Circulation

Circulation Privileges

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

Circulation Policies

Unrestricted Items

• 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 and are labeled on each item. For overnight, 3-day, or 7-day loan with two (2) renewals allowed, or for library use only with no renewals allowed.

Restricted Items

• 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.

Course Reserves

• Course Reserves materials are reserved by faculty 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.
• Check out items by requesting them from the librarians. 
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu to request to check out an item, to request a loan extension or ask for permission to check out more than one copy of a library item.

Returning Items

• Review our Library Hours and Location page for current hours and service availability.
• All library use only, overnight loan, and Course Reserves items should be returned directly to the librarians for check-in.
• All 3-day, 7-day, and 14-day loan items may be returned to the librarians or to the book return outside the main library door. We advise emailing the librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu if you use the book return, to ensure items are checked in promptly.

Renewing Items

• If a renewal is allowed, an item may be renewed online via your library account in WorldCat Discovery.
• If a renewal is allowed, the renewal period is the same as the loan period. Please note that the renewal period begins at the time of the renewal, so renewals are not cumulative.
• Online renewals are automatically blocked for items that are overdue or on hold for other users.
• Contact the librarians in person, via email to librarian@paloaltou.edu, or by phone at (650) 433-3855 if you need assistance with a renewal.

Due Dates/Times and Fines

• Due dates/times and fines are posted in your library account in WorldCat Discovery.
• Notifications are sent automatically 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 designated grace period has elapsed.
  • 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 librarians before 4pm (i.e., the grace period ends at 4pm).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Seven-day loans are due after 7 days. If the item has not been renewed, a daily fine of $1.00 will be charged following a one-day grace period.
  • 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.
• Course Reserves materials are labeled with applicable information regarding due dates/times and fines. If you need additional information, go to the Course Reserves main page in WorldCat Discovery and search by instructor name or course title to find the course page.
• Overdue fines are capped at $25.00 per checkout.
• 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 with questions about fines and/or payments.

Circulation Privileges

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

Circulation Policies

Unrestricted Items

• 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 and are labeled on each item. For overnight, 3-day, or 7-day loan with two (2) renewals allowed, or for library use only with no renewals allowed.

Restricted Items

• 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.
• 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 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.
• Check out items from the librarians. Books and dissertations for 14-day loan must be requested from the librarians. 
• Contact the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu to request a loan extension, ask for permission to check out more than one copy of a library item, or inquire about any other special arrangements.

Returning Items

• Review our Library Hours and Location page for current hours and service availability.
• All library use only, overnight loan, and Course Reserves items should be returned directly to the librarians.
• All 3-day, 7-day, and 14-day loan items may be returned to the librarians or to the book return outside the main library door. We advise emailing the librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu if you use the book return, to ensure items are checked in promptly.

Renewing Items

• If a renewal is allowed, an item may be renewed online via your library account in WorldCat Discovery.
• If a renewal is allowed, the renewal period is the same as the loan period. Please note that the renewal period begins at the time of the renewal, so renewals are not cumulative.
• Online renewals are automatically blocked for items that are overdue or on hold for other users.
• Contact the librarians in person, via email to librarian@paloaltou.edu, or by phone at (650) 433-3855 if you need assistance with a renewal.

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 are waived for faculty and staff, but we ask that all items be renewed or returned before 4pm on the due date to ensure equitable access.
• 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 replacement fines and/or payments.

Circulation Privileges

• Alumni may check out a fixed number of items from the PAU Library, barring any circulation policy restrictions.
• Circulation privileges are subject to suspension for excessive overdue 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 7-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.
• Check out items at the circulation desk. Books and dissertations for 14-day loan are located in the open stacks; all other items must be requested from the librarians. 

Returning Items

• Review our Library Hours and Location page for current hours and service availability.
• All library use only and overnight loan items should be returned directly to the librarians for check-in.
• All 3-day, 7-day, and 14-day loan items may be returned to the circulation desk or to the book return outside the main library door. We advise emailing the librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu if you use the book return, to ensure items are checked in promptly.

Renewing Items

• If a renewal is allowed, an item may be renewed online via your library account in WorldCat Discovery.
• If a renewal is allowed, the renewal period is the same length as the loan period. Please note that the renewal period begins at the time of the renewal, so renewals are not cumulative.
• Online renewals are automatically blocked for items that are overdue or on hold for other users.
• Contact the librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu or (650) 433-3808 if you need assistance with a renewal.

Due Dates/Times and Fines

• Due dates/times and fines are posted in your library account in WorldCat Discovery.
• Notifications are sent automatically 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 designated grace period has elapsed.
  • Library use only loans are due at 4pm. A daily fine of $5.00 will be charged if the item is not returned to the librarians before 4pm (i.e., the grace period ends at 4pm).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Seven-day loans are due after 7 days. If the item has not been renewed, a daily fine of $1.00 will be charged following a one-day grace period.
  • 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.
• Overdue fines are capped at $25.00 per checkout.
• 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 with questions about fines and/or payments.

The PAU Library serves our private university community and does not offer guest access. We refer local residents to Stanford University, the Santa Clara County Library District, the San Mateo County Libraries, and various municipal libraries in the area for assistance with meeting their information needs.