NUS Library Rules

Library Rules

	General Rules
	Loan Rules & Loan  Entitlement of Library Members
	Academic Exercises & Theses
	Inter-library Loans
	Fee-based Services for Corporate Members
	Photocopying of Library Materials
	Library Membership Card

B. Loan Rules

1. Borrowing
2. Renewals
3. Holds (Reservations)
4. Overnight Loan of RBR Materials
5. Overdue Materials
6. Rates of Fines

1. Borrowing

1. For loan entitlement, please click on Loans and Entitlement of Library Members under Library Rules.

2. Members must produce their valid library membership card when borrowing materials. Borrowing must be done in person. Members must check to see that all library materials in their possession have been properly checked out to them before leaving the library.

3. Members are held responsible for all materials charged to their cards. Members using SelfCheck machines should retain the checkout receipts as proof of borrowing.

4. Members may not use invalid membership cards or cards of other members to borrow materials or gain access to other library services.

5. Members must not sub-lend materials.

6. Members will be held responsible for any mutilation (including defacement) found in library materials when returned. They must check and report any mutilation found before borrowing.

7. Members must return or renew their materials when due or recalled.  If circumstances require individuals to leave the country, they should make arrangements for the prompt return of book(s) that are due and on hold by other users or that are recalled by the Library.

8. Materials may be returned to any of the six NUS libraries or through the book chutes when the library is closed except for RBR materials, inter-library loan materials, compact disks, diskettes, audiovisual materials and adapters.

9. All materials that are overdue and have holds placed against them must be returned immediately. Borrowing, reserving and renewing of all books will be immediately suspended until the overdue book has been returned.

10. Any material not returned in response to a final overdue notice would be considered as lost and the member would be billed accordingly.

11. Materials are deemed to be on loan to members until the loans are properly checked in. Make sure that your loan has been properly checked in or out before leaving the counter.

12. Members must report the loss of library materials immediately to the Circulation Department in the Central Library or the Special Library concerned. Fines will be calculated, according to the Rates of Fines, from the date due to the date when the material was reported lost or, if subsequently found, till the date the material is returned.

13. Members who lose materials are liable to pay for the current cost of the books (including binding costs, if applicable) as well as library administrative and processing charges of $25.00 per book, or $50.00 per RBR book, neither of which is refundable.

14. External members may not have access to some titles in the digital and media collection due to licensing agreement regulations.

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2. Renewals

1. Academic staff are allowed five online renewals for materials via LINC.  Note that LINC will not accept renewals if:
   

   i) Item is on hold for another member
   ii) Item is overdue and carries a fine
   iii) Item has exceeded number of renewals allowed
   iv) Item is a journal
   

   Academic staff are however allowed one online renewal for bound journals kept in the Closed Stacks.
    

2. All other members are allowed two online renewals for materials via LINC.   Note that LINC will not accept renewals if:

   i) Item is on hold for another member
   ii) Item is overdue and carries a fine
   iii) Item has exceeded number of renewals allowed
   iv) Item is a journal

3. Renewals through the telephone will not be accepted.

4. Materials (except RBR materials) may be re-borrowed unless it has a hold.

5. Members must check LINC before re-borrowing a book at the loan counter. Re-borrowing is not allowed for materials with holds even if they are not due.

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3. Holds (Reservations)

1. A hold can be placed for materials (except RBR materials) with the status DUE, REQUEST ITEM, IN-PROCESS or AT BINDING.

2. Members can place a hold through LINC using the REQUEST button.

3. Members must check LINC regularly to find out whether the materials they have placed on hold are ready to be picked up. NUS staff and students and those who have email addresses with the library will be notified by email. Others will be notified by mail.

4. Materials ready for pickup will be kept for 5 days from the date of notification for NUS staff and students; for external members, they will be kept for 7 days. If it is not collected by the stipulated date the hold will lapse. For Closed Stacks materials not collected, a one-week suspension of loan privileges may be imposed.

5. Each member may place holds on a maximum of 10 items.

6. All materials on hold must be collected personally.

7. Requests through the telephone will not be accepted.

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4. Overnight Loan of RBR Materials

1. A Reserved Books/Readings (RBR) material may be collected two hours before the library closes.
    

2. The RBR material must be returned within the hour when the library is next open.
    
   Note that all RBR materials must be returned to the loan counters of the respective libraries.

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5. Overdue Materials

1. Fines are levied on overdue materials. No fine will be charged for the days when the library is closed.

2. Fines must be paid before the next loan transaction. Rates of fines are indicated in paragraph 6(a) to 6(f) below.

3. Members’ privileges will be suspended if overdue materials are not returned or renewed or if there are outstanding fines.

4. Members will have to bear the cost of fines imposed by the lending library for overdue inter-library loan materials.

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6. Rates of Fines

1. Library privileges (borrowing, renewing, reserving) will be suspended when accumulated fines exceed $2.00 or more depending on the category of user.
    
2. Fines for books start from the appropriate day after the due date.
    
3. Fines for RBR materials start from the time due to the time it is checked in.
    
4. Fines for carrels vary from $1.00 per hour to $1.00 per day. Please check with the library concerned.

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Content by: NUS Libraries
Last updated: 07-08-2008