Who Can Borrow?

Loan Periods

Materials from the General Collection circulate for two weeks. High demand materials have shorter loan periods. 

What should I know about borrowing from the general collection?

• Loan Period: 2 weeks
• Item Limit: 20 items at a time; 3 books per subject
• Holds Permitted: Yes
• Renewals: Unlimited (unless a hold is pending or patron has outstanding fees)

Are employees allowed extended loans on General Collection materials?
Yes, employees may request extended loans on any item in the General Collection. Seneca Libraries reserves the right to recall extended loans prior to the due date.

Can I borrow materials between semesters?
Students enrolled in the term immediately following the current one may borrow material during the 2 week period between terms. Students must show a copy of their timetable or proof of registration to staff. New students must wait until the first day of the term to borrow items.

Can I borrow reference materials? 
Reference materials (e.g., the legal reference collection) do not circulate and are for in-library use only.

Renew, Return, Recall

Lost or Unreturned Items

When are items considered lost?  
Items not returned or renewed after 8 weeks past their due date will be considered lost. Seneca Libraries allows for unlimited renewals of items unless a hold is pending or a student has outstanding lost items. Scheduled email notifications are sent out to remind students to renew or return borrowed items.  

What happens if I lost or don't return a library item? 
When an item is considered lost (after 8 weeks), a block is placed on your library account and your i3 student record. These blocks will be removed when you pay the replacement fees for the lost item.  

The block on your library account means that you will not be able to borrow additional items from the library’s collection.  

What are replacement fees? 
Replacement fees are the amount that the library pays to purchase a new copy of the lost item plus the costs associated with processing that new item. 

Replacement fees are determined by the current market value of the lost item. A mandatory, non-refundable $10 processing fee will be charged for each item deemed lost, regardless of whether the item is found and/or returned later. 

How can I pay? 
Replacement fees can be paid via your OneCard in person at King, Newnham, Seneca@York, and SIA libraries. Students who wish to pay online can contact the library via our Ask Us Live chat service. 

What happens if I find a lost item after paying the replacement fees? 
If you find the lost item, you may be eligible for a refund of the replacement fee if you meet the following criteria: 

• The item is returned within four months of the date of payment  

• The item is deemed to be in good condition by library staff 

• You are a current Seneca student 

Refunds must be charged back to your OneCard. Please note that the $10 processing fee is non-refundable.  

Why is the processing fee non-refundable? 
The library incurs costs when replacing a lost item regardless of whether that item is later found and returned. Processing fees cover the costs that the library pays to acquire, ship, label and catalogue items purchased for the collection.  

I’m certain that I returned the lost item. What can I do?  
You can contact the library via Ask Us Live to discuss any concerns over an item marked as lost in your account.  

Other Borrowing Options