Borrowing Materials from the UFV Library

Use your Library Account to see what you have checked out and when the items are due, view the status of your hold requests, and renew library materials online.

To log in, you will need your library card number and PIN. If you don't know your PIN or you have forgotten it, you can retrieve it online:

1. Go to Library Account
2. Click on "Don't Know Your PIN?"
3. Enter your library card number and click "Send"

Your PIN will be sent by email to the email address in your library record. For students and and employees, this is your UFV email account.

You can also contact the library for assistance.

You can renew items you have checked out using your Library Account.

• Always read the renewal screen carefully and note the new due dates. The format for due dates is day/month/year (Due: 13/7/2023).
• Renewals are subject to recall: if your item is recalled by another user, you may have to bring it back sooner than the original renewal date displayed. If this happens the library will notify you via email, using the email address in your library record (for students and employees, this is your UFV email account).
• If renewal limits have been reached or the item is on hold for another patron, you will see a message "Item may not be renewed." In the case of renewal limits being reached, you may return the item to the library and renew in person at the service desk.

Course reserves and items borrowed from another library may not be renewed.

All items other than course reserve items can be returned to either the Chilliwack or Abbotsford UFV campus library. Course reserve items must be returned to the library from which they were checked out. During hours the library is open, items must be returned in the book return slot at a library service desk. Outside of library hours, external bookdrops are available on the Chilliwack and Abbotsford campuses:

• ChilliwackOutside south entrance of A Building
• AbbotsfordOutside north entrance of G Building

If an item is signed out, "Just Received," or on another campus, you may place a hold on it. You will be notified when the item is ready for pick-up. However, an in-person library user has priority to check out the book if the hold has not yet been processed.

Intercampus transfers can take 2-7 days and are not delivered on weekends. Items will remain on the holds shelf for 7 days.

Notices are sent to the email address in your library record. For students and employees, this is your UFV email address.

Note: Alumni and community users may not place holds on library materials. To request items from another campus library, please visit the service desk.

Library users are responsible for knowing the due dates of any library materials they have borrowed.

All UFV library borrowers automatically receive courtesy email notices from the library. Library notices are sent to the email address on library users accounts. For students and employees, this is your UFV email account.

These notices include:

• Courtesy reminder notices (3 days before due date for most users; 1 day before for faculty)
• Overdue reminder notices (1, 5, and 10 days overdue for most users; 1 day overdue for faculty)

These notices are a courtesy reminder only.

Recall fines will be charged for materials that are overdue and have been requested by another user. Note that no recall fines are charged on days when the library is closed.

Library users will be invoiced for the replacement costs for items that are 30 days overdue.

When another library user places a hold on an item you have checked out, the library will contact you via email and recall the item. The item must be returned within the specified period (varies by item), after which a recall fine of $2.00 per day will accrue. Check your library account  for revised due dates.

Email notices are sent to the email address in your library record. For students and employees, this is your UFV email account.

Library users will be invoiced for the replacement cost of any lost or damaged items which need to be withdrawn from the collection.

Charges for damages to library materials will be assessed on a case by case basis. Please report lost or damaged items to the Service Desk.

You may pay your fines in person at the service desk at the Chilliwack or Abbotsford campus library. The library accepts cash, debit, VISA, Mastercard, or American Express. You may also choose to pay by providing credit card information over the phone.

To dispute a fine, submit a Library Fines Appeal. Please note that fines will not be forgiven for reasons such as failure to receive an overdue notice, lack of knowledge of loan periods, forgetting due dates, or failure to renew materials on time.

Library borrowing and renewing privileges are blocked on accounts with more than $50.00 owing in fines.  Blocked patrons are notified monthly by email. Library users can always check their account balance in their Library Account.

Non-payment of bills may also impede the ability to register for classes. Non-payment of substantial bills may result in accounts being sent to a collection agency.