Borrowing: Students, Faculty, Staff

Welcome

The borrowing regulations on this page apply to current Trent students (graduate and undergraduate), as well as to current and retired faculty and staff.

Library Cards

Your Library Card is your TrentU Card, and it must be presented at each transaction. On the back of it, you'll find your library barcode for scanning. It is your responsibility to carry your TrentU card whenever you are on campus, as it serves as your official Trent ID. See more information about the TrentU Card.

A library card is to be used by the registered owner only and should never be loaned to others. Any fines incurred are the responsibility of the card owner. The Library is not responsible for loaned, lost, or damaged cards. Report a lost or stolen TrentU Card to  the University Security Office and to the Library Service desk immediately.

Signing Out and Returning Items

You can either pull books from the Stacks and bring them to the Library Service Desk OR request items through Omni.  Requested items will be picked up and signed out at the Library Service Desk.

Return material in the "Return" slot of the Library Service Desk when the library is open. Unless you are instructed otherwise when signing it out (e.g. if it's a fragile item), avoid handing returning items directly to staff, as this disrupts the regular workflow and could interfere with proper processing.

The outside book drop is currently open 24/7. Items returned in this secure box will be processed throughout the day, but those returned after hours will be processed when the library next opens, and back-dated to the last closing date and time. 

Borrowing Regulations

Books from Trent 

A "book" includes books, annuals and journals in our general stacks.  These regulations also apply to items brought in for your use from other Ontario Universities through clicking "Get it from another library" within the item result in Omni.

  • You can borrow most regular books for 120 days.
  • You can renew your books online, as many times as you need. See the instructions on how to renew your books in Omni.
  • Items can be recalled if they are needed by someone else. 
    • Fines of $4 per day apply on items not returned within 7 days after a recall, up to a maximum of $56; after 14 days, they are considered "lost" and a replacement charge of $125 is charged.
  • There are no daily overdue fines, as long as the book is not recalled.
  • If a book is not returned or renewed within 30 days of its due date, it will be considered "lost" and a replacement charge of $125 is charged.
Note: Short-Term Loan

Books, when required to support course readings, may have a shorter loan period.  These books circulate for 4 days.  This shortened loan period is visible in Omni when you search, and upon checkout.  Short Term Loan items may be renewed 1 time if no one else has requested this book.    

Books from other Omni Libraries

Books from other Omni Libraries can be ordered right from Omni.  

  • You will be notified by email when your books have arrived and you can pick them up at the Library Service Desk.  You will have 7 days to pick up your requested book.  
  • You can borrow regular books for 120 days.
  • You can renew your books online, as many times as you need.
  • You can keep track of your loans, and due dates online through your My Library Account tab in Omni

Current Periodicals

A "current periodical" is an unbound issue of a recently received journal or magazine. Newspapers are excluded; they cannot be borrowed.

  • You can borrow current periodicals for 14 days; renewals are permitted to extend the loan up to 60 days.
  • A maximum of 10 issues can be borrowed at a time.
  • Fines of $4 per day apply to overdue items, up to a maximum of $56.
  • Not eligible for requests or recalls.
  • If a current periodical is not returned within 30 days of its due date, it will be considered "lost" and a replacement charge of $125 is charged.

Curriculum Collection

The curriculum collection includes books and materials for use by Education students. This collection is on the 3rd floor of Bata Library.

  • You can borrow curriculum material for 14 days; renewals are permitted to extend the loan up to 60 days.
  • A maximum of 8 curriculum items can be borrowed at a time.
  • Eligible for requests.
  • Items can be recalled if they are requested by someone else. 
    • Fines of $4 per day apply on items not returned within 7 days after a recall, up to a maximum of $56; after 14 days, they are considered "lost" and a non-refundable "lost" fee of $25, along with a replacement charge of $125 is charged.
  • There are no daily overdue fines, as long as the book is not recalled.
  • If a curriculum item is not returned within 30 days of its due date, it will be considered "lost" and a replacement charge of $125 is charged.

Government Publications

Government publications are located on the 4th Floor of Bata Library. Most items are not available for loan; Omni identifies items that can be borrowed as "loanable".

  • Circulating government publications can be borrowed for 14 days.
  • You can renew government publications online, as many times as you need.
  • Eligible for requests.
  • Items can be recalled if they are requested by someone else. 
    • Fines of $4 per day apply on items not returned within 7 days after a recall, up to a maximum of $56; after 14 days, they are considered "lost" and a replacement charge of $125 is applied.
  • There are no daily overdue fines, as long as the book is not recalled.
  • If a book is not returned or renewed within 30 days of its due date, it will be considered "lost" and a replacement charge of $125 is applied.

Interlibrary Loans

  • Loan periods and renewals are determined by the lending library. See ILL page.
  • Items can be recalled if they are needed by someone else. 
  • Fines of $4 per day apply on items not returned by the due date, up to a maximum of $56
  • If an ILL item is not returned, it will be considered "lost" and a replacement charge set by the lending library is applied.

Maps

Maps are located on the 4th Floor of Bata Library; those that can be borrowed are identified in Omni as "loanable". Map tubes are supplied to transport the maps safely; please return all maps in their tubes.

  • You can borrow a map for 14 days; renewals are permitted to extend the loan up to 60 days.
  • A maximum of 50 maps can be borrowed at a time.
  • Eligible for requests.
  • Maps can be recalled if they are rquested by someone else. 
    • Fines of $4 per day apply on items not returned within 7 days after a recall, up to a maximum of $56; after 14 days, they are considered "lost" and a non-refundable "lost" fee of $25, along with a replacement charge of $125 is charged.
  • If a map is not returned within 30 days of its due date, it will be considered "lost" and a replacement charge of $125 is applied.

Media

Media includes DVDs and VHS tapes. 

  • You can borrow media for 14 days.
  • You can renew your media online, as many times as you need.
  • Eligible for requests and booking.
  • Items can be recalled if they are requested by someone else. 
    • Fines of $10 per day apply on items not returned within 7 days after a recall, up to a maximum of $100; after 14 days, they are considered "lost" and a replacement charge of $125 is charged.
  • There are no daily overdue fines, as long as the item is not recalled.
  • If the item is not returned within 30 days of its due date or renewed, it will be considered "lost" and a replacement charge of $125 is applied.
  • Media can be booked ahead of time, to ensure availability for class viewing.

 Reference

Reference Materials include dictionaries, encyclopedias, and style guides are located on the 2nd Floor of Bata Library. Reference materials are only available for in-library use. 

 Reserves

Reserve items are high-use items with a 3-hour loan.  To access this collection, bring the call number of the item you wish to access to the Library Service Desk.  

  • You can borrow a Reserve item for 3 hours; renewals are not permitted.
  • As these items are in high demand the following fines apply: 
    • Fines of $5 per hour, up to a maximum of $56; after 14 days, they are considered "lost" and a replacement charge of $125 is charged.

Suspension

  • Borrowing privileges are suspended when:
    • one recalled item is overdue, or
    • fines or fees owing are $20 (or more).

Lost and Damaged Material

When library material becomes lost or damaged, it is costly and disruptive to the library and its borrowers.  Lost item or replacement fees cover the cost of replacing and/or processing lost or damaged items.  Replacement fees are therefore charged to the most recent borrower when problems are discovered. If you receive an item in a damaged state, you should report this when taking it out, to avoid being charged a fee. 

Lost item fee: $125 per item

Lost RACER fees: Set by owning institution

Notices

The library sends notices when items are:

  • overdue (weekly),
  • considered lost (at 30 days overdue or 14 days for recalls),
  • recalled, and
  • available for pick-up or cancelled.

A monthly statement is sent to anyone owing fines.

These notices are sent to the email address listed in the user's Library account. You are responsible for keeping the Library updated about where notices should be sent. Failure to receive a notice does not excuse a fine.

Fines Payment

Fines & fees may be paid in person via TrentU Card, debit, Visa, and Mastercard at Bata Library Service Desk during operating hours, OR online at anytime at via the Trent Libraries storefront on the Trent University Marketplace. Credit card transactions are also accepted via telephone during operating hours by calling 705-748-1011 x7423. Online payments may take up to 24 hours before being updated on your Library account.

Fine appeals are regulated by the Library Fine Appeal Policy.