Borrow and Renew
All current DCU staff and students may borrow material from the Library. Borrowing
rights to the Library are also retained by staff on their retirement
from DCU.
Students automatically become registered members of the Library as part of
the University’s registration process. Within 24 hours of receipt
of your DCU ID card, you will be able to begin borrowing material in
the Library using your ID card.
To find out more about your borrowing entitlements and our borrowing services click
on the links below.
Borrow and Return
Renew, Recall and Reserve
Fines
Using ‘My Account’
Express Service Points
Borrow and Return
How do I borrow library material?
What if I do not have my ID card with me?
Can I give my ID card to someone else to borrow material?
How many items can I borrow and for how long?
How can I check to see when my loans are due for return?
Are there any borrowing restrictions?
When do I have to return my loans?
How can I return my loans?
How do I borrow library material?
Your university student ID card is required before you may borrow items from the library. Students are automatically registered with the library. Bring any items you wish to borrow, with your ID card, to the Express Service points on the Ground Floor.
What if I do not have my ID card with me?
You will be unable to borrow material from the library if you do not have your own valid ID card.
Can I give my ID card to someone else to borrow material?
No, it is a serious breach of security to give your ID card to someone else, cards are non-transferable. This applies both to accessing the Library and borrowing material.
How many items can I borrow and for how long?
| Borrower Type | Total number of loans | Loans may be a combination of |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduates | 8 items | Main Lending 3-week Main Lending 1-week Maximum of 2 for two days (DVD) Maximum of 2 Short Loan (48-hr/3-hr) Part-time
students may borrow 3-week loan books for |
| Taught Postgraduates | 10 items | Main Lending 3-week Main Lending 1-week Maximum of 2 for two days (DVD) Maximum of 2 Short Loan (48-hr/3-hr) Part-time postgraduates may borrow 3-week loan books for 4 weeks. |
| Research Postgraduates | 10 items | Main Lending 3-week issued for a semester Main Lending 1-week Maximum of 2 for two days (DVD) Maximum of 2 Short Loan (48-hr/3-hr) |
| Oscail students | 8 items | Main Lending 3-week issued for 4 weeks Main Lending 1-week Maximum of 2 for two days (DVD) Maximum of 2 Short Loan (48-hr/3-hr) Oscail students may borrow 3-week loan books for 4 weeks. |
| Staff | 20 items | Main Lending 3-week issued for a semester Main Lending 1-week Maximum of 2 for two days (DVD) Maximum of 2 Short Loan (48-hr/3-hr) |
| Graduate/External Members & Tutors | 8 items | Main Lending 3-week Main Lending 1-week Maximum of 2 for two-days (DVD) |
How can I check to see when my loans are due for return?
You will receive a courtesy notice of items due for return through your official DCU e-mail account. You should check this daily if you have a number of items on loan.
Alternatively, you can click on "My Account" from the top menu bar on the Library Catalogue. Enter your ID number and PIN. You will be brought to your account summary where you can view the items you currently have on loan and their due date. Items must be returned to the library or renewed on or before the due date and time. See My Account for more detail.
Are there any borrowing restrictions?
Yes, borrowing restrictions will be imposed:
- if there are charges exceeding €10.00 on your account or where a charge of any amount has been on the account for longer than one month
- if there is an outstanding mobile phone fine on your account
- if there are any overdue items on your account
- if an item on loan to you has been recalled by the Library and has not been returned by the revised recall date
When do I have to return my loans?
To avoid fine charges and borrowing restrictions all items must be returned to the
Library on or before closing time on the day the item is due back.
Short Loan 48-hr and 3hr loans must be returned by the date and time
printed on the Express Service receipt.
You are also required to return an item by a revised due date if it
has been recalled by the Library. See the information on
Recalls.
Items on loan are the responsibility of the borrower until they are removed from
your Library account.
Remember you will be unable to borrow/renew if you have an overdue item on your
account!
How can I return my loans?
- items may be returned at an Express Service point when the library is open
- when the Library is closed a book return bin is available on the Library's external wall, to the left of the revolving door before you enter the Library. Material returned in this way will be removed from your account when the Library is next open
- items may also be sent by recorded post to Issue Desk, DCU Library, Dublin 9
Renew, Recall and Reserve
How can I renew my loans?
Can I renew my loans if they are overdue?
Can I renew my loans if there are fines on my account?
How many times can I renew my loans?
When can I not renew my loans?
What is a reservation?
How do I place a reservation?
How will I know when the item has come in for me?
I have tried to reserve an item but the reservation has been refused?
What is a recall?
An item I have on loan has been recalled but I still need to use it?
How can I renew my loans?
You can renew your loans in a number of ways:
- By selecting "My Account" from the top menu bar on the Library Catalogue.
Click on the "Renew" box to the right of each loan you wish to extend or
click on "Renew All" at the top right of the list to do a bulk renewal.
- By bringing the loans and your ID card to one of the Express Service points on the Ground Floor
- By telephoning the Issue Desk at 01 700 5041
- By emailing your renewal request to issuedesk@dcu.ie
Can I renew my loans if they are overdue?
No, if your loans are overdue you will need to bring them to one of the Express Service points and discharge them from your account. When the fine is paid and provided there are no reservations on the items you will be able to borrow them again.
Can I renew my loans if there are fines on my account?
No, all fines and charges on your account must be cleared before you can renew.
Please Note: Fines over €5 may be
paid online. Click on the "Pay Fines" button on the Library
Catalogue.
Contact the Issue Desk staff if you require further details, either in person or by emailing
issuedesk@dcu.ie
How many times can I renew my loans?
You can renew each item up to a maximum of 3 times.
When can I not renew my loans?
You will be unable to renew your loans if:
- there are any overdue items on your account
- there are any outstanding fines on your account
- you have reached the limit of 3 renewals per item
- the item you wish to renew is on reserve for another borrower
What is a reservation?
If a book that you require is out on loan you may place a reservation on it. When the book is returned it will be held at the Issue Desk for you to collect and a mail will be sent to your DCU e-mail account to inform you.
How do I place a reservation?
Search for the book on the Library Catalogue. Click on "Check Availability". Ensure that all copies are currently on loan (does not include Short Loan copies). Click on the " Reserve" button on the record. You will be brought to another screen where you will be told "Request succeeded" if the reservation has been made or "Request failed" and the reason. If you no longer require a reservation you can cancel it from your account - click on the "My Account" tab to see your reservation list, then click on "Cancel".
Please Note:
Two-day Loans (DVDs) and Short loans (48-hr/3-hr) may not be reserved.
If you have any problems when trying to reserve items, contact the Issue Desk staff,
either in person or by emailing issuedesk@dcu.ie
How will I know when the item has come in for me?
You will receive an email on your official DCU email account asking you to collect the item within 3 working days.
I have tried to reserve a book but the reservation has been refused?
It may be that all copies of the book are not on loan in which case there
should be one or more copies on the shelves. If the item is from the Short
Loan or from the Two-day Loan (DVD) collections you will be unable to reserve it.
If you have reached the maximum of 2 active reservations per student account (max. of 5 reservations on a
research postgraduate account) you will be unable to reserve any further material until one of these is completed.
For further details, contact the Issue Desk staff, either in person or by emailing
issuedesk@dcu.ie
What is a recall?
If a book you have reserved is on long term loan (ie. longer than 4 weeks) you can request that it is recalled for you. Ensure you have placed a reservation on the item and then to have the recall considered contact the Issue Desk staff, either in person or by emailing issuedesk@dcu.ie
A book I have on loan has been recalled but I still need to use it?
All loans issued from the library are subject to recall therefore you are required to return the item. When the recall is placed by Library staff, the due date of the loan is changed to a new date, 7 working days from the date the recall is placed. You will be notified about the recall and the new due date by an email to your official DCU mail address. If the item is not returned by this new due date, it will become overdue, fines will accrue and you will be restricted from borrowing/renewing any further material until the recall is returned. When the recall is returned, you may place a reservation on the item to ensure you can have access to the item again.
Fines
If loans are not returned or renewed on or before the due date, they become overdue and fines are payable.
Short Loan 48hr and 3hr items must be returned on or before the due date and time printed on the receipt (these items may not be renewed). If a recalled item is not returned by the revised due date it will become overdue and fines will be payable. See Recalls for further details.
Borrowing restrictions will be imposed if there are charges exceeding €10:00 on your account or where a charge of any amount has been on the account for longer than one month.
| Fine rates | |
|---|---|
| Main Lending 3 week | 50c per day |
| Main Lending 1 week | 50c per day |
| Main Lending 2 day (DVDs) | €2 per day |
| Short Loan (48, 3 hour) | 50c per hour or part thereof |
Please Note: Fines over €5 may be paid online. Click on the "Pay Fines" button on the Library Catalogue.
Using ‘My Account’
‘My Account’ is a facility on the Library Catalogue which allows you to view your Library account.
Using this service you can:
- view your loans and check their due dates (please note that the due date on the Express Service receipt and the due date on the system will vary if a recall has been placed on the loan - the system due date is the correct date).
- Renew your loans where this is allowed. See Renewals for further details
- check what reservations you have currently requested with the option to cancel these
- view any outstanding charges on your account
- pay any fines over €5 online
You can access ‘My Account’ from your student portal page or directly from the Library Catalogue. To access it via the Library Catalogue you will need your Library PIN. Your PIN is available from staff at the Library’s Issue Desk or by emailing the Desk at: issuedesk@dcu.ie
Express Service Points
The Library introduced our Express Service in September 2009 to help speed up the process of
borrowing and returning books and DVDs.
There are three Express Service points located on the ground floor directly outside the Short Loan area,
and one Express Service Point located inside the Short Loan area.
As well as borrowing and returning material using the Express Service machines you can also renew
items and check your library account.
Take a look at our handy hints guide to using the Express Service.
