Circulation

Circulation Privileges

• There is no limit on the number of items students may check out from the PAU Library, barring any use restrictions.
• Circulation privileges are subject to suspension for excessive overdue items and/or lost items.

Unrestricted Circulation

• Dissertations and Regular Books: For 14-day loan with two (2) renewals allowed.
• DVDs: For overnight loan with two (2) renewals allowed.
• Reserved Books: Circulation policies vary. For overnight or 3-day loan with two (2) renewals allowed, or for library use only with no renewals allowed.
• Equipment (e.g., laptops, cables, stopwatches): For library use only with no renewals allowed.

Restricted Circulation

• Current Test Kits: For overnight loan with two (2) renewals allowed. Available to doctoral students. Available to master's students with faculty supervision, documented in writing via email to librarian@paloaltou.edu.
• Current Test Manuals: Circulation policies vary. For overnight loan with two (2) renewals allowed, or for library use only with no renewals allowed. Available to doctoral students. Available to master's students with faculty supervision, documented in writing via email to librarian@paloaltou.edu.
• Archived Test Kits and Test Manuals: Circulation policies vary. Some are available to doctoral students. Some are available to master's students with faculty supervision, documented in writing via email to librarian@paloaltou.edu.
• Faculty Keys and Copy Cards: Circulation policies vary. Use is restricted to designated students only.
• All Other Materials: Not available for student use. Email librarian@paloaltou.edu for assistance.

Course Reserves

• Course Reserves materials are reserved for student use to support coursework in specific classes.
• Library-owned and faculty-owned items that have been placed in Course Reserves are loaned as directed by the associated faculty member.
• The loan terms for Course Reserves materials are labeled on each item and listed on a course page for each class. Go to the Course Reserves main page in WorldCat Discovery and search by instructor name or course title to find a course page.

Checking Out Items

• Review our Library Hours and Location page for current hours and service availability.
• Use our WorldCat Discovery library catalog to find items in our collection and place holds on items for which holds are allowed.
• In-person users may check out items at the circulation desk. Books and dissertions for 14-day loan are located in the open stacks; all other items must be requested at the circulation desk. 
• For curbside service, call the circulation desk at (650) 433-3808 from the parking lot. 
• Use our Shipping Request Form to arrange shipping if required.
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu to request an extended loan.

Returning Items

• Review our Library Hours and Location page for current hours and service availability.
• In-person users should bring all library use only, overnight loan, 3-day loan, and Course Reserves items directly to the circulation desk for check-in. Books and dissertations for 14-day loan may be returned to the circulation desk or to the book return outside the main library door. We advise emailing the circulation staff at library-circ@paloaltou.edu if you use the book return, to ensure items are checked in promptly.
• For curbside service, call the circulation desk at (650) 433-3808 from the parking lot. 
• Use our Shipping Request Form to arrange shipping if required.

Renewing Items

• If allowed, renewals may be requested online via your library account in WorldCat Discovery.
• If allowed, the renewal period is the same as the loan period. The renewal period begins at the time of the renewal transaction, so renewals are not cumulative.
• The online renewal option will be blocked by the system by default if an item is on hold for another user or becomes overdue.
• Contact the circulation desk in person, via email to library-circ@paloaltou.edu, or by phone at (650) 433-3808 if you need assistance with a renewal.
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu to request a loan extension.

Due Dates/Times and Fines

• Due dates/times and fines are posted in your library account in WorldCat Discovery.
• Notifications are sent automatically from the circulation system via email and/or SMS alerting you when items are coming due and become overdue. You can set your notification preferences in your library account profile.
• Overdue fines will not be charged for overdue items until after the grace period has elapsed. Grace periods vary, as indicated below.
• Library use only loans are due after eight hours or an hour before closing, whichever comes first. A daily fine of $5.00 will be charged if the item is not returned to the circulation desk before closing (i.e., the grace period on fines ends at closing).
• Overnight loans are due at the end of the day following checkout. If the item has not been renewed, a daily fine of $5.00 will be charged following a one-day grace period on fines.
• Three-day loans are due after three days. If the item has not been renewed, a daily fine of $1.00 will be charged following a one-day grace period on fines.
• Fourteen-day loans are due after 14 days. If the item has not been renewed, a daily fine of $1.00 will be charged following a three-day grace period on fines.
• Course Reserves materials are labeled with applicable information regarding due dates/times, fines, and grace periods.
• Overdue fines are capped at $25.00 per checkout (not per item).
• Items overdue for more than 30 days are considered lost and will be billed for the replacement cost in addition to accrued overdue fines. 
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu if you have any questions about fines and/or fine payment information.

Circulation Privileges

• There is no limit on the number of items faculty and staff may check out from the PAU Library, barring any use restrictions.
• Circulation privileges are subject to suspension for excessive overdue items and/or lost items.

Unrestricted Circulation

• Dissertations and Regular Books: For 14-day loan with two (2) renewals allowed.
• DVDs: For overnight loan with two (2) renewals allowed.
• Reserved Books: Circulation policies vary. For overnight or 3-day loan with two (2) renewals allowed, or for library use only with no renewals allowed.
• Equipment (e.g., laptops, cables, stopwatches): For library use only with no renewals allowed.

Restricted Circulation

• Current Test Kits: For overnight loan with two (2) renewals allowed. Available to faculty and qualified staff when supplies allow.
• Current Test Manuals: Circulation policies vary. For overnight loan with two (2) renewals allowed, or for library use only with no renewals allowed. Available to faculty and qualified staff when supplies allow.
• Archived Test Kits and Test Manuals: Circulation policies vary. Available to faculty and qualified staff when supplies allow.
• Faculty Keys and Copy Cards: Circulation policies vary. Use is restricted to designated faculty and staff only.
• All Other Materials: Some items are reserved for use by specific faculty and staff. Email librarian@paloaltou.edu for assistance.

Course Reserves

• Faculty may request materials to be reserved in the library's Course Reserves collection for use by students in one or more specific classes during a given quarter.
• Library-owned items as well as faculty-owned items may be placed in Course Reserves.
• The associated faculty member determines the circulation policy for each Course Reserves item.
• The library labels Course Reserves materials with specific information regarding loan terms and circulates them to students accordingly.
• The library maintains an informational course page for each class, which can be searched on the Course Reserves main page in WorldCat Discovery using the instructor name or course title.
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu to set up Course Reserves for a class.

Checking Out Items

• Review our Library Hours and Location page for current hours and service availability.
• Use our WorldCat Discovery library catalog to find items in our collection and place holds on items for which holds are allowed.
• In-person users may check out items at the circulation desk. Books and dissertions for 14-day loan are located in the open stacks; all other items must be requested at the circulation desk. 
• For curbside service, call the circulation desk at (650) 433-3808 from the parking lot. 
• Use our Shipping Request Form to arrange shipping if required.
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu to request an extended loan.

Returning Items

• Review our Library Hours and Location page for current hours and service availability.
• In-person users should bring all items for library use only, overnight loan, and 3-day loan directly to the circulation desk for check-in. Books and dissertations for 14-day loan may be returned to the circulation desk or to the book return outside the main library door. We advise emailing the circulation staff at library-circ@paloaltou.edu if you use the book return, to ensure items are checked in promptly.
• For curbside service, call the circulation desk at (650) 433-3808 from the parking lot. 
• Use our Shipping Request Form to arrange shipping if required.

Renewing Items

• If allowed, renewals may be requested online via your library account in WorldCat Discovery.
• If allowed, the renewal period is the same as the loan period. The renewal period begins at the time of the renewal transaction, so renewals are not cumulative.
• The online renewal option will be blocked by the system by default if an item is on hold for another user or becomes overdue.
• Contact the circulation desk in person, via email to library-circ@paloaltou.edu, or by phone at (650) 433-3808 if you need assistance with a renewal.
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu to request a loan extension.

Due Dates/Times and Fines

• Due dates/times and fines are posted to your library account in WorldCat Discovery.
• Notifications are sent automatically from the circulation system via email and/or SMS alerting you when items are coming due and become overdue. You can set your notification preferences in your library account profile.
• Library use only loans are due after eight hours or an hour before closing, whichever comes first. Please returned these items to the circulation desk before closing.
• Overnight loans are due at the end of the day following checkout. Please renew or returned these items to the circulation desk by the due date/time.
• Three-day loans are due after three days. Please renew or returned these items to the circulation desk by the due date/time.
• Fourteen-day loans are due after 14 days. Please renew or returned these items in time for them to be checked in at the circulation desk by the due date/time.
• Course Reserves materials are labeled with applicable information regarding due dates/times.
• Overdue fines are are not charged to regular PAU employees. However, items overdue for more than 30 days are considered lost and will be billed for the replacement cost. 
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu if you have any questions about lost item charges and/or payment information.

Circulation Privileges

• Alumni may check out a fixed number of items from the PAU Library, barring any use restrictions.
• Circulation privileges are subject to suspension for excessive overdue items and/or lost items.
• Email the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu if you have any question about alumni circulation privileges.

Available Items

• Dissertations and Regular Books: For 14-day loan with two (2) renewals allowed. Limit of ten (10) items.
• DVDs and Reserved Books: For overnight loan with two (2) renewals allowed. Limit of five (5) items.
• Reserved Books: For 3-Day loan with two (2) renewals allowed. Limit of five (5) items.
• Reserved Books: For library use only with no renewals allowed. Limit of five (5) items.

Checking out Items

• Review our Library Hours and Location page for current hours and service availability.
• Use our WorldCat Discovery library catalog to find items in our collection and place holds on items for which holds are allowed.
• In-person users may check out items at the circulation desk. Books and dissertions for 14-day loan are located in the open stacks; all other items must be requested at the circulation desk. 
• For curbside service, call the circulation desk at (650) 433-3808 from the parking lot. 
• Use our Shipping Request Form to arrange shipping if required.
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu to request an extended loan.

Returning Items

• Review our Library Hours and Location page for current hours and service availability.
• In-person users should bring all library use only, overnight loan, and 3-day loan items directly to the circulation desk for check-in. Books and dissertations for 14-day loan may be returned to the circulation desk or to the book return outside the main library door. We advise emailing the circulation staff at library-circ@paloaltou.edu if you use the book return, to ensure items are checked in promptly.
• For curbside service, call the circulation desk at (650) 433-3808 from the parking lot. 
• Use our Shipping Request Form to arrange shipping if required.

Renewing Items

• If allowed, renewals may be requested online via your library account in WorldCat Discovery.
• If allowed, the renewal period is the same length as the loan period. The renewal period begins at the time of the renewal transaction, so checkouts and renewals are not cumulative.
• The online renewal option will be blocked if an item is on hold for another user or becomes overdue.
• Contact the circulation desk at library-circ@paloaltou.edu or (650) 433-3808 if you need assistance with a renewal.
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu if you have any questions about renewing items.

Due Dates/Times and Fines

• Due dates/times and fines are posted in your library account in WorldCat Discovery.
• Notifications are sent automatically from the circulation system via email and/or SMS alerting you when items are coming due and become overdue. You can set your notification preferences in your library account profile.
• Overdue fines will not be charged for overdue items until after the grace period has elapsed. Grace periods vary, as indicated below.
• Library use only loans are due after eight hours or an hour before closing, whichever comes first. A daily fine of $5.00 will be charged if the item is not returned to the circulation desk before closing (i.e., the grace period on fines ends at closing).
• Overnight loans are due at the end of the day following checkout. If the item has not been renewed, a daily fine of $5.00 will be charged following a one-day grace period on fines.
• Three-day loans are due after three days. If the item has not been renewed, a daily fine of $1.00 will be charged following a one-day grace period on fines.
• Fourteen-day loans are due after 14 days. If the item has not been renewed, a daily fine of $1.00 will be charged following a three-day grace period on fines.
• Overdue fines are capped at $25.00 per checkout (not per item).
• Items overdue for more than 30 days are considered lost and will be billed for the replacement cost in addition to accrued overdue fines. 
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu if you have any questions about fines and/or fine payments.

The PAU Library allows registered users from NCCL member institutions to check out up to five (5) books and/or dissertations from the PAU Library, barring any use restrictions.

Circulation of books and dissertations to NCCPL affiliates is currently suspended due to COVID-19 and will resume once the PAU Library has returned to normal operations.