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Borrowing

Borrowing Materials

  • Your McMaster ID card is your Library card! Present your card with the items you wish to check out at the Library Services Desk or at one of our self check-outs.
  • Please return books to the library from which you checked them out.

How Long You Can Keep/Renew Books

BorrowerMills+InnisThodeHealth Sciences*

Undergraduate

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

Graduate

1 month

1 month

1 month

2 weeks

Faculty

3 months

3 months

3 months

2 weeks

Staff

3 months

3 months

3 months

2 weeks

Retiree    3 months    3 months    3 months 

Reciprocal Borrower
(excludes reserve materials, and short-term loan collection)
McMaster Faculty and Graduate Student Direct Borrows from University of Toronto

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

External Borrower
(limit of 20 items and 2 renewals per item, excludes reserve materials)

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

IAHS students
(excludes reserve materials and short-term loan collection, limit of 5 items, and no renewals)

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

*Short term loan collection in Health Sciences Library checked out for 7 days, with no renewals.
+ Music CDs and LPs can be checked out by all borrowers for 2 weeks, with 1 renewal; Mills Videos & DVDs can be checked out by students and staff for 2 days and by faculty for 2 weeks, no renewals.

Renewing Materials

All books can be renewed (unless they have been recalled) on the My Account/Book Renewal page OR in person. You are allowed a maximum of 6 online renewals per item. External Borrowers are allowed a maximum of 2 renewals. 

Penalties for Not Returning Materials

  • If another user has recalled a book you have checked out, you will receive an email notification requesting you to return the book. You have until 14 days from the original loan date or 5 days from the date of recall, whichever is longer, in which to return the book, after which a fine of up to $5 a day or partial day is levied.
  • If you don't return an overdue item we suspend your borrowing privileges, charge a book replacement fee, and a non-refundable administrative charge per item.
  • It is your responsibility as a borrower to keep the University/Library informed of your current address and email address (students should use MUGSI to update this information). Non-receipt of notices does not relieve you from suspension of borrowing privileges and book replacement charges.

Reserve Loan Periods & Fines

  • A maximum of 3 items (6 items at the Health Sciences Library) from Course Reserves can be checked out at one time.
  • Reserve materials cannot be requested or held for individuals, with the exception of books in the Short-term Loan, and Overnight.
  • Reserve materials may be checked out again if they are not in demand (a 15-minute waiting period may apply before items can be checked out again).
Library
Reserve Type
Description of Loan
Fine for Overdue
MILLS, INNIS & THODE2 hourDue in 2 hours. Most can be checked out 2 hours before closing and are due 1 hour after opening on the following day.$5.00 per hour or part of hour
4 hourDue in 4 hours. Used for the projector loan program.up to $20.00 per hour or part of hour
24 hourDue in 24 hours$5.00 per hour or part of hour
7 dayDue in 7 days$5.00 per day or part of day
HEALTH SCIENCES2 hourDue in 2 hours$2.00 per hour or part of hour
24 hourDue in 24 hours$2.00 per hour or part of hour
Three dayDue in 3 days$2.00 per day or part of day
Short-term loanDue in 7 days$2.00 per day or part of day

Paying Fines

  • Fines for McMaster University students are billed to student accounts and should be paid at the Bookstore, or at Financial Services (Gilmour Hall, Room 209). Student account information can be obtained through MUGSI.
  • All others must pay fines at the Library Services Desk of the appropriate library. We accept debit/credit cards and cheques (no cash payments, sorry).
  • The Health Sciences Library can only accept fine payments Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Email Notification

You will be sent a notice by e-mail for:

  • Holds
  • Recalls
  • Overdues

Print notifications will continue to be mailed out in the post for:

  • Replacement billing
  • Fines

All e-mail messages will be sent to the McMaster University e-mail address (@mcmaster.ca) currently appearing in our records for each patron. Non-McMaster users are responsible for keeping us updated on their current e-mail addresses.