Borrowing & Circulation

A Biola ID, Alumni Association ID or other Biola library card is required for library entrance and borrowing. The type of card applied for will determine the level of access and borrowing privileges. To apply for a library card, see Library Access. To view borrowing privileges for all user types, see the Borrowing Privileges Chart.

Library users should bring their physical or mobile ID card to check out library materials in person at the Information Desk or self-check kiosks. Reference material, periodicals, course reserves, and archival material may only be used within the library and cannot be checked out. See the Borrowing Privileges Chart for more information.

To checkout materials on behalf of another person, submit a Library Account Proxy Authorization form. You will be sent a confirmation email when the person you requested has been added as a proxy on your account.

Checked out library material can be renewed online or in person. An item may not be renewed if the user has an item more than two weeks overdue, library fees to be paid, or the item is on hold for another user. Items renewed the maximum number of times must be returned to the library or brought to the Information Desk to be checked out again. See the Borrowing Privileges Chart for more information.

Checked out items may be returned to the library in person or through the mail. Book drops are located inside the library and outside the library near the accessibility ramp. To mail an item back to the library, use the following address:

Biola University Library
13301 University Drive
La Mirada, CA 90639

My Library Account is used for viewing material checked out, renewing items and viewing library charges.

Students, staff, faculty, and visiting scholars may request items to be held for pickup or mailed to their home (within the U.S.). Checked out items may also be requested, and will be placed on hold or mailed when available. See Library Pick-up Service or Mail to Home Service for more information.

Biola students, staff, faculty, faculty emeriti, and board members are eligible for ILL services. If the material is unavailable through the Biola library, it can be requested from another library. Book chapters and articles only available in a print format can also be requested through ILL and will be delivered digitally. All other items must be picked up in person at the Biola Library.

See Use Interlibrary Loan for more information.

All users are responsible to check their library account for due dates and to view any outstanding fines or charges. As a courtesy, circulation and billing notices are sent via email. However, failure to receive a notice does not exempt the user from being charged.

Overdue Material

When a user fails to return a library item by the due date, the user’s borrowing privileges are suspended until the overdue item(s) is returned or renewed. Failure to return or renew the overdue item within two weeks will result in the item being declared lost and a suspension of renewal privileges.

Overdue material that is not returned within 28 days of the due date will be issued a non-refundable late / replacement charge of $55 per item (with a supplemental bill for any items with a market value greater than $55). The library will then proceed to purchase a replacement copy for the item to restore access to this community resource. Returning an item after the bill date will not result in the cancellation of any charges.

Overdue ILL items incur a $1/day per item fine. See Interlibrary Loan Policy for more information.

Suspension of Borrowing Privileges

If a library item is not returned on time, the user will not be permitted to borrow any more items until the overdue, aged-to-lost, or billed item has been renewed (if possible) or returned and any fines or charges have been paid.

Suspension of Renewal Privileges

If material is not returned or renewed within 14 days of the due date, the user’s renewal privileges are suspended as the item is presumed lost. The item must be brought back to the Library. If there are no holds on the item, the user may proceed to check it out again.

Replacement Charges

When a user fails to return a library item within 28 days of the due date, a non-refundable Replacement Charge is issued for $55 per item and the Library proceeds to purchase a replacement copy. Supplemental Replacement Charges may be sent within 14 days of the original Replacement Charge bill date for items with a greater replacement value than the initial charge.

Replacement charges for Interlibrary Loan material are determined by the lending library.

Damaged and Lost Material

When an item is overdue for two weeks, it is assumed lost. If the user does not return the item within two weeks, the user will be charged a Replacement Charge of $55 (or market value, if higher). If an item is damaged, the user will be charged the same amount for replacement.

Within 28 days of the original item’s due date, a user may request to provide a substitute replacement copy. No request will be considered after 28 days. If the substitution request is approved, the user must comply with the stated instructions to provide the substitute item to the library or demonstrate proof of purchase and shipping of the item.

Charges for damaged or lost Interlibrary Loan material are determined by the lending library.

Paying Library Charges

A block will be placed on library accounts with unpaid charges of $20 or more. The user will not be permitted to renew or borrow material until the charges are paid and the account block is removed. Students must pay replacement charges at Schools Accounts for items that are lost, damaged, or not returned within 28 days of the item’s due date. Other users pay charges by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover or Apple Pay) through the Online Payment Center. Payments may require 2-3 business days for a user’s library account to be updated before borrowing or renewal privileges are restored.

Appeals

No refunds or cancellation of charges will occur after an item is billed, except by appeal within 14 days of the billing date for extenuating factors beyond one’s control (e.g. hospitalization, court order).

Any supplemental replacement charge must be issued by the Library within 14 days of the initial bill, and the supplemental bill will have its own 14 day appeal deadline.

Overdue or replacement charges for Interlibrary Loan Items are not subject to an appeal process as Biola seeks to maintain good borrowing relationships with other lending libraries.

For questions about fines, charges or appeals, send an email to library@biola.edu.