About Us - Access Policy - PART THREE: ACCESS TO ONSITE RESOURCES AND SERVICES

6. LOANS

6.1. Loans - General

6.1.1 Loans of the University Library's onsite resources are calculated on the following time periods: weekly, daily, or hourly.
6.1.2 Loan policies may vary depending on format, demand, physical condition, and value of items.
6.1.3 Loans of more than three weeks are subject to recall after the first three weeks.
6.1.4 Due dates shall be adjusted for any time period during which the Library is closed.
6.1.5 Notwithstanding the specific loan policies which follow, exceptions may be made under special circumstances. Determination of such exceptions is made by the University Librarian, who may delegate this responsibility.
6.1.6 Notwithstanding the specific loan policies which follow, some restrictions may apply. Determination of such restrictions is made by the University Librarian, who may delegate this responsibility.

6.2 Loans - Special Loans
Non-circulating materials may be borrowed by members of the University Community with current borrowing privileges, pursuant to guidelines prepared under the authority of Sections 6.1.5 and 6.1.6, above.

6.3 Loans - Limits

6.3.1 There shall be no unreasonable limits placed on the number of items that may be borrowed at any one time by members of the University Community.
6.3.2 The University Library reserves the right to restrict the number of items that may be borrowed at any one time by a Community User or by individuals covered by reciprocal/contractual borrowing agreements.

6.4 Loans - Renewals

6.4.1 With the exception of those covered in 6.4.2, any item borrowed may be renewed for one additional loan period unless requested by another borrower.
6.4.2 Renewals are not permitted on the following:

a) current periodicals (those received within the past twelve months),
b) Reserve items,
c) Special Loans,
d) Hourly loans from the audiovisual software and equipment collections.

6.5 Loans - Holds, Recalls, and Bookings

6.5.1 Hold Requests

6.5.1.1 A hold request is a request to have an item, currently not available, held for a borrower when the item once more becomes available. Hold requests may not be placed on items belonging to collections for which holds are not offered.
6.5.1.2 Any member of the University Community with current borrowing privileges may place a hold request.
6.5.1.3 The hold request service is not available to borrowers other than those specified in 6.5.1.2.
6.5.1.4 The University Library reserves the right to place a hold for specific resources, pursuant to the efficient operation of the Library.

6.5.2 Recall Requests

6.5.2.1 A recall request is a hold request that requires the immediate return of the item being requested. Recalls may not be placed on items belonging to collections for which recalls are not offered.
6.5.2.2 Any member of the University Community with current borrowing privileges may place a recall request.
6.5.2.3 The recall request service is not available to borrowers other than those specified in 6.5.2.2.
6.5.2.4 A recall request is generated by the Library for items that are currently on loan, in response to:

a) a recall request from a borrower, or
b) an identified academic need.

6.5.2.5 When a recall request is placed, the borrower of the requested item will be notified to return it.
6.5.2.6 Financial penalties are applied for failure to return the recalled item by the date indicated on the recall notice. An outline of these penalties is available from the Office of the University Librarian.
6.5.2.7 The University Library reserves the right to recall an item on loan under the following circumstances:

a) plagiarism is suspected
b) the item is in high demand and has been assigned to a reserve collection
c) in cases where fair and equitable access to materials and/or the efficient operation of the Library would be served.

6.5.3 Booking Requests

6.5.3.1 Individuals who require a specific resource or service for a specific period of time may book the item in advance.
6.5.3.2 Any member of the University Community with current borrowing privileges may place a booking request.
6.5.3.3 The booking service is not available to borrowers other than those specified in 6.5.3.2.
6.5.3.4 Bookings are taken on specific collections and services pursuant to the efficient operation of the Library.
6.5.3.5 Bookings are made and honoured subject to posted operational guidelines.

7. Collection of Resources

For the purposes of this Policy, the resources of the University Library are organized in the following collections.

7.1 Collections - Main Circulating
The Main Collection is the largest circulating collection held by the University Library, and is comprised of material in a variety of formats.

7.2 Collections - Periodicals

7.2.1 Current periodicals are those received within the past twelve months.
7.2.2 Non-current periodicals are those received prior to the most recent twelve month period.

7.3 Collections - Reference, Government Documents, Microforms

7.3.1 The Reference Collection contains materials which are heavily used and/or provide access to a variety of other sources.
7.3.2 The Government Documents collection contains the publications of Canadian local, provincial, and national levels of government.
7.3.3 The Microforms collections contains older issues of newspapers and some journals, as well as government, research and historical documents that are held in various microform formats for the reasons of preservation and space considerations.

7.4 Collections - Reserve
Materials may be assigned to reserve collections under any one of the following circumstances:

a) short-term use requirement by the University Community,
b) required reading, viewing or listening for University of Lethbridge courses,
c) high user demand.

7.5 Collections - Audiovisual Software

7.5.1 The Audiovisual Software Collection includes such items as visual recordings, audio recordings, multimedia productions, and multi-piece kits.
7.5.2

a) Borrowers are responsible for counting multi-piece items and verifying against the contents listing. Any discrepancies are to be reported to circulation staff before checking such material out. Borrowers will be assessed replacement fee for missing items not reported prior to checkout.
b) In the case of items being borrowed under Extended Library Services (see 4.2), circulation staff will verify the contents of the multi-piece items immediately prior to delivery. Borrowers will be assessed a replacement fee for missing pieces discovered upon return of the item.

7.5.3 Patrons requiring the use of items from this collection may book the items in advance to ensure their availability.

7.6 Collections - Audiovisual Equipment

7.6.1 The Audiovisual Equipment Collection supports the delivery and use of audiovisual information for the purposes of instructional delivery, public events and research within the University Community.
7.6.2 Depending on demand and availability, audiovisual equipment may be designated for circulation on an hourly or daily basis.
7.6.3 Individuals requiring the use of audiovisual equipment may book the item in advance to ensure its availability.
7.6.4 Borrowers are responsible for counting multi-piece items and verifying against the contents listing. Any discrepancies are to be reported to circulation staff before checking such material out. Borrowers will be assessed a replacement fee for missing items not reported prior to checkout.

7.7 Collections - Special Collections
The Library reserves the right to assign items to controlled access collections if preservation of the materials is deemed a high priority. Such materials constitute a special collection.

7.8 Collections - University Archives and University Records

7.8.1 The University Archives is the agency responsible for selecting, preserving and making available for reference the University's noncurrent official records in whatever media they exist.
7.8.2 Record Services is the agency responsible for the scheduling, storage, retrieval and disposal of the University's official records.

7.9 Collections - Curriculum Laboratory

7.9.1 The Curriculum Laboratory is a collection of early childhood to Grade 12 learning resources in a variety of formats which support the teacher-education program of the Faculty of Education. The collection is administered by the Faculty of Education and is housed in the University Library.
7.9.2 Loan policies for the Curriculum Laboratory resources are set by the Faculty of Education in consultation with the University Library.
7.9.3

a) Borrowers are responsible for counting multi-piece items and verifying against the contents listing. Any discrepancies are to be reported to Curriculum Laboratory employees or circulation employees before checking such material out. Borrowers will be assessed a replacement fee for missing items not reported prior to checkout.
b) In the case of items being borrowed under Extended Library Services (see 4.2), Curriculum Laboratory staff will verify the contents of the multi-piece items immediately prior to delivery. Borrowers will be assessed a replacement fee for missing pieces discovered upon return of the item.
7.9.4 Notwithstanding the specific loan policies which apply to this collection, exceptions may be made under special circumstances. Determination of such exceptions is made by the Coordinator of the Curriculum Laboratory, who may delegate this responsibility.
7.9.5 Notwithstanding the specific loan policies which apply to this collection, some restrictions may apply. Determination of such restrictions is made by the Coordinator of the Curriculum Laboratory, who may delegate this responsibility.

7.10 Collections – Digital

7.10.1 Digital collections are those resources which are delivered electronically via the Internet.
7.10.2 Use of licensed digital collections is subject to the license agreement or posted terms of use as part of the subscription.
7.10.3 Access to locally created digital collections is through the Library’s homepage.

Continue to Part Four: Access to Resources at Other Institutions

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