Changes to library loans and rules

To support you as UQ teaching moves online in response to the COVID-19 virus, we have relaxed some library rules for loans and requested, recalled, and overdue items.

These changes are effective 19 March 2020 and will last for several months.

Collections closed from 3pm, 26 March until further notice

[Update 26 March]  All library collections are closed from 3pm, Thursday 26 March until further notice. You will be unable to borrow from the collection during this time. This is in the interests of physical distancing and reducing the transmission of COVID-19. Additionally:

  • Some library locations have closed
  • AskUs is available online only.

See temporary changes to library hours and services for details.

Study spaces are available

Some study spaces are open if you would like to visit the Library and are in good health. 

Before you come to campus read the Health Advice and latest information from UQ. While you're on campus and in the library please maintain good hygiene practices and social distancing

Stay at home, and contact a medical professional as needed, if you are feeling unwell.

Summary of changes

While collections are closed

From 3pm, Thursday 26 March, all collections are closed until further notice. There is no need to return any of your current loans, including high-use items, until library print collections reopen. See temporary changes to library hours and services for more information.

Loans can be returned on level one of Central Library by placing them in the returns slot.

We are:

  • renewing your loans automatically where we can 
  • suspending library fines for overdue items from 19 March
  • not sending reminder, overdue and lost email notifications
  • suspending loan recalls and not sending recall emails
  • holding your requested items longer
  • moving to best-effort document delivery.

Our borrowing rules have been updated to reflect these changes.

More details

Your general loans will be renewed automatically 

Where we can, we are extending your loans. This means your general loans (excluding high-use and interlibrary loans) will be extended as the due date approaches and not become overdue.

Fines and penalties are suspended

From 19 March:

  • fines will not accrue on overdue items
  • your borrowing will not be suspended.

We have stopped a range of reminder emails and have updated the courtesy email we send you to reflect changes to our rules:

We notice that the following items you have on loan are due for return shortly and cannot be automatically renewed. We understand that this may be a difficult time and you may not be able to return the item(s) at present. Please be assured that any charges accrued during this time will be waived.

Any existing fines and account suspensions prior to 19 March will remain in your library account but no additional fines will apply.

Recalls are suspended

Loan recalls have been suspended because we recognise you may not be able to return your item. When someone requests an item you have on loan:

  • your loan date will not be changed
  • you will not receive a recall email.

Requested item service changes

  • Requesting items that are on loan: we have suspended loan recalls (as described in 'Recalls are suspended' above) as other clients may not be able to return their loans to the library. For this reason, we cannot guarantee the availability of requests for items that are on loan.
     
  • Requested items may take longer to be delivered: it may take our staff longer to collect requested items and deliver them to your library. We cannot guarantee normal requested item service standards.
     
  • Requested items will be held for longer: items you have requested will be kept on the Requested Items shelf at your selected pick-up location for at least 10 days. Contact us if you have a requested item being held for you but no longer require it.

Best effort document delivery

Our Document Delivery service is now 'best effort'. We will try to get the item you have requested, however libraries across the world are being disrupted by the COVID-19 virus and may not be lending physical items.

We will contact you if we are unable to provide the item you have requested.

Contact us if you require assistance

Contact us or contact your librarian if you require more information or for assistance accessing materials.

Last updated:
27 March 2020
https://web.library.uq.edu.au/blog/2020/03/changes-library-loans-and-rules
web.library.uq.edu.au
crawl=CC-MAIN-2020-16
24953
application/http; msgtype=response
sha1:VMNOU4J6X2FPFQEPCMZK46BTYC2Z7WSR
<urn:uuid:6f695c3f-cd47-4ac7-9989-49c4ef83d5e7>
2020-03-29T09:10:27Z
130.102.131.124
application/xhtml+xml
sha1:WI6WE4K42XAL2AKD73GUNZ5VXHPL5SAC
<urn:uuid:cc63fae8-4255-4a86-875a-8ede9a2298d2>
https://web.library.uq.edu.au/blog/2020/03/changes-library-loans-and-rules
response
<urn:uuid:a82108a1-1eb4-4962-a3c0-0502f771e7ab>
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2020-16
publisher: Common Crawl
description: Wide crawl of the web for March/April 2020
operator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)
hostname: ip-10-67-67-157.ec2.internal
software: Apache Nutch 1.16 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)
robots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)
format: WARC File Format 1.1
conformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/