Borrowing from the library

Borrowing

• You need a valid library card to borrow items from the library.
• The Online Library provides access to LibSearch. Here you can find items you can borrow. Use the call numbers to find out where the items are located. Watch the instruction video “How to locate” below, to decode the call numbers
• Browse items on the open shelves and borrow them at the Self Lending machine.
• You can also borrow items from the closed stacks. These are not accessible to visitors. To request items read below:  Requesting items from the closed stacks.
• You are personally responsible for any items you have borrowed until you have returned them. See also: Library regulations 
• All items in the library are electronically protected
• Need help? Take a look at the instruction video below.

Loan period: 28 days

How many items can I borrow?

• UM and AVMU students: 40
• UM, MUMC, OU and AVMU staff: 40
• Other memberships (except visitor card): 10

Are there items I can’t borrow? 
The following materials are for reference only:

• journals
• statistic material
• dictionaries
• bibliographies
• reference material
• loose-leaf material
• all items at the Learning resource centre (Dutch: Studielandschap)
• items marked with a red label
• Jesuit collection: all literature older than 1900. The lending restriction also applies to valuable books from 1900 onwards and volumes whose state is too fragile to allow lending.

What if I can’t find the item I need? (Inter Library Loan)

Whenever books and journal articles are not available in the library collection, you can request them from a Dutch or foreign library.

See:  Inter Library Loan

Borrowing history

Using the Borrowing history option in My account, you can create your own personal history of books you borrowed from the Library. This applies to books from the Library as well as books from other libraries (interlibrary loan), for a maximum period of 1 year.

This feature is optional, if you want to use it you need to enable it:

• In LibSearch, click on the Sign in button at top of the screen
• Login with your credentials
• Sign in changes into a My account
• Click My account
• Click Borrowing history, a message is displayed: “you have not enabled borrowing history. Enable borrowing history in your Profile”
• Click Profile
• Use the slider to enable your borrowing history

Once the borrowing history is enabled all returned books will be displayed in the Borrowing history tab. You can cancel your history at any time, it will then be deleted. If you decide to reenable it at a later stage this will create a fresh start.

Your borrowing history is for personal use only and is not shared with Library staff or third parties. Please read our Privacy Statement.

Reserving

If an item that you need is already on loan, you may reserve it:

• Find your item in LibSearch
• Click on ‘Place hold’ to make a request
• Sign in
• Choose a ‘pick-up location’ (i.e. library location) and click ‘submit’
• You will receive an email when the item is available at the Self-service point (books) or information desk (journals) of your chosen library location
• Need help? Take a look at the instruction video below.

When and where can I pick up reserved items?
As soon as the item is available you will receive an email.
You can pick up your reserved item at the Self-service point in the specified library location during library opening hours.

OU staff member? Your reserved items will be sent to the Logistic Service Point in Heerlen.

Request from the closed stacks

A part of the (older) collection is kept under special conditions in the closed stacks.
These are not accessible for library users. You can request available items from the closed stacks. You need a valid UMcard.

How to get items from the closed stacks?

• Find your item in LibSearch
• Click on ‘Place hold’ to make a request
• Sign in
• Choose a pick-up location (i.e. library location) and click ‘submit’
• Need help? Take a look at the instruction video below.

You will receive an email when the item is available at the Self-service point (books) or information desk (journals) of your chosen library location.

Journals will remain available at the information desk for 1 day (until 17.00).
Books will remain available at the Self-service point for 6 days.

OU staff member? Your requested books will be sent to the Logistic Service Point in Heerlen.

Maurits Sabbe Library

Part of our Jesuit collection has been moved to the Maurits Sabbebibliotheek, the library of the theology department of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
You can still find these titles in LibSearch.

How to access these publications?

You can either request the books to be sent to the Maastricht University Library, or go to Leuven yourself. Please note that these books are for reference only.

If you choose to have the books sent to Maastricht:

• find your item in LibSearch
• click on ‘Place hold’ to make a request
• sign in
• choose a pick-up location (i.e. library location) and click on ‘submit’
• you will receive an email as soon as the book is available for you
• do you need help? Take a look at the instruction video below.

If you choose to go to Leuven yourself:

• it is your responsibility to check opening hours, membership and the availability of the publication
• more information: Maurits Sabbebibliotheek

Returning

You can return your borrowed items in the ‘book return boxes’ (e.g. at the entrance) or at the information desk.
Do you need a return receipt? Contact the information desk.

OU employees can return books to the Logistic Service Point in Heerlen.

Renewing your loans​

The loan period of borrowed books is 28 days and will be automatically renewed up to 6 times unless:

• The book has been reserved by someone else
• The item has reached its maximum number of renewals (i.e. 6 times)
• Your account has expired or you have outstanding costs.

You can also renew your loans yourself via LibSearch.

Follow the next steps:

• Use the direct link above
• Sign in
• You will see an overview of your loans
• Use the button ‘renew’ to extend the loan period
• Check the new expiry date, as the loan period of some items might not be extended (e.g. if it has been reserved by someone else)
• Max. 6 times per item
• Need help? Take a look at the instruction video below.

Overdue items and fines
We provide a courtesy email service to let you know when items are overdue or cannot be renewed. However, it is still your responsibility to know when the item is due, even if you have not received/read this email.

If you fail to return your book(s), your library account will be blocked automatically. You will be charged replacement costs, with a minimum of €75, for overdue items that are not returned. You can pay by bank card only.

Tips to avoid fines

• Check your ‘borrower information’ in LibSearch regularly
• Take the due date receipt when you borrow items at the Self Lending machine or the information desk. Please contact library staff as soon as possible if you have any questions or problems with overdue items or fines
• Don’t lend items to friends
• Don’t borrow items for somebody else on your account. You are responsible.