Q. I returned my library books to the South 40 book return, but I received an e-mail informing me one of those books is now overdue. Why?

The South 40 drop is emptied once daily, Monday - Friday. You may have returned the book after we had already emptied the bin for the day. When we empty and check in books from the South 40 drop, we "backdate" everything we check in to previous day on which we emptied the drop. This means that if you return your book on Friday afternoon, and we do not empty the bin again until Monday, we will check in the book on Monday as though it were the previous Friday.

Though you may receive an overdue e-mail notice for the item, you will not be charged overdue fines, as long as you've returned the book on or prior to the due date. If you have any questions or concerns about returns to the South 40 book drop, please contact the Olin Library Circulation Unit at circ@wumail.wustl.edu.