Circulation
Questions about Lewis circulation? Please contact us at lewiscir@princeton.edu
A current PUID card or valid Princeton University Borrowers Card is required to check out or renew materials.
Where to check-out, renew or return books
Lewis circulating materials can be checked-out, renewed or returned at either Information Desk (Lewis 1st floor and Lewis Fine Hall Wing A-Floor). Our books may be returned to any campus library, they will be discharged and returned to Lewis. Our books may be renewed at any campus library also. Recalled books cannot be renewed.
Loan policy and renewing books
The loan policy for Lewis books is a semester for faculty and professional staff, graduate students, seniors and undergraduates and 28 days for other staff and guest patrons. We offer a limited number of online renewals before requiring that the books be physically returned or renewed at Lewis or a campus library. Patrons will receive an e-mail courtesy notice 5 days before a book is due. Reply back to this notice requesting that the book be renewed and Lewis staff will renew the title. If we require that you physically return the item to Lewis or one of the other campus libraries for renewal or return, the staff will email you. If you have questions about this policy, please contact us.
Recalling a title
If you need a book that is is checked out, you can either recall it or request a copy through BorrowDirect. Begin by searching the title in the Main Catalog and then choose either BorrowDirect or Recall options. If you have problems with either service, please contact us at lewiscir@princeton.edu
If your book has been recalled
If another patron recalls the book that you have checked out, you will receive email notification and a revised due date. The book must be brought back by the new due date, otherwise fines will be assessed at $1 per day per title for all patrons.
Fine notices
Fines for overdue recalls and course reserve books may be paid at the Firestone Library Circulation Desk. If you receive a long overdue notice (the book has not been returned or renewed for 90 days) and/or a bill for replacement plus processing fee, please see Sylvia Swain, Circulation Manager, in 105 Lewis Library or email lewiscir@princeton.edu.
Lewis loan policies:
Monographs (books) circulate for a semester to faculty and professional staff, graduate students, seniors and undergraduates (due dates are September 15th, Feburary 15th and June 15th) and circulate for 28 days to other staff and guest patrons. Monographs can be renewed online but must be physically returned to Lewis or to a campus library once a year where they can be recharged if not needed by another patron.
Course reserves circulate for 3 hours. After 9 pm, they may be checked-out overnight and are due at 9:30 am weekdays, and 10:00 am Saturday and Sunday. Fines are assessed at $1 per hour with a 1 hour grace period. Print course reserves are located at the Lewis Fine Hall Wing Information Desk.
** Always return course reserve books directly to the Lewis Information Desk to avoid fines and fees.
Permanent reserves circulate the same as monographs (books). These are located across from the Information Desk in Fine Hall Wing.
Senior theses and Ph.D. theses circulate for 4 weeks to all patrons. Some departmental copies may circulate, but are kept in locked Limited Access. Ask for assistance at the Information Desk 9am-4:30pm. .
Microforms, DVDs, CDs and Videos circulate for 2 weeks, ask for assistance at the Information Desk to locate materials.
Government Documents (U.S. SuDocs) circulate for 2 weeks, ask for assistance to locate materials
The following collections may only be used IN LEWIS LIBRARY, they DO NOT circulate.
Reference. (Lewis 1st floor and Fine Hall Wing)
Serials and periodicals, bound and current issues. (Bound are on Lewis A-Floor; current are on Lewis 2nd floor)
Graduate Reading. (Located within Fine Hall Wing Reference Collection)
Documents, bound and current issues. (Geological survey docuements: Bound are on Fine Hall Wing B-Floor; unbound are on Lewis 2nd floor)
E/F Oversize and Atlases. (Currently shelved near the Map Collection in Fine Hall Annex, Fine Hall B-Floor)
Maps. (Currently located in the Map Collection within Fine Hall Annex, Fine Hall B-Floor)
More information about Circulation at other Princeton University Libraries.
