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Elmer E. Rasmuson Library
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Borrowing: Borrowing from Rasmuson Library

Information about borrowing materials from Rasmuson Library

Your Library Card

Your valid PolarExpress card, or valid library card from any Alaskan library participating in the ALC, is required to check materials out from the library.

Borrowing Eligibility

Students, staff, and faculty of UAF, UAA, and UAS are eligible to borrow materials with a valid PolarExpress Card (UAF), Wolf Card (UAA), or Whale Card (UAS).
Off-campus & rural UAF students, staff, and faculty are eligible to borrow materials using our Interlibrary Loan service.
If you are an Alaska resident and your public library belongs to the Alaska Library Catalog (ALC) consortium, you may check out materials with your public library card. You must be in good standing with your home library.
If you are an Alaska resident, but your home library is not a member of the ALC, you may be eligible to borrow a limited number of items through the Alaska Libraries Reciprocal Borrowing Program; check with a supervisor at the Circulation Desk for further details.
If you are not employed by the University of Alaska, but are affiliated with a campus department doing research either on campus or with other campus researchers, in order to be eligible to check out materials you will need to obtain a PolarExpress card (or Courtesy Card) and have your sponsoring department fill out a Visiting Guest Scholar Sponsorship form. Bring the form and your PolarExpress card in person to the Circulation Desk.
Once the form is filled out (we need your departmental address as well as your home permanent address, as well as the date your contract ends), you may check out books, check out audiovisual-format material, and use our Interlibrary Loan service.
This privilege does not include the use of our media equipment; departments should contact the Rasmuson Library Media Desk if there is a special need for such equipment.

Loan Periods

  • Books: 28 days; There is no limit to the number of books you may checkout
  • Compact Discs: 7 days; can check out up to 25
  • Films, DVDs, & Videotapes: 7 days; can check out up to 5
  • Media Equipment: 3 days, except for data projectors which circulate for 4 hours
  • Books: 60 days; There is no limit to the number of books you may checkout
  • Compact Discs: 7 days; can check out up to 25
  • Films, DVDs, & Videotapes: 7 days; can check out up to 10
  • Media Equipment: 3 days, except for data projectors which circulate for 4 hours
  • Books: 120 days; There is no limit to the number of books you may checkout
  • Compact Discs: 7 days; can check out up to 50
  • Films, DVDs, & Videotapes: 7 days; can check out up to 10
  • Media Equipment: 3 days, except for data projectors which circulate for 24 hours
  • Books: 60 days; There is no limit to the number of books you may checkout
  • Compact Discs: 7 days; can check out up to 25
  • Films, DVDs, & Videotapes: 7 days; can check out up to 10
  • Media Equipment: 3 days, except for data projectors which circulate for 4 hours
  • Books: 28 days; There is no limit on the number of books you may checkout
  • Compact Discs: 7 days; can check out up to 25
  • Films, DVDs, & Videotapes: 7 days; can check out up to 10
  • Media Equipment: No media checkout except for headphones and video remotes, in-library only

Fines

Are you positive it's lost? If you need a little more time to look, we can extend your checkout.

Eventually, a lost book will cut off your borrowing privileges, and you will need to replace it. You can either:
  • Provide us with a suitable replacement copy that has been approved by the Collection Development Librarian, and pay a $20 processing fee. This fee covers our time and materials in making the item shelf-ready. For items that are inexpensive and easy to find, this is usually the best option; OR,
  • Pay us whichever is greater: $95, or the item's cost as listed in our catalog. The figure of $95 is based on the average price of academic library titles.
If returned in good condition there is no charge for overdue items, excluding media equipment or reserves.
Overdue equipment accrues fines at the rate of $1.00 per hour (or any fraction of an hour) and may result in permanent loss of equipment checkout privileges. See the Technology Lending Overdue Policy for details.
Overdue reserve materials accrues fines at the rate of .50 cents per hour, starting at the top of the hour after the item is overdue.

Contact Circulation

Related Links

Elmer E. Rasmuson Library
1732 Tanana Loop
PO Box 756800
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-6800
Phone: 907-474-7481​​
Text: 907-341-4404​
AskRasmusonLibrary@uaf.libanswers.com

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: Learn more about UA's notice of nondiscrimination.