Library Borrowing Policies

Loan Periods for Faculty, Staff, and Students

All faculty, staff, and students must present a valid UR ID in order to borrow materials. For information about our services for high school teachers and students, please see our libguide.

Item Students Faculty Staff
Books 28 days / 3 Renewals Unlimited Renewal 28 days / 3 Renewals
Recreational Reading Books 28 days / 1 Renewal 28 Days / 1 Renewal 28 days / 1 Renewal
Course Reserves*

2 hours, 4 hours,
1 day, or 3 days.

Variable 2 hours, 4 hours,
1 day, or 3 days.
DVDs and Blu-rays 7 days / 1 Renewal 7 days / 3 Renewals 7 days / 1 Renewal
Government Documents 28 days / 1 Renewal 120 days / 2 Renewals 28 days / 1 Renewal
Recorded books 28 days / 1 Renewal 28 days / 1 Renewal 28 days / 1 Renewal
DVD Players 6 Hours / 0 Renewals 6 Hours / 0 Renewals 6 Hours / 0 Renewals
Music Library Scores and CDs 28 days / 3 Renewals 120 days / 2 Renewals 28 days / 1 Renewal
Music Library Videos and DVDs 7 days / 1 Renewal 7 days / 3 Renewals 7 days / 1 Renewal
Library Laptops 6 Hours / 0 Renewals 6 Hours / 0 Renewals 6 Hours / 0 Renewals

Renewing items: To renew items, sign in on the library's website. You can also call the location you checked out the item, or stop by in person:

  • Boatwright Information and Assistance Desk: 804-289-8876
  • Parsons Music Library: 804-289-8286

Non-Circulating Items: Special collections books, rare books, reference materials, microforms, periodicals, magazines, and newspapers do not circulate and may not leave the library.

Borrowing Media with Restrictions: VHS tapes can be borrowed by faculty for 3 days, placed on reserve to be checked out by students, or will be made available upon special request. DVDs with restrictions can be borrowed by faculty and staff for 4 days/1 renewal, and by students for 4 hours/1 renewal.

Library Holds: Placing a hold on a book puts you next in line to check the book out. Holds can only be placed on books that are currently checked out by someone else. When the item is returned it will be held at the Information and Assistance Desk, and you will receive an email alerting you to the items' availability. Holds can be placed using OneSearch by clicking "Make a Request" from the item's catalog page.

Reserves: 2 hour and 4 hour reserves may not leave the library in which they are located. Multi-media reserves (DVD, video tape, etc.) may be checked out for 4 hours at a time. Overdue fines accrue at $1.00 per hour for books.