Fines

Lost Materials

All regular materials, whether they are owned by the University of Pennsylvania or have been borrowed from another library, overdue for 28 days or more are automatically considered "Lost" in our library system. Having an a "Lost" item in your library account will freeze your ability to request new items or renew any others you have checked out.

These items are subject to a $200 lost item replacement fee. This fee will be removed from the patron's library account if the overdue item is returned within 90 days of the due date. 

"Lost" books cannot be renewed and must be returned to the library for your account to be credited. If the library has already "withdrawn" the item, we may not accept the lost item back and require payment. 

For items that are not the property of the Penn Libraries (for example, books borrowed from other institutions using Interlibrary loan, BorrowDirect, or EZBorrow): once the Penn Libraries have been billed for lost materials by the original lending institution, no credits or reimbursements will be issued.

Damaged Books

Patrons are responsible for reporting any damage to a book they check out from Penn Libraries at the time of checkout. Books returned damaged will be carefully evaluated by library staff. Repair or replacement costs may be charged where appropriate. Books returned with adhesive tabs, writing, water damage, or otherwise returned in a condition worse than regular wear and tear may be subject to fine/fee.

Purchasing Replacement Copies

Replacement copies of lost books may be accepted in lieu of replacement fees at the discretion of the library staff. The fee for reprocessing replacement copies is $25. To be accepted, replacement copies must be the same edition as the one that was lost. They must be new condition. Books that have been withdrawn from other libraries will not be accepted. Do not purchase a replacement copy before ensuring that it will be accepted by the Libraries. Library staff reserve the right to reject, for any reason, materials submitted for replacement.

Many of our partner institutions will not accept replacement copies. For materials borrowed from other libraries via Interlibrary Loan, BorrowDirect, or EZ Borrow,  we are obliged to follow the rules of the owning institution. If you have lost or damaged an item borrowed from another library, please contact the Head of Resource Sharing.

How to Pay a Fine or Fee

Fees must be paid in person at the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center circulation desk, by credit card, cash, or check made to "The University of Pennsylvania." Please note your PennCard ID number and the words "Library fines" on the memo line of the check so that we can be sure to credit the correct account. The circulation desk also accepts Visa and MasterCard in person, Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm. The library cannot accept card payments via phone.

The bursar will be notified of any fines not cleared from a student account after 90 days. We cannot refund lost item fines after they have gone to the bursar, even if the item has been returned.

All fees are subject to change at the discretion of the Head of User Services or the head of library for each Penn Library. The actual replacement charge can be lower in the case of less expensive items or higher in cases of more valuable items.

Technology (laptops, chargers, DVDs, and equipment borrowed from the Vitale Digital Media Lab), course reserves, and other special items may accrue fines that cannot be forgiven.