Using the Library

• Borrowing Regulations
• Return and 24x7 Automated Book Return Station
• Library Notice
• Recall
• Request for Searching Items Not on Shelves
• Request Services for Remote Store Materials
• Self-check Service

Borrowing Regulations

The Library is open to students and staff of the University. Users may borrow library materials up to a maximum quota and for the loan period according to the category they belong to as stated in the Library Regulations.

Return and 24x7 Automated Book Return Station

Library materials borrowed from the Library must be returned to the Library on or before the due date. Late return of a library item is an inconvenience to other users and is subject to a fine as specified in the Library Regulations.

Closed stack items and Interlibrary Loan items, which must be borrowed at the Service Counter have to be returned to the Service Counter on P/F of the Library. HKALL books have to be returned to the Service Counter on P/F of the Library as well.

PolyU books and audio-visual materials can also be returned to self-check stations on P/F in Library or the 24x7 automated book return station which is located outside the campus turnstiles on the Podium Level near public footbridge connecting to Exit A of Hung Hom MTR Station.

Library Notice

All library notices, such as date due reminders, overdues, fines, recalls, and requested item pick-up notices, are emailed to users, i.e. Staff Email for PolyU and CPCE staff, PolyU Connect for PolyU students, College Webmail for CPCE students, and user's own email account for non-PolyU account holders.

Recall

All loans are subject to recall any time with the exception of Reserve books and other short-loan items. Once being recalled, the item has to be returned in 28 days or by the original due date, whichever comes earlier. Recall notices with revised due date will be emailed to users and recalled items must be returned on or before the specified due date. Late return will be treated as an overdue and is liable to a fine.

Request for Searching Items Not on Shelves

If an "Available" book, serial item, Reserve item or Audio Visual item is not found on shelves, user can report the case to the Service Counter.  Our staff will try to locate the item.  User will be informed of the result by phone or email.

Request Service for Remote Store Materials

The Request Service allows eligible users to request the Library's low-usage books, journal articles and audio-visual materials from the Library Remote Store. It is the Library's target to deliver the items to the requestors within three working days.

Eligibility

All users are eligible for this service, except Reader Card holders who are not granted borrowing rights.

Requesting and Borrowing Books and Audio-Visual Materials

• All borrowing privileges regarding loan quotas, loan period, pick-up period, recalls and renewals are the same as those for books in Book Collection and items in Audio-visual Collection. For details, please refer to Loan Privileges for Library Users.
• Requestors will be notified to pick up the requested book or audio-visual materials via email within a certain period of time as indicated in the Pick-up Notice.
• Users should pick up the requested items at the location specified in the pick-up notice.
• Users can return the books and audio-visual materials to the Service Counter. Books can also be returned to the designated self-check stations on P/F in Library, or via the 24x7 automated book return station.

Requesting Journal Articles

• Users can fill in an online form to request for particular journal articles from the Remote Store.
• A PDF file of the article will be emailed to the requestor's official PolyU email account (or registered email account for Graduate Card holders or JULAC Card holders).
• In the case where the requested journal articles are available in e-journal version, the users will be provided the relevant hyperlink for accessing the articles.

Requesting Printed Serials

• For those requesting entire printed bound journals or serials from the Remote Store, they will be notified to pick up the items via email within a certain period of time as indicated in the Notice. 
• Users should pick up the requested items at the Service Counter as soon as possible after receiving the pick-up notice.
• Loan period of printed serials/journals:
  • Academic staff and postgraduate students – 2 days
  • Other users – for in-house use only; item return on the same day
• Users are required to return the items by hand to the Service Counter.

Requesting Standards

• Users can fill in an online form to request for particular Standards from the Remote Store.
• Users will be notified to pick up the items via email within a certain period of time as indicated in the Notice. 
• Loan period is 6-hour in-house use or less than 6 hours before Library close.
• Users are required to return the items by hand to the Service Counter.

Request Procedures

 Books, Printed Serials and Audio-visual materials

In OneSearch Platform

• Once you find the desired item, click SIGN IN on the top right hand corner of the screen.
• Sign in to your library account with your NetID and NetPassword.
• Click on “Request” in the book record and select the desired copy.
• Requestors will be notified by email when the requested item is ready for pick-up. Please check your email account regularly.

Journal Articles

In OneSearch Platform

• Once you find the desired item, click on Details tag and click “Fill form to request” appeared on right side of the window.
• Fill in the form with necessary information and submit.
• Requestors will be notified by email when the requested item is ready for pick-up. Please check your email account regularly.
• In case you wish to request the entire printed bound journal, please indicate so in the Remarks field.

For any enquiries on borrowing services, please contact the Service Counter at 2766-6864.

Self-check Service

Library users can check out and return library materials by themselves using self-check stations in the Library, or return Library materials by themselves via the 24x7 Automated Book Return Station outside the Library. Eligible users can collect the requested HKALL books from the Self-pickup Station in the Reserve & Audio Visual Collections area on P/F of the Library.