Borrowing
Use your Owlcard to check out books, media, board and video games, Role Playing Game (RPG) books and dice at each of our Temple Libraries locations.
You can now check out books on your phone using our library self-checkout app caked MeeScan from anywhere in the Charles Library or Ambler Campus Library. First download the Meescan app from the App Store (Apple) or the Play Store (Google). Tap start to begin. In order to checkout you must have your location turned on and be in the Charles Library or the Ambler Campus Library. Tap the plus sign and a barcode scanner will appear on your phone screen. Use it to begin scanning each book’s barcode with your back facing camera. Then tap Finish to complete. You will receive an email with your checkout summary. If you have any questions about our mobile self-checkout app please visit the One Stop Assistance Desk on the first floor of the Charles Library.
You may also bring library items to the One Stop Assistance Desk to have library staff check them out to you.
Alumni and guests account holders must check items out at the One Stop Assistance Desk.
Loan periods for items are listed below and you can renew your books and DVD/VHS online through My Account or by calling one of our service desks.
Requested books and media will be held on the hold shelf for 14 days.
Return items
Books and media may be returned at any TU library location.
Reserve items, board and video games, and RPG books and dice must be returned to the library service desk from which they were borrowed and may not be placed in the drop-bins.
Pay late & lost item fees
We charge fees for late, damaged, incomplete, or lost items. These fees help us provide all of our users with consistent and reliable access to our collections.
Do you have questions about a late fee or lost item charge? We can work with you to resolve most fee issues at any service desk.
Acceptable forms of payment include credit and debit cards, and personal checks.
Online payments using a debit or credit card by visiting your library account.
For any questions concerning payment of library fees please contact us at 215-204-8212.
Online payments using a debit or credit card by visiting your library account.
For any questions concerning payment of library fees please contact us at 215-204-8212.
Reserves & non-circulating items
Some materials can only be used in the library. This includes reserves, items in our Special Collections Research Center, newspapers, microfilm, and maps, and board and video games.
Microfilm readers are available for viewing microfilm materials on the first floor of Charles Library in the Special Collections Reading Room and next to the Community Computer Lab, to the left of the 13th Street entrance.
Reserve books are loaned for use in the library for up to three hours at a time.
Reserve DVDs are loaned for four hours at a time. Portable DVD players and headphone splitters are available to borrow at the Charles Library One Stop Assistance Desk.
Board and video games from the Scholars Studio are loaned for use in the library for up to four hours at a time. Role playing game books and dice can be checked out for two weeks.
Loan Periods
Undergraduate students
Loan Type - Length
- TUL books - 8 weeks (3 renewals)
- Leisure reading books - 8 weeks (1 renewal)
- DVD/VHS - 1 week (2 renewals)
- Reserves (in-library use only) - 3-4 hours
- Board and video games - 4 hours (no renewals)
- RPG books and dice - 2 weeks (no renewals)
Graduate Students
Loan Type - Length
- TUL books - semester (3 renewals)
- Leisure reading books - 8 weeks (1 renewal)
- DVD/VHS - 1 week (2 renewals)
- Reserves (in-library use only) - 3-4 hours
- Board and video games - 4 hours (no renewals)
- RPG books and dice - 2 weeks (no renewals)
Faculty/Administration
Loan Type - Length
- TUL books - academic year (2 renewals)
- Leisure reading books - 8 weeks (1 renewal)
- DVD/VHS - 1 week (2 renewals)
- Reserves (in-library use only) - 3-4 hours
- Board and video games - 4 hours (no renewals)
- RPG books and dice - 2 weeks (no renewals)
Staff
Loan Type - Length
- TUL books - semester (3 renewals)
- Leisure reading books - 8 weeks (1 renewal)
- DVD/VHS - 1 week (2 renewals)
- Reserves (in-library use only) - 3-4 hours
- Board and video games - 4 hours (no renewals)
- RPG books and dice - 2 weeks (no renewals)
Courtesy borrowers (limit of 10 items checked out)
Loan type - Length
- TUL books - 8 weeks (no renewals)
- Leisure reading books - 8 weeks (no renewals)
- DVD/VHS - 1 week (alumni only) (2 renewals)
- Reserves (in-library use only) - 3-4 hours
- EZ-Borrow & ILLiad - no privileges
- Board and video games; RPG books and dice - no privileges
Resource Sharing loan periods
- EZ-Borrow - 16 weeks (no renewals)
- ILLiad loan periods vary for each item.
Late Fees
Faculty/Administration do not incur late fees on TUL and Leisure reading books, but are held responsible for late fees for media and interlibrary loan items.
Item Type -Late Fee
- TUL books - $.25/day
- Leisure reading books - $.25/day
- EZ-Borrow and ILLiad - $.25/day
- DVD/VHS - $1.00/day
- Reserve items, board and video games - $1.00/hour
- RPG books and dice - $.25/day
- Media equipment - $15.00/day
Lost item replacement fees
Item type - Replacement fee (Processing Fee)
- TUL books - Faculty - $75 (no processing fee)
- TUL Books - all others - $75 (plus $25 processing fee)
- EZ-Borrow and ILLiad - $100 replacement fee
- DVD/VHS - $75 or a replacement copy (plus $25 processing fee)
- RPG books and dice - $75 or a replacement copy (plus $25 processing fee)
- Board and video games - $175 or a replacement copy (plus $25 processing fee)
- Leisure reading - $75.00 replacement fee (plus $25 processing fee)
- Guest printing card - $5 replacement fee
After paying a replacement fee, you have 90 days to return the original lost book and be refunded the replacement fee paid.
We do not accept replacement copies of lost books.
Processing fees are non-refundable.
Library privileges are suspended for current students, faculty, and staff after reaching $35.00 in library fees. Guest users and alumni privileges are suspected after reaching $10.00 in library fees.
Contact Access Services at n[email protected] for permission to replace a lost DVD with a new, sealed copy of the DVD.
Contact Access Services at n[email protected] for permission to replace a lost DVD with a new, sealed copy of the DVD.
Contact the Scholars Studio at [email protected] for permission to replace a lost or damaged board or video game, RPG book or dice with a new, sealed copy of the item.
My Account
Get Help
Charles Library
Phone: 215-204-8212
Ambler Library
Phone: 267-468-8648
Scholars Studio
Phone: 215-204-0752