About the ERL

• Circulating collection (books, manipulatives) – 3 weeks
• Tradebooks (Publisher Preview items) and items in the Special Collections Room – 1 week
• Non-Circulating: reference books, textbooks, pop-up books
• iPads, video cameras, voice recorders, tripods – 2 days
• Chromebooks – same day, due by the end of ERL business day

• Items may be renewed for a loan period of the same length if they have not been requested by another person.
• Overdue materials cannot be renewed online. Please contact us.
• Renewals can be made in person, by phone, or online.
• Renew online. (Kresge Library home page > Books > Renewing books link)

• ERL books and materials must be returned to the ERL (not Kresge Library).
• For after-hours returns of books, please use the drop box outside the Pawley Hall main entrance. The outside drop box is available 24/7 for your convenience.
• Technology must be returned directly to an employee at the circulation desk.

• Overdue fines – The ERL has gone fine-free. 
• Fees for lost or damaged books – Automatic fines/fees will be generated through the system at the following rates:
  • $11.00 processing fee
  • $30.00 per book replacement cost
  • $50.00 per manipulative replacement cost
  • A hold will be placed on your Oakland University account (Registrar) until business is settled with the ERL.
• We reserve the right to charge replacement costs for overdue or damaged equipment such as video cameras, still cameras, voice recorders, projectors, microphones, and tripods.
• Laptops/MacBooks: We reserve the right to charge replacement costs for overdue/damaged laptops (up to $1300 for a computer/bag/power cord). A hold will be placed on your Oakland University account (Registrar) until business is settled with the ERL.
• iPads: We reserve the right to charge replacement costs for overdue/damaged iPads (up to $600 for an iPad/bag/power cord). A hold will be placed on your Oakland University account until business is settled with the ERL.
• If library fines are incurred, checkout of ERL materials will be blocked, and a hold will be placed on your Oakland University account until fines have been paid. The hold on a university account results in the inability to register for classes.

• To pay your ERL library charges online using your credit card (Mastercard or Visa), please go to our Marketplace site.
  • To determine the amount of your ERL fines, please log in to My Library Account.
  • Please allow up to 3 business days for payments to be processed.
• The ERL cannot accept payment for Kresge Library charges – ONLY fines/fees for ERL materials.

In order for us to best serve your needs, we encourage you to plan ahead.

If library fines reach $15, checkout of ERL materials will be blocked, and a hold will be placed on your Oakland University account until the fines have been paid. The hold on a University account results in the inability to register for classes, receive your diploma, or order transcripts.

Payments made after 5 p.m. on days the ERL is open will be processed the next business day. Accounts placed on hold can be cleared only during regular business hours. Our student employees do not have the authority to override the computer system or access personal patron records.

If you have issues or concerns, please contact an ERL staff member at (248) 370-2485 during business hours.

• Oakland University faculty, staff, and students may borrow circulating library materials. Borrowers must have their OU ID with them when borrowing materials.
• Oakland University alumni have borrowing privileges. (See Kresge’s Alumni information page).
• Graduate students working on their dissertations but not currently enrolled need to make special arrangements with ERL staff to borrow materials.
• Community members are eligible for a guest card. Please see guest card policies below.

Oakland University students, faculty, and staff have authenticated access to most library resources and databases from off-campus. If you are not a member of one of these groups, you may still visit Kresge Library and obtain guest authorization to use library computers by presenting a current photo ID to a staff member.

To discuss borrowing materials that differ from our circulation policies or to borrow laptops or other materials that require the attention of staff, please make sure to consult us during business hours: Monday–Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Call the ERL at 248-370-2485 to confirm hours of operation.) Our student workers do not have the authority to override the computer system or access personal patron records.

• Guest library cards cost $50.00 and expire a year from purchase.
• May check out up to 5 books at a time; general collection only.
• A loan period of 3 weeks, 2 renewals are allowed.
• To request or purchase a guest card, please email [email protected].

Overdue fines will be $.75 per day per item, up to a $50.00 maximum fine. Services of a collection agency may be engaged in order to retrieve overdue materials if the normal overdue notification procedures fail to elicit their return. The Library reserves the right to withdraw borrowing privileges under such circumstances.

 Complimentary Guest Cards

The following affiliations are entitled to a complimentary guest card:

• OU Continuing Education Faculty & Students (Continuing Ed. card)
• Faculty from 15 Michigan Public Colleges and Universities
• Teacher Education Cooperating Teachers
• Registered Lowry families
• OU retirees
• OU alumni
• Past Member of the Board of Trustees 

Guest Library Card Responsibilities

When patrons accept or purchase a library card, they enter into a borrowing agreement with the Library. The patron agrees to abide by all the ERL rules and regulations and accepts the penalties for failing to comply. The guest patron is responsible for all materials charged using their library card. Should the library card be lost or stolen, the guest patron is responsible for notifying the circulation desk at ERL. There is a $2.00 charge for replacing a Library card.

Failure to receive overdue notices does not in any way relieve patrons of the obligation to return material and/or pay accrued fine and fee charges.