Borrow, Renew, Return

Lane Medical Library adopted a new shared library system in partnership with all Stanford libraries. We modified many of our borrowing policies to align with other Stanford libraries. These new policies are in effect as of August 28, 2023.

Borrow

You do not need to register to borrow materials from Lane Library if you are:

Faculty
Medical student
Postdoc
Fellow
Staff
Undergraduate Student

The following users MUST REGISTER before borrowing materials from Lane Library:

SOM residents
Stanford Healthcare staff
Stanford Children’s Health staff
School of Medicine Alumni
Spouses/domestic partners and children (14+) of Stanford University faculty, staff, or students

Please email LaneAskUs@stanford.edu if you have questions or are unsure which group you belong.

Loan Periods

All materials are subject to recall.

As of August 28, 2023, loan periods for print books have been modified.

Books from the library’s main book collection:

Books are loaned for the current academic year with a fixed due date at the end of the spring quarter for the following users:

Faculty
Staff
Fellow
SOM Residents
Stanford Hospital staff
Children’s Hospital staff

Books are loaned for the current academic quarter with a fixed due date at the end of each quarter for the following users:

Medical Students
Graduate Students
Postdocs
Exam Reviews: 14 days
Journals: 7 days
Equipment: 1 day
Reference: In-library use only
Special Collections: Available for in-library use by appointment only

Loan periods for all users for unique collections:

Exam Reviews books: 14 days
Journals: 7 days
Equipment: Same-day loan
Reference: In-library use only
Medical History Center’s Special Collections: Available for in-library use by appointment only

Course Reserves: Print course reserve materials have a 2-hour or 28-day loan period depending on the item. If a 2-hour reserve book is checked out within an hour of closing, the book may be checked out overnight and will be due the following morning within the first hour that the library reopens.
BioScience Career Center Books: 28 days

Renew

Renewal Limits

You may renew items borrowed from Lane up to two times by phone, online, email, or in-person at the Information Desk.
When renewing for the third time, you MUST renew the item in person.
You may also renew online through My Library Account
If a renewal is not successful, please call 650-723-6831 or email us

Return

A book drop box is located outside the library main entrance.
All Course Reserves materials must be returned inside the library to avoid late fees.
Materials to be used only inside the library should be returned to the Information Desk.
Late returns of equipment and course reserve materials will incur fines.
Books borrowed from other campus libraries may be returned to Lane.

Recalling Materials Checked Out by Another User

You may recall books in use by another user after the first two weeks of their initial check-out period. Please contact the Lane Information Desk at 650-723-6831 or email us

Course reserve materials are checked out on a first come/first served basis. If a reserve item is checked out, please visit the Information Desk and ask to be placed in the hold queue for that item.

When the reserve item is available, you will be notified by phone or email.
Once notified, the reserve item will be held for 15 minutes.
After that time, the hold will be canceled, and the item will be made available to the next patron.

Returning Materials That Have Been Recalled

If the library contacts you (by mail or phone) to recall materials you have checked out, please return them within 5 days. All materials recalled are considered overdue after five days, at which time a fine of $3 per day is assessed with a maximum of $21. If materials are not returned, overdue fines and replacement costs are applied.

Course reserve materials are subject to immediate recall, with no waiting period.

Recalled materials cannot be renewed.

Fines

Lane Library does not charge fines for overdue items from its regular, circulating collection. However, materials not returned within seven days of the specific due date will be charged a replacement fee up to $250 per item. In addition, a block is placed on the user’s library account. Replacement fees will be removed when items are returned to the library, and the user’s account will be unblocked.

Overdue Fines for Equipment and Course Reserves Items

Hourly fines are charged for overdue equipment and course reserves materials.

Same-day equipment loans: $1/hour to a maximum of $30
2-hour course reserves loans: $1/hour to a maximum of $30
28-day course reserves loans: $1/hour to a maximum of $30

Recalled items are fined $3 per day to a maximum of $21.

Email Notifications for Borrowed Items

Users will receive courtesy email reminders when materials are due.
Overdue reminders are emailed two days after the due date passes.
Replacement fees for overdue items are billed seven days after the due date, and users will receive an email notification of the fee.
Reminder email for outstanding library fees is emailed 30 days after initial billing.
Please check your spam folder for email from libraries-no-reply@folio.stanford.edu.

Users are still responsible for all fees even if email notices are not received. If Lane Library receives no response from the user about overdue materials and outstanding fees, a copy will be sent to the user’s department. A hold may be placed on student registration for any outstanding materials or fees.

Fees may be paid at the Information Desk with cash, checks, Visa and Mastercard. Fees may also be paid online through My Library Account.

Fines & COVID-19 Library Building Closure

Lane Library restarted the accrual of fines on July 31, 2021.
The fines accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 17, 2020 to July 31, 2021 are waived.
Fines accrued before the COVID-19 pandemic still stand.

Damaged Materials

Handle library materials carefully. If an item is damaged, you are required to pay for its repair or replacement. Fines are assessed according to the severity of the damage. Do not attempt repairs yourself. Please give damaged materials to the Information Desk.

Examples of damage include, but are not limited to:

writing (pen or pencil) or highlighting
food or water damage
post-it note usage
folding pages
stressing the binding
tearing or removing pages