Library users who are not faculty, students, or staff of the University of Chicago may have different loan periods and due dates. Users can check the due dates for all items they have checked out by logging in to My Library Account on the Library's My Accounts page. If you have any questions about your loan period or due dates, ask a Circulation staff member.
You may renew your materials remotely when the quarterly due date draws near. This can be done by logging in to My Library Account on the Library's My Accounts page, or by contacting Circulation staff by phone or email.
Students enrolled in Ph.D. or J.S.D. programs are allowed unlimited renewals. All other students, as well as staff, alumni, and faculty without indefinite borrowing privileges, are allowed three renewals. After material has been renewed three times, it must be physically returned to the library before it can be borrowed again. More information on renewals.
Please note that regular loans may be recalled by another user at any time, regardless of borrower type or loan period. This policy applies year-round, holidays and interim periods not excepted. It applies to all Library users, including faculty with indefinite borrowing privileges. If recalled items are not returned on time, users are subject to late fees as well as the restriction of borrowing privileges. See below for more information.
Faculty members and staff with academic appointments receive indefinite borrowing privileges. Materials do not have a due date unless the faculty member has a limited contract date. However, recalled items must be returned on time, or borrowing privileges will be suspended. Materials do not have to be renewed by indefinite borrowers.
Northwestern University borrowers have revolving due dates. Loan periods are 12 weeks for faculty and graduate students, 4 weeks for staff and undergraduate students. These loan periods are identical to those established at Northwestern for their users.
Northwestern borrowers are permitted one remote renewal.
UIC faculty borrowers have revolving due dates. Loan periods are 16 weeks for materials borrowed from D'Angelo Law, Harper, Regenstein, and SSA libraries, 2 weeks for materials borrowed from Crerar and Eckhart libraries. These loan periods are identical to those established at UIC for University of Chicago faculty.
UIC faculty borrowers are permitted three remote renewals.
You will receive all library notices via email unless you have no valid email address on file and your email address is not listed in the University directory. Overdue notices for regular loans are sent according to the schedule below. You will also receive a notice if you have overdue recalled or reserve items.
| Friday, 1st week of quarter | Quarterly due date |
| Monday, 2nd week of quarter | First overdue notice; three weeks to renew/return before billing |
| Monday, 3rd week of quarter | Second overdue notice; two weeks to renew/return before billing |
| Monday, 4th week of quarter | Third and final notice; one week to return/renew before billing |
| Monday, 5th week of quarter | Overdue materials declared lost, billed for replacement; borrowing and renewal privileges are suspended |
| Thursday, 5th week of quarter | Summary notice listing all lost items and other charges owed |
| Monday, 6th week of quarter | Restrictions filed with University Registrar preventing enrollment and access to other University services |
Any of the following infractions will result in the temporary suspension of borrowing privileges and will prevent the patron from being able to renew:
Fines are assessed for recalled items, reserve items, and Interlibrary Loan items only. Regular loans that have not been recalled will not incur fines; the replacement costs assessed once they are declared lost are automatically waived when they are returned. (Please note that for a recalled or reserve item that is declared lost and then returned, a fine will be assessed, although the replacement cost is waived.)
Overdue recalled items and Interlibrary Loan items are fined at the rate of 3 dollars per day; the maximum fine is 75 dollars.
Overdue reserve items are fined at the rate of 1 dollar per hour or part of hour; the maximum fine is 75 dollars. Reserve fines accrue only during library hours.
Eckhart Library circulates most bound journal volumes as 7-day loans; overdue items accrue fines the same as 7-day reserve materials ($1.00 per hour that the Eckhart Library is open).
Please note that recalled items and Interlibrary Loan items are due at 11:59 p.m. or Circulation closing time, whichever is earlier, on the specified due date. Items returned after closing will be checked in the next day, and fines will be assessed accordingly. Items returned before closing but not checked in are back-dated at check-in to reflect the time they were returned and do not accrue fines.
Damage to books: Fines may be assessed for damage caused. Books returned with multiple post-it notes may incur charges of 5 to 25 dollars; heavy marking/underlining or other serious damage may result in charges of $100 or more to cover replacement costs. See below for more information about replacement costs.
Paying fines: To view your outstanding fines, go to My Account, log in with your barcode and PIN, and select Blocks. You will receive a quarterly reminder of all outstanding fines via email.
Fines may be paid by cash, check, or university interdepartmental order (Comptroller Form No. 62) at any Circulation desk or at the ID & Privileges Office. We regret that we cannot accept credit or debit cards.
To pay by mail, send a check to
Regenstein Library, Attn: Circulation, 1100 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
An item is declared lost if it has been overdue for a set period of time.
Regular loans are declared lost after being overdue for 3 weeks.
Recalled and Reserve items are declared lost after being overdue for 2 weeks.
Once an item has been declared lost, you will automatically be billed for the cost of replacement. If you return an item that has been declared lost, the lost charge is automatically waived - though late fines will be assessed for lost recalled and reserve items.
If you believe that you returned, or never borrowed, an item that has been declared lost, please file a claim.
Replacement costs for lost items are as follows:
The Library will also accept a replacement copy of a lost item. The copy offered for replacement must meet the specific criteria described below. In lieu of the $100-$150 lost-item charge, a $25 processing fee, which covers the costs of cataloging and (if applicable) binding, will be assessed.
Replacement copies must be new or used in Very Good condition (clean, unmarked, and untorn with an intact spine and binding) or better. Replacement copies must also match the lost item to the satisfaction of the subject librarian, based on the following criteria:
If you are unsure whether a particular item will be acceptable as a replacement, please contact the appropriate subject specialist. If you're not sure which librarian to contact or need more information about the lost item, contact the Circulation Department.
Replacement copies should be brought to a Circulation supervisor or sent to:
Regenstein Library
Attn: Circulation
1100 East 57th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
If you return an item after paying for its replacement, the replacement fee for that item will be credited to your account. If you have already provided a replacement copy (see above), the library will at its discretion return either the replacement copy that you had provided or will return the original lost (then found) library book.
If you feel that you have been fined for an overdue item in error, or that extenuating circumstances justify a full or partial waiver of a fine, you may file an appeal. Library staff will review your appeal and grant or deny it on the basis of the specific circumstances and your library record more generally.
If you feel that you have already returned or never borrowed an item charged to your account, you may file a claim.
Claiming an item as returned or never charged out temporarily removes any fines or blocks associated with that item from your account while the item is searched for - though the item itself remains charged to your account. The item is searched for in its proper place in the library stacks, as well as in staff processing areas and in areas where misshelving is likely. A period of time is allowed to elapse, after which the item is searched for a second time. If the item is not found in either search, a decision is made whether to declare the item lost and bill for the cost of replacement (see Lost Book Charges) or to waive the lost book charge and declare the item missing. Please note that your overall library record will be used as one of several criteria in determining this decision.
If you have a question or comment about your account or Circulation policies and procedures, please use our online contact form. We will attempt to reply to all inquiries within one business day.
We can also be reached by phone at the following numbers:
| John Crerar Library | (773) 702-7409 |
| D'Angelo Law Library | (773) 702-0213 |
| Eckhart Library | (773) 702-8778 |
| Harper Library | (773) 702-7960 |
| Joseph Regenstein Library | (773) 702-8781 |
| Social Service Administration (SSA) Library | (773) 702-1199 |
Library hours vary; see this page for details.
