Borrowing and Renewing Items
You may borrow from us if you are:
- A registered WMU student with a Bronco Card
- A current or emeritus WMU faculty or a Staff member or a retiree with a Bronco Card
- A WMU Doctoral Program Alumnus with a Lifetime Borrower's Card
- A Guest Borrower
Borrowing periods
| Item type | Undergrad | Grad student or grad assistant | Faculty & Staff Emeritus & Retiree |
Guest borrower |
| Books, music scores, government documents | 28 days | 1 semester | 1 semester | 14 days |
| Reserve items | 2 hours - 7 days | 2 hours - 7 days | 2 hours - 7 days | 2 hours - 7 days Permanent Reserves only |
| Waldo Instructional Videos | 7 days | 7 days | 7 days (may renew once if not reserved) | Not Available |
| Waldo children's books | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days |
| Music CDs, LPs | 7 days | 28 days | 28 days | Library use only |
| Music videos | 3 days | 14 days | 14 days | Library use only |
| Music education recordings | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days |
| Slides | 2 days | 14 days | 14 days | Library use only |
| Images on CD-ROM | 7 days | 7 days | 7 days | Library use only |
Number of items you can borrow
| WMU students, faculty and staff | Guest borrowers |
| 50 items | 10 items |
Renewing items
Renew online under My Account (choose WMU Library Catalog) or My Library Account in the catalog
- Review results to make sure renewal was successful
- You may renew twice online
- If you have trouble renewing, call 387-5154. If you have trouble renewing, call 387-5154
- Or bring items in to one of the circulation counters
Recall
- Library users may recall items you have checked out
- You will get an e-mail notification to return the item
- You are guaranteed use of the material for at least 14 days
- You must return the item by the new recall due date or be fined for each day overdue
Returning items
All items can be returned to one of the following locations:
- Waldo Library — book returns also available outside front doors and on Arcadia Street side of building
- Education Library — 1300 Sangren Hall – and book return outside the northwest entrance
- Music and Dance Library — 3006 Dalton Center
- Archives & Regional History Collection – 111 East Hall
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Parkview Campus) — Book return box on first floor, near Lecture Hall D-115 (front entrance). Pick up Monday - Friday by 9 a.m.
- College of Health & Human Services (Oakland Drive Campus) — Book return box on first floor near the Learning Resource Center. Pick up Monday - Friday by 9 a.m.
- Haworth College of Business (Schneider Hall) — Book return box on first floor by the entrance nearest the Fetzer Center. Pick up Monday - Friday by 9 a.m.
Library materials must be returned complete with all parts, discs, booklets, and other accompanying material. You will be charged full replacement charges for items returned without all accompanying material.
Overdue Fines
| Overdue | Recalled | NOTE | |
| Books, music scores, CDs, LPs | $.25 per day up to $10 per item | $1.00 per day up to $15 per item | Faculty, staff & grad assistants are fined only for overdue recalled items |
| Videos | $.20 per hour or $4.80 per day * | Video fines apply to all borrowers* | |
| Interlibrary loan items | $1.00 per day | $10 fee for each ILL item ordered, but not picked up |
* Maximum Video fines are $10 per item for undergraduate students and graduate students.
Maximum Video fines are $35 per item for faculty, staff and graduate assistants.
Video borrowing privileges will be suspended when maximum video or other fines or fees are reached.
Replacement charges and processing fees
Replacement charges and processing fees apply to all borrowers.
| Considered lost | Replacement charge | Non refundable processing fee | |
| Books & scores | 45 days or more overdue | $75.00 per item, or actual replacement cost if higher | $15 |
| Waldo videos | 10 days or more overdue | $75.00 per item, or actual replacement cost if higher * | $15 |
| Music & Dance Library CDs, LPs, DVDs, videos |
45 days or more overdue | $35.00 per item, or actual replacement cost if higher | $15 |
* Replacement costs for Instructional videos may be in excess of $1200.
These charges may also apply to any damaged items.
If a lost item is returned within six months of the billing date the replacement
charge will be refunded but not the processing fee.
Making payments
- All library fines and fees, including interlibrary loan fees, may be paid on the 2nd Floor of Waldo Library at the Copy Center (library map)
- Pay with cash or with check payable to "Western Michigan University" only
- Or mail payment to: Copy Center, Waldo Library, 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5353
- Copy Center is open the same hours as Waldo Library
- Call (269) 387-5154 with questions regarding payment
Borrowing privileges will be suspended:
For undergraduate and graduate students and guest borrowers if you:
- Owe $10.00 or more in fines and/or fees, or
- Have ten or more items 45 days or more overdue, or
- Have one or more recalled items overdue
For faculty, staff, graduate assistants if you:
- Owe $100 or more in fines and/or fees, or
- Have ten or more items 45 days or more overdue, or
- Have one or more recalled items overdue
- Video borrowing privileges will be suspended when maximum video or other fines or fees are reached.
Borrowing at one of the Regional Locations
If you are a student at one of the regional locations of WMU, you may request items to be sent to you through Document Delivery
Borrowing from other libraries
WMU library users with a Bronco Card may borrow from other libraries through MeLCat or Interlibrary Loan.
Guest Borrowers
You can get a one year Guest Borrower's Card if you:
- Live within a 50-mile radius of Western Michigan University, and
- Are at least 18 years of age, and
- Present a photo identification with an address and proof of Social Security Number
A guest borrower may borrow up to 10 items excluding class Reserve items, audio and video formats, slides, or image CD-ROMs. See loan periods above.
Western Michigan University Doctoral Program Alumni
Western Michigan University doctoral program alumni are granted lifetime borrowing privileges. You must present the Lifetime Borrower's Card issued upon graduation and you will receive a 28 day loan period.
