Borrowing Procedures and Access to Electronic Resources

Borrowing Procedures

Books may be borrowed from any of the campus libraries. In addition to the uniform borrowing procedures that apply across all libraries and are detailed below, each library may maintain special collections and/or offer special desk services. For information about these please contact the relevant library.

If the requested book or article is not available in the collections of the Libraries and Information System, students and staff may submit an interlibrary loan request. Additional information about the procedures and how to submit a request can be found here.

Borrowing Options

The borrowing of the books is personal 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 an ID card.

Eligibility for Borrowing Services and Access to the Library's Electronic resources

Students and Special programs learners (see the details in the table below): A Library card and Access to the Library's Electronic resources are automatically setup/renewed after information from the university system about payment to the university and the arranging the course schedule is synchronized with the Library and Information system.

Faculty: A Library card and Access to the Library's Electronic resources are automatically setup/renewed after the information from the university system about the entry into force of the lecturer’s appointment is synchronized with the Library and Information system.

Visitors: Library cards and, in some cases, Access to the Library's Electronic resources for specific individuals or groups are opened or renewed manually; see here.

The following is a breakdown of the eligibility of the borrowing according to the user status:

Borrowing Duration

The duration of borrowing 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

All books are renewed automatically unless:

1. The book is requested by another reader.
2. The item's loan is not extendable (the item belongs to the reserved collection on a overnight 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 requested 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, the book is not requested by another reader and is not from overnight loan reserves collection:

1. Bringing the book/s to the circulation desk of the library where they were borrowed for return and immediate re-loaning.
2. Sending 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. Please include in your email: full name and ID number.

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

Reader's Responsibility

1. It is the responsibility of each student and faculty member to return the books on time.
   • The status of the borrowed books can be monitored through the reader card on the library’s website.
   • Anyone who knows in advance that he 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.
   • A lecturer / researcher going on sabbatical abroad must return all the books before leaving.
   • During the semester / summer vacation, the library operates as usual (except for one week of vacation in the summer, which is announced in advance). Requested 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.  
2. 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:
   1. 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

             2. Academic/Administrative Staff - in the department secretariat -    the ERP system must be updated.

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

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

• Students need to pay and sign up for courses on time.
• 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
• 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.
• For a temporary arrangement of the card's validity, use the procedure as in opening and renewal of a reader card.
• 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.

Requesting a Borrowed Book

Items that are on loan by another reader can be requested via the library catalog, by clicking on the 'Order' link which will appear for that book in the catalog.

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