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The General Board give notice that they have amended the regulations for the use of the University Library as set out below. The purpose of these amendments is as follows:
| (a) | to transfer certain provisions from the regulations for the use of the Library to the rules made by the Library Syndicate and vice versa, reflecting the relative importance of these provisions; |
| (b) | to remove references to the Syndicate's Code of Practice of Established Usage, which has been merged with the rules made by the Syndicate; |
| (c) | to make provision in the regulations for Readers' Cards to be checked when users enter and leave the Library, with a view to providing statistical information on usage of the Library. The following paragraphs explain the need for this measure, and the steps that will be taken to guarantee the privacy of individual users of the Library. |
The recent refurbishment of the entrance hall of the University Library has included the installation of new turnstiles. The main purpose of these turnstiles is to record the use made of the Library by different categories of reader, in order to be able to provide the HEFCE with the necessary data to permit the calculation of the new non-formula allocation to the Library for providing services to users from other universities. The system is also intended to provide better security at the exit.
The background to this innovation is as follows. The HEFCE has recently announced a Research Support Libraries Programme, which includes several million pounds for the provision of services by university libraries to readers from other universities. It is probable that the University Library will receive a substantial sum each year under this programme; the Syndicate intend to use this additional funding to provide an improved level of service to all users of the Library. The first three-year allocation will be made on the basis of a national survey of academic staff and postgraduates to ascertain which libraries they use in addition to the library of their home university. The HEFCE has, however, indicated that libraries in receipt of such funds will be required to provide 'auditable' data on usage if they are to continue to receive funding after the first three-year period. Such data would be in the form of statistics showing the different categories of reader using the library, including information about frequency of use and length of visit. The data-capture units attached to the new turnstiles, which register Readers' Cards as readers enter and leave the Library, have been designed to provide this information.
The University's Data Protection Officer has advised that the collection of such data is entirely in conformity with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998, particularly since data on the use of the Library will be analysed by category of user and will not provide information about individuals.
The regulations for the use of the Library (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 611) have been amended as follows:
Regulations 4 and 6-8.
By amending the regulations so as to read:
4. The Library shall be open to all members of the University on the production of a valid Reader's Card, which shall be issued on request. Use of this card shall be recorded when readers enter and leave the Library, to provide statistical information on the use of the Library by different categories of user. In addition the Syndicate shall have power to determine by rules what other persons may be admitted and upon what terms. The Syndicate shall have absolute discretion to direct the exclusion, either indefinitely or for a specified period, of any person whose admission is considered prejudicial to the interests of the Library or its users.
6. (a) Any volume borrowed under Regulation 5(1), 5(4), or 5(5) shall be returned not later than eight weeks after the date of borrowing, provided that the Librarian shall have power to demand its return earlier.
(b) Any volume borrowed under Regulation 5(2) or 5(3) shall be returned not later than the fourteenth day after the date of borrowing, provided that the Librarian shall have power to demand its return earlier.
7. Any user of the Library who requires a volume that has been borrowed by another person may give notice to the Librarian that he or she requires the volume. The Librarian shall then notify the borrower that he or she is required to return the volume to the Library. The borrower shall comply with this requirement within five days after the receipt of such notification.
8. Volumes borrowed and returned shall be noted in the Library borrowing records by the Library staff in the presence of the borrowers or their representatives.
Regulations 9-16.
By replacing the regulations by the following Regulations 9-15.
9. (a) No volume borrowed from the Library may be taken or sent outside the British Isles except with the written permission of the Syndicate.
(b) No volume borrowed from the Library may be used for commercial purposes except with the written permission of the Syndicate.
10. Any person who fails to return a volume in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 6 shall be liable to a fine. The level of the fines that may be levied under this regulation shall be determined from time to time by the Syndicate, subject to the provisions of Regulation 15.
11. A fine of not more than £175 may be imposed by the Syndicate on any person who removes a book or other item of library material from the Library without following the borrowing procedures laid down by the Syndicate, or who, having borrowed such a book or other item, is unable, without showing good reason, to return it, or who wilfully damages such a book or other item. The imposition of such a fine shall be without prejudice to the University's right to obtain, in addition, compensation for any loss or damage suffered by the University.
12. Manuscripts of special value or importance, other items of great rarity, and materials from collections to which special conditions apply, shall not be borrowed from the Library except with the sanction of a Grace specifying the period of the loan, which shall not exceed six months, and shall be subject to the conditions of loan laid down by the Syndicate, provided that the Syndicate may on their own authority permit loans to Colleges or institutions within the University if these conditions are satisfied.
13. Exercises and dissertations which are deposited in the Library by candidates for degrees shall be available for consultation, unless the Board of Graduate Studies or other comparable authority determine that a particular exercise or dissertation shall, for a specified period, be available only to the author or to those who have the author's written permission to consult the work. Exercises and dissertations shall not be borrowed.
14. Rules made from time to time by the Syndicate shall be posted within the Library.
15. A fine of not more than £175 may be imposed by the Syndicate on any person who wilfully infringes any of these regulations or any rule made by the Syndicate. A person from whom any fine is due that has been imposed under these regulations shall not be admitted to the Library or allowed to borrow books until such fine has been paid.
The regulations for the Scientific Periodicals Library, the Medical Library, and the Squire Law Library (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 613) have also been amended, as follows:
Regulation 2.
By deleting the words 'together with the Syndicate's Code of Practice of Established Usage for that library'.
The rules made by the Syndicate have been revised, and are published below for the information of the University.
The following rules apply to the University Library, West Road, but not to the dependent libraries (the Scientific Periodicals Library, the Squire Law Library, and the Medical Library); rules for the latter are posted in the libraries to which they apply.
References in these rules to 'Regulations' are references to the regulations made by the General Board for the use of the University Library (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 611).
1. Except on the days when it is closed under Regulations 2 and 3 the Library shall normally be open as follows:
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 7.15 p.m. (10 p.m. during Full Easter Term).
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
No person shall enter the Library less than fifteen minutes before the time of closing.
The opening hours of reading rooms are determined from time to time by the Syndicate. Details are given in the Reader's Handbook and on the University Library's World Wide Web page (http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/).
2. In addition to members of the University, the following persons may be granted a Reader's Card and admitted to the Library, but may not borrow books:
| (a) | Any persons over 21 who are engaged in private study or research, if supported by appropriate evidence of academic standing and fitness for admission. |
| Readers' Cards issued under this section shall be valid for not more than two years, but may be renewed. An administrative charge of £10 will be made for a Card valid for up to six months, £20 for a Card valid for up to twelve months, and £40 for a Card valid for up to two years. No charge is made for the single issue within any twelve-month period of a Card valid for up to seven consecutive days, or for the issue of a Card to a current member of the academic staff or a registered research student of any other university funded by one of the higher education funding councils in the United Kingdom, or to a member of the Friends of the University Library. | |
| (b) | Other persons over 21 who are engaged in study or research connected with commerce or profit, if supported by appropriate recommendations concerning their suitability and fitness for admission. |
| Cards issued under this section shall be valid for not more than one year, but may be renewed. An administrative charge of £20 will be made, in addition to a charge of £20 per month or part of a month, or £100 per year. A commercial organization which is a Corporate Member of the Friends of the Library in good standing may apply for the issue of up to two Readers' Cards for named employees of the organization free of charge. | |
| (c) | Undergraduates of other universities in the British Isles normally resident in the Cambridge area, if supported by appropriate recommendations. |
| Cards issued under this section shall be free of charge and shall normally be valid only during the vacations of this University. |
3. Readers' Cards are not transferable. Every person to whom a Card is issued under Rule 2 shall sign an undertaking to observe the Regulations for the use of the Library and the Rules made by the Library Syndicate. Holders of Readers' Cards issued under Rule 2 may be required to work in a particular reading room designated by the Librarian and shall comply with any special conditions laid down by the Syndicate. The whole or part of the administrative charge or of the monthly or yearly charge under Rule 2(b) may be waived at the discretion of the Librarian.
4. The Syndicate reserve the right to cancel at any time, without assigning cause for the cancellation, any Reader's Card issued under Rule 2, and will repay the appropriate proportion of any monthly or yearly charge levied under Rule 2(b).
5. Persons over the age of 16 not holding a Reader's Card may be admitted to the Library for the sole purpose of viewing the building provided that they are accompanied throughout the visit either by a member of the University or by a member of the Library staff. No member of the University may introduce more than two visitors at one time except by arrangement with the Librarian. Visitors admitted to the Library under this rule may use the Tea Room but are not permitted to consult any books or other library materials.
6. The Exhibition Centre is open to all members of the University and the general public.
7. No book shall be borrowed from the Library on any day less than fifteen minutes before the time of closing.
8. Any borrower who fails to return a book in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 6 or Regulation 7 shall be liable to a fine of 30p for the first day and 10p for each subsequent working day that elapses before the book is returned the book or the Librarian is notified that it has been lost.
9. Works of reference, unbound works, or parts of works may not be borrowed except by the special permission of the Librarian or a person appointed by him, but may be consulted in a reading room of the Library. Printed books not kept on the 'open' shelves may be borrowed unless this is prohibited by special restrictions.
10. Personal details of borrowers of Library materials may not be disclosed to other readers, nor shall any person use the computerized facilities of the Library to obtain or process data except in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.
11. The marking of any Library materials is forbidden; readers may be prohibited from using ink and may be asked to use pencils instead while consulting certain volumes in any of the reading rooms.
12. All persons borrowing Library materials, or ordering materials for use within the Library, shall produce evidence of identity at the time of borrowing or ordering if requested to do so.
13. Use of the Library's computers shall be only in accordance with the terms of the JANET Acceptable Use policy.
14. Silence shall be maintained as far as possible in the Library.
15. The use of portable computers is permitted in the Library provided that they are quiet in operation. Users of such equipment may be required to work in specified areas or to stop using a computer if it constitutes a distraction to other readers. All electrical equipment and plugs must be checked and approved by a member of the Library's technical maintenance staff before use in the Library.
16. The use of equipment likely to disturb or distract other readers or to damage Library materials (e.g. mobile telephones, digital scanners, radios, personal hi-fi equipment, or computers to perform any of the functions of such machines) is not permitted in the Library.
17. Overcoats, raincoats, and other kinds of outdoor clothing, umbrellas, bags, cases, cameras, photocopying devices, and similar personal belongings shall normally be deposited in the locker-room adjacent to the entrance hall during each visit to the Library.
18. Handbags, files, folders, coats, and the like, if allowed into the Library, shall be subject to examination on exit.
19. Bottles of ink, correction fluid, and other potentially damaging substances shall not be taken into the Library.
20. Food and drink shall not be taken into the Library generally, but may be admitted for consumption in the courtyards or in the Tea Room, provided that paying customers are not deprived of seats.
21. Smoking is permitted only in the courtyards.
22. No person may go barefoot in the Library.
23. Library staff are empowered to stop any activity in the Library which they consider prejudicial to the safety, well-being, or security of readers or Library staff or to the preservation of the collections.
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Cambridge University Reporter, 3 June 1999
Copyright © 1999 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.