Library Regulations, 2011

L.N. 141 of 2011

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Library Regulations, 2011

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by sections 74 (5)

and 75 (6) of the Education Act (Cap. 327), the Chancellor of the University

of Malta has promulgated the following regulations made by the Senate of the

University of Malta by virtue of the powers conferred upon it by sections 75

and 79 of the said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These regulations may be cited as the Library Regulations, 2011.

(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

“Item” means all printed and electronic sources of information;

“Director” means the Director, Library Services and includes any officer in

charge of the Library during the absence of the Director;

“Library” means any University premises under the immediate jurisdiction of

the Director, Library Services; and

“Patron” means any person using the Library by virtue of his eligibility under

regulation 3.

Applicability

These regulations shall be applicable from October, 2010 onwards.

Library Patrons

The Library shall be open for the purposes of study and research to

(a) members of the University of Malta, who are entitled to borrowing

privileges, as follows

(i) members of Council and of Senate;

(ii) all academic members of staff;

(iii) visiting academics on University service;

(iv) members of the University support staff; and

(v) registered students of the University.

(b) bona fide researchers to whom a temporary borrowing permit may be issued

by the Director; and

(c) day visitors, admitted at the discretion of the Director, who may not borrow

any item.

Permits

In the case of permits issued in terms of paragraph (b) of regulation 3

(a) the Director shall charge an annual fee of €50, but may, in the case of donors

and occasional users of the library, waive the fee; and

(b) applications for such permits shall be made on the prescribed form.

Loan of Items

(1) At any one time authorized Library patrons may have in their possession

not more than the number of items specified below

(a) a member of the University's academic staff: thirty (30);

(b) a research student of the University reading for a higher degree: ten (10);

(c) University support staff: six (6); and

(d) all other Library members: six (6).

The Director may adjust these allocations at his discretion.

(2) Without prejudice to items issued on short loan, or for any other period

shorter than three weeks, the period allowed for the loan of each item is as follows

(a) categories (a), (b), and (c) in paragraph (1) of this regulation: three months;

(b) category (d) in paragraph (1) of this regulation: three weeks.

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph (8) of this regulation, a

loan may be renewed for a further period or periods.

(4) The Director may, at his discretion, restrict borrowing to short loans. The

period for short loans shall be specified by the Director.

(5) All items required for loan must be presented together with the Library

patron’s library card at the circulation desk.

(6) Patrons may not take any item out of the Library without executing the

appropriate loan procedure. In the case of items which are not yet covered by the

Library’s computerised system, their circulation and renewal shall continue to follow

the manual borrowing procedure of the circulation desk.

(7) The date-due slip or the stamped date-label indicates when an item is due

for return, unless this date is subsequently superseded by a recall notification. It is the

responsibility of the borrower to ensure that items on loan are duly returned to the

Library.

(8) Any item on loan may be recalled, if required by another patron, or if

required for teaching purposes, or if so requested by the Director. Such items must be

returned within one week from notification that the item is required by another patron,

unless the date due for the return of that item falls beforehand.

(9) All items must be returned to the Library site from which they were

borrowed by the date specified.

(10) Library patrons returning an item shall wait at the circulation desk to

receive their original manual loan-slip or the computer return receipt for the item

returned.

(11) The manual loan-slip or the computer return receipt shall be regarded as

proof of the return of an item. Their possession or non-possession shall be deemed to

settle finally any question as to whether an item has or has not been returned.

(12) Library patrons shall be deemed to be in possession of an item until the

manual loan-slip or computerised borrowing data have been removed from the Library's

files.

(13) A Library item shall not be transferred to another Library patron unless

the item is returned and re-issued in the manner prescribed in these regulations.

(14) If a book is retained beyond the loan-period without renewal, or kept

beyond a recall deadline, a system of fines shall be applicable as per Schedule I. Non-

settlement of fines shall lead to a blocking of the patron’s borrowing account.

(15) Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph (16) of this regulation, any

item on the open shelves may be borrowed on application to the circulation desk,

provided that the item has been catalogued, classified and properly processed before

being issued.

(16) Notwithstanding the status of an item, the Director may, at his discretion,

designate whether an item should be retained for in-house consultation only. Such

items may not be borrowed.

(17) Registered students of the University must return any Library items still in

their possession upon termination of their course of studies. The University may

preclude students who do not abide by this regulation from graduating.

Custody of Items

(1) Library patrons who borrow or consult an item are responsible for its

safekeeping. Mutilation of items is seriously offensive.

(2) It shall be strictly forbidden to make or erase any mark in any printed

item, make tracings or turn down the leaves.

(3) Library patrons may not use ink while using items in such parts of the

Library as designated by the Director.

(4) Any reproduction of Library material, in whatever manner, is subject to

the provisions of copyright law and the permission of the Director.

(5) Library patrons shall be required to make good to the satisfaction of the

Director any loss or damage which they may cause to any Library property including

borrowed items.

(6) Library patrons shall be held liable for any damages caused through

misuse of the Library’s electronic services, systems and equipment.

Patron Behaviour and Security

(1) Except for those areas where group work is permitted, silence shall be

maintained at all times in the Library. Mobile phones should be kept on silent mode.

(2) Smoking, food and drinks are strictly forbidden in the Library.

(3) Library staff shall not accept articles for safekeeping. The Library shall

not be liable for any loss or damages incurred to the private property of patrons.

(4) Bags, cases and parcels are not allowed inside the Library. Any

possessions shall be made available by patrons for inspection at Library exit points.

(5) The Director shall be responsible for the administration and the internal

discipline of the Library, and shall be authorised to exclude from the Library, and from

all rights and privileges of membership, any patron infringing these regulations or

behaving inappropriately.

(6) Any such exclusion shall be reported at the next meeting of the Library

Committee.

Opening Hours

The Library shall open on those days and hours as prescribed by the Library

Committee from time to time.

Deposit of Dissertations and Theses

Faculties, Institutes and Centres shall deposit a copy of student dissertations

and theses at the Library as prescribed by University Statutes, Regulations and Bye-

Laws. The provisions of copyright law on the use of these dissertations and theses shall

be respected.

Communications

All communications regarding the use of the Library shall be addressed to

the Director.

Repeal

Regulations R06 – The Library Regulations, 2001, published as Legal

Notice 199 of 2001, are hereby repealed.

Schedule I

Schedule I

r overdue items: Charges (fines) for overdue items

Three (3) weeks (Undergraduate,

Regular Loan Junior

College)

per day

€0.20c

Three

(3) weeks

(Undergraduate,

Junior College)

€0.20c per day

Three (3) months (Postgraduate, Support

Staff

(3) and

per day Support Staff and €0.20c per day

€0.20c

Three

months

(Postgraduate,

Faculty)

Faculty)

€0.50c per day

Recalled Item

€0.50c per day

Two (2) hours, Overnight

or Weekend

per hour

Loan Two (2) hours, €0.15c

Restricted

Overnight

or Weekend

€0.15c per hour

€0.63