All Bluffton borrowers are responsible for returning items by the due date, and for paying any replacement charges and fees.
To check out materials from the library, you need to have your Bluffton ID card with you when you come to the Circulation Desk.
Current faculty and staff are entitled to 100 outstanding holds/requests and a total of 200 items checked out at any one time. Adjunct faculty may have 100 outstanding holds/requests and a total of 100 items checked out. The library asks for the return of materials not being used so as to make them available to others of our campus community and users from our consortia.
Renewals allow extension of the due date, provided no other patron is waiting for the item. You may renew materials online from the Check your Library Account link at the library website or from the My Account tab in the library catalog. If you prefer, you can renew in person when you come to the library or by calling the Circulation Desk (419-358-3262).
If you have an interlibrary loan item, check the Interlibrary Loan page for information on renewals and contact the interlibrary loan office to request a renewal (illassist@bluffton.edu or 419.358.3450).
The maximum charge for any single lost Bluffton or OhioLINK item is $85.00.
The maximum charge for any single lost SearchOHIO item is $50.00.
Charges will be added to your business office account.
Replacement charges are reconciled to the actual item replacement cost plus a $10 processing fee. If the item is returned after it is declared lost but before a replacement has been purchased, the replacement charge is forgiven.
Please contact the library for help managing library charges.
Information on course reserves is provided at Reserves and E-Reserves. Reserve items may include Bluffton library materials, personal copies, or photocopies prepared by the instructor, but not materials from other libraries (as with OPAL or OhioLINK). Items not held by the library but needed for course reserve can be recommended for purchase: acquisitions@bluffton.edu or call 419-358-3396.
Faculty or staff may designate proxies (usually student or staff assistants) to check out library materials on their behalf by registering with the library. The proxy must present his/her own ID card (not that of the faculty or staff person) in order for any transaction to proceed.
Musselman Library books, Curriculum Resource Center books, Teaching and Learning Collection books, Career and Vocation Collection books (CVC reference are library use only):
LOAN: 105 days
RENEW: 105 days
RENEW LIMIT: 4
GRACE PERIOD: 7 days
Curriculum Resource Center reference, textbooks, and teaching aids; Reading Room books and atlases (except Library Use Only); Lion and Lamb books and teaching aids:
LOAN: 21 days
RENEW: additional 21 days
RENEW LIMIT: 1
GRACE PERIOD: 3 days
Musselman Library videos, CDs, periodicals and maps; Lion and Lamb CDs and videos:
LOAN: 7 days
RENEW: additional 7 days
RENEW LIMIT: 1
GRACE PERIOD: 3 days
OPAL or OhioLINK books:
LOAN: 42 days
RENEW: additional 42 days
RENEW LIMIT: 6
GRACE PERIOD: 7 days
OPAL or OhioLINK non-book materials:
LOAN: 7 or 21 days
RENEW: additional 7 or 21 days
RENEW LIMIT: varies
GRACE PERIOD: varies
SearchOHIO books:
LOAN: 21 days
RENEW: additional 21 days
RENEW LIMIT: 3
GRACE PERIOD: none
SearchOHIO media, except DVD:
LOAN: 21 days
RENEW: additional 21 days
RENEW LIMIT: 3
GRACE PERIOD: none
SearchOHIO DVD:
LOAN: 7 days
RENEW: additional 7 days
RENEW LIMIT: 3
GRACE PERIOD: none
Interlibrary Loan items (see ILL page for more information):
LOAN: varies
RENEW: varies
RENEW LIMIT: usually none
GRACE PERIOD: none
Please note: All materials are subject to recall if needed for course reserve.
For convenience in keeping track of due dates or to renew items, go to Check your Library Account at the library's homepage or choose My Account from the top menu bar when searching the catalog.
RECEIPT: After checking out an item, you will receive an email receipt showing the item's due date.
COURTESY NOTICE: You will receive a courtesy notice a few days before the due date, reminding you to return borrowed items. Borrowed items will be automatically renewed if the item is eligible for renewal.
OVERDUE NOTICE: When an item is no longer eligible for renewal, you will receive an overdue notice. After 3 overdue notices are sent, the item is declared lost, your borrowing privileges are suspended, and you will receive a bill by email for replacement of the item.
Overdue notices are a courtesy reminder but should not be relied on as indicators to renew or return library materials (i.e., the library is not responsible if for some reason you do not receive an email notice, or if the notice went to your Junk/Spam folder). Each borrower is responsible for knowing due dates, either by checking his/her account online or consulting at the Circulation Desk.
Borrowing privileges for Bluffton, OPAL, OhioLINK, and Interlibrary Loan are suspended whenever a bill of replacement has been sent.
Payments should be made at the Circulation Desk - cash or checks (payable to Bluffton University) accepted.
If charges have been applied to your university account at the Business Office, payment should be made there.