Eligibility/Responsibilities

Any library user holding a valid Brock University photo ID card, alumni card, Special Borrowers’ card, or a valid card from a Canadian University Library may borrow material. Users from Canadian universities will also be required to confirm their active status by logging into their home institution’s portal or email system.

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 fines 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.

Additionally, 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.

Full details regarding Library Online Access and Borrowing Privileges by user type are available.

Loan Periods

Extended Loans

While stack books and circulating government documents are loaned for 120 days, they are subject to early recall and the borrower will be notified of the new due date by email.

Borrowing Limits

Only 4 reserve items may be signed out at once to eligible users (faculty, staff and currently enrolled students.)

Faculty, staff and Brock University students have unlimited renewals. Renewals are available to all borrowers provided the item has not been requested by another user.

Users are entitled to ten (10) outstanding holds at any one time.

When asking to renew high demand reserve materials, users may be asked to wait up to 15 minutes in order to allow other users access to these materials.

Book Retrieval, Holds, Recalls

Place a request on print materials with an “Available” status to have books retrieved from the shelves for you.

When you find a book in Omni, sign-in to request it.

Items which are currently checked out will be recalled and made available to be picked up from the Ask Us Desk when returned.

Users are limited to ten (10) outstanding holds at any one time. Learn more.

Renewals

Brock borrowers can renew material online by signing-in to Omni, or in-person by bringing items to the Ask Us Desk. Borrowers whose privileges have been suspended may not renew material. Three-hour reserve material, and material requested by another borrower, cannot be renewed. Faculty, staff and students have unlimited renewals, subject to recall by another user.

Fines

Avoid incurring fines by signing-in to Omni to view the list of items you have borrowed and their due dates.

Suspension of borrowing privileges: Faculty & Staff

Suspension of borrowing privileges/transfer of fines to student accounts & financial aid

Lost or Damaged Library Material

If a library item is lost, missing, stolen or damaged, the user will receive an “Invoice for Lost Library Material” and will be assessed a $125 default replacement charge plus a $25 non-refundable administrative charge. The lending Library will determine whether a damaged item is beyond repair.

Appeal of Library Fines

Users who wish to appeal a library fine may do so by completing an online appeal form. The request will be reviewed and an email response will be sent within five (5) 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 when Bills for Replacement are required and for library users who do not have an email 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 Ask Us 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.

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 a Special Borrowers’ form.
• show a valid Niagara college picture ID card and one other supporting piece of identification.
• log in to their college portal/email account to verify current status.
• re-register in-person on a yearly basis so that contact information is kept current.

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

• users must register in-person and present a 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.

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

Niagara Regional Campus of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University

McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine has a regional campus at Brock University, which is located in the Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex.

McMaster students enrolled in the program are entitled to the same borrowing privileges as Brock undergraduate students.

The James A. Gibson Library houses a collection of books located on the 5th floor to support this program.  These materials circulate for a two-week loan period, are available to all Brock Library users, and may be renewed online.

Interlibrary Loan Racer requests should be placed through the BROCK ILL/RACER system.

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 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 four consecutive 2-week periods, provided the item has not been requested by another user. A limit of 20 items outstanding in a patron’s record is in effect. Reserve material cannot be borrowed.

Community Borrowing

For More Information see Alumni & Community

Returns

Please return your books via the drop slot in the Schmon Tower lobby/Rankin Family Pavilion just outside the east entrance to the library.

Be sure to review important details about planning your visit to campus amid COVID-19 restrictions.

Note:

• Books are quarantined for 24 hours.
• Items may still show on your library account for up to 3 days.

Other return options for students no longer in the Niagara area:

1. Drop off your Brock books to your closest university library when they re-open. They will be returned to Brock on your behalf.
2. Ship your returns to us by mail at:

James A. Gibson Library
Brock University
1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way,
St. Catharines, ON
Canada
L2S 3A1

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