Loan Periods and Item Limits

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General

Borrowers are financially responsible for all material charged to their library account, regardless of patron status (faculty, student, staff, etc.). The original borrower will be liable for all fines, fees, and/or replacement costs incurred on materials loaned by the original borrower to another person. These rules apply to all NU library borrowers.

Library Cards

Current Northwestern WildCARDs serve as library cards for students, faculty and staff. Others may direct inquiries about borrowing and access privileges to the Main Library Privileges Office. Lost library cards should be reported immediately to the Library Privileges Office.

Library cards are not transferable under any circumstances. Qualified faculty, staff, and any user with a disability may request proxy borrowing privileges for a research assistant.

Loan Periods

The initial loan periods on most circulating items in the general collections are as follows:

  • One year for NU faculty
  • Twelve weeks for NU graduate students, undergraduates and staff
  • Four weeks for alumni and other guests

Journals, reference books, periodicals, and certain other materials do not circulate. Items from the Core Collection, Marjorie I. Mitchell Multimedia Center, and items on Reserve for a class have shorter loan periods. Please check with the individual collections for their specific loan policies.

When a patron's WildCARD is set to expire within their normal loan period, the due date on the materials will be the same as the WildCARD's expiration date.

Please note that the due date for a book may be shortened if the item is recalled by another user. Patrons are notified by e-mail or mail of the new due date, and fines will apply for items not returned by the new date at the rate of one dollar per day. See Recall Policy section for more information.

Borrowing Limits per patron

  • 500 items for NU faculty
  • 500 items for NU graduate students
  • 200 items for NU undergraduate students
  • 200 items for NU staff
  • 100 items for NU alumni
  • 100 items for NU guests
  • 100 items for U of C borrowers
  • 100 items for corporate borrowers
  • 25 items for Evanston resident borrowers

If a patron's fines and fees total reaches or exceeds $100*, their borrowing privileges are automatically blocked. When an account is blocked, the patron is unable to check out new items or renew any items they have already checked out.

*All patrons are blocked at $100, except for Evanston Resident borrowers who are blocked at $50.

Returning Materials

  • Book drops are located on either side of the Main Circulation desk.
  • Each library location provides after-hours outside book drops which are open year round (except for Schaffner and Mudd).
  • A drive-up book drop is located just North of Locy Hall in the Fisk Hall parking lot on the Evanston campus. This drop is emptied once daily Monday through Friday. Patrons are urged to return time-sensitive materials directly to the Library.
  • Receipts for materials returned in person may be requested at time of return, if returned directly to a staff member at the Circulation desk.
  • Books from most NU library locations (including books from Law, Schaffner, Galter Health Sciences, Mudd, Math, and United) may be returned at the Main Circulation desk. NOTE: This excludes CORE books and materials on reserve, which must be returned to the desk where they were originally checked out.
  • Books may be returned by mail (including intercampus mail), but will not be removed from the patron's record until the date they are received. Patrons are responsible for any associated late fees. Please address returns to:
    • Circulation Services
      NU Main Library
      1970 Campus Drive
      Evanston, IL 60208

NOTE: Borrowers will be held responsible for all books outstanding on their accounts unless a return receipt is presented at the Circulation Desk.

Students, Faculty and Staff Who Leave the University

All NU students, faculty and staff must return all library material before permanently leaving the University. Bills will be generated for books that are still checked out to patrons who have left.

Corporate Borrowing

For information on corporate borrowing go to the Circulation Policy for Corporate Borrowers page.