Borrow, Renew, Return Policies

Borrow Library Materials

• Present your Gator 1 card or government-issued photo ID when you borrow materials at our Libraries.
  • Note: Library users with special borrower’s privileges must present their Library issued borrower’s card in addition to a government-issued photo ID.
  • Gator 1 cards and Library issued borrower cards may not be loaned to another person.
  • The card holder is responsible for all costs and consequences of card misuse. If the card is lost or stolen, notify the Smathers Libraries to request deactivation of the missing card.
• Return or Renew library materials before the due date stamped in each item.
  • The borrower is responsible for keeping track of loaned items and their due dates.
  • The libraries will communicate with borrowers via the email address on their library account.
  • For loans of items in our General Collections, the libraries will send a courtesy email notice 7 days before the due date, and again 1 day before the due date.
  • The borrower must check this email address frequently. Failure to receive these notices does not exempt the borrower from any fines accrued when an item is returned late.
  • Report any changes to a borrower’s contact information to the libraries to ensure that emails are received.
• Some items in the Libraries’ collections are only available for use within the libraries, or loan out for shorter periods of time.
  • Examples of in-library use items: Special Collections materials, reference materials, reserve items.
  • Examples of short-term loan items: DVD and media collections, periodicals and journals, circulating technology.

Renew

• Checked out items can be renewed in your UF Library Account or by contacting any UF Libraries circulation desk.
  • The following items cannot be renewed:
    • Items requested by another borrower.
    • Items that don’t allow renewals: Interlibrary loans, reserves, videos, and items from the Map & Imagery and Mead Libraries.
• An overdue item on your account will prevent renewal

Return

1) Circulation Desk

Visit any UF Library circulation desk to return library items. Some items can be returned ONLY at a circulation desk including:

• technology and tools
• Interlibrary loans and reserves
• Items from the Map & Imagery or Mead Libraries

The book drop should not be used for the items listed above.

2) Library West Book Drop

Library West has a drive-up book drop in the parking lot on the East side of the building, facing Anderson Hall (see images below).

3) Health Science Center Library Book Drop

The Health Science Center Library has a street-side book drop near the West Entrance to the Biomedical Sciences Building and a book drop inside the Communicore building on the first floor (see images below).

4) Returning Materials by Mail

If you will not be returning to campus, please make arrangements to mail material back to the University of Florida on or before the due date listed in your library account.

Pack returns in a box or padded mailer. Boxed items should include packing materials such as bunched up papers, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, etc. to secure the items for transit. If you are returning media items, such as DVDs or CDs; pack these items separate from books and wrap them in bubble wrap in addition to padding the box to prevent damage during shipping.