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Services

Borrowing

The Mastodon card serves as the official school ID for Purdue University Fort Wayne students, faculty, and staff. It also serves as a library borrower's card. The card may be picked up at the Walb Union Campus Credentials and Transportation office, telephone 260-481-6611.

Indiana residents who are not part of the Purdue University Fort Wayne or the Indiana University Fort Wayne community are eligible for a special library borrower's card. For more information, see the Visitor Information section below.

How Long Can You Borrow?

Circulation records are confidential. General Collection items are due in 16 weeks for faculty, staff, and current students.  Indiana residents have different borrowing periods listed at the bottom of the page.
Loan periods for items are:

  • General Collection books and Government Documents: 16 weeks
  • Media: 6 weeks
  • Course Reserves and Secure Area items:  a variety of due dates from 2 hours up to 2 weeks, or instructor's preference
  • Laptop equipment: 5 days
  • Group study room key: 2 hours
  • Mother's room: 30 minutes

Indiana residents are limited to ten items

Returning Library Material

You will be responsible for paying any fines or fees for late return or non-return of library materials checked out to you.  An overdue notice will be sent one day after the due date. Failure to return or renew materials on time will result in the assessment of overdue fines plus the replacement cost for each item.  If you think the library has made an error or if you have a special situation that you believe warrants elimination or reduction of fines or fees owed, you may file an appeal using the link below.

Details about fines and fees are shown below: 

General Collection and Media Items

​At 1 day overdue, the patron may be blocked. At 14 days overdue, the patron will be charged replacement cost.

Materials with a 2-hour or 4-hour loan period

At 1 hour after time due, the patron may be blocked and assessed a $5 per hour fine.  At 48 hours after time due, the library can determine that it is necessary to order a replacement copy. The replacement cost and overdue fine will be assessed when the replacement copy is ordered. The replacement cost for the ordered item is not refundable. The maximum cost per item is replacement cost plus $120.

Materials with a one-day loan period

At 1 day overdue, the patron may be blocked and assessed a $10 per day fine. At 7 days ​overdue, the patron will be charged replacement cost plus the accrued overdue fine. The maximum cost per item is replacement cost plus $70.

Laptop Equipment

At 1 day overdue, the patron may be blocked and assessed a $15 per day fine. At 7 days overdue, the patron will be charged replacement cost plus the accrued overdue fine. The maximum cost per item is replacement cost plus $150.

Renewals

You may Renew the material you borrowed before the due date to extend the loan period.
Campus patrons have unlimited renewals for general collection materials unless the item is requested by another user. Visitor and Indiana resident cardholders may only renew general collection items 4 times. Limited Loan materials, with the exception of media, are not renewable. 
  • Online in My Account
  • In person at the Service Desk of Helmke Library

Equipment and Laptop Loans

Certain equipment loans including laptops have special policies regarding use.  Please see below.

Visitor Information

Who may obtain a library guest borrower card?

Obtain your library guest card at the Campus Credentials and Transportation desk in the Walb Student Union.  If the Credentials desk is closed, the Service Desk on the first floor of the library can issue a temporary card. Cards are valid for one year and may be renewed upon request by borrowers in good standing.

Types of guest borrower cards include:

  • Indiana residents
    • Applicants must present an Indiana driver's license or Indiana state identification card with a current address.
    • Applicants under age 18 will be asked to present one official document with current address and a consent form signed by a parent or guardian. They must also complete the Parental Consent Form linked below.
  • Faculty, staff and students from members of Academic Libraries of Indiana institutions.
  • Faculty, staff, or students from other Purdue campuses
  • Purdue continuing education students
  • Alumni from Purdue University Fort Wayne campus

Where can I apply for a card?

Obtain your library guest card at the Campus Credentials and Transportation desk in the Walb Student Union.  If the Credentials desk is closed, the Service Desk on the first floor of the library can issue a temporary card. Cards are valid for one year and may be renewed upon request by borrowers in good standing.
Patrons are responsible for:
  • Having an active guest card to check out any material.
  • Renewing or returning all material by the due date.
  • Reading and responding to all library notices promptly.
  • Notifying the library if their guest card is lost or stolen.
  • Paying any fines or fees for late return or non-return of library materials checked out on their guest card.
  • Notifying the library of a change in address, including e-mail.
  • Contacting the library if material charged on their guest card is lost or stolen.

Loan periods

Faculty, staff, and students from other Purdue campuses are eligible to check out most books in the general circulating collection.

  • General Collection books and Government Documents: 16 weeks
  • Media: 6 weeks
  • Secure Area items: a variety of due dates from 2 hours up to 2 weeks
  • Mother's room: 30 minutes
  • Other material such as reference books and journals may be consulted on site.

Other guests are eligible to check out most books in the general circulating collection, and they are limited to checking out ten items. 

  • General collection items are due back in 3 weeks.
  • Media may be checked out for 7 days.
  • Secure Area items: a variety of due dates from 2 hours up to 2 weeks
  • Mother's room: 30 minutes
  • Other material such as reference books and journals may be consulted on site

Information on renewal of materials and returning items is available above.

Proxy Request

By filling out the Request for Proxy Services form, a patron authorizes another patron to check out items on their account and accepts responsibility for those items. Proxies are used mainly for the convenience of faculty members so that graduate students or other assistants can pick up items from the library using their own Purdue Fort Wayne ID to charge it to the faculty member's account.  Confirmation of the faculty member's approval will be required. Other requests for proxy access must be approved by the Library Management Team on an individual basis.

Confidentiality of Library Circulation Records

The library does not reveal the titles or nature of the materials checked out by any library patron. The library does not knowingly issue materials to anyone but the card owner. See the library's Privacy Policy for further information.