Library Loan Services - New Students and Staff - Getting Started at Rhodes University Library

Do I need my Student Card when I come to the Library?

You need your Student Card to:

enter the Library
borrow books from the library
for photocopying and printing
to access the 24/7 room when the library is closed

YOUR STUDENT CARD = YOUR ACCESS CARD = YOUR LIBRARY CARD

Look after your student card! If you lose your card, report the loss immediately to the Loans Desk staff.

Never lend your student card to someone else. This is against University rules and could land you in a disciplinary hearing! It could also land you with library fines incurred by the person using your card.

How do I borrow a book?

Collect the book from the library's open shelves on Levels 2,3 and 4

Take the book, together with your student/staff card to the Loans Desk on Level 1

OR issue the book to yourself using the Self-Check system opposite the Loans Desk

PLEASE NOTE: The date when you must return the book to the Library will be stamped on the date sheet at the back of the book; the Self-Check system will issue a receipt noting the return date.

For more information see

Access and membership

How do I renew my book loans?

EITHER
Renew the loans yourself online (NB: to renew a loan online you will have to set up a Library Account - Please refer to the Setting Up a My Library Account on the Library IT Services page for guidance on how to do this)
OR
Take the book and your student card to the Loans Desk (on Level 1) and ask the Loans Desk staff to renew your loan period.

NOTE: You may renew your book loans up to three times unless another library user has reserved the book

Will I be fined if I return my library books after the due date?

We have to make sure that our books are equally available to everyone.

Library users who return their books after the due date, will be fined:

Open shelf books will incur a fine of 50c per day
Short Loan books are in heavy demand, so they incur heavier fines: R1 for every hour they are late

If you do not return your book at all, the Library will charge you for its replacement to your student account.

How do I return my library books?

The date when you must return your books will be stamped on the Due Date slip at the back of the book. Return your books to the Loans Desk where they were issued to you.

There is a book returns chute on the Loans Desk where you may return the books if you prefer not to stand in the queue.

You will find a Book Returns chute at the front entrance of the library. This is where you can return books when the library is closed.

Important: If you have taken books out from Short Loan, remember to return them to Short Loans.

Library Loans

Once you have chosen the books you wish to read, have them checked out to you at the Loans Desk on Level 1.

Loan periods are as follows:

User category	Loan Period
Undergraduates	6 items for 2 weeks
Senior Postgraduates (Masters & PhD)	20 items for 8 weeks
Honours & Graduates	12 items for 4 weeks
Short Course Participants	6 items for 2 weeks
Prospective Students	n/a
Visiting Research Students	20 items for 8 weeks
Visitor (Short-term)	6 items for 2 weeks
Visitor	20 items for 8 weeks
Postdocs	30 items for 12 weeks
Staff (Permanent)	30 items for 12 weeks
Staff (Contract & Temporary)	30 items for 12 weeks
Staff (Library)	30 items for 12 weeks
Staff (Retired)	12 items for 4 weeks
Staff of affiliated institutes i.e. NELM (National English Literary Museum) and Albany Museum	30 items for 12 weeks
Staff of SAIAB (SA Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity)	30 items for 12 weeks
Staff (Institutes)	30 items for 12 weeks
Honorary Titles	People Council has deemed Honorary Associates of the University
Professor Emeritus / Associate Professor Emeritus	30 items for 12 weeks
Distinguished Fellow	30 items for 12 weeks
Honorary Professor	30 items for 12 weeks
Visiting Professor / Visiting Fellow	30 items for 12 weeks
Senior Research Associate / Research Associate / Clinical Associate / Professional Associate	30 items for 12 weeks
Alumni (Convocation)	12 items for 4 weeks
Guests	4 items for 2 weeks
Grahamstown Community	4 items for 2 weeks
People attending RU Conference & Special Events	n/a
ILL (Borrowing Libraries)	4 weeks

Short Loan - Books recommended by your lecturer may be placed on Short Loan which is located at the Loans Desk. Remember to have the barcode and call number (shelf number) of the book with you when you request a book from Short Loan. These books are issued to you for an hour and may only be used in the Library (24/7 Study). You may borrow them overnight in which case they are to be returned by 9am the next day.

48 Hour Loan books are issued to you for 2 days. They may be renewed up to three times provided there are no other reservations for them.

DVDs are issued to you for two days. Browse through our wonderful and growing collection at our DVD viewing area (at the Loans Desk)

For more information, read about our Library Loan Services

We are here to assist you, so please ask us if you need any help.

Librarian: User Services (Circulation) - Jabulile Nene

j.nene@ru.ac.za 046 6038462

a.mncwabe@ ru.ac.za 0466038463

New Students and Staff - Getting Started at Rhodes University Library: Library Loan Services

Borrower Responsibilities