Sat, 25 May 2013 02:01:41 PM

Library

Loans

1. Privilege
The borrowing of library books in accordance with this Regulation is merely a privilege granted to eligible members of the University which privilege may be revoked by the University at any time whether in accordance with this Rule or for any or without any reason or ground whatsoever.
2. Eligibility
The privilege granted to eligible members to borrow books varies in accordance with their status as shown in the table below.
Member's Status
Open Shelf Books
Loan Limit/Loan Period
Red Spot Books
Loan Limit/Loan Period
Reference Books/ Serials (bound issues)
Loan Limit/Loan Period
Foundation Students
3 books/
2 weeks
1 book for
2 hours/
overnight*
-
Undergraduates
4 books/
2 weeks
1 book for
2 hours/
overnight*
-
Postgraduates
10 books/
2 weeks
1 book for
2 hours/
overnight*
-
Non-Graduating Students
2 books/
2 weeks
1 book for
2 hours/
overnight*
-
Full-Time Academic Staff
15 books/
30 days
1 book for
2 hours/
overnight*
2 books/
1 week
Part-Time Academic Staff
2 books/
30 days
1 book for
2 hours
-
Non-Academic Staff
5 books/
2 weeks
1 book for
2 hours/
overnight*
2 books/
1 week
Alumni
(with Borrowing Privileges)
2 books/
2 weeks
-
-
Retirees
(with Borrowing Privileges)
2 books/
2 weeks
-
-
General Public
(with Borrowing Privileges)
2 books/
2 weeks
-
-
Note *Overnight loans for red-spot books start at 4.00 pm during weekdays and 11.00 am on weekends. They must be returned on the following working day before 10.00 am.
  • Library patrons must produce their ID cards to borrow library books. ID cards are not transferable and under no circumstances may a book be passed on to another patron.
  • Patrons are responsible for all books loaned for as long as the check-out record remains uncancelled. They will be penalised for any loss or damage to the book borrowed in their name and will be required to pay the cost of replacement or repair together with any fines incurred before reporting the loss or damage, plus a processing fee.
  • Patrons are allowed to borrow book(s) from any of the faculty libraries but they must return the borrowed book(s) to the library where the book(s) was/were checked-out.
  • Patrons are not allowed to borrow other books (even if they have not exceeded the loan limit) or renew any borrowed book(s) if they have unpaid fines or have yet to return or replace overdue book(s) or lost or damaged book(s).
  • Each patron has his/her own library account that can be accessed at any time at http://library.utar.edu.my. Through this account the patron can check his/her library activity and perform online renewal of book(s) or online reservation of book(s).
3. Renewal of Books
Library books can be renewed online twice through the UTAR Library OPAC, if there is no reservation by others and the books are not overdue.
4. Reservation of Books
Reservation for a checked-out book can be done on-line through the UTAR Library OPAC. A reserved book must be picked up within three (3) days from the date the notice is displayed ( at or near the entrance of the library), after which the library cancels the reservation. Patrons will also be informed of the availability of the book through their UTAR email account.
5. Recall of Books
(a)
Any book on loan may be recalled by the Library in the event it is required either by another patron or for teaching purposes. Recalled books will normally be requested to be returned within seven (7) days of the recall being placed by the library.
(b)
A book that is simultaneously required by a number of patrons may be checked out for three (3) days only. If this book is kept beyond the due date, fines will be imposed .
6. Non-circulating Materials
Only Academic Staff shall be entitled and upon request and applicable terms to borrow reference books, theses, periodicals, seminar papers and dissertations.
7. Overdue Notices
Overdue notices are sent to patrons' UTAR email accounts. Failure to read e-mails will not be regarded as a valid excuse for non-receipt of overdue notices. Patrons are however advised to refer to the due date stamped in the book and not rely on e-mail reminders/overdue notices as they are merely courtesy reminders.
8. Penalty for Late Return of Books
(a)
Books must be returned by the date or time specified on the date due slip. Patrons who return books after the date or hour specified shall be liable to fines as shown in the table below. The decision of the Library to impose a fine and quantum thereof shall be final and not subject to any appeal, save where gross error can be shown.
Collection Fines(inclusive of holidays)
Open Shelf Books Students First 30 days: RM 0.50 per book per day
After 30 days: RM25.00 + fines incurred
Staff First 30 days: RM1.00 per book per day
After 30 days: RM25.00 + fines incurred
Red Spot Books Students RM 0.50 per hour or part of
Staff RM 0.50 per day
(b)
Patrons must pay all fines incurred regardless of whether a notice was received. Patrons who fail to pay will have their borrowing privileges suspended. Patrons must retain the receipts for the paid fines as proof of payment.
(c)
Patrons with debts due to the Library will not be allowed to attend convocation and their certificates will be withheld until such debts are cleared.
(d)
The following will not be accepted as valid reasons for waiving/reducing library charges/fines:
  • Lack of knowledge of library policy
  • Disagreement with library fine structure/policy
  • Inability to pay library fees or charges
  • Book(s) loaned to a third party
  • Non-receipt or late receipt of library reminder notices (notices of overdue books are sent as a matter of courtesy. It is the patron's responsibility to ensure his/her current email address is in the Library's system)
  • Out of town / back to home town
  • Forgetting the due date
  • Semester break, on leave, exams, industrial attachment
  • Transportation problems
9. Loss or Damage to or Replacement of Books
Any loss or damage to a library book must be reported to the Librarian. Fines, where imposed, will be determined in the following manner :-
(a)
Payment equivalent to twice the current price of the lost or damaged book plus a processing fee of RM25.00 for each book. If the price is not available from reference sources, the price will be determined based upon the purchase price as indicated in the Library's acquisitions record. If such record is unavailable , patrons must pay double the *estimated price plus a processing fee of RM25.00 OR
(b) Replacement of the lost or damaged book plus a processing fee of RM25.00 for each book.
* Estimated price is calculated based on books written by the same author or similar titles written by different authors and approved by the Librarian.
10. Inter Library Loans
Inter Library loans are available for materials not held by the Library. However, it is only available to the University staff, post-graduate and final year students. Requesters are billed for the cost of the materials plus a service charge determined by the supplying libraries.
11. Inter-faculty Library Loans
Inter Faculty Library Loans (IFL) are available for books not held by the faculty library but found in other faculty libraries. Library patrons requesting for such loans may do so online via UTAR Library OPAC http://library.utar.edu.my

The status of a book with either "Available" or "On Loan" may be reserved via online IFL.

However, only Open Shelf books can be requested online. Other materials such as Red-Spot, Reference, Dissertations, Serials, Seminar papers, Archives and Special Collections are not allowed to use online IFL. Please refer to our Reference Librarian for such materials.

Maximum number of items can be requested at any one time is as follows:
i. Foundation students - 3 items
ii. Undergraduate students - 4 items
iii. Postgraduate students - 10 items
iv. Full time academic staff - 15 items
v. Full time admin staff - 5 items

Patrons will be informed of the availability of the book through their UTAR email accounts.
A reserved book must be picked up within three (3) working days, after which the library cancels the reservation.
12. Red Spot Books
The following shall apply to "Red Spot" books :-
(a) Only one red spot book may be borrowed at any one time and the duration of loan shall be 2 hours;
(b)
Overnight borrowing shall be after 4.00 pm during weekdays and 11:00 am on weekends and the book must be returned on the following working day before 10:00 am ; and
(c) The Library has the full authority to recall any red spot book at any time.
13. Systems Interruptions & Breakdowns
There will be no book loan transactions in the event of interruption or breakdown in the Library's processing system and the University is not liable in any manner whatsoever for such interruption or breakdown. Interruption to service may be due to any one or more of the events depicted hereinbelow which depiction is not by any means exhaustive :-
(a) Power failure experienced within or affecting the Library;
(b) Library system being down either at server's or client's end or being upgraded; and
(c) Hardware failure or connection problems.