Library Bill Appeal Policy
An appeal may only be submitted after a bill for overdue fines and/or replacement charges has been assessed. The appeal must be submitted within 60 calendar days of the date the bill is issued. The CSU Library Circulation Office will consider the appeal and decide whether or not to waive/reduce fees and/or replacement charges. Notification of a decision will be sent within 10 business days.
Fees will not be waived if the appeal is based on any of the following reasons:
- A courtesy overdue notice was received late or failed to arrive at the borrower’s current mailing or email address.
- The borrower failed to update his or her current email or mailing address.
- The borrower loaned the item to another party and it was returned late or failed to be returned.
- The item was returned by mail and it was received late or failed to arrive.
- A Reserve item was returned to a location other than the circulation desk where it was checked out.
- The item was lost or stolen while checked out to the borrower (see exception below).
- The borrower is against the principle of fining as a penalty or the rate of fees and/or replacement and processing costs.
In case of error by the Library, or extenuating circumstances brought to the attention of the CSU Library Circulation Office or authorized designees, charges on the borrower’s account may be waived or canceled. The Circulation Office or authorized designees may waive or cancel fines/fees only for CSU Library materials. Items belonging to other SWITCH consortium schools or Interlibrary Loan institutions cannot be waived or reduced by the CSU Library. All determinations made by the CSU Library Circulation Office staff are final. Documentation may be requested for verification purposes.
Fines and/or fees may be waived or canceled if:
- The borrower is deceased.
- The borrower had a major illness requiring hospitalization or extended absence.
- An emergency occurs within the immediate family e.g., death or severe illness, etc.
- An official police/security report is provided in the case of library items that were stolen while checked out to the borrower.
- An item is "Certain Returned," i.e. the item is still outstanding on a borrower’s record, but the Library agrees to absolve the borrower of responsibility for the item due to a possible library error.
- Fines will be canceled due to library error or automated testing/upgrade of the system.