The circulation policies outline the privileges and responsibilities of all who borrow materials from the University of Missouri - St. Louis Libraries. Among our highest priorities is to enable seamless access to an integrated collection of materials that support the University’s teaching and research missions.
If you have any questions, please contact the Public Service Desk at (314) 516-5060.
Interlibrary Loan is designed for requesting books and other materials that are not available through the MERLIN/MOBIUS online catalogs. If you need assistance requesting books via MERLIN or MOBIUS, please see a Reference Librarian at the reference desks. We will not fill requests for books that are available through the MERLIN or MOBIUS online catalogs or books that are available in the University of Missouri - St. Louis Libraries.
Please contact the Interlibrary Loan office with any questions: (314) 516-5066.
To check out materials, bring the materials and your identification card to the circulation desk. For check out procedures the appropriate ID cards are required:
Loan periods and borrowing privileges vary according to the user's status and the lending library's policies. All materials are checked out by presenting the appropriate ID card. Checking out materials from the library implies that the user will abide by the library's rules by returning the materials in good order and by the due dates. Failure to meet either condition may result in fines and/or the loss of privileges.
This table displays the guidelines for loan periods:
Status | UMSL Book | MERLIN | MOBIUS | Course Reserves | Interlibrary Loan |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Faculty | 120 days | Vary | 28 days* | Vary | Vary |
Staff | 120 days | Vary | 28 days* | Vary | Vary |
Graduate Students | 120 days | Vary | 28 days* | Vary | Vary |
Undergraduate Students | 21 days | Vary | 28 days* | Vary | Vary |
Guest, Alumni, & Mercantile Borrowers | 21 days | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available |
* MOBIUS loan period increased July 1, 2015 from 21 to 28 days.
There is a seven day grace period for overdue University of Missouri-St. Louis library books and government documents. After this grace period, an overdue reminder will be sent to patrons. A billing notice is sent to library patrons when an item is 14 days overdue. The bill includes a $120.00 replacement charge and a $10.00 processing fee. Approximately 40 days after the billing notice is sent, the charge is sent to the campus cashier's office. All further charges will be sent from and paid to the cashier's office. The University of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries do not guarantee the receipt of billing notices sent via the mail or email.
The check out period for books and government documents owned by University of Missouri - St. Louis Libraries is 21 days for undergraduate students and 120 days for faculty and graduate students. Journals, newspapers, and microforms may NOT be checked out. You may renew in person, by phone at (314) 516-5057, or via the library catalog's My Library Account option. Restrictions may apply to patron privileges. More information is available at the Public Service Desk.
Materials may be denied renewal for one or more of the following reasons: