Lost Items:

Olin Library holds borrowers financially responsible for all material checked out on their accounts. Please notify the Olin Circulation Unit immediately if library material is lost or stolen.

• To speak with a member of the Circulation Unit, borrowers may visit the Help Desk at Olin Library, call 314-935-5420, or e-mail circ@wumail.wustl.edu. The Circulation staff will assist borrowers in resolving their accounts and direct questions and concerns to the Circulation Librarian.

Fines/Replacement Costs:

Charges for lost and stolen library material are intended to help Olin Library replace the material and make it available for future use.

• A non-refundable $15.00 processing fee is charged in addition to the replacement cost.
• Replacement costs vary for Washington University's material and are available on our Fines & Fees page.
• You may wish to purchase a replacement copy for the library yourself, if you are able to do so at less than the library's replacement cost. Check with the Olin Circulation Unit prior to purchasing a replacement copy to confirm this is an option, compare costs, and ensure that you purchase the correct item.
• MOBIUS items have a default replacement cost of $100.00 and a $20.00 processing fee.

Payment by the borrower in no way implies transfer of ownership of library property. Unreturned items remain the property of the library. In most cases, if the borrower finds and returns Olin material in good condition within one year after paying for the material, the replacement cost will be refunded or credited, but the processing fee will remain.

Overdue Fines:

Here is the Olin Library fine policy:

• Overdue fines are 20 cents per day for books and 40 cents per day for recalled books.

• Overdue fines are a $1.00 per day for videos, DVDs, and journals.

• Hourly Reserve overdue fines are 60 cents per hour, or a fraction thereof.

• Day Locker overdue fines are $1.00 per hour.
• Faculty members are not fined for overdue books.

Please check with the departmental or school library the item is checked out from, if it is not an Olin Library item, as that policy may be different.

Paying Fines:

• Patrons may pay fines online with a debit or credit card, unless the fines have been sent to student billing. Patrons can go here to pay fines. If you are paying fines please choose the Library fines option. If you are paying for replacement items please use the Book Replacement option.  

• At the end of the month, outstanding fines for students are sent to student billing, If fines have been sent to student billing, students may pay at Student Financial Services, which is located in Room 75 of N. Brookings Hall. Their phone number is (314) 935-5900.