Borrowing Rules & Policies

 

 

 

HOW CAN I BORROW A BOOK? 

 

Once you have a library card, you can borrow books in-person, download ebooks, reserve a museum pass, or access our online databases. 

 

 

Borrowing periods

DVDs: 7 days

All other Rice Library materials: 21 days

Minerva interlibrary loans: 21 days

 

Borrowing limits

DVDs: 10

Books: 60

Interlibrary loans: 15

 

Renewals

All Rice Public Library items can be renewed as many times as you need, as long as nobody else is waiting for them. Renewal periods are 7 days for DVDs and 21 days for books.

Interlibrary loan items may be renewed once for an additional 21 days. Please speak to a staff member if you need more time; additional renewals must be granted by the owning library. 

Your checkouts can be renewed in-person, over the phone, or by accessing your library account online. 

If the item has a long waitlist, we can put you back on hold for it when you return it.

 

Fines

Rice Public Library is fine-free. However, if you keep something for 3 weeks past its due date, you will receive a bill for its replacement cost. Returning the overdue item will erase this charge from your account. 

 

Borrowing at other Minerva libraries

Patrons with active cards from other Minerva libraries may use their home library cards to borrow items in-person at RPL. Patrons who wish to do so must present their physical card at the circulation desk in order borrow materials. Museum passes and special equipment (such as the Nintendo Switch and FLIR thermal camera) are for use by Rice Library cardholders only. 

Rice patrons may use their card at other Minerva libraries participating in the shared-borrowing agreement. 

 

Problems with your account

If you're having trouble ordering or renewing items on your Minerva library account, give us a call at 207-439-1553 x1 and we can help!

Here are some common reasons your requests might be rejected:

-Your account is expired. Library accounts must be renewed every year to make sure your contact information is up-to-date. Call or come into the library and a staff member can update your account.

-You owe too much money. Even though we're not charging overdue fees, you may have a book billed to your account. A staff member can look into this for you.

-You've hit your request limit. You may place up to 15 holds between the Minerva and MaineCat systems at once. 

-Your card number is no longer valid. We delete old patron accounts after 3 years of inactivity. Come in and we can renew your account - we'd love to see you again!

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