1. NUcat says the book I want should be here, but I can't find it on the shelf. What should I do?
Come to the Circulation desk; there are a number of reasons a book might not be where you looked for it. We'll do our best to help you find it. For more information and tips on how to find books on your own, see our Book Location Assistance page.
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2. How do I know when my books are due?
The easiest way to keep track of your due dates is to log into the My Account feature on NUcat, which will show a list of all the items you have checked out and when they are due (as well as a lot of other useful information).
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3. Can I renew items without bringing them in? How many times can I renew my books?
Patrons can renew normal loan Main books online by logging into My Account on NUcat. In general, faculty (who have a year-long loan period) can renew items twice without bringing them in. All other patrons can renew items remotely three times. We do not renew books over the phone, nor will we renew books at the desk if you do not bring them in with you. For more detailed information, see our Renewal policy page.
NOTE: Short term loan items (such as items from the Mitchell Multimedia Center, CORE, or Main Reserve) can NOT be renewed remotely. Items from these collections must be brought in and checked out on a new loan. Contact these departments directly for more information on their policies.
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4. I don't have my WildCARD (or library borrower's card) with me; can I still check stuff out?
We encourage all patrons to have their WildCARD (or library borrower's card) with them when checking items out, but we will make an exception up to 3 times a quarter for patrons who have another form of picture ID with them at the time of checkout. We make a note in the patron's record each time this courtesy is extended.
Please be aware that this is a local courtesy policy that we extend at Main, and not all circulation desks allow it; for instance you must have your WildCARD with you to check out books from Interlibrary Loan, no exceptions.
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5. Can I return books from other library locations at Main?
Most normal loan books from other locations (including SEL, Law, Galter, Schaffner, United, Math, and Geology) can be returned to the Main Circulation desk, where we will check them in and route them on to their home library.
Items from any Reserve desk or from CORE must be returned directly where you checked them out; we will not check them in at Main and there are heavy fines that may accumulate before CORE/Reserve staff pick up your items from us and check them in.
See the "Returning Materials" section of our Borrowers' Responsibilities page for more detailed information.
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6. I got a notice saying that my book is "lost", but I have it! Do I have to pay all these fees if I bring it in?
The system automatically assigns "lost" status to any normal loan book from the Main Library once it is 30 days overdue. A $50 replacement fee and a $10 processing fee are automatically applied to every Main item that goes to "lost" status. The replacement fees will be waived if the books are brought in, but the processing fees are non-refundable. For more detailed information, see our fines and fees policy page.
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7. I got a recall notice on a book that I can't bring in because I'm out of the state/country. Can I get a break on the return time or fines?
We strongly discourage patrons from taking our books out of the Chicago metropolitan area. Any normal loan book can be recalled at any time, and the patron who has it checked out has 10 days at most to return it without penalty. Patrons are held responsible for the timely return of recalled items during all times of the year, including holidays, vacations, and intersessions; if you don't bring or mail your recalled books back on time, you will have to pay the fines. For more information, see our Recall policy page.
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8. A book that I checked out was lost, stolen, or damaged to the point of no longer being usable; what should I do?
Contact the Main Circulation desk and ask to speak to our Fines and Fees assistant about options for replacing the book.
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9. I have some books I'd like to donate to NU Library. Can I drop them off at Circulation?
Please contact the Library Gifts Coordinator to discuss your intended donation rather than just dropping it off; Circulation does not handle book donations. NU Library does accept books, journals, recordings, and other materials that support the research and teaching mission of the University.
While the Library is happy to receive donations, please be aware that we cannot always incorporate all the materials patrons wish to give us directly into our collections. Once a donation is accepted, it becomes property of the NU Library and will not be returned. For more information, please see the Library's Tips and Guidelines for Giving Books page.
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