Our libraries are open to members of the University community and the general public. Students, faculty and staff of the University may check out materials from the libraries. For other circulation policies, please see below. Check your library account information online
- Click on the "Patron" button near the top of the screen
- Enter your 14-digit barcode number and your last name
- Borrowing Materials
- Loan Periods
- Book Renewals
- Book Returns
- Holds and Recalls
- Fines
- Suspension
- Lost and/or Damaged Items
- Reserves
Borrowing Materials
University photo IDs serve as a valid library card. Library materials loaned to GMU faculty, staff and students are items from the circulating collections. Periodicals, Reference books and some audiovisual materials DO NOT CIRCULATE outside the libraries. Members of the general public may obtain borrowing privileges by joining the Library Passport Program. Information on this program and applications are available at the Circulation Desk in any of our libraries.Loan Periods
Standard loan periods for items from the Fenwick,
Johnson Center, Mercer Library/Prince William Campus, and Arlington Campus Libraries
circulating collections are:
- Undergraduate - 4 weeks
- Graduate - 6 weeks (Items may be recalled after four weeks)
- Faculty/Staff - 1 term (Items may be recalled after four weeks)
- Affiliates - 3 weeks
Book Renewals
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Patrons may renew items three times (except affiliate members who may renew once.) Books requested by other patrons will not be renewed. Items may be renewed online, in person at any library circulation desk, by telephone (voice mail) at 703/993-2243. In hand items are renewed immediately at the desk. Fax and voice mail renewals require one working day to process. When renewing, please provide: name, library barcode number from library card or I.D. and book barcode numbers.
Book Returns
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Library materials may be returned to any GM Library
Circulation Desk and the information desk at the Johnson Center.
Materials may be returned at any George Mason University Library
regardless of where they were checked out. For current library hours
please visit:
http://library.gmu.edu/libinfo/hours.html
Hold and Recall
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Mason students, faculty, and staff may place a hold on
an item that is currently charged to another
patron by clicking on the request button on the item record in the
catalog.
Once the item is returned, the requestor is notified the item will be
held
for him at a circulation desk until a certain date/time. Items not
picked up
within the specified time will be returned to the circulating
collection or
placed on "hold" for the next requesting patron.
Mason students, faculty, and staff may recall any item that is checked out to another patron after a minimum of four weeks, regardless of the borrower's standard loan period. Patrons in receipt of a recall notice must return the item to a circulation desk by the adjusted due date to avoid a fine. Items needed for reserve will also be recalled.
Fines |
In order to ensure prompt return of library
materials, fines are
charged on overdue items. Fines accrue at $.25 per day per item for
normal circulation. Fines for patron
requested and recall items accrue at $5.00 per day per item. See below for fines on reserve items.
Lost and/or Damaged
Items |
Patrons are responsible for restitution of lost or
severely damaged items. Charges for these items are based on the
average book prices for materials in that subject classification as
indicated in the current edition of Bowker Annual,
along with a
$30.00 processing fee and any accrued fines.
Suspension
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Students with unpaid library fines in excess of
$25.00 and/or with more than
5 overdue items
are placed on University Suspension. Suspension prevents the student
from graduating, registering for classes or obtaining official
University transcripts. Once the student has returned all overdue items
and/or paid all outstanding library fees, the library will process a
release from suspension.
Reserves |
The Reserve Collection, located at the Johnson
Center Library, Mercer, and ACL Circulation Reserves Desk, contains
class reading assignments
and materials temporarily placed on Reserve by faculty for student
use. Loan periods for these materials are established by the library in
cooperation with the professor and are generally 2 hours
(for in Library use only), 1 day, 3 days or 7 days. A valid
library card is required to use these materials. Overdue fines
accrue at up to $2.40 per hour per item and are prorated by the
minute.
Items are kept behind the circulation desk at the Johnson Center, Mercer, and Arlington Campus Libraries. To have a Reserve item pulled you (1) use the Library Catalog on the Web service to locate the call number and (2) take the call number to the Reserve Desk. Items are to be returned to the Reserve Desk.
A limited number of other high use materials are kept at the Reserve Desk. Non-GMU patrons may use their driver's license to use these materials in the Johnson Center only.