The guidelines outlined on this page are, by necessity, general in nature. Different colleges may have different rules for library use. Ask at your college library for information about location-specific guidelines.
General Library Conduct
Please Do:
- Befriend librarians and library staff. They want to answer your questions and make you feel at home.
- Talk quietly with your friends or study partners, so others can work undisturbed.
- Set your mobile phone ring to "vibrate" or "silent".
Please Don't:
- Eat or drink in the library.
- Be disrespectful of other students and staff working in the library.
Loan times
Students:
- General items: 14 days.
- Sound Cassettes, Software, Non-fiction videos, Kits, Journals and Magazines: 14 days.
- Feature films on DVD and VHS: 3 days.
- Reference materials, Faculty Collection items, and Restricted software: in-library use only.
Faculty and Staff:
- General items: 42 days.
- Faculty Collection items: 120 days.
- Sound cassettes, Software, Non-fiction videos, and Kits: 42 days.
- Journals and Magazines: 14 days.
- Feature Films on DVD and VHS: 3 days.
- Reference materials and Restricted software: in-library use only.
Renewal periods
Items may be renewed twice before you must return them.
Students:
- General items: 14 days.
- Sound cassettes, Non-fiction videos, and Kits: 14 days.
- Software, Journals and Magazines: 7 days.
- Feature films on DVD and VHS: 3 days.
Faculty and Staff:
- General items: 14 days.
- Faculty Collection items: 42 days.
- Sound cassettes, Non-fiction videos, and Kits: 14 days.
- Software, Journals and Magazines: 7 days.
- Feature films on DVD and VHS: 3 days.
Borrowing and Hold Limits
Students:
- Maximum of 10 items checked out at one time.
- Maximum of 2 movies checked out at one time.
- Maximum of 10 holds at one time.
Faculty and Staff:
- Maxium of 50 items checked out at one time.
- Maxium of 2 movies checked out at one time.
- Maxium of 50 holds at one time.
Overdues
The system will send out 5 overdue notices. For most loans the first notice is sent when the item is 3 days overdue, the second notice after another 4 days overdue, the third, fourth and fifth notices at 7 day intervals. The last notice to be sent is a bill. The billing notice is sent 14 days after the 5th notice. At this stage the patron is automatically charged the replacement fee for the item (see table below). Patrons will not be able to place holds or do renewals from the OPAC while the money is still owing.
Lost item charges
| Description |
Default Price |
| Non circulating (reference and restricted software) |
500 dhs |
| Non-staff/faculty general materials (includesaudio books, cassette, compact disc, CD ROM, book, graded readers kit, non fiction video, software, wall charts) |
200 dhs |
| Movie Loan (DVD and video) |
90 dhs |
| Faculty Collections Items with faculty collection location |
250 dhs |
| Staff/faculty general materials (includes audio books, cassette, compact disc, CD ROM, book, graded readers kit, non fiction video software wall charts) |
200 dhs |
| Magazines and journals |
100 dhs |
| All other items |
200 dhs |
Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
Non-LIWA:
Reciprocal agreement borrowing agreements exist between HCT and The Petroleum Institute and the American University of Sharjah. To learn more about this service, or to request items from these libraries, please see your local college librarian.
HCT Libraries can also place requests for items through the British Library. To learn more about this service, or to request an item, please see your local college librarian.
LIWA:
The LIWA Consortial Catalogue can be used to search for and request items from Zayed University and UAE University Libraries. (To find out more about using the LIWA catalogue, visit the LRS How Do I ... page or ask your local college librarian). Alumni, community borrowers, continuing education students, temporary staff cannot borrow through LIWA.
A patron can have 10 active LIWA requests at one time.
LIWA items can be borrowed for 14 days. One 14-day renewal is allowed. Patrons will be required to pay for replacement of lost or damaged items at their local library. The default fee is 200 dhs.
Most items in the central-catalogue can be borrowed. Exceptions include reference books, special collections, reserve material and faculty collections. Non-requestable items will have a status indicating local-use only.