Circulation and Your Library Account:

Identification | Loan Periods | Renewals | Missing Books | Recalls | Overdue | Confidentiality | More Information

Your Library Account

You may access your library circulation account from the "Your Account" link from the Library Web page, or from the Main Catalog. From the Main Catalog, click "your account" at the top of the screen to log on and see the books you have borrowed from the library, verify your current address on file, and more.

Borrowing Privileges

All Princeton University faculty, staff, and students, their spouses, domestic partners and dependents, the faculty and students of Princeton Theological Seminary, and the members and staff of the Institute for Advanced Study are eligible to borrow books and other material from the Princeton University Libraries.

Other individuals who wish to use the library collections should consult the Library Access Office, Room 1-9-C, Firestone Library, telephone 609.258.5737. Review Access policies.

Borrower Responsibilities

Items charged out on a personal identification card remain the responsibility of the individual named on that card. All eligible borrowers are expected to have a current address on file at the Firestone Circulation Desk.

Borrowers are responsible for recalls at all times. If circumstances require individuals to leave town, they should make arrangements for responding to the recall and the prompt return of the item(s) to the Library. Items charged to an individual must be returned in good condition, without evidence of defacement, mutilation, or water damage.

Identification

All library users must present a valid photo-identification card to use the collections. Princeton students, faculty, and staff must present their University ID card, with current academic year validation, in order to borrow material from the Library. Non-University "guest" borrowers must obtain a photo-ID card from the Library Access Office. Loss or theft of an identification card should be reported immediately to the nearest Circulation Desk.

Loan Periods

Loan periods vary in different libraries. Please click here for a summary of the Library circulation policies.

Please note that some material will not circulate. Some examples of materials that do NOT circulate are reference books, books from the Architecture and Marquand libraries, as well as books in Graduate Study Rooms in Firestone. See loan policies (above) or individual libraries for details. All materials are subject to be recalled if needed for Reserve or if requested by another borrower.

Renewals

Books not requested by other borrowers may be renewed.  Consult the individual library for policies on renewals.  Borrowers are responsible for renewing the books they have checked out on or before the due date to avoid overdue fines. Books on loan for the academic year MUST be brought to the Circulation Desk for renewal.  “In Process” items may not be renewed.  Users of the Firestone, Engineering and Stokes libraries may send an electronic request to renew books.  Please use the links below to:

Books Not Found in the Stacks

If you cannot locate an item in the stacks and it is not checked out, you may request that a search be performed by completing a trace request form, available at the Circulation Desk or online. A full trace for a missing book may take as long as two weeks, many of these books are found within one week. You will be notified of the results of the request. If an item is missing, you may request it through BorrowDirect, a rapid book borrowing and delivery service.

Recalls

If a library item is checked out to another borrower, you may place a recall on it for your use. This recall request may be placed directly from the Main Catalog. In the event an item is recalled, a notice is generated and sent to the current borrower. The current borrower will have ten days from the date on which the recall is placed to return the recalled item. Failure to return a recalled item within the ten day period will incur a fine of $1.00 per day, and the patron will be blocked from borrowing until the item is returned. It is the responsibility of the patron to ensure that the Library has a current mailing address on file. All patrons are responsible for honoring recall requests and are subject to recall fines.

As an alternative to the recall, you may request items that are checked out through BorrowDirect, or Interlibrary Loan.

Overdue Penalties and Lost Book Fees

Most borrowers are subject to fines for the late return of Library books and other materials. For non-reserve items, these fines are $0.25 per day. Reserve fines, where applicable, are higher; consult individual libraries for more information.

Unpaid fines of $20 or more will block borrowing privileges. In most cases, the due date is stamped on a slip in the back of each book. Please note however, that a recall notice establishes a NEW due date for books requested for other borrowers.

If a book is long overdue or damaged beyond repair, you will be billed for its replacement. In addition, a standard processing fee of $50.00 will be applied. The Library reserves the right to adjust this replacement fee upward if it does not cover the cost of the replacement. In some libraries you may replace the lost item with a book of the same edition, and only processing fees will be charged. Please consult with the circulation supervisor in the library from which the item was checked out concerning lost items.

Confidentiality

Princeton University Library records relating to an individual patron's use of the Library and its resources are confidential.  Please read the Library’s Policy on Confidentiality of Library Patron Records

More Information

For additional information, please see the list of Frequently Asked Circulation Questions, or contact the individual libraries.