Homepage About the Library Library Policies

 Library Regulations

 
·         Boğaziçi University (BU) card or a membership card must be presented for admission to the Library
 
·         Cellular phones must be switched off prior to entering the Library and must under no circumstances be used anywhere within the building
 
·         No food or drink other than bottled water may be brought in to the Library
 
·         Users are requested to work in silence and to ensure that other users are not disturbed
 
·         Users are advised to leave books on desks instead of attempting to place them on shelves from where they have been removed
 
·         Attempting to take out library material which has not been given clearance by the circulation desk shall be deemed an act of theft
 
·         All library material are protected by means of a magnetic security system
 
·         The Library accepts no responsibility for the loss or theft of users’ personal belongings
 
 
A CCTV system is installed throughout the Library to ensure the safety of users
 
Lending Policy                                                                               Go to Top of Page
Library cards
 
Users must present their BU identity or membership card to the staff at the relevant lending desk whenever they wish to borrow material from the Library. Those who attempt to take out books by using another user’s card shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions.
 
Either one of the following cards will entitle the user to borrow books from the Library
 
·         BU identity cards: BU students, academic and administrative personnel who hold a valid BU identity card may use the same as a library card
 
·         Membership cards that do not bear a photograph of the user: These enable the user to borrow 2 items for a period of 21 days. These cards are issued only to the faculty members of other universities, B.U. Alumni and representetives of companies. Only Boğaziçi University alumni can access to the electronic resources over the internet.
 
·         Restricted membership cards that bear a photograph of the user: These allow the user access only into the Library building. These cards are issued only to the faculty members, teaching assistants, graduate and doctoral students of other universities and B.U. Alumni.
 
None of the abovementioned cards are transferable
 
The validity of BU student, academic, and administrative identity cards shall lapse upon the termination of the holders’ affiliation with the University
 
Membership cards are valid for a period of one year as of the date on which they are issued
 
The number of items and the length for which they may be borrowed
 
The above differs according to the category under which the user falls
Status Length of time Number of items
 
BU Undergraduate students 21 days 10
 
BU Postgraduate students 21 days 15
 
BU Faculty members (current or retired) 3 months 25
 
BU Personnel 21 days 3
 
Members with borrowing rights 21 days 2

  

The date on which a book is due to be returned is indicated by a stamp on the sticker affixed on the inside back cover of the book
 
Extension of borrowed items
 
Users’ are entitled to renew items for the same period of time provided that that particular item has not been placed on hold by another user. However, such extensions may only be made once if over the internet and only twice by bringing the items to the Library
 
Extensions are not possible over the telephone
 
Extensions must be made before the time for which the item is borrowed expires
 
Faculty members as well as users in the remaining categories may renew material within 21 days and 7 days prior to their expiration respectively. The responsibility for renewals rests upon users.
 
Users must renew the items in their possession in person at the relevant circulation desk
 
Reservations
 
Users who wish to borrow an item which is on loan to another user may request that the book be placed on hold under his or her name either by accessing the Library’s website over the internet or by coming in person to the Library and by contacting the staff at the Lending Desk. The user may have access to the item in question either on the date when the item is due to be returned or before depending on the when the person to whom it has been lent happens to return it to the Library. The Library does not undertake to make the reserved book available, where for one reason or another, the existing holder fails to return the item on time. Once the item has been returned to the Library, an e-mail will be sent to the person who has placed a hold, informing him or her that the item has been received and is being kept exclusively for that person in the Library. Where a user fails to pick up the book from the Lending Desk within 7 days as of the date on which the item has been reserved, the latter shall be placed on the shelves.
 
Fines for Late Returns
 
Late returns shall be subject to fines. A fine is applicable in respect of each hour for items borrowed and not returned within two hours from the Course Material Reserve Section. Fines are imposed on the basis of the library working hours; hence, no fines shall accrue on Saturdays or on official public holidays.
 
Non-reserve Material

 

Overdue Rates
 
1day - 7 days 50 YKR
 
8 days - 75 YKR

 

 
 Reserve Material

 

Overdue Rates
 
For every hour 75 YKR
 
   

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Items shall not be lent for the remainder of the semester to users who fail to return material borrowed from the Library within 15 days after the date due
 
No new items shall be lent to users who have failed to return material which they have borrowed from the Library
 
The rates for fines to be imposed are determined annually by a resolution of the Library Committee and the University Executive Committee. Fines for late returns may not be annulled. The Library staff has no discretion to annul or defer fines payable.
 
Lost Material
Rules to be applied in connection with lost items:
 
Anytime before the date on which the item is due to be returned: The price of the item + handling costs (25% of the total sum)
 
Subsequent to the date on which the item should have been returned: A fine for late return + the price of the item + handling costs (25% of the total sum)
 
Material missing on shelves
 
Where users are unable to find on the shelf a particular item which appears to be in the Library they are requested to seek the assistance of the staff on the Circulation Desk. Once the item in question is located it will be put aside and kept for a period of 7 days at the Lending Desk of which the user shall be informed of accordingly. If the item is not found within 15 days, it is listed as missing and subsequently searched for during re-arranging and classification of the stacks and finally in the process of stocktaking of the entire holdings.
 
 
 
Library Notices
 
It is the responsibility of users to ensure that they have a valid e-mail address at which they may receive messages that the Library sends out including general announcements, return and overdue reminders, outstanding debt payment as well as ‘hold’ reservation notices.
 
Duties and Liabilities of Users                                                                              Go to Top of Page
 
All responsibility in connection with borrowed items rests upon the user
 
BU identity or membership cards may not be used by other than their rightful holders whether for entry into the Library or in connection with circulation matters
 
The Library shall not be held responsible where the user fails to be notified of the return due date whether on account of omissions or technical reasons. It is the duty of users to ensure that borrowed items are duly returned to the Library on time
 
Users bear all responsibility in connection with material lost or damaged whilst in their possession
 
Users are responsible for providing the Library with their current and valid e-mail address. The Library does not accept any responsibility for messages that fail to reach users.
 
The failure of the message to reach a user shall not in any way affect the validity of a late-return fine and shall not absolve the user of his or her obligation to pay the due fine.
 
A user’s borrowing rights shall be forfeited where the former fails to return a borrowed item on the due date or to pay for the cost of the material that he or she has lost or has inflicted damage thereon, or to observe in any way other library regulations. Upon having remedied the aforementioned breaches and/or payment of the requisite damages or fines for losses caused, the user shall be reinstated to his or her former rights.