Texas Tech University

Borrowing Policies

Loan Periods

TTU Undergraduate Students, HSC Student/Staff, Law Adjunct Faculty/Staff

Item Type

Item Limit

Loan Period

Renewals

Books

100

120 days

2

Audio Books & DVDs

5

14 days

2

Laptop

1

8 hours

0

TTU Graduate Students, Honors, Staff, Retired Faculty/Staff, Visiting Professor, Law Students

Item Type

Item Limit

Loan Period

Renewals

Books

100

180 days

2

Audio Books & DVDs

5

14 days

2

Laptop

1

8 hours

0

TTU Faculty, Research Associate, Administrative Employee, Law Faculty, HSC Faculty

Item Type

Item Limit

Loan Period

Renewals

Books

150

365 days

2

Audio Books & DVDs

5

14 days

2

Laptop

1

8 hours

0

Community/LCU/SPC/Visitors

Item Type

Item Limit

Loan Period

Renewals

Books

50

21

2

Audio Books & DVDs

5

7

2

Anatomical Models

  • Anatomy models are located in room 205 in Dynamic Media Services (DMS).

  • All models must be checked out before using. Please see a staff member at the DMS desk for assistance.

  • 5 models may be checked out at a time.

  • Models may be checked out for a maximum of 2 hours.

  • Models located in 205 may be used without checking them out.

  • Models are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and may not be reserved.

  • Models may not leave the Library.

Equipment

  • TTU faculty, staff, and students may check out equipment for 72 hours. Noncirculating equipment may be checked out for 6 hours

  • Equipment is checked out on a first come, first served basis.

  • Borrowers are responsible for returning equipment in the condition in which they borrowed it. Damages may result in a replacement charge on Student Business Services (SBS) account.

  • Lost equipment not returned within 24 hours of the time equipment was due will result in a replacement charge for the full cost of the equipment being billed to SBS account. The lost fee will be waived if the equipment is returned in working order. 

Laptops

Laptops are available for checkout by Texas Tech University faculty, staff, and students. Laptops and chargers may be checked out for 8 hours and can leave the library. Replacement costs for lost or damaged laptops is $1,500. The replacement cost for lost or damaged chargers is $80. Physical replacements of lost or damaged laptops or chargers will not be accepted. 

Overdue Library Items

You are responsible for all items checked out on your Texas Tech University Libraries account.

This policy is applicable to all Libraries' items except for items from Document Delivery. Please contact Document Delivery at (806)742-2239 or libraries.docdel@ttu.edu

Overdue Reminders

The Libraries are not responsible for notifying you that materials are overdue. Reminders and overdue notices are sent as a courtesy. Failure to receive reminders or overdue notices does not excuse you from the responsibility of returning or renewing items on time to avoid penalties. Notifications are sent out via email on the following schedule:

  • 7 days before due date

  • On due date

  • 7 days after due date

  • 21 days after due date

Lost Library Items

If an item is 21 days overdue, it will be declared lost.

A replacement charge and non-refundable processing fee of $10 will be billed to your Student Business Services account. See below for details on replacement charges:

  • Books, bound periodicals, government documents, CDs/DVDs: $115

  • Dynamic Media Services (DMS) equipment: Replacement cost of item

  • Laptops: Replacement cost of item

  • Reserve items: replacement cost of item

If lost items are returned, the Libraries will issue a credit for the replacement charge to your Student Business Services account within 72 hours. The $10 processing fee is non-refundable. 

A new, or like new copy of the item may be accepted instead of paying the full replacement cost. A $10 non-refundable processing fee will still be charged to your account. 

Damaged Library Items

Items that are returned to the library damaged will be charged your Student Business Services account will be charged for the replacement cost of the item plus a non-refundable $10 processing fee. See below for details on replacement charges:

  • Books, bound periodicals, government documents, CDs/DVDs: $115

  • Dynamic Media Services (DMS) equipment: Replacement cost of item

  • Laptops: Replacement cost of item

  • Reserve items: replacement cost of item

A new, or like new copy of the item may be accepted instead of paying the full replacement cost. A $10 non-refundable processing fee will still be charged to your account. 

Paying Library Charges

Texas Tech University, TTU HSC, or TTU Law students: Pay fines through Student Business Services

TexShare, South Plains College, or Lubbock Christian University: Library charges are billed to your home institution. 

Claimed Returned

If an item appears on your library account that you believe was returned, you can request it be marked "Claimed Returned."

To request that an item be marked as "Claimed Returned" contact Access Services at (806)742-2265 or libraries.circulation@ttu.edu

Once the item is marked as “Claimed Returned” in the Libraries' system, it will be queued for several intensive searches over the course of four weeks. When the claimed returned searches have been completed, you will be notified of the results.

If the item is not located after the claimed returned searches you will be charged for the replacement.

Appealing Library Charges

You are responsible for all replacement charges for lost or damaged items that are charged to your Libraries account. You may appeal specific charges on your account in writing within 90 days of the original charge. Written appeals may be submitted in person at the Service Desk or by email to libraries.circulation@ttu.edu

Acceptable basis for Libraries' consideration of an appeal:

  • Circumstances beyond control of the borrower could the loss or damage of library materials. Substantiating documentation, i.e. police report, must be submitted with written appeal. 

  • Library error in processing transaction.

  • Payment of charges would cause excessive financial hardship. 

Access Services staff will review appeals with a final decision made by the Department Head or designee. The borrower will be notified of the decision in writing within 14 days of receiving the written appeal. 

Possible outcomes include: denial of appeal, charges reduced to a percentage of original charge, or appeal accepted and the specific charge cleared from account.