National Taiwan Ocean University Library Borrowing Rules

Latest Revised and Passed by the Library and Information Technology Committee on May 16, 2022

1. Books and materials are displayed on open shelves. A person with a valid card should only handle the borrowing of books. The regulations are as follows:

1. Faculty and staff can borrow books with the service certificate issued by the school.
2. The school's adjunct teachers, project assistants, retirees, alumni, family members of faculty, and staff over the age of 12 (inclusive), and each partner unit can borrow books using the library card issued by the Office of Library and Information Technology (referred to as LIT).
3. Students can borrow books with their student ID.
4. A person with multiple identities can only establish a library card using one identity.
5. The library card is only for personal use. It is prohibited to lend it or exchange it with someone. For those who violate this regulation, the LIT may suspend their rights to borrow books for three months.
6. The library card should be kept properly. If lost, the library card holder should notify the LIT Office immediately and can apply for a card replacement. If the library has lost books because of the failure of the owner to report the lost library card, the original card holder is liable for compensation.

2. Individuals such as faculty member who are no longer employed in the university terminates and forfeits their borrowing rights. Adjunct teachers and program assistants must return  their library cards.
3. The number of books and period of borrowing is as follows:

1. Faculty members and staff cannot exceed 60 books; the maximum loan period is 60 days.
2. Graduate students cannot exceed 40 books; the maximum loan period is 60 days.
3. Undergraduate students cannot exceed 20 books; the maximum loan period is 30 days.
4. Retirees cannot exceed 15 books; the maximum loan period is 30 days.
5. An alumnus cannot exceed 15 books; the maximum loan period is 30 days, 14 days per renewal extension.
6. For other readers who do not belong to the types mentioned above, their borrowings will be determined case-by-case basis.
7. The borrowing period will be shortened to 14 days if other readers have reserved the book.

4. Book reservation:

1. The library catalog can be used to make an online reservation for individuals wanting to loan a book already borrowed by others.
2. For books classified as “general”, the following are the number of allowed books reservation per person: 20 for faculty members and graduate students in doctoral programs, 10 for students in master’s programs, and 8 for undergraduate students, retirees, and alumni.
3. Once the reserved book is returned,  those who made a reservation will be notified by email. The borrower can also view your patron record.
4. Suppose the reserved book arrives at the library and has not been claimed for borrowing for more than five days. In that case, the system will automatically cancel the current reservation and notifies the next person in line for availability.

5. If the borrower wants to extend the loaned book that is about to expire and no one else made a reservation, the borrower can renew the books online five days before the expiration date. The new expiration date will be based on the renewal date. There is no limit to the number of renewals for teachers. Renewal of other identities is limited to 2 times. Renewal will be disapproved with the following prohibitions:

1. Books are designed course reserves, bound periodicals, audio-visual materials, or other materials with a 1-day loan period.
2. Overdue books or fines have not been paid.
3. A borrower suspended from school and has violated regulations or personal data was temporarily frozen for some reason.

6. Reference books, course reserves, and periodicals cannot be taken out and are only limited to reading within the library's premises. However, if there is special need for borrowing , returning them before the library closes the next day is exempt from this restriction.  Current journals and dissertations are also not allowed to be taken out of the library. According to regulations, special collection materials can still be read in the library, and interested individuals can fill out the reading form to access the material; it should be returned on the same day.
7. Borrowers with unreturned books overdue are not allowed to borrow other books. In addition, a daily 5 NT$ fine will be charged for overdue books. The fines/charges for overdue books shall be computed cumulatively with a maximum amount of NT $3,000. For those leaving the school or resigning with unpaid fines and unreturned books, their formal documents will not be processed, and the Office of LIT will send them to relevant units for assistance.
8. Books must be returned, and fines must be paid before a faculty member retires or a student graduates, transfers, suspends or withdraws from school.
9. If the loaned books are lost or defaced, they must be handled following the "Compensation Standards for Lost and Damaged Books".
10. The loaned books must be returned when needed for insecticide, binding, cataloging, inventory, and other business needs.
11. These rules are issued and implemented after being approved by the Library and Information Technology Committee.