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Rules of Use of the Warsaw University Library Collection
abridged version


CHAPTER I : General rules


1. The use of the library collections and basic services is free of charge. The users are, however, obliged to pay (according to the List of Library Fees ) for:

2. Carrying any objects owned by Warsaw University Library outside the library area without the official permission is prohibited and will be prosecuted.

3. While remaining in the rooms of Warsaw University Library the users are required to behave in a proper manner and comply with the library regulations, inner regulations of the individual divisions of the Library, instructions issued by the Library Director and the instructions and advice of the library staff. The detailed and updated information on the use of the collections is brought to the public knowledge and ought to be known to the users.


CHAPTER II : User rights, duties and responsibilities


RIGHTS

1. Library collections and services are available to all users who present a valid Library Card issued by Warsaw University Library.

2. The Library Card can be issued to any person who:
- is at least 16 years old
- wishes to use the library resources for the educational, scientific or professional purposes
- accepts the conditions defined by the Library Regulations

3. Warsaw University Library issues cards of two types (in order to receive one, the user is requested to present a valid identification card with a photo):

Note: All personal data requested by Warsaw University Library from the users are protected in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act.

5. The card of type two can be issued:


DUTIES

1. The Library Card is valid for a specified period of time. Its validity may be prolonged.

2. All changes of the home address and the place of work as well as the loss of the card have to be immediately reported to the Loan Desk. The researcher will be made responsible for any damage resulting from the neglection of this request. The user may receive a duplicate of the card after notifying the Library in writing about the loss or damage to the card. The cost of the duplicate is specified in the List of Library Fees.

3. The user is required to present the card to the guards while entering and leaving the Library and to the Library staff if requested.

4. In the case of violation of the library regulations the user is temporarily deprived of her/his rights on the basis of the decision of Director of Warsaw University Library. Separate disciplinary procedures apply to the members of Warsaw University community.


RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COLLECTIONS

1. The user is fully responsible for any damage to the library item not specified at the moment of check-out and found at the moment of returning the item.

2. In the case of loss or damage to the library item the user is required to replace it with the copy identical with the lost or damaged item and pay for its binding if the lost or damaged item was bound. If the purchase of the item in question is not possible, the Head of Library Public Services decides on another way of meeting the library requirements by the user. In the case of finding the item considered to be lost the user does not become its owner and is required to return it to the Library.


CHAPTER III : Access to the collections


WITHIN THE LIBRARY AREA

1. Collections from the open stacks (situated in Open Access area) may be freely accessed by the user and used within the whole library public area. Only items marked with a blue spine label can be checked out. The users themselves may carry the selected items to the Loan Desk.

2. Items located in the closed stacks can be ordered online or by submitting a paper request slip. Items fetched from the closed storage area can be used only in the reading rooms or carrels. Unfulfilled request slips are kept in the holding area for three days since the date of submission. On demand the user can receive information why the item is unavailable.

3. The carrels are available for the researchers in the academic degree of a doctor or professor. Other researchers carrying the recommendation letter from their academic tutors may use the carrels on the permission of the Head of Library Public Services.

4. There is a time limit for using the library computers by individual users.

5. The users may use their own portable computers unless it disturbs others.


CHECK-OUT OF LIBRARY ITEMS:

1. Check-out recorded by the computer system is tantamount to the transaction following the submission of a signed request slip. In this case, book returns are recorded only by the computer system.

2. In the justified cases Warsaw University Library has the right to request the return of items borrowed by the user before the expiration of the lending period.

3. The Library has the right to decide on the shorter lending period for items in particularly heavy demand. In that case the lending periods specified below are not valid.

4. The borrowed items may be renewed unless the item in question is reserved by another user. In order to renew the item, the researcher has to present it to the Loan Desk before the expiration of the lending period.

5. Not respecting the specified lending period is followed by:


LENDING REGULATIONS:

1. Warsaw University Library lends the items to:

2. Warsaw University Library does not allow for the check-out of:

  1. items from the open stacks marked with red labels or red dots
  2. items from the separate library divisions and reading rooms
  3. special collections
  4. encyclopaedic, dictionary and bibliographic publications and other publications of a reference character
  5. periodical publications
  6. newspapers
  7. items published before 1950
  8. items in poor condition
  9. items that are rare, difficult to purchase, contain numerous tables, maps and illustrations and files with loose sheets of paper
  10. items marked as cimelia
  11. microforms

3. Restrictions mentioned above:

4. Restrictions mentioned under 2, 4, 7 and 9 may be suspended in the case of disabled persons if they present the appropriate document issued by Biuro ds. Osób Niepełnosprawnych (the Office for the Matters of the Disabled).


TEXTBOOK COLLECTION

Textbook Collection lends its items (handbooks, reading list items) to the students of Warsaw University, regardless of the type of studies.


CHAPTER IV: Photocopy service


The users may use the self-service copiers located within Open Access area. Instructions for their use, prices of magnetic cards and library card charging (for the activation of the copiers) and prices of a single copy can be found near the copiers. The library staff may forbid the researcher to make copies of specified library items (19th century collections, items in poor condition, etc.)


CHAPTER V: Final regulations


Regulations of Warsaw University Library may be changed only in exceptional cases on the special permission of the Director of Warsaw University Library. The permission is issued in reply to a written request.