The Library Lending Policy is a comprehensive guide to borrowing items from the Library. Selected facts about borrowing material from the Library are listed below.
A library card must be presented to borrow material from the library. Library cards are not transferable. The person named on the card is responsible for all library transactions made with the card. A library card can be obtained or validated annually at the Circulation desk in the Library by any eligible borrower. Eligibility and documentation requirements for all borrowers are listed in Borrower Categories.
The type and amount of material that may be borrowed from the library is determined by your borrower category.
Two renewals are permitted for most items as long as there are no holds on the item. Renewals can be done online through My Account, in person at the Circulation Desk, or by phone at 905.721.3082. Items that are renewed after the due date will incur the overdue fine. Reserve material cannot be renewed. Material borrowed from the Teacher Resource Centre may have different renewal limits for some categories of borrowers.
When material that is listed in the catalogue as in the library cannot be located, patrons are advised to ask at any service desk for assistance in the stacks. If not found, the material may be waiting in the Circulation area for shelving. This material is available for borrowing. If it is not found in the stacks or in Circulation area, staff will initiate a search for the material. The patron will be notified when the item is found or marked as permanently missing. When material is listed in the catalogue as 'checked/charged out', patrons are advised to place a hold on it.
A hold can be placed online, in the library catalogue, on most items that are signed out to another borrower. To place a hold click on the 'Place Hold' link in the library catalogue record of the item you wish to place on hold. You will be asked to enter your User ID and PIN. More information about your User ID and PIN is available on the User ID/PIN Help page. There is a maximum of three hold requests per borrower. You will be informed by email or by telephone when your hold request has been filled. Holds cannot be placed on reserve material, Teacher Resource Centre material or material that is currently available in the library.
Fines will accrue on items not returned by the due date. Fines are assessed when an overdue item is returned or renewed. Assessed fines can be paid at the Circulation desk by cash, cheque, debit or credit card.
Fine Rates:
Other Fine Sanctions :
The library sends overdue, bill (unpaid fines), alert and hold availability notices by email. Alert notices are reminder notices sent two days before material is due and are sent to email addresses only. If an email address is unavailable the library will send overdue and bill notices only by postal mail. The sender of the email notices is SIRSI from the email address sirsi@unicorn1.bibliocentre.ca. Most new student and staff records are preloaded into the library database with the institutional email address; My Campus for students and Outlook for staff. Contact the staff at the Circulation Desk (905) 721-3082 to verify or change this information. Any inquiries regarding these notices should also be directed to the Circulation Department.
You can use My Account to look at your current checkouts, bills and holds; extend the due date of renewable items currently checked out to you, and to change your PIN. You need to enter a user ID and PIN to access these services. More information about your User ID and PIN is available on the User ID/PIN Help page.
Replacement and processing costs will be levied on item(s) which are lost or damaged. This is in addition to any overdue fines that may have accrued on the item. Please contact the Circulation desk (905.721.3082) to report lost or damaged material. If a lost book is returned after payment is made, the borrower may be entitled to a partial refund.
Lost or stolen library cards should be reported to the Circulation Department (905.721.3082) immediately. Borrowers will be held accountable for transactions on their card until such notification is received. Any patron who is using their Durham College Photo ID card as their Library card and loses this card must contact Campus Identification Card Services (SW201K) to obtain a replacement card. Patrons who are using library issued Library cards will be issued a replacement card upon presentation of the required identification and a $2.00 payment.