Introduction
1. These regulations are designed to make it easy for everybody to use University Library Services. They apply to the Brynmor Jones Library (BJL). The regulations explain who can be a member of the Library, and set out your rights and responsibilities as Library members. By observing the regulations, you can help to make sure that the resources of the Library are fairly shared and available to all our users. When you join the Library, you agree to abide by these regulations.
Who can use the Library?
Members of the University
2. The Library is intended first and foremost for members of the University. The following categories of people are therefore entitled to full Library membership.
- Registered students of the University of Hull, including students registered for programmes franchised by the University of Hull
- Members of staff of the University of Hull
- Recognised teachers of the University of Hull
- Honorary and visiting members of staff of the University of Hull
- Retired members of staff of the University of Hull
- Members of the Council of the University of Hull
Members of other higher and further education institutions
3. Registered students of the Hull York Medical School based at the University of York are treated in exactly the same way as those based at the University of Hull, and are therefore entitled to full membership of the Library.
4. People who belong to other higher and further education institutions may also be entitled to membership. The Library participates in a number of regional and national schemes which enable academic staff and students of higher education institutions in the UK to enjoy varying degrees of reciprocal membership.
5. In addition, students of other higher and further education institutions who are registered for programmes of study validated by the University of Hull may be entitled to Library membership. Details of such arrangements are available from the Librarian.
Professional groups
6. Associate membership of the Library is available to the following professional groups.
- Qualified teachers working in Kingston upon Hull, the East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, and the surrounding area; members of the administrative staff of the local education authorities of those areas, and Inspectors of Schools based in those areas.
- Members of staff of regional NHS Trusts whose employing Trusts have been given corporate membership of the Library; charges for corporate membership apply annually and individuals seeking to benefit from this will be required to provide proof of status annually.
Other individuals
7. Graduates of the University of Hull, and graduates of the University of London from the former University College of Hull are entitled to associate membership of the Library.
8. Individuals who have a specific need to use the Library may apply to the Librarian for associate membership. The acceptance of an application for associate membership is at the discretion of the Librarian.
Charges for membership
9. Membership of the Library is free of charge to all members of the University as defined in paragraph 2 above, to registered students of the Hull York Medical School based at the University of York, and to students on validated programmes where membership rights have been agreed. Members of other higher and further education institutions are normally given free membership under the schemes described in 4 above. Members of staff of regional NHS Trusts whose Library membership is covered by the corporate membership of their employing Trusts do not pay an individual fee. Graduates as described in paragraph 7 above are entitled to free associate membership for reference purposes; there is a charge of £50 per annum for borrowing rights.
10. The Library normally makes a charge for individual associate membership as described in paragraph 8 above. Whilst membership is free for reference purposes, there is a charge of £75 per annum for borrowing rights. The University reserves the right to vary these charges. Please note that associate membership does not include off campus-access to the majority of our electronic resources because this is not permitted under the terms of our licences for these resources.
Joining the Library
11. Everyone who wishes to become a member of the Library must be registered as such and must have a recognised membership card.
12. Members of the University as defined in paragraph 2 above, students of the Hull York Medical School based at the University of York, and students on validated programmes as defined in paragraph 5 above, automatically obtain membership of the Library on joining the University or registering as a student.
13. All other categories of people as specified in paragraphs 5, 6, 7, and 8 above must register directly with the Library. You will need proof of identity, and in the case of individual applications for associate membership you may be asked for a reference.
14. Your staff, student or associate membership card is very important. You need it to enter the Library and you need it to borrow items from the Library. Take good care of your card, and remember to bring it with you whenever you visit the Library. You may be refused entry and will not be able to borrow items without it. The Library reserves the right to charge for replacement associate membership cards. You must never allow your card to be used by anyone else, either to gain entry to the Library or to borrow items. If you are found to be using a card that does not belong to you, staff have the right to retain the card for return to its rightful owner.
Borrowing from the Library
15. Most books and other items can be borrowed from the Library. The regulations in this and the next three sections explain what to do, and tell you how many items you can borrow, and for how long.
16. Some items cannot be borrowed at all. This applies mainly to material in the reference collection, to current issues of periodicals, and to past issues of periodicals in certain areas. However, the Librarian has the right to designate any item as non-borrowable, or to allow items that cannot normally be borrowed to be borrowed under special circumstances.
17. If you want to borrow any item from the Library, you must ensure that it is properly issued to you. You cannot borrow from the Library without your card. The loan is recorded on the Library management system, and you are offered an emailed receipt showing when the item must be returned. Once an item has been issued to you, you remain fully responsible for it until it has been returned. Items are lent for variable periods depending on the level of demand for them. The due dates can also be checked online.
18. Staff have the right to inspect any books or other Library items that you attempt to take out of the Library. If you are found trying to remove items that have not been issued to you, you may be reported to the Librarian for further action under the University’s Code of Discipline.
19. You must return items that you have borrowed from the Library by the due dates. Please retain the return receipt. You will be fined if books or other items that are on loan to you are returned late. Fine rates are explained in paragraph 30 below.
20. Items issued to you remain your responsibility until the loan records have been checked in from your account, and you remain liable for any fines that you owe.
21. Most items can be renewed for a further period. However items reserved by another user must be returned by the due date. Borrowing rights may be withheld if reserved items are returned late.
22. Items on loan may be recalled if requested by someone else. You must return items by the date shown on the recall notice emailed to you. You will be fined if you do not do so.
23. If you need a book or other item that is on loan to someone else, you can place a reservation online or at a library service point. You will be notified by email when it is available for collection. Staff are entitled to recall items on loan that have been reserved by someone else.
How many items can you borrow?
24. The number of items you can borrow from the Library depends on the category of Library membership to which you belong. This is explained in the following paragraphs. All items must be returned by the due dates specified when the items are borrowed or renewed, or by the date specified if an item is recalled.
25. Members of staff of the University of Hull, recognised teachers of the University, honorary and visiting members of staff, and retired members of staff can borrow up to forty items at any one time.
26. Registered students of the University of Hull studying for higher degrees by thesis, including unregistered research students with retained status, can borrow up to forty items at any one time.
27. Registered students of the University of Hull studying for taught higher degrees can borrow up to 25 items at any one time.
28. All other registered students of the University of Hull, registered students of the Hull York Medical School based at the University of York, and students registered on validated programmes as defined in paragraph 5 above, can borrow up to twenty items at any one time.
29. Members of Council, Associate members as defined in paragraphs 6 and 7 above, and Associate members as defined in paragraph 8 above with borrowing rights, can borrow up to ten books or other items at any one time; they may not borrow 24 hours loan items.
Loan periods and fine rates
30. The loan periods for books and other items vary according to the demand for them. Some items, such as those contained in the reference collection, may not be borrowed at all. In the BJL, items in the High Demand Collection (HDC) can be borrowed for 24 hours, seven days or four weeks. Books outside of the HDC can be borrowed for eight weeks.
31. Fines are charged on all overdue items. Current fine rates are displayed on the library Web pages. If you owe more than a certain amount in fines or other charges, you will be prevented from further borrowing. The limit is currently £50, however this may be adjusted at the discretion of the Librarian. All members of the Library are liable to fines for the late return of books.
Behaviour in the Library
32. We aim to maintain a calm and purposeful study environment in the Library. A few simple rules help to make this possible. The following activities are therefore forbidden throughout the building:
- Loud conversations or other disturbances
- Rude or threatening behaviour towards other Library members or Library staff
- Smoking and vaping
33. Eating and drinking are allowed only on the ground floor of the Brynmor Jones Library, but not in in the teaching and training rooms, art gallery or exhibition hall. Elsewhere in the Brynmor Jones Library only bottled cold drinks and hot drinks in sealed cups or flask may be consumed.
34. You are responsible for the care of the books you use. You must not mark or mutilate books or other items in any way. You are liable for the costs of repairing or replacing any items you lose or damage, and any associated administrative costs.
35. You are not allowed to reserve individual work spaces in the Library, or to ‘lock’ computer workstations. Staff will clear away and re-shelve any books left out in the Library at the end of the day.
36. Library users must observe copyright law, and the terms of any licences for digital material they use.
Penalties
37. In addition to fines for the unauthorised removal of books from the Library as described in paragraph 18 above, and for the late return of books as described in paragraph 31 above, the Librarian is empowered to impose appropriate penalties if you breach Library regulations. These penalties can include suspension of membership. In the case of registered students, further action may be taken under the University’s Code of Discipline.
Changes to Library Regulations
38. Changes to Library Regulations may be made from time to time, subject to the approval of the Senate of the University. Approved changes come into immediate effect.
October 2018