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Library Resources' Access and Borrowing Conditions Policy

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Section 1 - Purpose

(1) The purpose of this Policy is to outline:

  1. how QUT provides digital or physical library resources and collections;
  2. conditions for accessing or borrowing QUT library digital or physical resources.
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Section 2 - Application

(2) This Policy applies to any member of the University community granted permission to access or borrow QUT's library resources including:

  1. enrolled students staff;
  2. whether full-time, part-time, ongoing, fixed-term, casual or sessional;
  3. individuals associated with QUT including:
    1. individuals who have been granted access to QUT property, services or infrastructure (for example, temporary staff engaged by QUT through an employment agency);
    2. members of QUT Council or other University committees whether they hold office by election, nomination or appointment;
    3. visiting and adjunct academics, or other academic or research collaborators;
    4. QUT Alumni (physical, and limited digital, resources only);
    5. registered community borrowers (physical resources only).

(3) The use of library resources by specific user groups is outlined on the QUT Library website.

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Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities

Position Responsibility
Users and borrowers of library resources Uses and borrows resources in accordance with the conditions of use outlined below in Section 4.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) Designates the Library Borrowing Conditions.
University Librarian
Provides library information resources to the University community.
Promotes awareness of borrowing and access conditions to borrowers and users.

Ensures library collection adequately supports learning and teaching and research.

Imposes penalties on borrowers for failure to comply with this Policy.

Appoints the library review officer and compliance officers.
Makes recommendation on imposition of academic sanctions on borrowers who continue to fail to comply with this Policy.

Manages licence infractions with the licencing vendor of the digital resource.
Library review officer Makes a final decision on appeals against the imposition of a penalty in accordance with Section 6 below, previously made by a Compliance Officer.
Compliance Officer Waives penalties where borrowers provide reasonable explanation of exceptional circumstances.

Removes library sanctions once all conditions of the Library Borrowing Conditions have been met.
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Section 4 - Conditions of Use

(4) Users of the physical and digital library resources must comply with the following conditions of use:

  1. Library Borrowing Conditions – Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) designates Library Borrowing Conditions. A borrower must comply with these conditions. By borrowing library physical resources, a borrower is taken to have accepted and agreed to comply with the Library Borrowing Conditions.
  2. Copyright Law.
  3. Databases and search tools conditions of use – noting that commercial use and systematic or excessive downloading, copying or distributing of information are prohibited.
  4. Terms and conditions specified in individual product licence agreements.
  5. Acceptable use of information and communication technology resources.
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Section 5 - Failure to Comply

(5) The University Librarian may impose or recommend the imposition of a penalty on a borrower who fails to comply in accordance with the Library Borrowing Conditions.

(6) Failure to comply with the databases and search tools conditions of use or product licence agreements is managed in accordance with Acceptable Use of Information and Communications Technology Resources Policy, and individual product licences. Each vendor determines penalties for an individual’s failure to comply with access requirements specified in the relevant licence.

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Section 6 - Appeals against Imposition of Penalties

(7) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) will specify procedures for appealing against the imposition of penalties in the Library Borrowing Conditions. A Compliance Officer will consider the waiving of penalties where borrowers provide reasonable explanation of exceptional circumstances. The Library Review Officer will make a final decision relating to an appeal against a decision made by a Compliance Officer. All appeals should be submitted and finalised within the calendar year.

(8) Each vendor will assess appeals by individual users following contravention of their product licence.

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Section 7 - Definitions

Term Definition
Users and Borrowers Mean any person granted permission to use or borrow QUT’s library resources.
Library Borrowing Conditions
Means any conditions designated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) which govern the borrowing of QUT's library resources, including:
  1. the procedures for borrowing items;
  2. the period of time for which items may be borrowed;
  3. the procedures for renewal of loans;
  4. any restrictions on borrowing certain items;
  5. the procedures for recall of an item which is required by another student;
  6. the procedures for dealing with non-return or damage of items;
  7. penalties to be imposed for failure to comply with library conditions;
  8. the procedures for the imposition of the penalties listed in the Library Borrowing Conditions;
  9. the procedures for the appeal against the imposition of the penalties listed in the Library Borrowing Conditions.
Library Resources Means any library resource (physical or digital) service provided by the University to assist or support learning and teaching, research, administrative and business activities.
Library Review Officer Means a member of the University staff appointed in writing by the University Librarian to make final decisions relating to an appeal against a decision made by a Compliance Officer to impose a penalty under this Policy in accordance with Section 6 above.
Compliance Officer Means a member of the University staff appointed in writing by the University Librarian to consider the waiving of penalties where borrowers provide reasonable explanation of exceptional circumstances.
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Section 8 - Delegations

(9) Refer to Register of Authorities and Delegations (VC035, VC040, VC041, C066) (QUT staff access only).