Checkout & Renew - Circulation - Meriam Library

What Can Be Checked Out?

Books, nonprint media, maps, reserve materials and Kindles can be checked out to campus students, faculty, and staff. Periodicals may be checked out to faculty only. Circulation of books and nonprint media is available to off-campus patrons with a Nonaffiliated User (NAU) or Courtesy Card. Anybody with a California driver's license or DMV identity card and Social Security card can check out Government Documents. Special permission from the reference desk is required to check out other materials.

Who Can Checkout?

To find out if you qualify and what you need to verify your status review the information on this page.

Where do I Check Out Books, Nonprint Media, Reserve Materials & Kindles?

Books, nonprint media, reserve materials and Kindles are checked out at Circulation & Reserve Counter on the 1st Floor next to the library entrance/exit.

What's my Library Card?

Your Wildcat ID card serves as your Library Card.

How Many Items Can Be Checked Out?

There is no limit to the number of books or nonprint media items you can check out at one time.
Reserve items are limited to two items checked out at one time.

Loan Periods

Main Collection: The loan period is 21 days for undergraduates, staff, courtesy and NAU patrons, and 35 days for graduate students. The date to return your books to the library is stamped in the back of the book on the date due slip and available through your circulation account.
Note: The faculty due date is April 15. Faculty will be notified of items needed by other patrons and will be asked to return these items. See also the Faculty Circulation Policy.

Nonprint Media: Nonprint materials may be borrowed for 7 days. The date to return your items is attached to the item.

Reserve Materials: Reserve materials may be borrowed for two hours or 24 hours, depending on the item. Material may be renewed at the Circulation & Reserve Counter by the person who originally checked out the material.

Kindles: Kindles may be borrowed for 7 days. The date to return your items is attached to the item.

Overdue Fines

Main Collection & Nonprint Media: Fines for overdue items are 25 cents per item, per day, and accumulate to a maximum of $20.00 per item. Fines are computed for each calendar day, whether the library is open or closed.

Reserve Materials: Fines for overdue reserve items are: 50 cents per hour, for each item. Fines accumulate to a maximum of $20.00 per item. Fines are computed for every hour and day, whether the library is open or closed.

Paying Fines

You may pay by cash, check, credit card or wildcat card at the Circulation and Reserve counter on the 1st floor or you may mail a check payable to CSUC:

California State University, Chico
Meriam Library - Circulation
Chico, CA 95929-0295

Please include your university ID number on the check.

Viewing Your Online Circulation Account

Your CSU Portal name and password are used to access your circulation account where you can see the books you currently have checked out and when they are due.

Renewing Your Books & Nonprint Items

All materials may be renewed as often as needed at the Circulation & Reserve counter provided no other patron has requested them. Main Collection books, nonprint media and Kindles may be renewed one time from your circulation account. After the first renewal each item will need to be brought in to be renewed. Overdue items cannot be renewed online. Reserve items may be renewed in person, and only by the patron who originally checked out the material.

When You Can't Find a Book

When an item should be on the shelf but cannot be located, a search may be requested at the Circulation & Reserve Counter on the first floor. Patrons will be notified if the item is found.

When The Book You Want Is Checked Out

If an item is checked out, you can place a hold electronically through the library catalog by clicking on the Request button, or in person at the Circulation & Reserve Counter on the first floor. When the item is returned to the library, the patron who has placed the hold will be notified and it will be held for seven days at the Circulation & Reserve Counter before being reshelved.

Kindles

The Meriam Library offers four of the latest generation Amazon Kindle eBook readers for checkout to CSU, Chico students, faculty and staff. Courtesy patrons and non-affiliated users are not eligible. The Kindles come with carrying cases, USB cables/power adapters and use a proprietary format that restricts content to titles purchased from Amazon.com. For more information, see this page.

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