Libraries' new replacement policy to be effective Aug.17

July 21, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — To ensure that items owned by the libraries are available to patrons, the George A. Smathers Libraries will attempt to quickly replace each item lost by patrons with an exact copy, an updated edition of the title or a similar title. The libraries no longer refund replacement costs for items that are returned after replacement copies are ordered. Overdue fines related to lost items are not increasing and are not refundable if the book is subsequently returned.

This policy and billing cycle is effective on August 17, 2009 for the Smathers Libraries. The Health Science Center Libraries (http://www.library.health.ufl.edu/) and Legal Information Center (http://www.law.ufl.edu/lic/) are excluded. Please refer to their Web sites for specific billing policies.

• If a lost item is returned before the maximum overdue fine is assessed, there will be no replacement processing fine or replacement cost billed to the patron. The associated overdue fines will not be refunded.
• If a lost item is returned after the maximum overdue fine is assessed and before a replacement copy is ordered, there will be no replacement cost billed to the patron. The associated overdue fines and replacement processing fines will not be refunded.
• If a lost item is returned after a replacement copy has been ordered, the assessed replacement cost will not be refunded. The associated overdue fines and replacement processing fines will not be refunded.

More details are available at http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/ps/Circ/fines.html