Circulation Service
The Circulation Desk, which is located at the entrance to the library, is responsible for lending library items and discharging them once they are returned, supplying books that were ordered from the shelf or from other readers, and regulating library services to readers.
University of Haifa students and academic/administrative staff are entitled to borrow up to 500 items. MA & PhD students and academic staff from other Israeli institutions of higher education may borrow 5 books at a time and are permitted access to databases. They are required to present a letter of guarantee from the central library at their institution to the Circulation Department. See also: Reserved books loans, Media item loans and Home Delivery of Books
When the Library is closed, books may be returned to the bin located at the fourth floor of Eshkol Tower, or deposited through the opening at the right of the Library's entrance.
Contacting the Circulation Desk
Additional information about Circulation Service
Borrowing procedure
Patrons may borrow books by presenting a suitable identification card such as a student/employee card, Israeli id, passport or driver's license. When an item is loaned the date of the loan (not the due date) is stamped in the slip in the item. In order to borrow a book, it must be brought to the relevant service desk and shown to the guard when leaving the library.
Overdue books and fines
Patrons who return library items late will be charged a fine for every overdue day, not including days when the library is closed. Fines differ in the various collections. Patrons who owe money or books to the library will not be able to borrow or renew items until the matter is settled. Unpaid library fines will prevent new loans, exam permits and eligibility for a certificate of graduation.
Patrons may submit a request to cancel or reduce a fine (in Heb).
Cancelling a request
Requested items that are no longer needed can be cancelled by contacting the Circulation Department by phone, or email, or at the service desk.
Contacting the Circulation Department: Telephone: 04-8249770/1 (Internal 3770/1) Fax: 04-8249146 (Internal 3146)
Shift manager: 04-8249691 (Internal 3691) Circulation Department email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Renewals
All library items are loaned according to the regulations of each collection, and patrons will be notified of the loan period at the time of each loan. Items from the general collection are loaned for 14 days; items from other collections are loaned for shorter periods.
Items are renewed automatically once a week in the following circumstances:
- Item was not requested by another patron
- Patron does not have overdue requested items
- Patron does not have unpaid fines or debt to ILL
- Patron's' library privileges are valid and are not being withheld due to lack of payment of tuition fees or other reasons Some items are not renewed automatically - this information will be noted in the slip at the time of the loan. We recommend independently renewing items on loan through "My Account - Loan & Requests"
Library notifications
In order to return requested items on time and to avoid fines, patrons should regularly check the link: My Account - Loans & Requests and email for messages from the library. Library messages also appear in the student Portal in each student's personal account. The library notification service is an additional service and does not remove the responsibility of the patron for tracking loaned and requested items in their library card and returning them on time!
Borrowing by proxy
Permanent staff members may give permission for another person to borrow items on their behalf. They should sign a consent form that can be obtained at the Circulation Desk and attach a passport photograph. Loan services are provided after the details have been entered into the library system.
Patrons who are not permanent staff members are entitled to give permission to borrow items on their behalf in special cases only. This permission is granted on a one-time basis and must be signed by the patron together with both identity cards.
Requesting items
Patrons may request items in the following incidences: (not including items that are non-circulating or in special collections)
- Item is on loan to another patron.
- Item is not on loan, but the patron couldn't find it the shelf.
- Item is being purchased.
- Item is in storage: journal request form for items in storage
Requested items will be brought to the relevant service desk for collection by the patron. They will appear in the patron's library card and a notification will be sent by email.
Items from the General and Law collections will be held for 5 working days.
Items from the Reserves, Law Reserves and Media collections will be held for 3 working days.
Items requested via Interlibrary Loans will be held for 14 days.
Who is entitled to borrow books?
University of Haifa students and academic/administrative staff are entitled to borrow up to 500 items.
MA & PhD students and academic staff from other Israeli institutions of higher education may borrow 5 books at a time and arepermitted access to databases. They are required to present a letter of guarantee from the central library at their institution to the Circulation Department in order to open a library card.
University of Haifa MA and PhD students whose theses are being refereed, or who are taking a break from their studies, may borrow up to 5 books, and are permitted access to databases. They are required to present a recommendation from the Graduate School and signed form to the Circulation desk in order to open a library card. They must also pay a fee.
Students, teachers and field instructors who were given library rights by special arrangement with their academic unit may borrow a number of books according to their status.
Every Israeli citizen over the age of 18 is entitled to purchase a subscription to the Library which allows them to borrow up to 5 books. This does not include access to databases. Books held in special collections, such as Reference, Periodicals or Media are loaned in accordance with the circulation regulations for each collection.
Borrowing privileges are granted on an individual basis and may not be transferred.
Home Delivery of Books
The "Home Delivery" service enables University of Haifa students and faculty to order books from the University library collection and to receive them at home by courier. More information
Withholding library services
Library services will be withheld temporarily in the following circumstances:
- Patron has an item that has been requested by another reader which must be returned.
- Patron has an unpaid library fine or an Interlibrary Loan debt.
Patron has not paid tuition fees.
Contacting the Circulation Department
Telephone: 04-8249770/1 (Internal 53770/1) Fax: 04-8249146 (Internal 53146)
Shift manager: 04-8249691 (Internal 3691) Circulation Department email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Guarantee letters for other academic libraries
Faculty members and MA/PhD/Post Doc students may request a letter of guarantee for any of the Israeli academic libraries that have mutual agreements with the University of Haifa. This letter allows patrons to receive library services in accordance with the other library's policies.
Library notifications via Student Portal
Library notifications about loaned and requested items are sent to each student's personal account in the student Portal (in Hebrew).
Please note: The Portal notification service is an additional service and does not remove the responsibility of the patron for returning items on time!
Tracking due dates
Patrons should check the status of their loans in their library card and return requested items on time to avoid accumulating fines.
We recommend frequently renewing items on loan in addition to the library's automatic renewal.
Lost Items
A loaned item is the full responsibility of the patron and it must be looked after and returned undamaged. It is strictly prohibited to mark library items in pen or pencil!
A patron who loses or damages an item should notify the Circulation Department as soon as possible in order to avoid accumulating fines and to pay the replacement costs.
Payment of fines
Fines can be paid in the following ways:
Fines can be paid in one of the following ways:
- Online by credit card on the library's website.
- Via the payment machine within the library (coins only).
- At the Post Office using a voucher - which can be sent to the patron by regular mail. A copy of the paid voucher must be given to the Circulation Desk staff, or sent by email/regular mail/fax.
