Lending
Services: go to top
|
| To borrow material from the UTPA Library, present your barcoded ID
card. A barcode may be obtained at the Circulation Desk. Your ID card
must be presented each time you borrow or renew books. There are NO
exceptions to this requirement. You are responsible for all items
charged to your record. Notify the Circulation Desk (956-381-2005) if
your card is lost or stolen. |
| Library loan periods for all borrowers are subject to change as
affected by library hours and ending of semester. Please verify your
checkout receipt for actual due dates and/or view your
account on-line. |
| In order to check books out, you must have no overdue books or
fines. If you have an overdue book or unpaid fine, the Library places a
hold on student's transcript. All fines must be paid
for in full before the hold is removed. |
| Upon presentation of written authorization and personal
identification, borrowers will be allowed to use someone else's
barcoded ID card. |
| Borrowers are responsible for notifying the Library of a change of
email, address and/or phone number. |
| The Circulation department will not hold Library books for patrons
overnight. Books need to be checked out at the time of the request. The
Circulation department will hold books for a maximum of two hours when
a patron forgets to bring his/her personal barcoded ID card. No other
department in the Library is authorized to hold circulating books for
patrons. Any exception has to be approved by the Circulation supervisor
or Library Director. |
| Circulation Policy
by Borrower Category: go to top |
|
|
| Students: All
enrolled students who present their personal barcoded ID card and have
no overdue books or outstanding fines may check out an unlimited number
of books for a period of two weeks. Books may be renewed as long as
there is not a "hold" on them by another patron. |
| Faculty/Staff: Faculty/staff who present their
personal barcoded ID card and have no overdue books or outstanding
fines may check out an unlimited number of books for a period of four
months. After two weeks, these books are subject to recall by the
Circulation staff upon request from another patron. Faculty/staff must
clear with the Library before leaving the University. |
| Teaching Assistant
(Part-Time Faculty): Part-time faculty who present their personal
barcoded part-time ID card, and have no overdue books or outstanding
fines, may borrow an unlimited number of books for up to one month.
After two weeks, these books are subject to recall by the Circulation
staff upon request from another patron. Books may be renewed as long as
the patron has no overdue books or outstanding fines. All books must be
returned at the end of their employment contract. |
| Retired Faculty:
Retired faculty members with a "Retired" ID card will be allowed to
check out an unlimited number of books for a period of four months.
Books may be renewed as long as the patron has no overdue books.
Retired faculty must obtain an ID clearance form through Personnel.
This form is then taken to the University Center where a "Retired" ID
card will be issued. |
| Graduate and Honor
Students: Graduate students who present their personal barcoded ID
card with no overdue book(s) or outstanding fines may check out an
unlimited number of books for a period of one month. After two weeks,
these books are subject to recall by the Circulation staff upon request
from another patron. |
| Public Patrons:
Members of the general public may obtain a UTPA Public Patron card by paying a minimum
$25.00 annual fee. The Public Patron card must be presented upon a
request to borrow books. Public Patrons may borrow up to five books for
a period of two weeks. Books may be renewed as long as the patron has
no overdue books or outstanding fines. |
Alumni: Patrons who
present their Gold or Lifetime Alumni membership card
will be issued a courtesy ID card. They may borrow an unlimited number
of books for a period of two weeks. Books may be renewed as long as the
patron has no overdue books or outstanding fines.
Alumni who purchase Gold or Lifetime Memberships are allowed to log on
to computers in the Library. These accounts holders must stop by the
2nd floor Reference Desk at the University Library for a username and
password. These usernames and passwords can only be used for computers
in the Library and do not allow for users to gain access to library
databases from off campus. |
| TexShare Patrons
(faculty and students): Upon presentation of their TexShare card,
patrons may borrow up to five books for a period of two weeks and may
renew books as long as they have no overdue books or outstanding
fines. |
| Special: These
students are enrolled in special programs which are affiliated with the
University. These programs do not include cooperative curriculum
offerings for which students are actually enrolled in another
university; such students need to obtain a TexShare card from the
enrolling university. Special program students may borrow up to five
books for a period of two weeks. Books may be renewed as long as the
patron has no overdue books or outstanding fines. |
Lost Cards: go to top
|
| If your Library card or ID becomes lost or missing, it is your
responsibility to contact the Library immediately. You are responsible
for all material checked out on your card. |
| You cannot have more than one barcoded Library or ID card. Books
will be checked out with your most recent ID. |
| Fines: go to top |
| Materials are due on the date indicated on the date due receipt.
Fines on overdue material are $.25 per day per book. |
| The Library is not responsible for notifying borrowers of overdue
materials. |
| A "hold" will be placed on borrower's record if they have overdue
material and/or outstanding fines. A "hold" will prevent a student from
obtaining transcripts. |
| Faculty and staff do not pay overdue fines. The library sends
notices to faculty and staff before materials are due. If materials are
not returned, the library will send up to three overdue notices. If
materials are not returned after the third notice, they are considered
"lost" and the faculty or staff member will be billed for the lost
item. |
Fines for Media equipment
Fines for Special
Collections |
| Overdue
Material: go to top |
| The library is not responsible for notifying borrowers that
materials are overdue, but the Library sends a notice as a COURTESY.
The library is NOT responsible for late or non-delivery of notices.
Please advise the Library of a change in your email, address, or
telephone number to avoid not receiving notifications about your
account. |
| Library patrons will be charged a lost book fee determined by
Library of Congress Call Number as per UT System Board of Regents.
Prices are determined by the Average North American Academic Book
prices as listed in the latest edition of the Bowker Annual.
Book prices will be updated biennually (every even year.) An Additional
$15.00 processing fee will be assessed to cover cataloging and
processing costs. |
| The book cost will be refunded by the Comptroller's Office (via
mail) on books returned within six months. The $15.00 processing fee is
not refundable. |
| The Library will place a hold on a student's
transcripts if the student has an overdue book or
overdue fees. The hold will be removed once the student has returned
the book and paid the fee. |
| Renewals: go to top |
| In order to renew material, you must have no overdue books or
fines. Materials that have been requested by others may not be
renewed. |
| In-Person Renewal: Present circulating
materials at the Circulation Desk. |
| On-line Renewals: Most materials if not
overdue may be renewed on-line through the Library Catalog. To renew
items select see my account and follow instructions. Make sure
that the system has successfully renewed the item and observe the new
due date. Some materials are not eligible for on-line renewal. |
| Phone Renewals: Library materials which are
not overdue may be renewed by telephone (956-381-2005). |
| Returning a
Book: go to top |
| Books should be returned to the Circulation Desk bookdrop located
at the right hand side of the counter, or the outside bookdrop located
on the north side entrance of the Library. Books may also be returned
to the Circulation Desk in person. Audio visual material must be
returned to third floor service desk. Upon request, Circulation
staff will print out a receipt for returned material. |
| Borrowers are responsible for Library material until it is checked
in at the Circulation Desk. Borrowers are also responsible for
responding promptly to Library notices. If you returned your Library
material but are still receiving overdue notices, contact the Library
immediately and ask the Library staff to search for the book. Library
staff will search for the book every day for six months or until it is
found; in the meantime, the material is still checked out in the
borrower's name, and the borrower remains responsible for the
book. |
| Missing Books:
go to top |
| Can't locate a book which has an "Available" status? |
| Go to the Circulation Desk and fill out a missing card. The
Circulation staff will conduct daily searches for a
period of six months. Once a book is located, you will be contacted and
will have two days in which to pick up the book. After the two days,
the book will be returned to the collection. |
| Holds: go to top |
| Need to request a book which has a "due date" status? |
| You may place a hold on the general stack items which are checked
out by stopping at the Circulation Desk located on the first floor or,
you may request the book on-line using our catalog.
If you request a book on-line please make sure your contact information
is correct by calling us at (956) 381-2005 or stopping by the
Circulation Desk when you are in the Library. |
| Books checked out past the two week check-out period are subject to
recall by the Circulation department. Once the book is returned, you
will be contacted and will have two days in which to come by and check
out the book. After the two days, the book will be sent back to the
stacks, or checked out to the next person who requested the book. |
| Privacy
Policy: go to top |
| Library staff will preserve the confidentiality of patron records.
This is in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-579).
No information will be given to a third party about the name of another
patron who has checked out material. |
| If books or media are checked out, patrons have the right to
request that a hold or a recall be placed upon the material, or in
special cases, library staff will contact the current borrower to see
if the item can be returned early. |
| The only possible exceptions to this policy will be in response to
a court order. Requests of this nature should go to the Library
Administration. |
| Obtaining a
TexShare Card: go to top |
 |
| Individuals requesting TexShare cards must be currently enrolled
and/or employed by the University. Cards are issued on a semester
basis. Cards can be obtained at the Circulation Desk on the First
Floor. Take your TexShare card and a photo ID to another TexShare
institution in order to receive borrowing privileges at that
institution. If you have overdue books checked out on your TexShare
card, the UTPA Library will place a hold on your academic record. |
| Patron from another
UT System Library requesting borrowing privileges: go to top |
| You must present a Texas Higher Education TexShare Library card
(above) and a photo ID. Upon presentation of required identification,
the Circulation department will issue you a barcoded UTPA Library card.
Presentation of this card will be required when checking out and/or
renewing books. There are no exceptions to this requirement. Cards are
issued on a semester basis. Cards may be renewed upon presentation of a
new TexShare card each semester. Possession of a TexShare card does not
entitle patrons to interlibrary loan privileges. |
| For further information regarding Library policy, or to obtain a
Public Card contact the Circulation Desk
(956-381-2005) located on the First Floor of The University
Library. |
