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Policy on the Access and Loan of Library Materials
Administrative Authority: University Librarian, on recommendation of Department of Library and Archives, Laurentian University
Approval Date: December 21, 2020
Effective Date: December 21, 2020
Review Date: December 2023
Purpose: This policy sets out the access and loan privileges of all categories of Library users.
Scope: Faculty, students, staff, and other borrowers are accorded privileges and responsibilities with respect to Library materials and their use. A valid Laurentian University photo ID card is required for all Library transactions by faculty, students, and staff. Borrowers are responsible for the transactions on their cards.
1. User Categories
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Students: All registered full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students of the University, the federated universities, and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
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Faculty and Staff: Members of the academic, research, administrative and staff of the University, the federated universities, and related institutions such as the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and Mirarco. Spouses and dependents of full-time Laurentian faculty, retired Laurentian support staff members, and retired Laurentian faculty and their spouses also have borrowing privileges.
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Other Borrowers: Alumni of Laurentian University, and students and faculty with valid identification from institutions with which Laurentian has a reciprocal borrowing agreement, including Canadian universities, Cambrian College and Collège Boréal.
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Community Members, including secondary school students, may borrow for a fee of $15 for six months or $25 for one year.
2. Loan Periods – Circulating Collection
| Borrower category | Books | Media (CDs, DVDs, etc) |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate students | 120 days | 14 days |
| Graduate students | 120 days | 14 days |
| Faculty | 120 days | 14 days |
| Staff | 120 days | 14 days |
| Alumni | 60 days | 14 days |
| Students and faculty of other universities | 60 days | 14 days |
| Community members | 60 days | 14 days |
3. Maximum number of items
| Borrower category | Maximum number of items |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate students | 500 |
| Graduate students | 500 |
| Faculty | 500 |
| Staff | 500 |
| Alumni | 50 |
| Students and faculty of other universities | 50 |
| Community members | 50 |
4. Renewals
Students, Faculty, and Staff may renew items an unlimited number of times.
Alumni, Community Members, and students and faculty of other universities may renew items up to three times.
Renewals are done online through their Library account, by phone, or in person, at the discretion of the borrower.
Due dates on renewals will not extend beyond the expiry of the borrower’s account, nor will renewals be allowed if the item has been recalled.
5. Recalls and Holds
All loans are subject to recall after 7 days if requested by another borrower or required for reserve.
Borrowers may also place a hold on a book that is currently on loan. Upon return, the book is kept for pickup for four days.
6. Overdue items: fines
6.1. Regular Loans
Students, Faculty, and Staff will not be fined for overdue items. Any item that is more than 30 days overdue will be declared lost.
Alumni, Community Members, and students and faculty of other universities will be charged $0.50 each day the item is overdue to a maximum of $56.00 per item.
6.2. Reserve Materials
Borrowers will be charged overdue fees based on the borrowing period for the reserve item:
| Item type | Fine increment | Maximum fine |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $0.50 / hour | $56.00 |
| Daily | $2.00 / day | $56.00 |
6.3 Recalled Items
Borrowers will be charged overdue fees based on the type of recalled item:
| Item type | Fine increment | Maximum fine |
|---|---|---|
| Books | $4.00 / day | $56.00 |
| Media (CDs, DVDs, etc) | $10.00 / day | $100.00 |
7. Lost or Damaged Materials
Patrons will be given 14 days to return recalled material before the item is declared lost.
Items declared lost will incur the following charges:
- $25 non-refundable administration charge
- $125 default replacement charge (subject to adjustment based on the value of the item)
These charges are in addition to the overdue fines assessed for the recalled items.
8. Loan of Electronic Equipment
The Library loans laptops and other electronic equipment. Loan periods and fines are set at the discretion of the Library and Archives. Holds are not permitted. It is the borrower’s responsibility to delete all personal information when the equipment is returned to the Library.
9. Interlibrary Loan Privileges
Members of the university community and related institutions are granted interlibrary loan (RACER) privileges. Faculty members and students of other Ontario universities who are residing in Sudbury for a minimum of six weeks are eligible for privileges with permission of the Coordinator of Interlibrary Loan Services. Scholars affiliated with universities outside of Ontario who are residing locally may also be eligible, subject to permission of the Coordinator. Alumni and community members are not eligible for RACER.
10. Loss of borrowing privileges
Borrowers will lose all borrowing privileges, including the ability to hold items or submit interlibrary loan requests, if their account meets either of the following conditions:
- 1 recalled item is overdue
- $20.00 in unpaid fines
As soon as the conditions leading to the loss of borrowing privileges have been resolved, those privileges will be reinstated.
11. Disciplinary Action
Laurentian borrowers who have not concluded satisfactory arrangements regarding the return of materials or electronic equipment are subject to the charges outlined above and lose all Library privileges. At the end of the academic session, the names of borrowers with outstanding Library accounts are sent to the Office of the Registrar. Students with unpaid accounts may not receive official transcripts of their marks unless the account is settled.
Related University Policies: Borrowers are expected to abide by the Library Code of Conduct and the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
History of Revisions: This policy supersedes the previous policies approved by Library and Archives Faculty Council in May 2013 and by Library and Archives Council in March 2015.