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Updated: 04/29/2008

 

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Thomas M. Cooley Law Libraries Circulation and Overdue Policies

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1992
rev. August 18, 2005

| Clientele || What Circulates || Exceptions || Due Dates || Fines |
| Viewing Your Record & Renewals || Recalls || Fine Appeals || Questions |

 

 

Clientele

It is the policy of the Thomas M. Cooley Law Libraries to circulate material to Cooley students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of any state bar association.  Members of the Oakland University and Western Michigan University communities also have certain borrowing rights. All other patrons with legal research needs may use the collection in-house after applying for and receiving a Limited Access User's Pass.

 

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What Circulates

Single-volume treatises which are in unrestricted locations circulate for one month to qualified patrons.

Reserve materials may be signed out for three hours to be used in the Library.

Makeup tapes (except c. 1, which is the master tape) circulate for two days.  The master tape circulates for three hours and must be used in the Library.  Research and Writing tapes, Advance Research and Writing tapes, and Sum and Substance tapes circulate for three hours and must be used in the Library.

Bound and unbound periodicals, statutes, codes, reporters, digests, records and briefs, administrative rules, multi-volume treatises, loose leaf services, reference books and rare and archival material do not circulate.

Career and Professional Development Office and Academic Resource Center material circulates for 14 days.

CD ROMs, popular videos and DVD's circulate for 2 days.

 

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Exceptions

Patrons may request non-circulating material.  Permission will be determined on a case by case basis by a Reference Librarian.  Patrons using rare, archival or other material from restricted locations may be required to use the material in supervised locations during regular business hours.

 

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Due Dates

You are responsible for returning your books on or before the due date.  As a courtesy, notices are emailed or mailed to the address on file at the Library.  No assurance can be given that notices will be delivered, especially if address changes have not been reported.

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Fines

For each overdue item that checks out in hourly increments (most RESERVE items) you will be charged a fine of $1.00 for every hour that the item is overdue. An item that is one minute overdue will be considered one hour overdue. The fine accumulates to $35.00 ($10.00 overdue fine, $25.00 processing fee) at which time you will also be billed for the replacement cost of the item.  Current market value will be assessed.

For each overdue item that checks out in daily increments (MAIN COLLECTION, CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, and ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER material, CD ROMs, POPULAR MOVIES, and some MAKEUP LECTURES) you will be charged a fine of $1.00 for every day that the item is overdue.  The fine accumulates to a maximum of $35.00 at which time you will also be billed for the replacement cost of the item.  Current market value will be assessed.

WHEN YOU OWE $10.00 OR MORE, LIBRARY PRIVILEGES ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL THE AMOUNT IS PAID AND ITEMS ARE RETURNED.

Overdue fines are the responsibility of the borrower regardless of vacations, exams, car trouble, illness, late or never-received overdue notices, etc.  Do not check out materials for others.  You will be held financially responsible for all items checked out using your card. All payments are non-refundable.

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Viewing Your Record & Renewals

You may view your library record and renew many items at https://library.cooley.edu/patroninfo.

Renewals are permitted if there are no "holds" on the item or overdue fines outstanding.
Renewals may be made in person, by telephone, or online.

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Recalls

Main collection items are subject to recall after two weeks if requested by another patron, or immediately if the item is to be placed on Reserve.

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Fine Appeals

Appeals for the waiving of library fines must be made in writing on a Library Fine Appeal Form and submitted to the Circulation Supervisor.  Circulation privileges will be reinstated during the appeals process. 

VERBAL DIALOGUE REGARDING CONTESTED FINES IS NOT ALLOWED.

 

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Policies are subject to change without notice.

 

Questions

For more information, please contact the Head of Circulation at your campus library. Please see our staff page for names of our Heads of Circulation.

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MeLCat Circulation and Overdue Policies

Access

Students, alumni, faculty, adjuncts, and staff of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School may use MeLCat through Coolcat (Cooley’s online catalog).

Loan Period

Most items requested and received through MeLCat circulate for 21 days. Music audio formats, videos, and DVDs from MeLCat circulate for 7 days.

Renewing

Most MelCat items that circulate for 21 days may be renewed once for an additional 21 days from the date renewed. Some 21 day circulating MeLCat items will not renew.
Items that circulate for 7 days do not renew.

Holds and Recalls

Patrons will not be allowed to place holds or recalls on items in MeLCat.

Time to Pickup

Patrons will be given ten days to pick up the requested material from the day the material is received at the library. Material not picked up in that time will be returned to the supplying library.

Fines

For each overdue MeLCat item you will be charged a fine of $1.00 for every day that the item is overdue. The fine accumulates to a maximum of $35.00 at which time you will also be billed for the replacement cost of the item. Current market value will be assessed.
WHEN YOU OWE $10.00 OR MORE, LIBRARY PRIVILEGES ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL THE AMOUNT IS PAID AND ITEMS ARE RETURNED.

Overdue fines are the responsibility of the borrower regardless of vacations, exams, car trouble, illness, late or never-received overdue notices, etc. Do not check out materials for others. You will be held financially responsible for all items checked out using your card. All payments are non-refundable.

Fine Appeals

Appeals for the waiving of library fines must be made in writing on a Library Fine Appeal Form and submitted to the Circulation Supervisor. Circulation privileges will be reinstated during the appeals process.

VERBAL DIALOGUE REGARDING CONTESTED FINES IS NOT ALLOWED.

Questions

For more information, please contact the Head of Circulation at your campus library. Please see our staff page for names of our Heads of Circulation.

Viewing Your Record

You may view your library record https://library.cooley.edu/patroninfo.

Policies are subject to change without notice.

 

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