UNBF Libraries' Borrowing Policy

  1. OBJECTIVES
  2. PRIVILEGES & RESPONSIBILITIES
  3. LOAN PRIVILEGES
  4. HOLDS AND RECALLS
  5. PENALTIES
  6. QUESTIONS & APPEALS
  7. PRIVACY OF RECORDS
  8. APPENDIX A: TABLE OF LOAN PERIODS
  9. APPENDIX B: FINES AND FEES SCHEDULE 2007/2008

A. OBJECTIVES

This policy governs the borrowing of materials from the Harriet Irving Library, the Engineering Library and the Science and Forestry Library.

This policy aims to ensure: basic fairness to all borrowers, facilitation of research, and efficient use of library resources, including staff time.

If you have questions about borrowing that are not addressed in this policy, or if you require clarification, please contact library staff. Contact information is available on the library web site

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B. PRIVILEGES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Most of the UNB Libraries collection is available for loan to borrowers with valid ID cards. Certain responsibilities are attached to these loan privileges. These responsibilities are outlined below.

ID Cards

All users must present their own valid card when borrowing library materials.

  • Faculty, staff and students are issued UNB/STU ID cards on registration/hiring. Your UNB/STU ID card is your library borrowing card.
  • UNB Alumni cards are available free-of-charge at each library.
  • Community Borrower cards are available for non-university borrowers.
  • CURBA / ASIN* cards are recognized by UNB Libraries, and are available to UNB/STU faculty and students at the Harriet Irving Library Commons Service Desk for use at participating libraries. (*Canadian University Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement/Atlantic Scholarly Information Network)
  • Students registered on a part-time basis through distance education may request a no-photo ID card through My UNB e-Services

Responsibilities

Borrowers are responsible for knowing and following the rules stated in this policy.

Library borrowers are responsible for all items signed out on their cards, and for returning these items on time and in good condition. Users can return regular library materials to any library on campus (excluding Law).. Distance education borrowers may return items by mail / courier to Harriet Irving Library Circulation Department, UNB, PO Box 7500, 5 Macaulay Lane, Fredericton, NB. E3B 5H5

Users are responsible for checking their UNB/STU email for library notices. Library borrowers must immeditely notify the Access Services Department at the Harriet Irving Library of any change of local street address or phone number.

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C. LOAN PRIVILEGES

Date due slips are provided to the borrower at the time of borrowing. Appendix A provides details on the loan periods and renewals for all types of materials. Appendix B outlines fines and fees for overdue or unreturned materials.

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D. HOLDS AND RECALLS

Holds and recalls allow library users timely access to required material. Specifically:

  • a hold is a user-initiated request to be added to the waiting list for a book currently on loan; and
  • a recall is a library notice asking for the return of an item on loan for use by another patron. Recalled items are generally due four days from the date of the notice.

An item for which a hold has been placed will be recalled immediately once the item has been on loan for more than two weeks. Upon its return, the item will be held for three days before it is passed on to the next user on the waiting list or is returned to the stacks.

An item which has been requested by an Instructor for Course Reserve is subject to immediate recall.

A borrower:

  • may have a maximum of 15 active holds at any one time.
  • may not place a hold on an item if a copy of the item is already signed out in his/her name.
  • may have only one active hold on an item or copy of the item at any given time.

Recalls may be issued whenever a library is open, including March break and Christmas holidays. Borrowers with items that could be subject to recall are advised to return them prior to leaving campus for an extended period. Failure to do so does not exempt a borrower from fines or suspension.

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E. PENALTIES

Fines for Overdue Items:
Failure to return library materials on time will result in overdue fines. Once accumulated charges reach $25.00, a borrower’s account is referred to Financial Services and borrowing privileges are suspended until the account has been cleared.
Fines and Fees for Lost Items:

An item will be considered lost 28 days after becoming overdue and a replacement fee will be levied. (See Appendix B for applicable fines and fees.)

If a billed item is returned within two weeks of the bill, the overdue fine must be paid; however, the replacement fee and processing fee are cancelled. If the item is not returned, the account is sent to Financial Services for collection.

A user whose account has been sent to Financial Services will be unable to borrow library materials, or place a document delivery request, until all outstanding library fines and fees have been paid and the library is officially notified that the account has been cleared.

We welcome the return of lost items to the library collection. The replacement cost will be reimbursed (minus a processing fee), provided the item is returned in acceptable condition.

Suspensions:
A user will be blocked, or suspended as a valid user, when he or she has overdue library material or unpaid library bills. Blocked users may not borrow library materials until overdue material is returned or library bills paid.
University Sanctions:
The Registrar's Office may withhold diplomas, grades, and transcripts until all library charges are paid.

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F. QUESTIONS & APPEALS

Most problems having to do with fines and/or suspensions can be resolved by speaking with library staff.

Library Contacts

Access Services - HIL 506-453-4756
Engineering Library 506-453-4747
Science and Forestry Library 506-453-4601
Distance Education 506-458-7741, 1-888-393-8222, libde@unb.ca

For unresolved issues, the borrower may present his/her case in writing to the Appeals Committee of the Senate Library Committee. Written appeals should be submitted within one week of the case in question to: Office of the Director of Libraries, Harriet Irving Library. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final and not subject to further appeal.

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G. PRIVACY OF RECORDS

To protect the privacy of users and their personal right to consult and borrow library materials without prejudice, it is library policy that, except where required by law, the records of library users are not released to any person, institution, association, or agency outside of the University for any reason except as may be required in applying the penalties associated with this policy.

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APPENDIX A: TABLE OF LOAN PERIODS

Book Loan Privileges (Excluding Reserve Materials)

User type Loan Period for Books Maximum # of Items allowed Special restrictions Renewals*
Undergraduate Students 2 weeks 100 items at one time None 5
Graduate Students 1 term 100 items at one time None 2
Undergraduate Students (Distance Education) 4 weeks 100 items at one time None 2
Graduate Students (Distance Education) 1 term 100 items at one time None 2
Faculty and Staff 1 term 100 items at one time None 2
Faculty and Staff (Distance Education) 1 term 100 items at one time None 2
CURBA/ASIN Borrowers 2 weeks 20 items at one time No holds 5
Community Borrowers 2 weeks 10 items at one time No holds 5
Alumni Borrowers 2 weeks 10 items at one time No holds 1

* Interlibrary loans and any item for which a hold has been placed may not be renewed.

Popular Reading Collection Privileges

User type ** Loan Period Holds Renewals
Undergraduate Students 2 weeks Yes 1
Graduate Students 2 weeks Yes 1
Undergraduate Students (Distance Education) 2 weeks Yes 1
Graduate Students (Distance Education) 2 weeks Yes 1
Faculty and Staff 2 weeks Yes 1
Faculty and Staff (Distance Education) 2 weeks Yes 1
CURBA/ASIN Borrowers 2 weeks No 1
Community Borrowers 2 weeks No 1
Alumni Borrowers 2 weeks No 1

** Excluding Engineering Library

Non-Book Loan Privileges for All Borrowers

Item type Loan Period Maximum # of Items allowed Special restrictions Renewals
Periodical 2 days Part of book allowance No holds 0
Video/DVD 7 days 5 Subject to Public Performance Rights 1
Video/DVD (Distance Education) 2 weeks 5 Subject to Public Performance Rights 0

Reserve Loan Privileges

For high-demand items placed on Reserve, the borrowing period for all users will be one of the following:

Type of reserve Due
2-hour loan Two hrs from time of borrowing or 15 min before closing
2-hour+ loan  [for materials borrowed close to library closing]

At library opening the following day
1, 2 and 3-day loans By 1:00 pm on the due date
  • Reserve items must be returned to the desk from which they were borrowed.
  • Reserve materials may not normally be renewed.
  • Holds may not be placed on reserve materials.
  • Due to the restricted loan period, reserve materials will not be supplied through library distance learning services or document delivery.

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APPENDIX B: FINES AND FEES SCHEDULE 2007/2008

Item Type Per Item Late Fines Maximum Fees
Books $1.00/day $10.00 $100 min. replacement
or $25 processing fee*
Periodicals $1.00/day $24.00 Same as above
Video/DVD $1.00/day $10.00 Same as above
Recalled items $4.00/day $48.00 Same as above
2-hour and 2-hour+ reserves $1.00/hour or any portion thereof $48.00 Same as above
1, 2, 3-day reserves $2.00/day or any portion thereof** $48.00 Same as above
Interlibrary Loans $1.00/day $10.00 Same as above

*Replacement fee may be considerably higher, depending on the value of the lost item.
**Initial fine is levied if item is returned after 1:00 pm on the due date.  An additional $2 fine applies at 1:00pm of each subsequent day the library is open.

July 16, 2007
Revised November 15, 2008
Revised January 17, 2012

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