Library Rules and Regulations

Library Privileges

Library privileges shall be personal and individual. They shall not be transferred to or used on behalf of other persons. Library privileges shall be classified as follows:

• Borrowing privileges are extended to all duly registered students, administrators, faculty, and non-teaching staff members of the University.
• Reading privileges are extended to University casual or contractual staff, visiting scholars, lecturers, researchers, and graduates of the University upon application to the ULS Director. However, materials on reserve are for the exclusive use of the students and faculty of the University.
• Use of facilities like the University Educational Technology Center, its information resources, and equipment can be authorized by the ULS Director. Scheduling of the use of such facilities must be done 3 days before the actual use.
• Constituents of the University can also use other libraries but they must seek first a referral letter from the ULS Director.

Loss of Library Privileges. Non-compliance with the library rules and regulations shall result in the curtailment or suspension of the library privileges of the offender.

• The ULS Director or unit librarians can expel from the library building anyone who disturbs or annoys others or who is damaging books or any other property of the library.
• The ULS Director or unit librarians shall send a written warning to a borrower who fails to return a material after two recall notices have been sent.
• If the written warning is ignored, the ULS Director or unit librarians may suspend temporarily the borrowing privileges of the offender until the material is returned and the accrued fines are paid.
• If the offenders refuse to pay for the outstanding charges, such as fines, replacement costs of damaged books or repair of damaged properties, the ULS Director or Unit Librarians can withhold their borrowing privileges until their accounts are cleared or subject to pertinent institutional rules.
• Repeated offenses may lead to total loss of library privileges, including the use of any of the branch libraries. These may also lead to disciplinary action as provided under the University rules for student/staff/faculty conduct.

Library User's Discipline

Courtesy and respect shall be observed at all times. Any user must comply with all rules and regulations in the use of the library.

• Bringing any bag or attaché case into the library shall be prohibited.

• Smoking, excessive noise, unseemingly behavior, disturbance or any other conduct interfering with the proper use of the library shall be forbidden.

• Cell phones must be set on silent mode.

• Eating shall not be allowed in the public service areas

Use of Information Resources

Circulation Books

Circulation or stack books refer to those which can be borrowed for longer period than overnight. Rules and regulations pertaining the use of circulation or stack books shall be as follows:

• Students may borrow up to five circulation books at a time for 3-7 days depending on the demand of the books, while faculty or staff members may borrow 10 circulation books at a time for 14 days.

• Borrowing shall be done during service hours.

• Library users shall not be allowed to borrow if they have still overdue books or unpaid library accounts.

• A library user who fails to return a borrowed book from the stacks shall be fined Php20.00 for the first day lapsed and Php10.00 for each succeeding day.

• A lost book must be reported immediately to the ULS Director or Unit Librarian. Borrowers shall be required to replace a lost book and to settle this within 30 days from report of loss. In case an actual replacement is not available, library books lost by users shall be replaced by related books as determined by the ULS Director.

• To renew, the borrower must present the borrowed book first before requesting for renewal.

• A loan may be renewed twice if nobody needs it.

• Borrowers who fail to return or renew books after two recall notices have been sent to them shall pay the charges to the University Cashier, and shall be given disciplinary actions for non-compliance of rules.

• The ULS Director can recall any borrowed books before the due date. A recalled books must be returned within 3 days from the date of recall notice from the library, otherwise the material shall be considered overdue after this date.

Subject Reserve Books

Reserve books refer to books placed on reserve to give a fair chance of use by each student enrolled in the subject. Rules and regulations pertaining the use of subject reserve book shall be as follows:

• Reserve books shall be used in the library only. However, they can be borrowed overnight and during weekends.


• A library user may borrow up to three books at a time depending on the demand of the books.


• Overnight borrowing hours shall be from 2:00-4:30 P.M.


• Overnight loans must be returned on or before 9:00 A.M. of the following service day.


• A library user who fails to return a book on the due date shall be fined Php10.00 for the first hour lapsed and Php5.00 for each succeeding hour.

Special Materials

Special materials include reference books, serials, theses/dissertations, information files, visual materials such as maps, globes, posters, pictures, transparencies, video/radio cassette tapes, VCDs/DVDs, CDROMs/DVD-ROMs and other audiovisual and electronic media materials as well as museum art materials, and specimens. Rules and regulations pertaining the use of special materials shall be as follows:

• Because of their nature, special materials shall be preferably for “library use” only.

• Audiovisual and electronic media materials as well as needed equipment may be borrowed for classroom and training purposes.

• Reference books, serials, and information/vertical files may be borrowed for photocopying purposes.

Internet

Internet use within the library shall be for academic and research purposes only. Rules and regulations pertaining the use of the Internet shall be as follows:

• Internet user must ask permission from the library staff before using external storage devices.


• Only relevant information related to academic and research work shall be downloaded.


• Computer games and access to pornographic or offensive materials shall not be allowed.


• An Internet fee of Php10.00 per hour shall be collected from each user.

Photocopying

To facilitate information gathering by users, photocopying service shall be provided in the library.  Rules and regulations pertaining the use of information resources for photocopying shall be as follows:

• Borrower’s must ask permission from the librarian at the desk and materials to be photocopied  must be charged properly.

• Theses and dissertations shall not be allowed to be photocopied.

• The costs of photocopying shall be as follows: medium paper –Php1.25 and long paper –   Php1.50.

Non-MMSU Library Users

The following rules and regulations shall be observed by non-MMSU library users:

• Non-MMSU library users shall be required to present valid Identification Cards and referral letters from the librarians of the agencies/institutions they are connected with to the security guard and library staff at the service desk.
• Non-MMSU library users shall pay for a fee of Php50.00 per visit/day.

Library Clearance

To ensure that library users have no accountabilities before they shall go on vacation, leave, or separate from the University, they must secure a library clearance. Rules and regulations pertaining library clearance shall be as follows:

• A library clearance shall be required from each student at the end of every semester/term and from each faculty on teacher’s leave at the end of every academic year.

• A library clearance shall also be required from each transferring/graduating student and resigning/retiring faculty and staff member.

• Students securing library clearances shall be required to present their Library ID Cards to the concerned librarian.

• The Library ID Cards of students separating from the University shall be punched before returning these to them to avoid misuse of such IDs.

• No clearance shall be issued to any student/faculty/staff member who has still unsettled accountability.