Library books should be renewed on or before the due date. We recommend that you keep track of your due dates and not depend on overdue notices, which are sent out as a courtesy.

LTS views renewal of materials as an acknowledgement that you, the borrower, currently have these materials in your possession.

How to renew (Brandeis faculty, students or staff):

• Use the my account feature in LOUIS to renew library materials and monitor your account information directly - here's how.
• or renew your books in person (receipts are available), or by email
• Material cannot be renewed over the phone, as the library cannot guarantee the accuracy of telephone transactions.

Materials may not be eligible for renewal...

• if the book has been recalled/requested.
• if the borrower has overdue Interlibrary loan materials or long-overdue circulating items for which replacement charges have been assessed.
• if the materials have reached their renewal limit: five (5) renewals for internal Brandeis borrowers with month-long loan periods, two (2) for internal Brandeis borrowers with semester-long loan periods, and one (1) renewal for all other affiliated borrowers (i.e. Alumni, BLC, etc). But, you can bring these books back, check them in, and then check them out for another cycle.

Why have renewal limits?

Renewal limits are needed to ensure that the collection is available to the entire community. Having more books on the Library's shelves increases your ability to browse the collection and provides more immediate access to materials than our recall system provides. Renewal limits encourage you to return books you are no longer actively using.

Renewal limits allow both the Library and borrowers to identify -- and replace or repair -- lost or damaged books more quickly. As a result of periodic review of loan records, we have fewer missing books when borrowers leave the University.

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Where do I return materials?

• Books should be returned to either Main or Science Library service desks.
• Book drop off bins are available at both Main and Science for borrowers who return items after operating hours. The Science Library book drop is located in the Science complex to the right side of the Science Library main entrance. The Main Library book drop is located on the side of the building directly across from USDAN cafeteria.
• Reserve items should be returned directly to the service desk during hours when the building is open. Overnight reserve loans may be returned in the book drop.
• Receipts are available for in-person returns.
• To safeguard against error, all materials returned to the Brandeis University Libraries are checked in twice.

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What is a recall?

The recall and request services are available to Brandeis students, faculty and staff only.

The library collection is a shared collection owned by the University for use by the entire community, not just one individual or group. Because of this, all books are subject to recall or request. Original borrowers are expected to honor the recall request in order to assure the collection's accessibility to all patrons.

• If a book is on loan and is due within 14 days of the current date, patrons may place a hold request on the item. A hold request does not shorten the original borrower's loan period but serves as a flag in the computer system, which appears when the item is checked in and indicates to the circulation staff that the book needs to be set aside for a patron.
• If a book is due more than 14 days from the current date, the patron may recall the item from the current borrower. The original borrower's loan period will be reduced and s/he will have a maximum of 14 days for use of the recalled material. Recalled items are subject to fines of $2.00 per day. Recalls should be made in person at the circulation desk.
• Patrons are notified by phone or email when their requested or recalled item has arrived and will have 10 days to pick up the item before it is re-shelved.

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