked out, but can be viewed in the library. VHS tapes, provided they are not on reserve, can be checked out for 3 days.
- For more information, see TALA Library Privileges.
- Faculty at Other Triad Academic Institutions
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- Free through the TALA Agreement.
- Entitles borrower to have up to ten books out at one time.
- Loan period is one month.
- DVDs cannot be checked out, but can be viewed in the library. VHS tapes, provided they are not on reserve, can be checked out for 3 days.
Annual Fee
- Residents of the Community with Research Needs who are Unaffiliated with an Academic Institution
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- Charge for borrowing card of $50 a year.
- Entitles borrower to have up to ten books at any given time.
- Loan period is one month.
- DVDs cannot be checked out, but can be viewed in the library. VHS tapes, provided they are not on reserve, can be checked out for 3 days.
- Corporations or Area Organizations
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- Charge for borrowing cards of $50 each for up to 10 cards.
- Responsibility for use of cards rests with the organization and privileges are granted only with the signature of the director of the organization.
- Entitles borrowers to five books out at one time per card.
- Loan period is one month.
- DVDs cannot be checked out, but can be viewed in the library. VHS tapes, provided they are not on reserve, can be checked out for 3 days.