Students may keep most books checked out for 42 days. The circulation period for leisure books is 21 days; videos circulate for 7 days. If you need a book for longer than 42 days, you can usually renew it. If a book or video is on reserve for a class, the loan period may be shorter.

If you need an item for longer than the normal loan period, you can renew it online, over the phone, or in person. To see what you have checked out, when it is due, and renew online, you will need your Furman ID number. To renew by phone, you can call the Main Library Circulation Desk at 294-2265, the Music Library at 294-3795, or the Science Library at 294-2455.

Note: An item may not be renewed if it has been requested by another patron. Items checked out to you may be recalled if needed by a faculty member for course reserves.

The library sends out overdue notices, but that does not mean items are not due until you receive a notice. If for some reason you do not receive a notice, you are still obligated to return items on time or pay overdue fines. Patrons who do not return items after 30 days will be billed for the estimated cost of the item plus a $15.00 replacement processing fee. Patrons who do not return items or pay fines or charges incurred may be barred from checking out additional items, registering for classes, receiving a diploma, and requesting transcripts.

Note: Borrowing privileges are suspended for patrons with fines totaling more than $50.

Fines may be paid in cash or check at the James B Duke Library on campus or mailed to Furman University marked Attention: Library - Circulation.

You can search for books at other libraries using WorldCat.

PASCAL Delivers is a library service that allows Furman students, faculty or staff to borrow books from SC academic libraries. Books are delivered to the main library within five business days by the PASCAL Delivers courier. You will receive an email notice when your items arrive. This free service is currently used to borrow books only. The loan period is six weeks and renewals are not permitted.

InterLibrary Loan is a service whereby the ILL/Document Delivery department will do their best to acquire any type of material needed including media (videos, film, sound recordings), and sheet music in addition to books and journal articles from other libraries world-wide. Interlibrary loan materials usually take 5-10 days to arrive and you will receive notification by e-mail when it arrives.

As a Duke Endowment Library, Furman also has circulation agreements with Davidson, Duke, and Johnson C. Smith in North Carolina. You can borrow books from these libraries using your Furman ID card. If you check books out from these libraries, you can return them to the Main Library at Furman and we will ship them back for you.