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Services

Borrowing

The Mastodon card is the official school ID for Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) and the Indiana University Fort Wayne (IUFW) 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 PFW or IUFW community are eligible to borrow items with a guest borrower's card. For more information, see the Visitor Information section below.

Campus Patrons

Loan periods for items are:

  • General Collection books and Government Documents: 17 weeks
  • Media: 6 weeks
  • Laptops: 5 days
  • Mother's room: 2 hours
  • Course Reserves, Equipment, Games, and Secure Area items: varies from 2 hours to 2 weeks

Equipment and Laptop Loans

Only currently enrolled Purdue University Fort Wayne and Indiana University Fort Wayne students, staff, and faculty may check out equipment. There is no charge for the use of library equipment; however, fees may apply if equipment is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Only headphones/headsets and turntables may be renewed.  

Only easels and carts, and study rooms may be reserved.

Laptops Overview and Eligibility

The library has Windows and Mac laptops available for checkout at no charge, pending eligibility. Fees may apply if the equipment is lost, stolen, or damaged.

  • Only currently enrolled Purdue University and Indiana University Fort Wayne students, and active faculty and staff may borrow laptops.*
  • Equipment can be borrowed for up to five days, no renewal.*
  • No reservations are allowed, and no wait list is kept.
  • Users may check out only one laptop (of either operating system) and one set of accessories at a time. Proxy privileges do not apply to laptops.
  • Users cannot choose which numbered laptop they receive but may choose between Mac and PC operating systems when available.
  • Laptops may leave the building; however, not all on-campus network services are available off- campus.  Not following instructions given to the patron at the time of checkout may result in the laptop being unusable off campus.
  • The library is not responsible for personal files left on the laptop.
  • Defective equipment should be reported immediately and returned to the Service Desk.
  • Upon return, Service Desk staff will assess the equipment for damage, clean, and re-image the laptop as needed.

*Laptops may be limited to student use only and loan periods are subject to change at the library’s discretion

Laptop Details

  • Accessories: Power cord, wireless mouse, and adaptor (by request)
  • Software: Laptops have the same software as is available on campus lab computers with the exception of the Adobe Suite. Students may not download or install any software not available in the university’s Software Center. All software available in the Software Center must be downloaded on campus. 
  • Printing: Laptops can print to any library lab printer, and the WebPrint printers in goPFW. Pages printed count against the user’s university printing allowance.

Return

Laptops and all accessories should be returned to the Service Desk by handing them to a Service Desk employee. Equipment should never be left on a counter, at a table, or placed in a book drop as the patron is responsible for any damage or theft that occurs while still in their name.  Returns must be made before the library closes. Patrons should be aware that library doors are locked 15 minutes prior to closing time and should plan accordingly.

Repeated Overdue Laptops

Patrons who return laptops late twice in the same academic year will be blocked from borrowing a laptop for the remainder of the academic year.

Replacement Costs

Borrower will be billed the replacement cost if equipment is not returned.  Total accrued fees of $100 or more will result in a block from borrowing library materials. Total accrued fees of $500 or more will result in a university-level hold.

Misuse of Equipment

Equipment is to be used according to the Purdue Fort Wayne Ethical Guidelines for Information Technology Users.  Misuse or deliberate destruction of equipment should be reported to the Service Desk.

Returning Library Material

Patrons are responsible for the items they borrow, including their condition and timely return, and will be charged the replacement cost for unreturned or damaged library items, and may be blocked from future borrowing. Patrons receive multiple notices regarding the due date of their items at their PFW email address, or for guest borrowers, the email address on file in their library account. Refunds for lost items paid for and then returned can be given only for up to ninety days. 

If a patron believes the library has made an error or has a special situation that they believe warrants elimination or reduction of fees owed, they may file an appeal.

Renewals

Campus patrons have unlimited renewals for general collection materials unless the item is overdue or requested by another user. Visitor and Indiana resident cardholders may only renew general collection items 4 times.  Some items are not renewable. Items can only be renewed online by using My Account or in person at the Service Desk.

Visitor Information

Who may obtain a library guest borrower card?

  • Indiana residents
    •  Applicants must present a valid 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 (ALI) institutions.
  • 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 fees for non-returned or damaged 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 have the same borrowing privileges as PFW patrons with the exception of laptops.
Other guests are eligible to check out most books in the general circulating collection, and they are limited to having ten active loans.

  • General collection: 3 weeks
  • Media: 7 days
  • Games and Secure Area items: a variety of due dates from 2 hours up to 2 weeks
  • Mother's room: 2 hours

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.