Borrowing Policies

Eligibility/Responsibilities

Any library user holding a valid Brock University Identification Card, Alumni Card, Extramural Borrowers' Card or a valid card from a Canadian university library may borrow material. Users from Canadian universities may be requested to show additional picture identification, i.e. driver's licence or health card, in addition to confirming access to their home institution's portal login.

Only the person to whom it is issued may use a borrower's card. Library users are responsible for any material signed out in their names and will be charged overdue fees and replacement and processing costs for lost or damaged items.

Lack of knowledge of loan policies, failure to note due dates, failure to renew on time, or failure to receive Reminder or Overdue Notices are not acceptable reasons for waiving library charges.

The Library is not responsible for any damage to a user's computer, VCR or DVD equipment that might be caused by items borrowed from the Library.

Loan Periods

Extended Loans

Faculty, Graduate Students and University Staff may borrow books and circulating government documents for an extended loan if another user does not request the item. Extended  loans are due on February 15, June 15 and October 15. Requested books are subject to early recall and the borrower will be notified of the new due date by email.

Holds

Use the 'Request' button in the Library Catalogue to place a hold on an item signed out by another library user. Use My Library Account to check the status of holds. Online holds cannot be placed on books listed as "In Library", check with Circulation Services staff to place holds on these items.

Renewals

Brock borrowers can renew material online using My Library Account or in-person by bringing items to the Circulation Services Desk. Library materials may not be renewed by phone. Borrowers whose privileges have been suspended may not renew material. Hourly reserve material, and material requested by another borrower are not subject to renewal. Undergraduate students are allowed up to four renewals per item, provided the item has not been requested by another user. All other borrowers are permitted one renewal per item.

Fees

Borrowing privileges for Brock University students, faculty and staff are suspended for fees of $20.00 or more. In addition, borrowing privileges are suspended pending the return of all overdue and recalled material. Use My Library Account to view currently checked out items and fees owing.

The replacement cost of $75.00 is refunded if a lost & paid item is returned, but not the processing fee.

Users who wish to appeal a library fee or charge, may do so by completing an online appeal form. The request will be reviewed and an email response will be sent within ten (10) working days.

Correspondence Policy

All University Library correspondence for students, faculty and staff is sent to a Brock University e-mail address. See ITS Help Desk for information on your e-mail account and on forwarding mail to another address.

All borrowers are responsible for responding promptly to e-mail or print communications from the Library. Printed notices will be sent for bills for replacement, and when accumulated fees are greater than $20.00. All notices will be sent in paper format to users who do not have an e-mail address in their Library record. Borrowers can check the status of their account and modify contact information by using My Library Account.

Borrowing From Other Universities

Undergraduate students may borrow books in-person from other Ontario university libraries (Direct Borrowing), with the exception of the University of Toronto. A valid Brock University Identification Card is required, and users may be required to show additional picture identification. Books may be returned to the lending library or to the Circulation Services Desk at the James A. Gibson Library.

Graduate students, faculty and staff may borrow books directly from all Ontario university libraries. Arrangements also exist for borrowing from out-of-province universities (Atlantic, Quebec, Prairie and Pacific). See Canadian Universities Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement for more information.

Reciprocal Borrowing Policies for Niagara College and Brock University

Brock University and Niagara College have a reciprocal borrowing agreement for faculty, staff and students.

Under this agreement, Niagara College faculty, staff and students may borrow books from the James A. Gibson, IRC and Hamilton campus libraries at no charge.  In order to register for borrowing privileges, Niagara College users must:

• apply in-person and complete an Extramural Borrowers' form.
• show a valid Niagara College picture ID card, in addition to one other supporting piece of identification and will also be asked to log into their college portal/email account as verification of current status.
• re-register in-person on a yearly basis so that contact information is kept current.

 Privileges:

For further information, please contact Circulation Services in the James A. Gibson Library at 905-688-5550, ext. 4583.

Brock faculty/staff/students are entitled to borrowing privileges at Niagara College under the following conditions:

• users must register in-person and present Brock student or staff card along with an additional piece of  photo ID.
• users must re-register on a yearly basis in order to make sure contact information is current.

Privileges:

For further information, please contact the Circulation Department at Niagara College libraries at the Welland or Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses.

Interlibrary Loan/RACER

Material not available at Brock may be borrowed through the Interlibrary Loan/RACER Service.

Brock Alumni

Brock University Alumni are eligible for extramural borrowing privileges at the James A. Gibson Library at no charge. Open stack material may be borrowed for 2 weeks and may be renewed for one consecutive 2 week period, provided the item has not been requested by another user. A limit of 15 items outstanding in a patron's record is in effect. Reserve material cannot be borrowed.

Community (Extramural) Borrowing

For More Information see Library Access by the local community.

Returns

Regular circulating material can be deposited in return slots, located beside the staircase in the Schmon Tower lobby and in the corridor leading to the library elevators.

Reserves must be returned to the Circulation Services Desk during Library hours. A return slot is located at one end of the desk.

Audio/visual materials must be returned to the drop boxes located beside the staircase in the Schmon Tower lobby and in the corridor leading to the library elevators, or to the Circulation Services Desk.

For information on policies of the IRC, please refer to the IRC homepage.

Limits

Brock University students, faculty and staff may sign out a maximum of 45 open stack items.

Special, e.g Extramural, Alumni borrowers are limited to 15 items.

Only 4 reserve items may be signed out at once.

Undergraduate students are allowed up to three renewals per item, provided the item has not been requested by another user. All other borrowers are permitted one renewal per item.

Contact

If you have any questions about fees or borrowing policies, please ask in-person at the Circulation Services Desk, or phone 905-688-5550 ext. 3228. Please contact us with any questions.