Currently enrolled students and current faculty and staff can check out most circulating materials for standard loan periods by using an active WildCard.
Some items such as multimedia and course materials on reserve have shorter loan periods. Always refer to Your Account for exact due dates for individual items.
Standard loan periods and limits are:
| Affiliation | Loan Period | Loan Limits | Renewal Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Undergraduate students |
16 weeks |
200 items |
Consecutively 3 times |
|
Graduate students |
Up to May 31 of current academic year |
500 items |
Indefinite |
|
Faculty |
Up to May 31 of current academic year |
500 items |
Indefinite |
|
Staff |
16 weeks |
200 items |
Consecutively 3 times |
|
Post doctoral students |
Up to May 31 of current academic year |
500 items |
Indefinite |
Don’t panic. Many fines and fees can be resolved by returning the item.
For questions or payment instructions, please email the circulation desk at circulation@northwestern.edu
Northwestern Libraries does not charge daily fines on most regular circulating items.
Exceptions where daily fines will accrue:
technology and equipment like laptops and chargers
course reserves
courtesy items like white board markers and umbrellas
Items that are severely overdue are marked as lost. Lost books or seriously damaged books will result in a one-time $125 replacement charge.
You may receive a higher replacement charge for high-value items like laptops.
Borrowing privileges are automatically blocked for accounts with:
Over $100 in fines or lost fees
Overdue recalled items
Very overdue Interlibrary Loan items