Updated Borrowing Policies and Elimination of Fees/Fines

As of November 30, 2020, the School of Theology Library has updated its borrowing policies, and we no longer charge fees or fines for any overdue material! We are the first library at Boston University to completely eliminate fees and fines for library materials. We have found fees and fines to not be an effective deterrent, only causing undue stress for members of our community.

If an item is lost, we will instead ask for a replacement copy of the material, only.

Continuous late returns of reserve material or recalled material (i.e. material requested by other library users, with an updated due date) instead may lead to a suspension of borrowing privileges, or referrals to the Associate Dean.

Please note that fees and fines may still apply with other libraries at Boston University.

Our full and updated borrowing policy for students is below, and viewable here:

BU Graduate students can check out items from the STH Library’s circulating collections for 133 days. (Alumni, undergraduates, and visitors have 28 days). As a BU affiliate, you have access to all libraries at Boston University, including Mugar Memorial Library. All borrowed materials are subject to recall from other users; if recalled, the due date is changed to one week from date of recall. Please note, during the COVID-19 pandemic, this timeframe has been extended to two weeks.

Theology Library items not on reserve should automatically renew as long as you are affiliated with Boston University and your account is settled (this occurs four days before the listed due date). Items from other libraries at Boston University may need to be renewed manually. You will receive a courtesy notice as items are coming due. Visit here to monitor your account, renew items, and place view recalls and requests. You can return items from any BU library (including Mugar Memorial Library) to the Theology Library.

The School of Theology Library does not charge fines or fees for overdue material. If an item is lost, we instead ask for you to purchase a replacement copy for the library. Contact the library staff at sthref@bu.edu once you discover a library item has been lost.

If a borrowed item is recalled by another patron, you will receive courtesy notices to your BU email address with the new due date. Please abide by the new due date and return the requested items as soon as possible; you will be blocked from further borrowing at the library if items are overdue or marked lost on your account.

Repeated late returns of reserve or recalled material may lead to a suspension of borrowing privileges at the Theology Library, or referrals to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the School of Theology.

Upon graduating or leaving the university, please make sure your library account is clear and all items have been returned to the library.