Borrowing Procedures and Access to Electronic Resources

Borrowing Procedures

Books may be borrowed from any of the campus libraries, but the lending policies in each library may differ. For additional information concerning circulation policies and special collections in specific campus libraries please contact the relevant library.

Borrowing Options

The borrowing of the books is individual and is only permissible for users with a valid student card / administrative employee / academic staff card for the current school year. Visitors (with permission) require a Picture ID.

Eligibility for Borrowing Services

Students: A reader card is automatically setup after payment to the university and after arranging the course schedule. The information from the university system will be synchronized with the Library and Information system.

Faculty: A reader card is automatically setup after the position is registered in the university system. The information from the university system will be synchronized with the Library and Information system.

The following is a breakdown of the eligibility of the lending according to the user status.

Borrowing Duration

The duration of lending books varies and is dependent on the book and the users’ status at the university. Therefore, the duration of borrowing should be checked for each book individually. This information can be found in the library catalog by logging in to your user account. In case of any discrepancy between what is listed in the catalog and the actual situation, please consult with the librarians.

Automatic Extensions

1. The book is requested by another reader.

2. The item is not extendable (it belongs to the reserved collection on a night loan or its maximum period of automatic renewals has ended).

3. The reader card has expired.

4. The reader card is blocked due to fines or delays in returning books.

The duration of automatic extensions is according to the different patron statuses and can be seen in the table above.

Messages for Readers

Automatic messages will be sent to users via email in the following cases:

1. Notifications regarding non-extension of the borrowing period / end of the borrowing period, several days before the return date.

2. Notifications regarding overdue books, and the accumulation of a fine (details in the section on fines), after the return date has expired.

3. Notifications upon a request to return a book that is ordered by another user.

4. Notifications regarding a reserved book that is waiting for the user at the circulation desk.

This messaging service should be treated as an additional service only, which does not excuse the user of his/her responsibility to check the reader card and return the items on time!

• Requests for return of an ordered item or an item whose borrowing period has expired are automatic and will stop only after the item has been returned to the library.

• If necessary, you can contact the relevant library directly by phone or e-mail, as indicated in the body of the message received by e-mail.

Loan Renewal

Books can be renewed in either of the following methods, after receiving a reminder at the end of the loan period – assuming the reader’s card is valid (Note that this is not applicable to books on overnight loan or reserved books):

1. The book can only be renewed by a librarian at the same library from which the loan was made.
2. Send a picture/scan of the barcode on the inside cover of the book to the e-mail of the library where the loan was made, including your email: full name and ID number.

Note: If you have several books, use a CamScanner app to scan the barcodes and send them in a PDF file.

Reader's Responsibility

1. It is the responsibility of each student and faculty member to return the books on time. 

1. The status of the books borrowed can be monitored through the reader card on the library’s website.

2. Explanations of the reader's card are available on the library's website

3. Anyone who knows in advance that they will not be able to return the books on time due to travel abroad, reserve duty, etc., must return the books to the library before his/her absence.

4. A lecturer / researcher going on sabbatical abroad must return all the books before leaving.

5. During the semester / summer vacation, the library operates as usual (except for one week of vacation in the summer, which is announced in advance). Ordered books or books whose borrowing period has expired (and no further extensions can be granted) must be returned, even if the return date is during the Holidays.  

1. It is the reader's responsibility to ensure that all contact information is up to date, including the e-mail address, residential address and mobile phone number. These details must be updated via the university system.

For regular updates of personal details please contact the following:

Students

• Student Administration website > Personal information for students > My details

• Shema department: By fax or email with a photocopy of an ID card or in person

Academic/Administrative Staff

In the department secretariat - the ERP system must be updated.

1. It is the reader's responsibility to maintain the integrity and cleanliness of the books.

2. It is the reader's responsibility to ensure that their reader's card is valid:

1. Students need to pay and sign up for courses on time.

2. Anyone who receives permission to continue his/her studies for a degree or submit a late paper must present the permit to the library before the reader card expires. The permit can be e-mailed to the circulation department : Lib.Loan@biu.ac.il

3. In the event that there is a delay in payment and / or registration, it is mandatory to return all the borrowed books in order to avoid accumulating fines. 

4. For a temporary arrangement of the card's validity, use the procedure as in opening and renewal of a reader card.

5. Graduate / PhD students, who have completed their course obligations and are in the process of  writing their thesis / dissertation, still need to enroll in the new academic year and pay accordingly. Details can be found in the procedures of the School of Advanced Studies.

Lost / Damaged Borrowed Items

A reader who has lost a book must notify the circulation department immediately.

1. We recommend to look for the book again before taking the following actions - you may find the loss.
2. If the book is available for purchase, you must buy an identical copy and bring it to the circulation  desk in exchange for the lost book.
3. If the book is out of print, try and find a copy in good condition in second hand stores and bring it to the circulation desk for further treatment.
4. If your efforts to locate the book in bookstores do not succeed, call the circulation department of the relevant library to find out the amount you will have to pay for the lost book. You make the payment via Online Payment System and notify the library afterwards in order to complete the process.

If the book was damaged during the period in which it was in the reader's possession, the circulation department must be notified immediately. A defective book can not be returned and the user will need to do proceed as in the case of a lost book, as in numbers 2-4 above.

Fines and Restrictions

Failure to return the borrowed item ordered by another reader or books from the limited borrowing collection / reserved for the night, will result in fines of 15 NIS per book for each day of delay.

The accumulation of fines may result in the freezing of borrowing rights.

In addition, accumulation of books and / or fines may result in a delay in receiving your academic degree, and a delay in registering for a new school year until after the issue has been resolved.

Online Payment System (In Hebrew)

Return of Borrowed Items

The items must be brought to the circulation desk and validated by the librarian.

When the borrowing department is closed, the books should be placed in the box for returning the books.

Reserving a Borrowed Book

Items that are on loan by another reader can be ordered remotely in the library catalog, by clicking on the 'Order' link and filling in the details of the borrowed book.

A reader who has ordered a book and wants to cancel the order, must cancel it by e-mail or notification by calling the relevant library.

Reader card renewal (for users who appear in the reader file)

For students in special programs, the library card and access to the electronic resources of the library system are opened or renewed automatically, after payment and registration for courses.

Students who have completed attending classes and are only writing their thesis / doctoral dissertation should be enrolled in a thesis / doctoral writing course.

For new staff, the library card and access to the electronic resources of the library system are opened or renewed automatically, when the appointment goes into effect.

Opening up a reader card (for users who do not appear in the reader file)

1.  free library card / access to databases, according to the details below:

 2.  Library card for a fee, according to the details below:

* The service allows entry to each of the campus libraries, stay in libraries, and the right to borrow books from any of the campus libraries. The number of books you are entitled to borrow is up to 10 books at a time from all the campus libraries together. The loan duration of each book may vary depending on the type of item. A regular book will automatically be extended for a period of four months. A book ordered by another reader will not be extended and must be returned to the library at the end of the loan period.