Circulation & Borrowing Policies

•  Confidentiality of Your Library Record
• Borrowing Privileges
• Library Card Use
• Loan Periods
• Returning & Renewing Materials
• Recall Service & Placing Holds
• Fines, Fees, & Other Charges

Confidentiality of Circulation Records 

Please be assured that your patron record, which contains personal information and a record of all materials currently checked out is confidential. [more...]

Borrowing Privileges

FIU students must be enrolled in the current semester and have a current Panther Card to borrow materials.

FIU students must be enrolled in the university and registered for class during each semester, and present a Panther Card to borrow materials.  Unless FIU students are registered and taking classes, library borrowing privileges are not provided.  Graduate students performing thesis and dissertation research must be registered if only for this purpose.

FIU faculty and staff must be currently employed by FIU and present a Panther Card to borrow materials.

FIU Alumni are eligible for borrowing privileges with their Panther Card.  Don't have your card?  Contact the I.D. Office at either campus to obtain a replacement card.

Florida Public University and Community College students, faculty and staff are eligible for borrowing privileges with a valid ID from their home insititution.

Students and Faculty from participating SEFLIN insitituions with a current SEFLIN access card from their home institution may have borrowing privileges.

Members of the General Public are welcome to use library resources within the libraries and may have borrowing privileges by purchasing annual membership in the Library Associates.

FIU Affiliates such as visiting faculty and  participants in special programs may be eiligible for borrowing privileges.  Please inquire at the Circulation Desk.

Library Card Use

1. Your Panther I.D. Card is your Library card [more...]
   
2. The library card holder assumes the responsibility for all materials charged to the library card. and is responsible for replacement related costs for lost, stolen or damaged items.  Lending or giving a book or material you have borrowed from the FIU Libaries or from Interlibrary Loan to someone else does not remove you from being responsible for that material.
3. Lost or stolen library cards should be reported immediately to the Circulation Desk. The library card holder has the responsibility to prevent use by anyone other than the holder. Once the loss or theft of the library card is reported to the Circulation Desk, the library card will be immediately blocked against further use.  To obtain a new Panther Card, contact the I.D. Office.

Loan Periods

General Collection Books & Most Government Documents

Renewals may not exceed renewal limits listed below. For continued use after the renewal limit, materials must be returned to the library to begin the check-out cycle again.
 

Other Collections

1. Course Reserve materials circulate for either 2 hours (in-library use only), 24 hours, or 3 days. Overdue fines accrue at the rate of $1.00 per hour.
2. Laptops, keys to group study rooms, and other electronic devices circulate for 3 hours with an overdue fine of $30.00 per hour.
3. Sound and Image materials circulate for various time periods, depending upon the format of the item.
4. Other materials, such as Reference books, periodicals and other items marked "DO NOT CIRCULATE" may be used only inside the Library.

Renewing & Returning Materials

1. Renewing Materials online is possible from your library account (via the Library Catalog), or in person at the Circulation Desk with the materials in hand. Renewals are not guaranteed if the material has been requested by another patron.
2. Materials may be returned to the Green Library or Biscayne Bay Campus Library. Please use the book return slot at the Circulation Desk or the outside book drop. 

Recall Service/Placing Holds

1. Recalled materials will be held at the Circulation Desk for 10 days beginning with the date of the email notification. If unclaimed after 10 days, recalled materials will be returned to the stacks.
2. Materials checked out are subject to recall at any time, usually for use by another patron or to be placed on Reserve. You should receive a Recall Notice informing you if this occurs. If you receive a Recall Notice, please note that the due date on the notice may be different from the original due date for the material being recalled. Please return the recalled material by the new due date.
3. Recalled materials may not be renewed.

Fines, Fees, and Other Charges Owed to the Library

1. Library Fines for most overdue materials are 25 cents per day per item. Exceptions include but are not limited to Course Reserves, Laptops, and Group Study Rooms.
2. An invoice for materials overdue in excess of 30 days will be issued with a minimum charge of $100.00 for replacement related costs.  Library privileges will be blocked until the material has been returned or the invoice paid.
3. Library circulation privileges may be blocked if materials are more than 30 days overdue.  Exceptions are laptops, accessories, and group study rooms which may result in the account being blocked after the item is 24 hours overdue.
4. You may check your PantherSoft Account to view library fines, fees, and charges.  If you have questions, please contact the Circulation Desk at 305-348-2451 and ask to speak with staff regarding library charges.

Payments of Fines, Fees, and Charges

The Library is not authorized to issue override requests for fines and other money owed to the Library.  Library accounts must be settled before registering for classes, obtaining transcripts, etc.

Payment must be made to the University Cashier's Office in the Charles Perry Building on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus or to the University Cashier's Office in the Academic-One Building on the Biscayne Bay Campus.
Call (305) 348-2126 or (305) 919-5540 for hours payment may be received. The FIU Libraries do not accept payment in the library for overdue fines or replacement charges.
 

Payment by check is to be mailed to:

FIU Cashier's Office
PC-120, Modesto A. Maidique Campus
Florida International University
Tamiami Trail
Miami, FL 33199