The Library of Trinity College Dublin (the Library) announced its new set of borrowing entitlements this morning. The changes allow staff and students to borrow more books for longer periods when they are not required by other readers, and introduces new procedures to recall books which are in high demand faster than previously.
Under the new system, undergraduates, postgraduates, and staff may borrow up to ten general lending items, which may be renewed up to five times unless recalled by another reader. However, the due date on an item may change while the reader has borrowed the item if it is requested by another reader. Borrowers are to be informed of changes to due dates through email and on their My Library account.
Additionally, the Library announced that it has updated its penalties for items which are not returned in order to “work in tandem with the new rules to encourage the return of high-demand items”.
Items which are temporarily classed as high demand may only be borrowed for two days, while items that are overdue or have been requested by another library user can no longer be returned to a FastLane machine. Instead, these items must be returned to the Service Counter.
In an email addressed to staff and students, the Library stated: ”We have listened to staff and students across the University to ensure that the changes address issues of concern that have been raised over a number of years via Quality Reviews, University Committees, engagement with the Student Unions, and in discussions with our frontline staff and our subject librarians.”
The Library has stated its intent to take further feedback from staff and students on board over the coming months.
Previously, undergraduates could borrow four items from the Undergraduate Lending Collection, with an additional four from the Printed Music collection and another four items from the Counter Reserve Collection. Higher degree postgraduate students could borrow ten items from Open Access or Closed Access Collections in addition to four Printed Music and four Counter Reserve items. Monthly-paid staff could access twenty items in total lent for 12 weeks at a time while weekly-paid staff on permanent contracts who apply for borrowing privileges could borrow three items lent for four weeks at a time.
The new borrowing entitlements are set to come into effect next Monday as lectures begin for students.
