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, e.g. driver's license 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.

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.

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.

Book Retrieval, Holds, Recalls

The 'Request' button displayed in eligible library catalogue records allows users to recall items currently checked out and can also be used as a "book retrieval" option for items which have "in library" status.

If you request an item listed as "In Library", staff will retrieve the item from the shelves if available, and place it on hold for you to pick up at the Circulation Services desk within twenty-four (24) hours most days.  

Items which are currently checked out will be recalled and made available to be picked up from the Circulation Services desk when returned.  

Users are limited to ten (10) outstanding holds at any one time.  Full details on the "book retrieval" option can be found here and you can monitor your outstanding hold requests by logging into your library account.

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. Three-hour reserve material, and material requested by another borrower, cannot be renewed. 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 are suspended when fees are $10.00 or more.  Faculty and staff borrowing privileges 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.

Lost or Damaged Library Material

If a library item is lost or damaged, the user will receive an "Invoice for Lost Library Material" and will be assessed a fee of $125.00.  The library cannot accept personal copies or copies purchased by the user as a replacement.

The fee of $75.00 charged for a lost item is refunded if a lost & paid item is returned, but the processing fee of $50.00 is non-refundable.

Appeal of Library Fees

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 when Bills for Replacement are required and for library users who do not have an email account. 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 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.

 Privileges:

For further information, please contact Circulation Services in the James A. Gibson Library at 905-688-5550, Ext. 3727.

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.

Privileges:

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 one-week loan period, are available to all Brock Library users, and may be renewed online.

DeGroote School of Medicine students at the Niagara Regional Campus can access their Library Account online by entering their Name, Brock ID# and PIN to review due dates of items checked out, renew items online, and place holds online.

Interlibrary Loan Racer requests should be placed through the McMaster 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 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 Borrowers (e.g.. Extramural, Alumni, Seniors) are limited to 15 items.

Only 4 reserve items may be signed out at once to eligible users.

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.

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

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. 3727. Please contact us with any questions.