Borrowing Regulations

Loan period and renewal modalities

The loan period is fixed for 28 calendar days.

After expiry of the loan period of 28 days*, the loan period will be automatically extended by a further 28 days as long as no hold requests have been placed on this particular document. If a hold request has been placed, the document will be recalled by e-mail after the end of each 28-day period.

The maximum loan period is 168 days (= 6 times 28 days).
After expiration of this loan period the document has to be returned to the library; a further extension is no longer possible. Documents have to be returned to the Library and can then be loaned again.

A maximum of 100 documents can be borrowed.

^{* refers to calendar days.}

Recalls

When a hold request has been placed on a document, a recall will be initiated on the 1st day after expiration of the loan period or the renewed loan period of 28 days.

Borrowers commit themselves to return recalled documents within the period of 6 opening days. This also applies to all periods of absence. Illness may only be accepted as an excuse for late returns with a doctor’s certificate.

Documents can also be returned by post. The return date is the day on which the borrowed document arrives at the Library. Users are liable for late postal delivery, damage or loss.

Reminder / Overdue Notices

As soon as the loan period is exceeded, the following reminders and overdue notices are sent:

Reminders or overdue notices by e-mail or letter which were not received will not be accepted as justification for late returns. The due date can be checked in the borrower's user account at any time. Name and address changes including e-mail address and telephone number updates must be made independently in the personal SWITCH edu-ID.

Circulation Restrictions

Gadgets such as charging cables, calculators, adapters etc. are daily loans; they must be returned on the same day. No renewal is possible.

E-mails and reminder fees for late returns: on the 1st and 2nd day of delay (CHF 5.00 each), on the 3rd day of delay (+ CHF 10.00) including blocking of the library account and additional registered letter with notification of replacement at the user's expense. 

Reference collections cannot be borrowed. Exceptions may be granted in urgent cases.

According to the Library's User Regulations, some specific services may be limited for persons residing outside of Switzerland.