Using the Library and Loans Policy |
| I am an undergraduate student. According to the Library Loans Policy, the loan period for undergraduates is 30 days, but I have found that the actual loan period for a book is sometimes longer than thirty days. Why is this? Also, what is a grace period? |
The loan period for undergraduates is set to 30 days in the library computer system. However, if a book is due on a Saturday or a Sunday, the due date will automatically be moved to the following Monday. For instance, a book that was borrowed on June, 6, 2002 should have been due 30 days later, on July 6, 2002. However, July 6 is a Saturday, so the due date was immediately postponed to July 8 (Monday). Books that were borrowed on June 7 should haven been due on July 7(Sunday), but the actual due date was pushed forward to July 8. Please note that if books were borrowed on June 8, they would be due on July 8. Their due dates would not be postponed
There is a 3-day grace period for book returns. For example, books due on July 8 would not be fined if returned before July 11, and once the book’s been returned, the patron’s privileges (including request and renewal) resume. Should the book be returned on July 12, a NT$20 late fee will be charged. Please note that the period from July 9 to July 11 is considered the grace period. A borrower’s borrowing privileges would still be suspended during this period since the book was actually overdue. Please make sure that you return your books or renew them on time to enjoy all your borrowing privileges.
|
| How do you determine the return date for books that are returned in the Book Return Box? |
If you return a book into the Book Return Box after library hours, it will not be retrieved by our staff until the next day. This is also when your circulation record will be updated. Therefore, the return date for books that are returned into the Book Return Box would be the day your record is updated, not necessarily the day you return them. Please make sure that your books are returned as early as possible to avoid fines as a result of overdue returns.
The Book Return Box is there for the convenience of patrons after library hours. The book return procedure is not complete at the time of the drop off. Please log onto the library web page to check your record on the next working day or check with the library where you returned the book to make sure that your book return procedure is complete. |
| How long will the library hold a book I requested? If I don’t pick up the requested book, will my request be canceled? |
The library system will put your requested book on hold for five days after it arrives in the library and notify you through e-mail. If you don’t pick up your requested book within this period of time, the book will be returned to the shelves. If you did not leave your e-mail address with us, please log on to the library system and check your personal record to see if your requested book is back in the library. We suggest that patrons subscribe to the Circulation E-mail Notice Service on the library web page or leave a valid e-mail address with the front desk so that you can enjoy your borrowing privileges. |
| Why is my book request being rejected? |
Please note the following when you make an online book request:
- Online requests are accepted only when a book has been checked out by another patron, is in the process of being purchased or is being catalogued.
- You must not have any outstanding overdue books, unpaid late fees or replacement fees on your record.
- You may only request up to five books at a time.
You may not request a book that you have already borrowed. |
| Why would my request record be canceled? |
Your request record may be canceled for several reasons:
- You have requested a book we were in the process of ordering and we were unable to purchase it.
- The requested book has been made required reading material for a certain teacher’s class. Reference book prescribed by a teacher.)
- The requested book is being used for a special project by a professor.
- The requested book was not picked up during a certain time period. In this case, the request will be canceled and the borrowing privilege of that book will go to the next person in line.
The requested book is for use in the library only. Such books may be reference books, special collections on the fifth floor, etc. |
| Why does the “Request Denied” message appear on my request record? |
Requests that will not be accepted include: requests for circulating reference books that are for use in the library only, books that have been prescribed as compulsory course reading material, books that are for administrative use and books used for special projects. |
| Why has the book I requested been borrowed by someone else? |
Your requested book may have been borrowed by another patron for several reasons:
- You are not the first requester in line: Please note that the person who made the request first has priority in borrowing the requested book, and then the next requester and so on. Your request record will not indicate whether the book has already been requested by others, and if so, the number and order of these requests. If you have any questions, please contact the circulation services desk.
You did not pick up your requested book on time: You will be notified when your requested book has been returned to the library. The book will be put on hold for five days. If it is not picked up within this period of time, the request will be canceled and the book will be lent to the next requester or be re-shelved. |
| Why do I need to go to other branch libraries to pick up a book I requested at the General Library? |
If you have requested a book that the General Library is in the process of purchasing, but is already available at other branch libraries, your record will be transferred by the library system to the branch library holding the requested book. That is why you have to go there to pick up your requested book. If the pick-up location shows “please go to that library to pick up your book” on your email notice, you may check the library catalog to confirm the location of the book or seek assistance from the library. |
| How do I “renew” books? |
To ensure equitable access to library collection, every patron may renew the same book once. If you want to check out the same book for a longer period of time, please bring your book to the library counter, return it, and if it has not been requested, you may “borrow” the book again. |
| When can I renew my books? Can I renew overdue books? |
1. You may renew your books five days prior to the due date under the following conditions:
（1）You have no outstanding overdue books on your record,
（2）You have no outstanding late fees or unpaid replacement charges,
（3）No requests have been made for the books you wish to renew,
（4）You have not renewed the books already (Books may only be renewed once).
Books that are not returned before the due date are considered overdue. They should be returned to the library within the 3-day grace period in order to be checked out again at the counter (conditions (1)-(3) also apply). |
| I have already renewed my books, why are they still considered overdue and why are late fees charged to my account? |
You may renew your books online or by phone. Books can only be renewed once. If you need to use those books for a longer period of time, please return your book to the circulation services desk and borrow them again. Sometimes, your online renewals may not necessarily be successful for the following reasons:
（1）Renewals are only accepted if they are made within the five days before the due date. Renewals made earlier than this period of time will not be accepted by the system.
（2）You have outstanding overdue books on your record.
（3）A request has been made for the book you wish to renew.
（4）You have already renewed the same book once.
（5）Renewals for certain books from special collections are not allowed.
In addition, please note that the final due date should be the loan period allowed starting from the renewal date, not the original due date. For instance, for undergraduate students, the loan period is 30 days. A book borrowed on May 1 is due on May 31. You may renew this book anytime during May 26 to 31. If you renewed this book on the 26th, the final due date would be June 25. (Note: Not the original due date plus 30 days, on June 30.)
If you are making a renewal over the phone, please wait until our staff inform you of the new due date to confirm that the renewal procedure has been complete. Please do not make renewal requests by e-mail. Renewals can only be made if the above circumstances (1) to (5) have not occurred. Our staff may not be able to process your e-mail request in time. Therefore, please renew your books online or over the phone. |
| What should I do if I have lost a book that I have borrowed from the library? |
Please report immediately to the library that holds the book to avoid any late fees. The procedures are as follows:
- Replacement should be made for the lost book. New editions should be used to replace older editions if they exist. Paperbacks are not accepted in replacing hard-cover copies. Once the replacement has been made, the book return procedure may proceed. If the book cannot be replaced, monetary compensation will be accepted according to the following principles (excerpts from the Library Loans Policy):
（1）The payment should be twice the price（converted by the CPI*） at the time of purchase.
（2）Under circumstances where the price at the time of purchase was unknown, and only the base price is known, compensation for books published within the territory of the Republic of China should be NT$ 3 per page; for books published in Mainland China, NT$5 per page should be charged; for books published abroad, NT$10 per page should be charged. For books fewer than 100 pages in length, compensation for at 100 pages will be charged. When the page number of a certain book is unknown, compensation will be calculated at 300 pages.
（3）If an attachment in a single book is lost, then the borrower must pay fees for the replacement of a new book. If more than one book in a series is lost, the borrower must pay for the replacement of the whole series
2.The patron should complete replacement procedures within 14 working days of the due date, or late fees will be charged also.
3. Replacement procedures should be approved by the Library before proceeding. |
| How are late fees calculated? |
A late fee of NT$5 per item per day will be imposed on books from the general collection; a late fee of NT$5 per item per hour will be imposed on over-night loans. National holidays, weekends, and days that the library is not open are not counted. Late fees are calculated as follows:
1. General collection:
(1) Late fees are charged by “days” starting from the day after the due date. Hours will be automatically rounded into days.
(2) Late fees will not be imposed on overdue books returned within the grace period of three days starting from the due date. Overdue books that are not returned within this grace period will be subject to late fines starting from the day after the due date.
2. Overnight loans
(1) Late fees are calculated by “hours” starting from one hour after the library opens on the due date. Minutes will be automatically rounded into hours.
(2) Materials that are not returned within the grace period of four hours will be subject to late fines starting from one hour after the library opens on the due date. |
| How do I pay my late fees? |
Your late fees may be paid when you return overdue books. If you do not have enough cash with you, you may choose to pay some other day. You will not be able to borrow books if your late fees are not cleared. Late fees may be paid at the General Library, the Law and General Science Library or the Medical Library during open hours. |
| Will my borrowing privileges still be suspended after I pay my late fees? |
You must clear all your late fees to regain your borrowing privileges. That is, your borrowing privileges (including renewal and request privileges) will be temporarily suspended until you return the overdue books and clear all late fees. In addition, violation of the library policies (such as letting others use your library card, using your cell phone in the library, bringing food and beverages into the library, etc.) will be subject to a 3-month suspension of borrowing privileges in accordance with the National Taiwan University Library Reader Violation Policy. |
| How do I know if I have any outstanding late fees? |
Please log onto the library homepage and check your personal circulation record. You will be able to find a list of books that you have checked out and late fees, if any exist. You may also ask our staff at the circulation service desks to check your record for you. |
| I did not pay my late fees because I didn’t receive a notice from the library. Will I still need to pay? |
Not receiving a notice from the library for overdue books cannot be used as an excuse for refusing to pay your late fees. The Loans Policy clearly states loan periods and the number of books allowed. When you borrow a book, our staff will inform you of the due date, which is the basis for calculating renewals and late fees if needed. If you do not return the book on or before its due date, you will need to pay late fees. The library will send you overdue notices via e-mail. Please provide a valid e-mail address so that you will be notified. The library assumes no responsibility for e-mail delivery failure as a result of changes in your e-mail address, mailbox quota, or proxy malfunctioning. You should log onto the library system and check your circulation record to see if you have any overdue books. |
| I am a new graduate student at the school, but I haven’t registered yet. How can I borrow books from the library? |
Before registering for the new semester, incoming graduate students assisting professors with research projects may apply for a library borrower card during the summer break before registration
Application Procedure: Please get an application form from the Book Return Desk at the General Library. Have it signed by your advisor (or dean), sealed by your department and return it along with a signed return guarantee, one recent ID photo, your I.D. card (or driver’s license) to the Book Return Desk (students from the School of Medicine and Public Health should go to the Medical Library to submit their applications.)
How to use the Library Borrower Card：
1. Please do not share your Library Borrower Card with others.
2.You may borrow books from the General Library and all branch libraries.
3.You may borrow up to 10 books for a month.
4. The card expires on September 15 of the same year.
5. Applications will be accepted from July 1 to August 15 of the same year 8:20~11:40 AM.
6. Please refer to relevant policies for more details |
| How do I apply for an Alumni Reading Card? |
For more details, please go to the library homepage and click onservices/services for alumni for more details. Application procedures for an Alumni Borrowing Card are as follows:
1. For applications, please provide your diploma, personal ID (or driver’s license), one recent photo, a NT$200 processing fee and fill out your application at the circulation desk.
2. Starting May 1, 1999, the valid period of the Alumni Reading Card has been changed from 3 years to lifetime membership. NT$200 is charged for the processing fee. If you lose your card and apply for replacement, you will have to pay another NT$200 in processing fees.
3. You may entrust a third person to apply for an alumni reading card for you. The entrusted person must provide all the necessary documentation, processing fees and his/her ID.
4. Where to apply: Book Return Counter on the first floor of the General Library.
5.Service Hours：
During the semester：8:20 ~ 16:45
During summer/winter breaks：8:20 ~ 11:45 |
| What benefits can an Alumni Reading Card provide? |
1.You may enjoy permanent reading privileges in the library and use our library during the open hours. You may also bring your own bags and books into the library.
2. You may use the study room on the underground floor for self-study during non-exam times.
3.For other service items, please go to NTU homepage/Alumni/Alumni Liaison Office/Alumni service items
Please note: The Alumni Reading Card may only used by the cardholder. Please do not share your Reading Card with others. When in the library, please follow library policies and regulations. Violations are subject to penalties in accordance with the NTU Library Reader Violation Policy. |
| How do I apply for an Alumni Borrowing Card? |
1. For patrons with a permanent lifetime Alumni Reading Card, please go to the Book Return Counter on the first floor of the General Library to apply for a Borrowing Card. Please present your Reading Card when you submit your application (if you cannot come in person, you may entrust a third person to apply for the card for you by filling out an Entrustment Form). A refundable deposit of NT$3000 is required plus an annual fee of NT$800 for the first year (the NT$200 processing fee you paid for the Reading Card will be counted towards the annual fee of NT$1000). You may enjoy borrowing privileges for a year with your Reading Card.
2. For alumni without a Reading Card, you may present the above-listed documents and submit your application at the Book Return Counter on the first floor of the General Library ( you may entrust a third person to submit your application by filling out an Entrustment Form). A refundable deposit of NT$3000 is required plus an annual fee of NT$1000. You may enjoy borrowing privileges for a year and permanent reading privileges.
3. Your deposit will be refunded with no interest when you have returned all your books. Annual fees will not be returned.
4. The Alumni Borrowing Card is valid for a year starting the day of application. Once the card expires, the annual fee has to be paid again in order to regain borrowing privileges. All books must be returned in order to renew your Reading Card.
5. Alumni with borrowing privileges may borrow books from the General Library and other branch libraries with their Borrowing Card. Each card holder may borrow up to five books for 14 days. No requests and renewals are allowed.
6. Relevant Library Loans Policies apply for overdue books and other situations. |
| What are the regulations regarding alumni accessing the General Library? |
Visitors must be over 20 years old and present their ID, driver’s license or student/teacher IDs from other schools to obtain a temporary reading card for entering the library. For visitors under 20 years old but who are college students (including fourth and fifth year junior college students), please present your student ID to enter the library. Due to the limited space within the library, we will allow only 200 visitors in the library at a time. You must use your ID in exchange for a temporary reading card, and use the reading card to get your ID back when you leave. You may not bring your bags and books into the library. The library assumes no responsibility for IDs that are not picked up on time. |
