Fines and payments

To encourage the timely return of items and ensure that materials are available for our users, overdue or replacement fees may be charged on library materials that are not returned by their due date.

Materials from the general collection actually do not accrue daily overdue fees. We still do ask you to renew your books to keep your due dates current. You will receive a bill for replacement for any general collection books that are more than 28 days late.

Reserve books, hourly-loan equipment and items requested by another borrower will not accrue overdue fees, but are subject to replacement bills soon after their due date. Please note that while LITS does not apply overdue fees and fines on reserve books and 4-hour loan equipment, we do monitor late return of these items. Keeping a reserve book or equipment beyond the specified time limit is a violation of academic responsibility as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Notices

You will receive a courtesy email before your items are due, reminding you of your due date and, when possible, enabling you to renew your items electronically. Please note that not all items can be renewed.

You will receive an overdue notice when an item is overdue, and a second overdue notice if the item is not renewed or returned. When items remain overdue, you may be charged for replacement.

If you are charged for replacement of an item, and you return it, replacement charges and processing fees are often waived. Refunds will not be issued for Mount Holyoke College Library items returned 2 years after the original billing date or that had to be repurchased for the collection immediately. For items borrowed from other Five College institutions, the refundability period may be shorter (1-2 years). When applicable, refundability periods for different materials types are included in the table below.

When an item is damaged beyond normal wear and tear, the library will evaluate the condition and bill you for repair or replacement.

Late Fees and Replacement Charges

Library fines and replacement costs vary depending on the type of material. Unless specifically noted below, the library will not accept personal copies as replacements.

Item	Fines and bills
Books — general collection	No daily overdue fee Replacement fee: $85 ($60 replacement charge plus $25 processing fee for each item), charged 28 days after due date Personal replacement (new condition) plus $25 processing fee may be accepted for billed general collection books with prior approval. If interested in this option, please contact libcirc@mtholyoke.edu.
Films — leisure collection	No daily overdue fee Replacement fee: $85 ($60 replacement charge plus $25 processing fee for each item), charged 7 days after due date Personal replacement (new condition) plus $25 processing fee will be accepted for billed leisure films.
Films — teaching collection	No daily overdue fee Replacement fee: $60 (or cost of item if over $60) plus $25 processing fee for each item, charged 28 days after due date
CDs	No daily overdue fee Replacement fee: $85 ($60 replacement charge plus $25 processing fee for each item), charged 28 days after due date
Recalled items	No daily overdue fee Replacement fee: $85 ($60 replacement charge plus $25 processing fee for each item), charged 7 days after due date Recalled items must be returned by the due date specified on the recall notice, not on the original due date.

Item	Fines and bills
Reserve books	No hourly overdue fee Replacement fee: $60 (or cost of item if over $60) plus $25 processing fee for each item, charged 24 hours after due date Refunds may not be issued if reserve books are returned more than 7 days late.
Reserve films	No hourly overdue fee Replacement fee: $60 (or cost of item if over $60) plus $25 processing fee for each item, charged 24 hours after due date Refunds may not be issued if reserve films are returned more than 7 days late.

Item

Fines and bills

Reserve books

No hourly overdue fee

Replacement fee: $60 (or cost of item if over $60) plus $25 processing fee for each item, charged 24 hours after due date

Refunds may not be issued if reserve books are returned more than 7 days late.

Reserve films

No hourly overdue fee

Replacement fee: $60 (or cost of item if over $60) plus $25 processing fee for each item, charged 24 hours after due date

Refunds may not be issued if reserve films are returned more than 7 days late.

Item	Fines and bills
Circulation equipment — 4 hours	No hourly overdue fee Replacement fee: cost of the item plus $25 processing fee for each item, charged 24 hours after due date Refunds may not be issued if 4-hour loan circulation equipment is returned more than 7 days late.
Circulation equipment — 7 days	Overdue fee: $10/day, capped at $30 Replacement fees: cost of the item plus $25 processing fee for each item, charged 3 days after due date Refunds may not be issued if 7-day loan circulation equipment is returned more than 30 days late.
Chromebooks — 4 hours	No hourly overdue fee Replacement fee: $350 plus $25 processing fee for each item, charged 24 hours after due date Refunds may not be issued if 4-hour loan circulation equipment is returned more than 7 days late.
Laptops — 7 days	Overdue fee: $10/day, capped at $30 Replacement fees: cost of the item plus $25 processing fee for each item, charged 3 days after due date Dell — $600 MacBook — $1,250 Refunds may not be issued if 7-day loan circulation equipment is returned more than 30 days late.
Media equipment — 7 days	Overdue fee: $10/day, capped at $30 Replacement fees: cost of the item plus $25 processing fee for each item, charged 3 days after due date Refunds may not be issued if 7-day loan media equipment is returned more than 30 days late.

Paying Your Fines

Mount Holyoke College students/faculty/staff

Library charges are sent to Financial Services at the end of the month in which they are accrued. Payment can be made through Financial Services. For students, see the outline of the different ways you can pay your bill. Faculty and staff can pay by cash or check at the Cashier's Office in Skinner Hall.

Five College students/faculty/staff

Library charges are sent to the appropriate college’s bursar’s office 1 – 2 months after the fine is accrued. Each college is responsible for billing and collecting payment from their own students/faculty/staff.

South Hadley residents, Mount Holyoke College alums or Simmons West students

Library charges can be paid by check (written out to Mount Holyoke College Library) directly at the Circulation Desk or by mail to:
Mount Holyoke College
Williston Library, Room 228
Attn: Kim Ammons
50 College Street
South Hadley, MA 01075

Appeals

Do you have questions or concerns about a fine or bill? Please use our fine appeals form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.