Rutgers University students, faculty, and staff who are currently enrolled or employed are eligible to check out books, request delivery of books and articles, book media for preview and classroom use, and use the MY ACCOUNT features available in the Library Catalog.

Borrower Registration

To begin using the Libraries you need to register your barcode. Your barcode is the 14-digit number beginning '29030' on the back of your RUconnection card. Newark Law patrons may have barcodes beginning '25145.' If you do not yet have one, a barcode will be assigned to you.

You may register by filling out the online "Registering with the Rutgers Libraries" form available on the Libraries' website, or by visiting or phoning the circulation desk of any Rutgers library. If you register online or by phone, provide your Rutgers NetID for verification purposes and your barcode if you have one. If you visit a circulation desk, present a valid RUconnection card or proof of current registration or employment.

Once you have registered with the Libraries, your RUconnection card is your library card and is to be used for all borrowing transactions. You may use your Rutgers NetID and password to renew books online, request delivery of books, check the status of your requests, and logon to the Libraries website from off-campus.

Borrower Responsibilities

As a registered borrower with the Rutgers University Libraries you are required to:

• Account for all items checked out on your card. Your barcode is linked to the unique barcodes of library materials that you check out. You are responsible for all items checked out on your card. RUconnection cards are nontransferable and should not be loaned to others. Report lost or stolen cards to the RUConnection Office and at the circulation desk of any Rutgers library.

• Know due dates and return or renew materials on time. Due dates may change based on recalls and renewals. Check your MY ACCOUNT for a list of your checkouts and their due dates.

• Read your email messages and library notices. Whenever you travel or are away from campus, arrange to have your email notices read or forwarded. Or, alternatively, return all library materials before extended absences from campus. Library fines will not be waived if you fail to read email and respond to recall and overdue notices. "Pick up materials you requested when they arrive at your pickup library. You will be notified by email when materials from other Rutgers libraries, E-ZBorrow books, and interlibrary loan materials are available. Materials are held for limited times. If your need for requested materials changes, please cancel your request.

• Care for library materials. Return books and other library materials unmarked and in good condition. You will be held responsible for materials returned damaged. If the book you wish to charge out is already damaged, bring it to the attention of circulation desk staff, who will make note of the damage so that you will not be held responsible.

• Maintain a current address and email address with the university. It is important that you regularly maintain your directory information in the Rutgers Online Directory, which is the source of address information in your library record. Instructions on how to do this may be found online at http://search.rutgers.edu/changes.shtml.

Loan Periods

Faculty, staff, and graduate students may borrow books for a full semester. Undergraduates may borrow books for 6 weeks. The loan period for interlibrary loan materials is generally 28 days, and for E-ZBorrow books it's 6 weeks.

If you borrow a book that is in demand and has been requested or recalled by another borrower, you may check it out for 14 days. All books, regardless of loan period, are subject to recall and may be assigned a new due date.

CDs, audio cassettes, discs, and tapes circulate to faculty, staff and graduate students for 14 days; CDs also circulate to undergraduates for 3 days. Videos and DVDs circulate to faculty, staff, and graduate students for 3 days; Performing Arts Library DVDs also circulate to undergraduates for 3 days. 16 and 8mm films do not circulate; they are available only with special permission. Slides, film loops, filmstrips, and kits circulate to faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduates for 14 days.

Renewals

You may renew most items yourself using the "Renew Checkouts" feature in your MY ACCOUNT. Materials that cannot be renewed include items that have been recalled by another borrower, reserve materials, and items for which the renewal limit has been reached. Video and audio items are not eligible for renewal.

Recalls

You may recall an item checked out to another borrower using the "Book Delivery/Recall" feature in the Library Catalog. The person who currently has the item is notified to bring it back within 14 days. When the item is available, you will be notified by email and in your MY ACCOUNT file. Video and audio items are not eligible for recall.

Alternatively, whenever all Rutgers copies of a book are checked out, you may search the PALCI catalog and if the item is available, place an E-ZBorrow request for quick delivery from another academic library.

Missing Items

If you cannot find an item on the shelf, please report it missing at the circulation desk. Library staff will change its status to MISSING, and you may then request it from another Rutgers Library in the Library Catalog, from a PALCI library using E-ZBorrow, or on interlibrary loan.

Returns

Return borrowed books to a circulation desk or book drop of any Rutgers library on or before their due dates. You may also return materials by USPS or a commercial delivery service.

Reserves

Items requested by instructors for use by an entire class are placed "on reserve" with short loan periods. Books and media on reserve may be checked out for use in the library. Electronic documents on reserve are available at public access workstations in the libraries, in campus computer labs, and PCs connected to the campus network.

Request and Delivery Services

• Rutgers Delivery Service. If an item is on the shelf at any Rutgers library, in-process, or pending, we will deliver it to your pickup library. Use the "Book Delivery/ Recall" feature in the Library Catalog. Video and audio items are not eligible for the Rutgers Delivery Service. Use the "Item Special Request" feature to request materials that are on-order and delivery of non- circulating books to another campus (Camden New Brunswick, Newark) for in-library use. When materials are delivered to your pickup library you will be notified by email and in your MY ACCOUNT. Request Rutgers journal articles by logging onto the "Interlibrary Loan and Article Delivery Services" web page and using the "Article Request" form. Articles will be delivered electronically as PDF documents.

• E-ZBorrow. Search the PALCI (Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc.) catalog and use E-ZBorrow to request quick delivery of books from over fifty academic libraries.

• Media Bookings. Rutgers faculty, staff, and graduate students may book video and audio items for pickup and return at locations throughout the Rutgers University Libraries at the "Media Materials -Booking Form" website. The service may also be used to preview materials.

• Interlibrary Loan. Interlibrary loan services expand the resources available to the Rutgers community beyond those available at the university. Materials available on loan from other institutions may include books, newspapers, documents, periodical articles, dissertations, and similar materials that are needed locally for academic purposes. Articles and photocopies received from other institutions will be delivered electronically as PDF documents. Interlibrary loan request forms are available by logging on to the "Interlibrary Loan and Article Delivery Services" website.

Fines, Notices, and Replacement Charges

Borrowers who fail to return recalled books by the new due date, indicated on the recall notice, will be fined $5 per day to a maximum of $50. Failure to return course reserve items within established loan periods will result in a $1 per hour fine for each hour overdue up to $25. Overdue notices are sent when items are seven and twenty-one days overdue. Replacement bills for the average replacement and processing cost of $102 per book are sent when items are 180 days overdue. You may contact the circulation department of any Rutgers library for the actual replacement cost of lost items items and the average replacement costs of video and audio materials.

Borrowers with fines and/or replacement bills will have their library privileges suspended and holds placed on their library records. The university reserves the right to hold transcripts and diplomas if you do not pay your obligations. As a result of non-payment it will become necessary to forward delinquent accounts to a collection agency, which would incur an additional fee to you.

Identification

You must present a valid borrower card with barcode when charging out books. No other identification is acceptable. Borrower cards are nontransferable and should not be loaned to other people. If your borrower card is lost or stolen, immediately report it to staff at the circulation desk of any Rutgers library.

Change of Address

It is the responsibility of Rutgers students, faculty, and staff to keep the university informed of any address changes. Students, faculty, and staff receive library notices during the academic year and during the summer at their email address currently on file with the university in the Rutgers Online Directory, which is the source of address information in library records. The Libraries get email addresses for teaching, graduate, and research assistants from their student records only. Users who do not have an email address on file with the university or libraries will receive paper notices at their campus mail address during the academic year and their home mail address during the summer.

To change your email address, go to the Rutgers Online Directory, available on the Rutgers main web page under "SEARCH RUTGERS for people, buildings & more." Select the radio button next to "People." Enter and search for your name; verify your email address on your "Person Display Screen." To make changes, click on "Changes and Corrections" on the opening search screen and select the appropriate student or employee online form. Enter your NetID, the username and password associated with your Rutgers email account. If you need assistance, contact Computing Services HELP on your campus. on your campus. Please enter the entire e-mail address that you wish to be on record, including the host name (e.g. andromeda.rutgers.edu, rci.rutgers.edu, aol.com). E-mail addresses from commercial providers are acceptable. Updates to the Rutgers Online Directory are usually posted to library records within two weeks. Faculty and staff may also obtain paper Address Directory Record (ADR) forms through their department.

Non-Circulating Items

Certain materials are considered crucial to academic research and for that reason they must always be available in the libraries. Items such as current and bound periodicals, certain government documents, and materials in the reference collection, will be shared among the libraries on the major geographical campuses (Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, and Camden) for 5 days of in-library use, but are not eligible to check out.

Hours

While classes are in session, the larger Rutgers libraries are open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to at least 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday hours vary by library. Circulation desk hours may vary from library building hours.

Library hours change during semester breaks, intersessions, exam periods, and university holidays. Check the Rutgers University Libraries web site hours or hours posted in the libraries for exceptions and changes.

Questions

If you have questions regarding borrowing privileges, telephone or visit the circulation department of any Rutgers library, or use the online Ask a Librarian service.