Find out how long can you keep an item borrowed from the library and other details about renewals, recalls, and fees.
Loan Periods
- Dartmouth Community Members (Faculty, students, staff, DHMC employees): borrow most items for 365 days
- Other Borrowers: borrow most items for 28 days
A staff member will tell you how long your loan is at check out. You can also log in to Library Search to check the status of your loan on most items.
Items with Shorter Loan Periods
| Item Type | Loan Period |
|---|---|
| Board Games | 7 days |
| BorrowDirect | 120 days, can vary |
| Course Reserves | 2 to 48 hours |
| Equipment | 3 hours to 7 days, depending on type |
| Interlibrary Loans | Varies by institution |
| Video Games | 7 days |
If you're not sure how long your loan is, check your account in Library Search or ask at a circulation desk.
Renewals
Renew most Dartmouth-owned items as often as needed while your account remains active. Renew by phone, email, in person, or by signing in to your Library Search account. If renewal fails, it’s likely due to a recall, course reserve status, or limited borrowing periods.
Course reserves and equipment must be renewed in person at the same desk from which they were borrowed.
Return Materials
Return most items to any library circulation desk. Exceptions include reserves and technology loans, which must be returned to their original locations.
You'll find an after-hours book return located at the bottom of the Novack Café stairs in Baker-Berry Library. Book returns are also available at the Biomedical Libraries entrances.
Unreturned Materials
Lost materials
You are responsible for all items checked out to you. Notify the library immediately if materials are lost or stolen to prevent additional fees. If found and returned before replacement, we will refund the fees.
Items you believe to be returned
If you believe you returned an item still listed on your account, contact a service desk immediately to stop accruing fees while we verify the return.
Recalls
If the item you want is unavailable, you can request a recall or borrow from other libraries.
- Ask our helpful library staff to mark the item for “recall,” or place the request yourself through your library account. We will notify the current borrower that they need to return the item. Once they return it, you'll receive a pick-up notice.
- Another option is to borrow the item from other libraries.
If you receive a “recall” notice for an item on loan to you, it means another member of the Dartmouth community needs access to the item. Please return it by the new due date to avoid fees and replacement costs.
Recalled items are non-renewable and may carry a late fee of $1.00 per day.
Fees
Most fees have been eliminated; however, charges may apply for lost items, overdue hourly loans (e.g., chargers, course reserve books), and recalled items not returned by the due date.
As a Dartmouth student, you'll find fees auto-added to your Da$h account, which you can confirm through DartHub. Alternatively, anyone can pay fees at our friendly Baker-Berry Library Circulation Desk with a credit card or check.
Have Questions
Talk with a friendly staff member at the circulation desk or chat with a librarian.
- Email: baker.circulation@dartmouth.edu
- Phone: 603-646-2567