Staff Card

A member of staff who wishes to borrow books or other items from the Libraries must produce a University staff identification card valid for the current year.

Loan period

In general books may be borrowed for a period not exceeding three months. Provided that no other user has reserved the book, the loan period may be extended once, by letter, telephone, email or via the Internet.

NOTE:  This section does not apply to emeritus professors who enjoy the same library privileges as professors.

Retired staff card and library subscriber card

A retired UCT staff member who wishes to borrow books or other items from the Libraries must produce a University Retired Staff card, complete the required forms at the Loans Desk, and then obtain a Library Subscriber Card from Access Control Administration, Basement, Robert Leslie Social Science Building, before registration can be completed at the Loans Desk.

Renewal of membership

Registration on the Library system is for the current year and membership will be updated annually by the Library for as long as the retired staff member continues to use the Library.

Loan Period

In general, books may be borrowed for a period not exceeding five weeks.  Provided that no other user has reserved the book, the loan period may be extended twice, by letter, telephone, email or via the Internet, provided the book is not overdue.  Thereafter the book must be returned to the open shelves before re-issue. 

Recalling Books

The loan period for books in heavy demand may be reduced to three days, and any item may be recalled after seven days at the discretion of the Executive Director, Libraries.  Bound periodicals may be borrowed for three days only and are not renewable.

Registration card

Students who wish to borrow material shall produce their University registration card for the current year.

Loan period

An undergraduate student may borrow a book for a period not exceeding seven days.  A postgraduate student may borrow a book for a period not exceeding five weeks. 

Recalling books

The Libraries may, however, recall a book at any time and may reduce the loan period of books in demand.  Provided that no other user has reserved the book, the loan period may be extended three times, by letter, telephone, email or via the Internet, provided that the book is not overdue.  Thereafter the book must be returned to the open shelves before re-issue.  Postgraduate students may borrow bound periodicals for three days only.  No renewals of periodicals are allowed.

Employed students

Appointment as a tutor or research assistant does not entitle students to staff borrowing privileges.

Vacation loans

A postgraduate student wishing to borrow items for a longer period over the June and December vacations must apply in advance to the librarian in charge of the relevant section.

Debts added to fees accounts

All students who have outstanding library debts of R100 and above immediately before June and December graduation will have them added to their student fees accounts.

Loan period

• Books on the open shelf may be borrowed for two weeks and can be renewed twice. 
• Renewal of the loan is possible if the item has not been requested by another user. 
• Books in high demand are available for 3 day loan and are not renewable. 
• Short loan items may be borrowed for three hours at a time during the day. 
• From 15h00 onwards short loan items are issued for overnight loans and may be removed from the Library. 
• All overnight loans must be returned by 09h30 the following morning.  An exception is made on Fridays, when short loan items may be retained until 09h30 on Mondays.

Recorded Music

CDs, DVDs, Records, audiotapes and videotapes primarily from the SA College of Music and The Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies, may be borrowed by staff and students as well as the wider campus community. In-house listening and viewing facilities are available to the staff and students of the SA College of Music and The Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies .

Loan period

• Short loan items may be borrowed for three hours at a time during the day and used inside the library. 
• From 15h00 onwards short loan items are issued for overnight loans and may be removed from the library. 
• All overnight loans must be returned by 09h30 the following morning.  An exception is made on Fridays, when short loan items may be retained until 09h30 on Mondays.

Loan Restrictions

Law reports and journals may not be borrowed.

Who may borrow

Only UCT staff and students may borrow short loan items.

Loan period

Most items may be borrowed or taken out of the library for three hours at a time during the day.  However, items marked “not for overnight loan” may NOT be removed from the Libraries.  Some material may be in such heavy demand that the loan period is restricted to one hour.  From 15h00 onwards, eligible items are issued for overnight loan.

Returning items

All overnight loan items must be returned to the desk from which they were loaned by 09h30 the following morning.  An exception is made on Fridays, when items may be retained until 09h30 on the following Monday.

Videos and DVDs

Videos and DVDs in Short Loans are study aids for specific courses and may be borrowed only for this purpose.

Fines

Any borrower who fails to return or renew items by the due date will incur a penalty.  Penalties are set by the Executive Director.  Libraries can vary according to the type of material.

Failure to return/renew

Any borrower who fails to return items to UCT Libraries or to any library with which UCT has a co-operative borrowing or access agreement, or who fails to clear any penalties incurred may have borrowing privileges withdrawn or suspended by the Executive Director, Libraries.  Excessive penalties incurred could result in the library management system automatically blocking the user from borrowing further material.

Replacement / Repair

Any user losing or irreparably damaging a book or other item borrowed through or belonging to the University Libraries is liable for the replacement cost of the item plus the cost of processing the replacement.  Any user or borrower damaging an item which is repairable shall be liable for the cost of the repair.

Mutilation

Mutilation of library books and other library materials is an offence.  Mutilation includes underlining, through-lining in transparent colour, writing of comments in a book, removal of a page, pages or pictures, or any other damage.  A user who has been found to have mutilated any library item will also be liable for the cost of replacing or repairing the damaged material.

Electronic resources and computers

• A user who fails to comply with the University and Libraries policy or licensing agreements concerning the use of electronic resources and computers may have library privileges curtailed or suspended by the Executive Director, Libraries.
• Any transgression of these rules may result in suspension or withdrawal of use and borrowing privileges or other penalties at the discretion of the Executive Director, Libraries.
• Any breach of these rules by a student may be reported by the UCT Libraries to the Vice-Chancellor or the Vice-Chancellor’s Nominee, to be dealt with under the rules on disciplinary jurisdiction and procedures.
• Any breach of these rules by a staff member may be referred by the UCT Libraries to the staff member’s line manager for disciplinary action.