Borrowing of Library Materials

Loan Quota and Period

Users may borrow books and media resources up to a maximum quota and for the loan period according to the category they belong to as stated in the Library Regulations. Serials and Reference books are not for loan.

Loans

All materials must be properly checked out at the Circulation Counter or with the Library's different EasyService (self-service) applications at different locations. EasyService stations are available at the Circulation Counter and inside the Semi-closed Collection Room and the Media Resources Collection Room. For borrowing purposes, users must present their own CityU ID cards or CityU Library tickets as appropriate.

Renewals

Items of circulation nature, including books borrowed via HKALL but excluding short loan and media items, may be renewed online via the Library Catalogue.

A renewal will NOT be accepted if:

  • An item is requested by another user.
  • An item has been renewed two times.
  • It is too soon to renew an item (please wait until it is within seven days prior to the due date before attempting to renew the item).
  • The loan rule specifies that an item (e.g. a media resource or a short loan item) cannot be renewed at all.
  • A borrower has long overdue books or over $72 unpaid library fines.
  • A borrower whose borrowing privilege has been suspended or terminated.

To renew Library materials:

  1. Access the Library Catalogue, and then click on Your Circulation Record / Renewal.
  2. Enter your name, CityU ID number and Library PIN, and then click on the “Submit” button. (If you have forgotten your Library PIN, please reset your PIN online. If you continue to have difficulties, please contact the Circulation Counter in person for help.).
  3. Click on the hyperlink " n Items currently checked out ".
  4. Mark specific items to be renewed and then click on the "RENEW SELECTED ITEMS" button.
  5. Note the new due dates and any accrued overdue fines for the renewed items.

Please note the following:

  • The new due dates are calculated from the date you renew the items.
  • Items may not be renewed successfully.
  • Accrued overdue fines, which will be calculated from the due date if items are renewed after the 3-day grace period, can be settled when you visit the Library next time.
  • Renewal is treated as a continuation of loan and thus will be subject to recall at any time.

Reservation of Library Materials

Excluding all short loan items, CityU circulation books with the following STATUS can be requested by the users:

  • Items that have been CHECKED OUT (Status: DUE dd-mm-yy or DUE dd-mm-yy + n HOLD).
  • Items that have been CHECKED OUT with a recall notice sent to the borrower (Status: DUE dd-mm-yy + n RECALLED).
  • Items held for another user (Status: ON HOLDSHELF or ON HOLDSHELF + n HOLD).
  • Items that have been requested by users of other local university libraries (Status: HKALL PAGED + n HOLD).
  • Items that have been borrowed by users of other local university libraries (Status: DUE dd-mm-yy OFF CAMPUS or DUE dd-mm-yy OFF CAMPUS + n HOLD).

Users may also request items at Shatin Storage via the Library Catalogue.

To request Library materials:

  1. Search the Library Catalogue for the item.
  2. Once in the particular record, click on the "Request" button.
  3. Enter your name, CityU ID number and Library PIN, and then click on the "SUBMIT" button. (If you have forgotten your Library PIN, please reset your PIN online. If you continue to have difficulties, please contact the Circulation Counter in person for help.)
  4. Select your desired copy as appropriate and then click on the "REQUEST SELECTED ITEM" button.
  5. View your Circulation Record later to confirm that the request is successful.
  6. You will receive a pickup note by email when the item is ready for collection at the Circulation Counter.

Please note the following:

  • The original loan period for the requested item may be shortened.
  • You CANNOT request an item that is currently borrowed by you.
  • If you no longer need an item, please go to your Circulation Record, click on the "requests (holds)" hyperlink, put a tick to the box next to the item that you no longer need and then click on the "CANCEL SELECTED ITEMS" button.

How many items, including materials in CityU Main Library & Shatin Storage & HKALL books, can a user request?

  • CityU student & staff: 6 items
  • Others: 2 items

Return

Except for those items that have been checked out from the Semi-closed Collection and Media Resources Collection Rooms, all other circulating books should be returned on or before the due date to the Circulation Counter. Book drops are located near the Information Counter, the Library exit and at the student hostels for users to return circulation books. Students are encouraged to use the bookdrops to return books. Books with accompanying materials and books borrowed from other UGC libraries, however, should not be put in the bookdrops. For materials inside the Semi-closed Collection and the Media Resources Collection, users should return them via the respective automatic return units of the Collections.

Late Return

Late return of books is liable to a fine as stipulated in the Library Regulations.

Email Notices

In line with the University's emphasis on and practice of electronic communication, all pre-overdue, overdue, recall and reservation notices from the Library are sent to CityU members' registered email addresses in the University's central database. Under normal circumstances, the email accounts should be in one of the following formats:

For students, your CityU email account is in this format:
<your_electronic_id>@student.cityu.edu.hk
e.g. taimanlee@student.cityu.edu.hk (if your electronic id is taimanlee)
e.g. 50123456@student.cityu.edu.hk (if your electronic id is 50123456)

For staff members, your CityU email account is in this format:
<your_electronic_id>@cityu.edu.hk
e.g. lbpeter@cityu.edu.hk (if your electronic id is lbpeter)

For alumni, if you have not provided your personal email address in AIMS, your default CityU alumni free email account is in this format:
<your_electronic_id>@alumni.cityu.edu.hk
e.g. 50987654@alumni.cityu.edu.hk (if your electronic id is 50987654)
e.g. laiyuchan@alumni.cityu.edu.hk (if your electronic id is laiyuchan)

For users who still prefer using non-CityU email accounts to receive library notices, please use the Set up Email Forwarding function of CityU E-mail Services to re-direct messages from the Library to the preferred email account. Please visit the following URL for details:
http://email.cityu.edu.hk.