• Borrowing Policies
• Loan Periods and Fines
• Proxy Borrowers
• Renew Books and View Library Record

Loan Periods and Fines

Borrowing Policies

UTRGV Students & Residents: Enrolled students who present their UTRGV ID card and have no overdue books or outstanding fines, may check out an unlimited number of books for a period of 2 weeks (Reserves) or 30 days (General Collection). Books may be renewed as long as the book has not been placed on hold by another patron. Books that are part of the reserve collection may only be checked out by students, residents and faculty affiliated with the School of Medicine or School of Podiatric Medicine.

Visiting Medical Students: Visiting medical students may register for borrowing services at the School of Medicine Libraries.  Once registered, visiting medical students may check out books from any UTRGV library location. Students may checkout an unlimited number of books for 2 weeks (Reserves) or 30 days (General Collection). Books may be renewed as long as the book has not been placed on hold by another patron.  Visiting medical students must present their UTRGV ID card when borrowing or renewing books.

Faculty/Staff: Faculty/staff who present their UTRGV ID card and have no overdue books may check out an unlimited number of books for a period of 4 months. Books may be renewed as long as the book has not been placed on hold by another patron.

Area Health Professionals: Licensed health care practitioners living or practicing in Texas may register for borrowing services as an area health professional at any UTRGV library location. A state-issued ID (current driver’s license or passport) and a copy of the borrower's current Texas license to practice are required to register. Borrowing privileges are valid for one year from date of registration. Registration cannot be renewed until all fines and other obligations have been cleared. Area health professionals may check out up to 5 books at one time for a period of 30 days.  An AHP borrower card will be issued upon registration for borrower services.  The borrower card must be presented when borrowing or renewing books.

Courtesy Borrowers: Members of the general public who are interested in obtaining a UTRGV Courtesy Borrower card must be at least 18 years of age with a valid U.S. or state government ID (driver’s license, etc.). The annual fee is $25.00. A courtesy borrower card must be presented to borrow or renew books. Courtesy borrowers may borrow up to 5 books for a period of 30 days. Books may be renewed as long as the borrower has no overdue or outstanding fines.

TexShare (faculty and students): Faculty and students that are affiliated with an academic library that participates in the TexShare program should present a TexShare Card and a photo ID. Upon presentation of required identification, the borrower will be issued a barcoded UTRGV Library card. Presentation of this card will be required when checking out and/or renewing books. There are no exceptions to this requirement. Cards may be renewed upon presentation of a new TexShare card each semester. Upon presentation of Library card patrons may borrow 5 books for a period of 30 days and may renew books as long as they have no overdue books or outstanding fines.

TexShare (public): Borrowers that are affiliated with a public library that participates in the TexShare program should present a TexShare Card and a photo ID. The TexShare cardholder must be 18 years of age or older. Upon presentation of required identification, the borrower will be issued a barcoded UTRGV Library card. Presentation of this card will be required when checking out and/or renewing books. There are no exceptions to this requirement. Cards may be renewed upon presentation of a new TexShare card each semester. Upon presentation of Library card patrons may borrow 5 books for a period of 30 days and may renew books as long as they have no overdue books or outstanding fines.

Fines

Patrons will receive an email notification upon checking out materials.  Materials are due on the date indicated on the email notification. Fines for overdue circulating books is $0.25 per day per book. Fines and fees need to be paid at the Library Circulation Desk with cash, check or credit card.  Fines can be paid by phone if using a credit card. The Library is not responsible for notifying borrowers of overdue materials. A "hold" will be placed on borrower's record if they have overdue material and/or outstanding fines. A "hold" will prevent a student from obtaining transcripts. If materials are not returned, the Library will send up to three overdue notices. If materials are not returned after the third notice, they are considered "lost" and the borrower will be billed for the lost material.

Overdue Material

The Library is not responsible for notifying borrowers that materials are overdue, but the Library sends an email notice as a courtesy. The Library is not responsible for late or non-delivery of notices. Please advise the Library of a change in your address, or telephone number to avoid not receiving notifications about your account. Library patrons will be charged a lost book fee determined by Library of Congress Call Number as per UT System Board of Regents. Prices are determined by the Average North American Academic Book prices as listed in the latest edition of the Library and Book Trade Almanac. Book prices will be updated biannually (every even year.) An additional $15.00 processing fee will be assessed to cover cataloging and processing costs. The book cost will be refunded by the Comptroller's Office (via mail) on books returned within one month. The $15.00 processing fee is not refundable. The Library will place a hold on a student's transcript if the student has an overdue book or overdue fees. The hold will be removed once the student has returned the book and paid the fee.

Proxy Borrowers

Proxy borrowers are persons who have been authorized by a faculty or staff member to borrow library materials in the faculty or staff member's name.  Only UTRGV users may be authorized as a proxy. The faculty or staff member will be responsible for the return of the materials borrowed by their proxies, and will receive all library notices for those materials (overdue notices and fine/fee statements). A faculty/staff member may authorize multiple proxies. 

To authorize a proxy, please submit your authorization via email to the SOM Libraries at SOMLibrary@utrgv.edu

Please supply the following information in your email message:

• Your name, department and UTRGV ID number
• The name of your proxy
• If your proxy is a UTRGV student, faculty or staff member, please give their UTRGV ID number.
• If your proxy is not a UTRGV student, faculty or staff member, please give their postal address and phone number
• Expiration date of the authorization

Renewals

In order to renew material, you must have no overdue books or fines. Materials that have been requested by others may not be renewed.

Renew Online: Sign-in to your account in the Library Catalog.

In-Person Renewal: Present circulating materials at the Library Circulation Desk.

Phone or Email Renewals: Library materials which are not overdue may be renewed by telephone or by email at SOMLibrary@utrgv.edu.

Privacy Policy

Library staff will preserve the confidentiality of patron records. This is in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-579). No information will be given to a third party about the name of another patron who has checked out material. If books or media are checked out, patrons have the right to request that a hold or a recall be placed upon the material, or in special cases, library staff will contact the current borrower to see if the item can be returned early. The only possible exceptions to this policy will be in response to a court order. Requests of this nature should go to the Library Administration.

Policy approved by the UTRGV Library Management Council on February 3, 2016.