Borrowing Library materials

Library cards and borrower types

All borrowers must present a valid library card (University I.D. or external borrower card) to borrow materials. Library cards are not transferable and will be honoured only when presented by the legitimate cardholder, with the exception of the authorized designated borrowers. Photos of documents or IDs cannot be used as a valid form of ID when borrowing materials or using library services.

University ID: Library cards for students, alumni, faculty, and staff

SFU Library card example

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFU students (undergraduates and graduates), alumni, faculty and staff (full-time, part-time and contracted service workers) are eligible to get a University ID through the Registrar's Office, Burnaby Campus; the Information and Registration Desk, Harbour Centre Vancouver Campus; or at the Surrey Registrar and Information Services Desk, Surrey Campus. Any of these user groups, if they do not have a University ID, can also get a library card at any of the SFU Library Campus Locations. Please contact loans-mgmt@sfu.ca if you have any questions.

Spousal/partner cards

Spouses or partners of faculty/staff, as well as related positions*, and graduate students are eligible for a non-paying external borrower card; obtainable from the Circulation/Loans desk at any SFU Library branch. See the External Borrower privileges page for more information.

  • The SFU member must provide, either in writing or in person, verification of the applicant’s status. Once confirmed, the spouse or partner will need to complete an External Borrower Application. The application can be obtained at the circulation counters of any of the SFU Library sites.
  • Where the SFU member is long term, in excess of one year, or is considered continuing, the applicant's library card will be issued with an expiry date of 1 year, renewable on request of the spouse/partner.
  • Where the SFU member is on a limited term of less than one year, the applicant's library card will be issued with an expiry date concurrent with the expiry date of the SFU member.
  • The SFU member may discontinue authorization of the card by request to circulation staff; cards will not be cancelled midterm, however, records will be marked ‘do not renew’.
  • The spouse or partner is responsible for any circulation activity occurring on the card including payment for all library material that may be lost while charged to the card.

*Faculty and staff related positions include, but are not limited to: Research Associates, Research Fellowships, Post Doctoral Fellowships, Faculty Associates, Associate Members, Adjunct Professors, Clinical Associates, Visiting Faculty/Scholars, Sessional Instructors/Lecturers, Teaching Assistants, Tutor Markers, Librarians, Non-credit Instructors, and Archivists.

Designated borrowers

SFU students, faculty, staff and alumni may designate one other person who is authorized to use their library card on their behalf by contacting the library and designating a borrower. This service is available under the following conditions:

  • The designated borrower may use the card to pick up holds or borrow library material with the exception of laptops or media equipment.
  • The designated borrower must present the patron's full name and barcode number and a piece of their own picture ID when picking up requested holds or borrowing library materials.
  • The SFU cardholder is responsible for any use the designated borrower makes of the card and any overdue items, late charges, damage or loss of library material.
  • The authorization is valid until the expiry date of the card or until the cardholder informs the library of a change or termination of the authorization by contacting loans-mgmt@sfu.ca.

To designate a borrower please fill out the designated borrower authorization form. Please wait to receive a confirmation email that your designated borrower has been authorized, before picking up items.

Research assistants

Faculty members can arrange for a research assistant to borrow materials on their behalf. To request this service, fill out the Faculty Research Assistant card application, and return it to the loans counter.

This privilege may be renewed on a semester-by-semester basis.

External borrowers and external organizations

External borrower cards can be obtained or purchased at the circulation desk of the WAC Bennett Library, the Belzberg Library or the Fraser Library. All borrowing is subject to the Loans Policy and fines.

Organizational borrower cards can be obtained by printing the Application form, filling it in and submitting it to Loans Management at loans-mgmt@sfu.ca.

Fee structures are outlined in the table below:

Non-paying groups

Category Cards issued by
Visiting faculty, Post-doctoral fellows, renowned scholars * Registrar or Library
Special audit * Registrar or Library
Non-credit students and non-credit instructors* Library
Reciprocal agreements Library
School Associate to Faculty of Education * Library
Contracted Service Workers at SFU Registrar's or Library
Mentorships Library
V.I.P. (President's Club, Board of Governors, Senate) Library
Spouses/partners of faculty, staff. Library
Seniors (60+) Library

 Borrowing fees for paying groups

Category Annual borrowing fees
(12 months)
Semesterly borrowing fees
(4 months)
Cards issued by
Semester Off students N / A N / A Registrar's
UniverCity Residents N / A N / A Library
BC Secondary School Students     Library
BCOU students $50 NA Library
Fraser Valley Real Estate Board Members $50 $20 Library
UniverCity employees, retailers etc. $100♦ $35 Library
Organizations
(corporations/companies)**
$200 N / A Library
All other categories
(general public, students & others not listed above)
$100♦ $35 Library

Note: Replacement cost of a lost External Borrower Card is $5.00

* Note to External Borrowers with an affiliation to SFU (*) and who are not required to pay a fee:

†Note UniverCity Residents must physically live in UniverCity neighbourhood beside Burnaby SFU campus. They cannot just be a non-resident property owner, a retailer or employee at UniverCity.

  • The expiry date of your card is dependant on the expiry date of your program, appointment, and/or association with SFU. Where no expiry date is specified cards will not exceed 1 year, but may be renewed upon reapplication;
  • Visiting Faculty, Post Doctoral Fellows, Renowned Scholars, President's Club, Senate and Board of Governors - borrowing privileges may be expanded to include: semester loan periods, remote database access, reserves access, interlibrary loan/document delivery access;
  • Non-Credit Instructors - borrowing privileges may be expanded to include semester loan periods, remote database access, reserves access;
  • Special Audit - borrowing privileges may be expanded to include semester loan periods, remote database and reserve access.

**Does not include students from Educational Institutions (private or public).

♦To increase your borrowing period from four months to twelve months, you only need to pay $65 to reach the $100 annual fee, rather than $70 for two additional four-month periods.

Other borrower types

For Library card and borrowing information for alumni, Honours students, non-credit students, and others not listed here, see Library privileges.

Library privileges: General guide to borrowing privileges

The loan periods and access privileges, whether for circulating materials or for access to electronic resources (databases, electronic journals,etc.) varies according to the status of the borrower.

Patron (borrower) type General loans† General collection Media Collection Special loans* Reserves Electronic resources: in-library access Electronic resources: off-campus access
          Loan periods vary    
Undergraduate semester yes 21 days yes yes yes yes
Graduate semester yes 21 days yes yes yes yes
Faculty (incl. retired)/Staff semester yes 21 days yes yes yes yes
Fraser International College (FIC) semester yes 21 days yes yes yes yes
Contracted Service Workers 3 weeks yes 21 days no no yes no
Alumni 3 weeks yes 21 days no no yes no~
External Borrower 3 weeks yes 21 days no no yes no

Loan periods will be reduced when someone places a hold on any item out on loan.

*Special Loans include maps, journals, rare books, Fraser Library media equipment, Fraser Library games, etc., which are subject to special loan periods and requirements, as authorized by the area responsible for the material.

~ Some exceptions apply. For Alumni off-campus access to electronic resources see Alumni services for details.

Deferrals and semester off for undergraduates

SFU undergraduate students are entitled to library privileges during semesters in which they are registered. SFU undergraduate students with department authorized deferrals may obtain an extension to their library privileges by showing proof of deferral to Library staff at the circulation desk(s). SFU Undergraduate students who are taking one semester off may request staff at the circulation desk(s) to update their record to Semester off status in which case their privileges are restored to the applicable undergraduate level, with one exception: no access to I.L.L. services. These privileges are valid for only one (1) semester and may not be repeated.

Unable to come to campus? Please make arrangements with staff by emailing libcirc@sfu.ca or phoning 778.782.4345.

Leaves of absence for graduate students

During a leave of absence graduate students are not enrolled at SFU. Library privileges are suspended during a leave of absence. See Graduate General Regulations 1.4.5 Leave of Absence.  Graduate students who are also SFU Alumni may use their SFU Alumni privileges. Other graduate students on a leave of absence may apply for External Borrower's privileges. 

Honour students

Honour students have their loan privileges expanded to equal that of graduate students. This upgraded status is awarded to all undergraduate students in the honours program.

Attention graduating students: All SFU alumni are eligible for SFU Library borrowing privileges. You do not get a different library/university card when you graduate, therefore hold onto your card. Your student library privileges will expire two weeks into the next semester. Your alumni library privileges will come into effect when Senate awards your degree/diploma, if you need library privileges in the interim, please talk to staff at the circulation desk or email loans-mgmt@sfu.ca.

Alumni borrowing privileges

All SFU alumni are entitled to SFU Library borrowing privileges on presentation of their SFU University ID card. If you no longer have your University ID card you may purchase a replacement from the Registrar's Office at any campus. To use the library, simply present your University ID at the circulation desk(s). You need to advise the Alumni Office of any address changes.

Alumni borrowers may:

  • Use research assistance and materials at all three libraries;
  • Borrow books, DVDs, etc. under the same loan periods as external borrowers;
  • Request books that are out on loan to other users;
  • Request books be transferred from Belzberg Library to WAC Bennett Library or Fraser Library and vice versa;
  • Request up to three journal article photocopies per day to be transferred from Belzberg Library to WAC Bennett Library or Fraser Library and vice versa (articles will be provided at a cost of $3.00 each);
  • Access most databases from within the Library buildings.

Alumni borrowers may not:

  • Use multimedia equipment and games held by the Fraser Library (only accessible to SFU Surrey students);
  • Use Interlibrary Loan or Document Delivery services;
  • Access Reserve materials;
  • Access databases remotely (with exceptions: see Alumni services).

SFU affiliates/associates

Some associated categories may obtain a University produced I.D. card which may qualify them for other campus services. Optionally, these categories may apply direct to the library (see circulation desk staff) for an External Borrower card; cards issued by the library are acceptable only for library services.

Non-credit students

  • Non-credit students are entitled to a library card at no charge for the duration of the non-credit course in which they are registered.
  • To apply for a library card, come to the library in-person with proof of non-credit course registration.
  • May use research assistance and materials at all libraries.
  • May borrow circulating material at all libraries, under the same loan periods as undergraduates, with the exception of specialized collections such as media collection material.
  • May request books that are out on loan to other users.
  • May Request items, with the exception of specialized collections such as media collection material, be transferred from Belzberg to WAC Bennett or Fraser and vice versa.
  • May request up to three journal article photocopies per day to be transferred from the WAC Bennett Library to the Belzberg Library or Fraser Library or vice versa. Articles will be provided at a cost of $3.00 each.
  • May access library databases either in the library or by remote access for the duration of the course, and access to any items on reserve for the course.

Distance Education (CODE) and Faculty of Education students

Distance Education and Faculty of Education students may use the Library's Telebook service

External borrowers privileges/services

External borrowers MAY:

  • Use research assistance and materials at all Library locations.
  • Borrow general circulating material at all Library locations.
  • Borrow 16 mm films, videos or dvds from the SFU Library.
  • Request:
    • Books that are out on loan to other users.
    • For items to be transferred from one campus to another (except for specialized collections such as media collection material).
    • Up to three journal article photocopies per day to be transferred Belzberg Library to WAC Bennett Library or Fraser Library and vice versa. Please note: 
      • This service is only available for individual external borrowers (not external organizational borrowers)
      • Articles will be provided at a cost of $3.00 each.

External borrowers MAY NOT:

  • Use multimedia equipment and games held by the Fraser Library, which are only accessible to SFU Surrey students.
  • Use Interlibrary Loan or Document Delivery services.
  • Access Reserve materials.
  • Access licensed electronic resources from outside the Library.
  • Access SFU's wireless network. (For more information see Does the Library provide wireless internet (Wi-Fi)?)

Borrowing

Loan periods

The loan period for any circulating item in the General Collection at WAC Bennett, Belzberg or Fraser Library depends on the material type and borrower category:

Borrower categories Loan Period† Reduced loan period when a hold exists on an item at the time of checkout Online renewals*
Undergraduates Semester loan 1 week Unlimited*
Graduate students Semester loan 1 week Unlimited*
Faculty / Staff Semester loan 1 week Unlimited*
Fraser International College (FIC) Semester loan 1 week Unlimited*
Alumni 3 weeks 1 week Unlimited*
External Borrowers 3 weeks 1 week Unlimited*

† You can borrow materials from the general collection for the full semester if there are no requests (recalls). If someone else places a hold on any item on loan, you will need to bring it back within a set time. 

* You can renew materials from the general collection as many times as you need to, unless someone else places a hold on one of these items. If someone places a hold (or requests a recall), you will need to bring back the item within a set time. 

When there is one or more requests on an item when it is checked out, the loan period on that item is reduced to 1 week.

See the Reserves guide for loan periods for the Reserves collection.

All circulating general collection books may be requested ie. recalled or hold placed, by other patrons. You are encouraged to place a request as this will reduce the loan period in the cases of semester loans or multiple holds. The book will be flagged so that you are next in line. We may also purchase extra copies of the book if the demand justifies it.

Borrowers receive an email with the date-due time at the time of checkout. You may also check the due date of materials, recalls, or status of Requests via the My Library record link on the SFU Library homepage. All patrons will receive notices by email.

Once per semester, you can borrow materials from the general collection, or equipment accessories (phone chargers, headphones, etc.), using your current government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.). If you lost your valid library card (SFU ID Card or External Borrower Card), you may get a replacement SFU ID card at Student Services or a replacement External Borrower Card from the Library. There may be fees associated with replacing a lost or missing card.

  NOTE: Patrons are responsible for returning materials within the specified loan period.

In the event of unplanned library closures, including labour or weather disruptions, we will adjust due dates to account for the day(s) of closure.

Due dates: Email notification and My Library record

Borrowers receive an email with the date-due time at the time of checkout. You may also check the due date of materials, recalls, and status of requests via the My Library record link on the SFU Library homepage. All library notices are sent by email. For students and faculty/staff, the library uses your official @sfu.ca email address; for alumni, the library uses the email address on file with the SFU Alumni Relations Office. For all other borrowers, library notices will be sent to the email address you have registered with the SFU Library.

Borrowing Course Reserves

The Reserves collection contains research materials identified by instructors for specific courses. These materials have short loan periods (2 hours to 7 days) to allow greater access to these materials for all students in the course. Reserve materials can be found by course number or by instructor's name. For details, see the guide to the SFU Library Reserves collection.

Borrowing journals and journal articles

Journals may be circulated as special loans. To inquire about a special loan of a journal issue, contact Library staff at the Circulation desk where the journal is situated, at either WAC Bennett, Fraser, or Belzberg Library.

If a journal is held at another SFU Library, you may request a copy of the desired article be delivered to your campus.

Reciprocal agreements: Borrowing privileges for SFU users at other institutions

SFU undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff, in good standing, are entitled to reciprocal borrowing privileges at participating Canadian Universities and/or Colleges. In some cases, you will need to get a COPPUL (Council Of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries) card issued by SFU Library to present at the library you wish to use.

For additional information on these programs, or to obtain a COPPUL card, ask at the SFU Library Circulation desk(s), or contact Telebook if you are a Distance Education student.

Note: Borrowing privileges at other universities and colleges are subject to the policies and regulations of the other university or college and may be more restrictive than what you experience as a member of the SFU community.

Canadian institutions participating in reciprocal arrangements, and to which you may apply for free borrowing privileges (must have your SFU I.D. and COPPUL card), include:

  • CURBA (Canadian University Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement).
  • British Columbia institutions participating in reciprocal arrangements, and to which you may apply for free borrowing privileges (must have your SFU I.D.), include:
  • BC colleges: Reciprocal Borrowing page of CPSLD (Council of Post Secondary Library Directors).

Borrowing Fraser (SFU Surrey) multimedia and equipment

You may see multimedia resources listed in the Library catalogue that are available only to SFU Surrey campus users. This is due to the limited number of these resources. It is necessary for SFU Surrey students and faculty to have priority access to these materials for their specific courses. These may not be borrowed or requested by other SFU Library users.

Renewals

If you want to extend the borrowing period for an item, and there are no requests for the item, you may renew it. To maximize access to the collection, please only renew the material you still require and return the rest to allow other users and borrowers to borrow them. General and most media collection materials may be renewed via the Library catalogue, but not special loans, games or equipment. Items must be renewed before the due date.  Items that are not returned or renewed will eventually generate a replacement fee.
  • Three-week loan material may be renewed for an additional three weeks from the date of renewal. An unlimited number of renewals are allowed;
  • Semester loan material may be renewed beginning one week prior to the commencement date of the examination period. An unlimited number of renewals are allowed. All semester loan material borrowed on or after the renewal date will become due on the next semester's due date.  Loan periods will be reduced when someone places a hold on any item out on loan;
  • Media may be renewed for an additional loan period. An unlimited number of renewals are allowed;
  • Reserve items may be renewed if there is no hold on the item. At the present time Reserve Renewals are controlled by Maximum Renewal periods. For 2HR and 4HR Reserves the item may be renewed up until 24 hours after the item was originally signed out. For 24HR Reserves the Maximum Renewal period is 72 hours. For 3Day Reserves the Maximum Renewal period is 9 days and for 7Day Reserves the Maximum Renewal period is 21 days. These renewals may be done on-line, in person, or by phoning Reserves at the library where the item was originally checked out, 778.782.4345 (WAC Bennett)/778.782.5050 (Belzberg)/778.782.7411(Fraser). All subsequent renewals must be done in-person at the Reserves service desk where the item was originally checked out.

How to renew

Online

Log into the Catalogue. All of the items that are currently checked out to you will be displayed. Then select individual titles or "Renew all" to renew and see the new due dates. 

By phone

Contact Circulation/Loans desk: 778.782.4345 (WAC Bennett), 778.782.5050 (Belzberg) or 778.782.7411 (Fraser).

**NOTE: Renewals are not allowed if another patron has requested the book or when a patron's privileges are suspended**

Requests for books (placing holds, recalling books)

Books can be put on hold or requested by signing into the Catalogue, finding the record for the item you seek, and using the "Request item" option. 

  • If a book is on loan to another borrower, that borrower will have 3 weeks to return the item from when they first checked it out and that time is reduced to 1 week if they have had it longer than the initial 3 weeks.
  • If the book is located in another branch, it will be brought to the requested location. See the section below on Intercampus Delivery. Typically it will arrive in 2-3 business days.
  • If the book is in the same location as the desired pickup location, the book will be brought to the Hold shelf. This takes 1-2 business days.

When the requested book arrives, it will be kept for you for 7 days (3 days for media) on the Hold shelf. You will receive an email alerting you when the book is available.

Books you have checked out can be requested by other patrons.

If you no longer wish an item on which you placed a hold you can cancel the hold by signing into your online library record and then going to the request section, finding the request and then canceling it.

If you are blocked from placing a request, please ask for assistance from the staff at the circulation desk(s)

**Reserve items are held for one hour after the item is due or when the item was returned,  which ever is later**

Intercampus delivery

Library materials, with the exception of Reserves, Reference and other special materials, may be transferred from the WAC Bennett to Belzberg or Fraser libraries and vice-versa. To initiate the transfer, search for the item in the Library catalogue, click on the request button, and fill in the form.

Generally, the item will arrive in 2-3 working days. Transferred items may be picked up at the circulation desk of the library chosen as the pick-up location. There is no charge to SFU students, faculty, and staff for this service.

Requesting missing material

If the item you want is not on the shelf and is not checked out, inform the staff at the circulation desk(s). Staff will begin a systematic search for the item and will place a Request in your name.   If the item is not found within the SFU Library, you may request a copy through Interlibrary Loans/Document Delivery Services.

Returns

Material from the S.F.U. Library's General Collection may be returned to any of the S.F.U. Library locations:

WAC Bennett Library (Burnaby): to the book return outside the third/main floor, or to the library book return bin located in the Library Receiving Parking Lot (L) (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). During open hours, books can also be returned to the counter staff.

Belzberg Library (downtown Vancouver): to the book slot located at the circulation desk (during open hours); or, to the book drop located to the left of the Library front door (only during hours building is open: normally Mondays - Thursdays, 7:45 am - 10:30 pm; Fridays 7:45 am - 7:00 pm; Saturdays, 7:45 am - 6:00 pm; Sundays, 9:30 am - 5:30 pm.)

Fraser Library (Surrey): SFU students, staff, and faculty can access the Fraser Library book return 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, but will need an SFU ID card to enter the campus after 10 p.m. Other borrowers (not current student/faculty/staff) can access the book return  7 days a week, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.The library and book return is located on Podium 3 of the SFU Surrey Campus. Please do not deposit equipment or special loans into book return.

Materials from the SFU Library's Special Areas  must in most cases be returned to the desk from which they were borrowed. See below for details:

  • Reserve materials must be returned to the Reserve Desk from which they were borrowed, in order to avoid accruing fines while the item is in transit;
  • Interlibrary loan materials may be returned at any circulation desk;
  • Materials from Special areas must be returned to the desk from which they were borrowed;
  • Media equipment (e.g. cameras, laptops, etc.) must be returned to the same library it was borrowed from.

Fines and penalties

On items from the General Collection, fines and suspension of borrowing privileges are only applied to overdue recalled items.

There are no fines for overdue material from the General Collection that has not been recalled for another patron. This policy does not apply to fines accrued before May 2018.

Fines are applied to overdue materials from other collections, such as Equipment, Reserves, Media, etc. Fines for these items start as soon as the item is overdue, whether or not a hold has been placed. Once the item(s) have been returned, a suspension will remain for as long as the outstanding fines exceed $35.00. Unpaid fines in excess of $50 will result in patrons being blocked from registering for courses or receiving parchments or transcripts.

 

Description of overdue item Fine (per item) Maximum fine
All items that have been recalled for another patron. Fines begin when the item becomes overdue $1.00 per day $25.00 per item
Reserve items $1.00 per hour $50.00 per item
Special loans items $2.00 per day $50.00 per item
Equipment (Laptops, projectors, etc.) $3.00 per hour or portion $200.00 per set
Phone chargers, headphones & other equipment accessories (WAC Bennett) $1.00 per hour $50.00 per item
Popular Reading Collection $1.00 per day $25.00 per item

Equipment and keys borrowed from the WAC Bennett Circulation desk are due one hour before closing time.

After the maximum fine has been reached, a $20.00 processing charge will be assessed, plus the estimated replacement cost of the item.

See What forms of payment do you accept for Library fines and fees? for instructions on how to pay a fine.

Damaged material

An automatic non-refundable $20.00 processing fee, as well as repair or replacement costs, will be assessed on any items that are returned wet, mutilated or broken. See also the equipment replacement cost policy for damaged equipment if applicable.

Lost material

An item declared "lost" will be charged the replacement cost of the item as well as a $20.00 processing charge (refundable only if the item is found before re-ordered). See also the equipment replacement cost policy for lost equipment if applicable.

Appeals procedures and SFU Library Loan Policy

Penalties may be appealed. Disagreement with the terms of the SFU Library Loan Policy will not be considered as the basis for an appeal.

Appeals regarding penalties and fines should be directed to the Access Services Division. You may submit your appeal in person at the circulation desk at Belzberg, WAC Bennett, or SFU Surrey Libraries; in writing to Access Services Division, W.A.C. Bennett Library, SFU, Burnaby BC, V5A 1S6; or on line by clicking here: appeal form. While an appeal is being considered, renewals and hold requests will continue to operate as normal. Please note that appeals will not cancel or prevent processing charges on lost or long overdue materials.

Note: Online appeals are typically considered Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Users that submit appeals outside of working hours (late afternoons, holidays, weekends, etc.) will have their fines suspended during the ensuing working days. Date of submission is taken into account as part of the appeals procedures.

Decisions made by the Access Services Division may be appealed to the Senate Library Penalties Appeal Committee, whose decision shall be final.

Library Penalties Appeal Committee (Standing)

Members: 

  • Chair: Elected by and from voting members of the Committee
  • Vice-Chair: Elected by and from voting members of the Committee
  • Two Senators: Elected by Senate
  • Two Undergraduate Students (One regular and one alternate): Elected by Senate
  • Two Graduate Students (One regular and one alternate): Elected by Senate
  • Head of Access Services: Non-voting. 

Type: Standing Committee reporting to Senate Library Committee.

Purpose: To consider cases wherein an individual feels unjustly penalized for an infraction of the SFU Library Loan Policy and to make the final decisions.

Procedure: Any individual who is aggrieved by the decision of the Access Services Division of the Library concerning penalties may petition, in writing, to the Head of the Division that the case be considered by the Library Penalties Appeal Committee. The individual or his/her designated representative will be notified by letter/telephone of the date of the meeting and may speak to the Committee on the grievance. The Access Services Division will provide documentation for the Library and the individual or his/her designated representative may contest the evidence or enter any circumstance that may be germane. The decision of the Committee is final.

Penalties imposed will be suspended while an appeal is waiting to be heard by the Committee. The fines which have been paid and which are subsequently deemed unfair by the Committee will be refunded.

Types of fines reviewed:

  • Lost books and attendant charges (replacement costs, processing fees, overdue fines).
  • Late return fees (includes Special Loan, Recall and Reserve overdues).

The highest numbers of appeals heard by the Committee dealt with lost books and the attendant charges.

In cases of lost book charges, the borrower has been held responsible for all use made of the card, including the replacement charges for lost books and any outstanding fines. In cases of overdue book charges, the borrower has been responsible for returning materials by the due date. Details are provided in the SFU Library Loan Policy (copies also available at the Circulation desk).

Questions and contact

This is a general guide to borrowing library materials from the Simon Fraser University Library collections. For more details, talk to a Library staff member at the circulation desk:

  • WAC Bennett Library (SFU Burnaby) 778.782.4345 or libcirc@sfu.ca
  • Belzberg Library (SFU Vancouver) 778.782.5050
  • Fraser Library (SFU Surrey) 778.782.7411