• Return or renew materials checked out to you on or before their due date.  Log in to your Library Account to keep track.
• Protect all materials from damage and theft.  You are responsible for each item until it is checked in by library staff.
• Keep materials in good condition.  Do not write in books, fold pages, or put sticky notes in them (they leave a residue).

Library materials are used by thousands of people every year.  Everyone deserves to have materials in good condition.  Please do your part!

• LSU faculty, staff, and students must present a current LSU ID card in order to charge materials.
• ID cards are not transferable.
• Each individual is responsible for all library materials charged to his/her card.
• Lost ID cards should be reported immediately to the ID Office in the LSU Union and to the checkout desk in LSU Library.
• Faculty and graduate students in good standing may obtain a LOUIS Reciprocal Borrowers Card from the checkout desk or online which will allow them to get library privileges at other LOUIS institutions. A list of participating LOUIS libraries may be obtained from the LOUIS homepage.

Some individuals not affiliated with LSU may receive limited borrowing privileges. These individuals include:

• Louisiana residents (age 18 or older) with valid photo ID
• Out-of-state residents who teach in Louisiana K-12 schools (must be requested by principal or superintendent)  
• Persons affiliated with academic institutions belonging to the LOUIS consortium who have a LOUIS Reciprocal Borrowing Card, including out-of-state residents
• Out-of-state residents working for Louisiana state agencies
• OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program participants
• Graduate students from institutions located in other states or countries (must be requested by thesis advisor, department head, or a librarian at their home institution)
• The LSU Libraries will revoke public patron borrowing privileges in the event of misuse or if we receive information that the patron is no longer welcome on campus.

Individuals may request public borrowing privileges during the following times:

Call 225-578-5652 to confirm Library hours, as holidays may affect staff ability to process public patron borrowing requests.

Letters requesting special borrowing privileges should be submitted to the Head of Circulation Services or to the Dean of Libraries and must be accompanied by proof of eligibility.

Public Patrons may borrow up to 10 books for a period of 28 days. Audio-Visual items circulate for 7 days. All Special Borrowers are subject to all rules and regulations including all library fees.

Due to licensing restrictions, remote access to electronic products is not available to Public Patrons. Also, Interlibrary Loan services are only available to Visiting Scholars.

Every library patron has a right to privacy while using properly charged library materials. Names of borrowers will not be disclosed (Louisiana Revised Statutes, Section 44:13).

Please be aware that this statute prohibits us from discussing patron accounts with third parties, except in the case of parents of minor children. For privacy and security reasons, we also do not discuss patrons' accounts over the telephone. Patrons who have questions about their accounts should e-mail them to libcirc@lsu.edu and a library staff member will send a response to the patron's myLSU account. In compliance with Policy Statement 16.15, "Use of Electronic Mail," we will send e-mail communications only to the "lsu.edu" e-mail address if it exists. We will only use other types of e-mail addresses for correspondence in the case of public patron card users or former LSU employees and students whose myLSU accounts are no longer active.

For faculty and staff, the Access Services Department provides a delivery service of LSU Library and Interlibrary Loan materials.  This includes only library materials in hardcopy format that are not checked out or missing.  Reserve and Government Document materials will not be included. For information on how to receive scans of articles and book chapters from the main library's print collection, please see our Electronic Delivery policies.

This service is available to faculty and staff who are registered with the Libraries, in good standing, and have an LSU departmental address.  You will need an Illiad account to make the request. Once logged in, you will need to select "Deliver to Departmental Mailbox" for your Delivery Method. Books will be delivered to the departmental mailbox of the requestors within 1-2 business days.  A second attempt will be made if the delivery is not successful the first time, but if the department office is inaccessible again, patrons will receive an e-mail stating the problem and asking them to come pick up their materials.  The materials will be placed on hold, and kept at the checkout desk for 7 days.  If they are not picked up in this time frame, they will be returned to the collection.   Users are responsible for getting materials back to the library as there is not a pickup service offered. 

Materials will be checked out to the patron's library account prior to being delivered. The user is responsible for the items requested through this service.  Any LSU Library books not returned or renewed within 40 days of the due date will be considered “lost” and the usual penalties will apply. A limit of eight physical material format items can be requested per day.

• Regular overdue charges are 50 cents per day per item.
• For information about overdue charges on electronics, see http://grok.lsu.edu/Article.aspx?articleid=3494.
• Overdue charges on journals and other short term loans are $1.00 per day per item.
• Charges for Reserve and unbound periodical items are $1.50/hr. Reserve items are considered lost if they are not returned within 24 hours after their due date.  
• The maximum fine is $20.00 per item.
• In addition to fines, service charges and lost book fees are assessed after the maximum fine is reached, or after 40 days, whichever comes first.
• Fines for faculty and staff that have been transferred to the Bursar's Office must be paid there. Notify the Access Services Department as soon as your bills are paid in order to have your library privileges reinstated.

Current library charges may be paid at the checkout desk using cash, check, or Tiger Card. They may also be paid online with a credit card by logging in to a user’s library account. All library charges forwarded to the Bursar's Office must be paid at that office prior to registration. Older bills (already at the Bursar's Office) may be paid with a credit card through myLSU.

Patrons who are not satisfied with the resolution of their inquiries about library charges may file a formal appeal, as long as they have not paid the fines under despute. The time limit for filing an appeal is two years after the due date of the item(s). If you wish to file a formal appeal, please fill out the online form below. Forms may also be obtained at the checkout desk if you wish to file a paper appeal or if the online form is not working.

Appeals made on the behalf of others will not be accepted. Please note that the following circumstances are also not grounds for filing an appeal to cancel a fine:

• Lack of knowledge of library policy
• Lack of understanding of library policy
• Inability to pay fines and charges
• Failure to receive a courtesy renewal notice or an overdue notice
• Cases in which you loaned materials charged to you to a classmate, family member, faculty member, etc., who failed to return them

Patrons who wish to request an exception to library borrowing policies, such as a special due date for an item or to have their borrowing privileges reinstated, may file an appeal using the same form.

Eligibility: Each library determines its level of participation. LSU Libraries issues LOUIS Reciprocal Borrower's Cards to LSU faculty, staff, and students for use at other LOUIS institutions. It honors cards from other institutions issued to faculty, staff, and students.

To request a LOUIS Reciprocal Borrowing card

1. The LSU DE student applies for a LOUIS Reciprocal Borrower's Card using the online LOUIS Reciprocal Borrower's Card application form.
2. The LSU Libraries' Access Services Department verifies that the student is registered for DE classes and prepares and mails the LOUIS Reciprocal Borrower's Card to the DE student.
3. The DE student presents the LOUIS Reciprocal Borrower's Card at the circulation desk of the LOUIS library that they wish to use.
4. Each LOUIS library determines the local procedure for using the LOUIS Reciprocal Borrower's Card, so each has a unique procedure for checking out materials. Some issue a temporary checkout card, valid for the semester, to the student. Some hold the LOUIS Reciprocal Borrower's Card while reserve materials are being used. Students may use a LOUIS Reciprocal Borrower's Card at any participating library but must abide by the policies and procedures of each library.
5. The level of LOUIS library privileges is set by individual libraries, so privileges vary somewhat from library to library. Detailed information about LOUIS privileges can be found on the LOUIS Resource Sharing information page. Although interlibrary loan (ILL) privileges are not usually available to those using LOUIS Reciprocal Borrower's Card, they are available to DE students. If neither the site library nor the LSU Libraries owns needed material, the DE student can request it through ILL at the LOUIS library.

Services to distance education students vary by library because each participating library has policies and procedures unique to its clientele. However, the following information should be helpful:

• When requesting assistance, always identify yourself as an LSU distance education student.
• When Interlibrary Loan services are needed from the library, ask for directions for submitting a request. You will be required to show your LOUIS Reciprocal Borrower's Card (DE student should be checked) and a picture ID.
• Check out circulating collections of other Louisiana academic libraries by using a LOUIS Reciprocal Borrowing card.
• Staff members at LOUIS libraries are extremely supportive of LSU distance education students, but this is a specialized service so some staff might not be familiar with the program. If necessary, ask if anyone else might have additional information.
• Out-of-state students should request services at the nearest public library.