Gerstein Lost and Found Procedures

This is a copy of the procedures sent out by Renata on January 22, 2013.

Gerstein Lost and Found Procedures

Date: January 21, 2013

1.0       Policy

This policy is to ensure unclaimed materials found in the University of Toronto Library (UTL) are handled securely and accountably according to University’s Facilities and Service’s Caretaking protocol on Lost and Found.

2.0              Purpose

2.1              To declare that UTL is not at all responsible nor liable for any lost materials in its

            libraries.

2.2              The sole responsibility for processing lost and found materials is with  Caretaking,

            Facilities and Services.

2.3           The Library and its staff will endeavor to assist library patrons in finding their lost

           materials by directing them accordingly.

To this end, the following procedure is established outlining the responsibilities of each party involved:

3.0       Procedures

3.1       Library Staff

3.1.1    When a patron attempts to hand in a found article in the library, the library staff

will immediately instruct the bearer to deposit the article in the lost and found box by the Loan Services Desk.

3.1.2    Articles will be removed from the box on Fridays only. Articles in each case will only be available for pick-up at the Lost & Found Office after 2:00 pm on the day of pick-up, or later.

3.1.3    Library staff will direct claimants of lost item(s) to call the University’s

Caretaking, Lost and Found Office at 416-978-6252 or

direct them to 256 McCaul St. - 3rd Floor - ring the "Lost & Found" buzzer.

McCaul St runs south from College St. East of King's College Rd.

3.1.4    If a patron claims a lost wallet, passport, or any governmental issued photoID, i.e. driver’s license, health card, citizen’s card, instruct the patron to call Campus

Police at 416-978-2323.

Exception:      All TCards found and returned to the library are handled internally.

Library staff must take these cards and follow their library protocol for ensuring they are immediately returned to the TCard Office.

3.1.5    Oversized articles will be placed adjacent to or atop the Lost and Found box.

3.1.6    Articles that are abruptly left at any service desk must be immediately placed in or

            on the Lost and Found box.

3.1.7    Library staff must avoid handling or taking possession of any found articles.

3.2       Caretaking

3.2.1    Caretaking Services are responsible for the collection and disposal of Lost &

Found articles from all buildings on the St. George Campus.

3.2.3    The Caretaking’s Lost and Found website provides the following instructions on

how a claimant may find their belongings;

a)         Clothing, books, binders, umbrellas:

- check by the Lost and Found box (applies only to Robarts and Gerstein

  Libraries)

- check at the caretaker's office in the building where the article was lost      

- if the article is not there, check with the main Caretaking Service Office.

b)         Cell phones, wallets, computers, bicycles, jewelry:

- check with the main Caretaking Service Office or Campus Police.

3.3.      Campus Police

3.3.1    At their discretion, Campus Police may attempt to retrieve lost articles from the

Lost and Found box for a claimant should the lost article be a government issued

photoID.

3.3.2    Campus Police may contact a Caretaking supervisor to assist with finding and retrieving the lost article from the Lost and Found box in the library.

3.4       Library Patrol

3.4.1    As with Library staff, a Library Patrol will direct claimants of lost item(s) to call

the University’s Caretaking, Lost and Found Office at 416-978-6252 or

direct them to 256 McCaul St. - 3rd Floor - ring the "Lost & Found" buzzer.

McCaul St runs south from College St. East of King's College Rd.

3.4.2   If a patron claims a lost wallet, passport, or any governmental issued photoID, i.e., driver’s license, health card, citizenship card, instruct the patron to call Campus Police at 416-978-2323.

3.4.3    Given the opportunity, a Library Patrol will extend this service to a claimant by making the appropriate phone calls to either Caretaking or Campus Police.

University of Toronto Library Conduct Regulations

From:  http://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/conduct-regulations

Preamble

Along with other Division Heads, the Chief Librarian has the authority to ensure that the Division operates in the best possible environment for study and research. This requires that certain regulations be observed in the University of Toronto Library.

In order to meet the needs of the University community of users overall the Library should provide:

·         library materials, i.e. books, journals, newspapers, documents in print and other formats, that are complete, undamaged and properly filed

·         access to library materials within the applicability of appropriate loan policies

·         services that are both cost-effective and cost-efficient

·         an environment free of disruptive activity

·         designated areas where quiet study, group study and conversation can take place

·         book stacks, other areas where library materials are housed and study areas free from food and resulting problems

·         buildings designed to enhance study and research activities and that are free from damage or defacement due to vandalism

Prohibited Activities

In order to ensure that the best possible environment for study and research is provided for all users, each user of the Library is required to follow the University of Toronto Library Conduct Regulations which prohibit:

1.     Removal or attempted removal of library materials or property from a library building or controlled area without authorization.

2.     Mutilation of library materials or files by marking, underlining, removing pages or portions of pages, removing binding or staples, removing security devices, tampering electronically, or in any other way damaging or defacing library materials.

3.     Deliberately concealing or misfiling library materials in the Library for the exclusive use of an individual or group.

4.     Refusal to abide by the Library regulations regarding the return of materials and payment of fines and/or penalties. These would include penalties on lost or damaged items, "blocks" (preventing the patron from using "circulation" services, until penalties are paid, or books returned).

5.     Improper use or interfering with the intended use of computers.

6.     Posting notices, distributing circulars or petitions, soliciting, or engaging in any commercial activity on library property without prior approval of the Library.

7.     Photographing, filming or video recording on library property without prior written approval of the Library and of individuals being filmed, recorded or photographed.

8.     Any disturbance or behaviour which interferes with normal use of the Library. Such inappropriate behaviour includes activities that are distracting or disruptive to others. Examples of inappropriate behaviour include rowdiness, noise, prolonged conversation, abusive behaviour, loitering, rollerblading, obstruction of facilities or access.

9.     Bringing animals into a Library building except those which are needed to assist persons with disabilities.

10.  Harassment or assault of Library staff or users.

11.  Consumption of food, except in the cafeterias and/or designated lounge areas.

12.  Smoking in Library buildings and in close proximity to library entrance ways.

13.  Entering or being in a restricted area of the Library, remaining in the Library after closing or when requested to leave during an emergency exercise.

14.  Damage or defacement of Library buildings or equipment, inside or outside.

15.  Refusal to abide by Library Conduct Regulations pertaining to matters of health, safety and security. This would include restriction on stack access as appropriate in individual libraries.

Procedures

The Library will make every effort to ensure that its users are fully apprised of the the Library Conduct Regulations. A Library publication will be made available to all Library users stating the regulations, the sanctions that may be applied if a breach is committed and a statement that the Chief Librarian shall have the power to revoke Library privileges.

Breaches of the Library Conduct Regulations

The Library and the University will actively pursue disciplinary action, prosecution or other legal action for breaches of the Library Conduct Regulations as defined in the Section Prohibited Activities 1-15.

The library community consists of different user groups (students, members of the teaching, administrative and library staff, alumni, registered external members and members of the general public), whose conduct is covered in varying degrees by different University codes and policies. It is understood also that it is not possible to rely solely on these existing policies because they do not govern all the stated prohibited activities, and because the University's interests may be best served by an administrative procedure rather than a judicial one. For breaches relating to the Library Conduct Regulations, therefore, the following procedures will apply.

Disciplinary Procedures

A) Anyone who believes a breach under these regulations has been committed may initiate a complaint by bringing the matter to the attention of the Chief Librarian of the university, or designate.

B) Wherever possible and appropriate, reason and moral suasion shall be used to resolve issues of individual behaviour before resort is made to formal disciplinary procedures. Library staff will assist in monitoring the clauses of these regulations and as appropriate, issue warnings to library users who may have committed offences as defined in these regulations.

C) At present some of the prohibited activities in the regulations may be considered offences as defined in the University's Code of Student Conduct , the University's Policy & Procedures: Sexual Harassment, the University's Smoking Policy , the Occupational Health and Safety Act or in the Criminal Code of Canada (clauses relating to assault, theft, etc.). As such, appropriate hearing procedures and sanctions outlined in those codes may be applied.

Upon investigation of a complaint which is deemed to be a breach of the Library Conduct Regulations as defined, a person designated by the Chief Librarian may conclude that action is warranted. At this point the person designated by the Chief Librarian will decide on the appropriate disciplinary procedures to follow.

Generally, the Chief Librarian will deal with breaches of the regulations using the authority given by virtue of the office. In cases of persistent breach of the regulations or vexatious conduct, the Chief Librarian will generally consider whether the conduct constitutes behaviour prohibited under University disciplinary policies as listed in section 2(c) above, or, for employees, under administrative procedures. If another policy or procedure applies s/he may refer the complaint to the appropriate person or persons responsible for carrying out the hearing procedures and sanctions of that particular policy, code, or administrative procedure.

In cases where an alleged offence has been committed by a student, a hearing may be conducted by the student's college or faculty, and sanctions imposed under the Code of Student Conduct may apply after a hearing, as required under the Code, has been held. In cases where a serious offence such as theft or damage has been committed by a member or non-member of the University, the University may seek action under a civil suit and/or prosecution (under the Criminal Code of Canada).

Sanctions

The person designated by the Chief Librarian to consider the case may impose the following sanctions or combinations thereof upon library users found to be in breach of these regulations.

A) Formal written reprimand. In the case of a student or staff member, a copy of the written reprimand may be sent to the library user's principal, dean or supervisor.

B) Denial of access to the University Library and its services for a period of up to one year. This denial of access will be confirmed in a written notice to the library user found to be in breach of this Regulation. In the case of a student or staff member, a copy of the written notice may be sent to the library user's principal, dean or supervisor.

In addition, library users who are in breach of this Regulation may be placed on conduct probation for a period not to exceed one year, with the provision that one or more of the sanctions, as appropriate, will be applied if the conduct probation is violated.

Appeal Procedures

A) A library user who has been notified of the denial of access to the University's Library and its services has up to 10 days (from the mailing of the notice) to appeal the decision.

B) The Chief Librarian, or a designate (other than the person who considered the case and imposed the sanction being appealed) will hear the appeal and will render a decision to uphold or dismiss the appeal, or possibly to vary the sanction imposed. The accused library user or users may be assisted in the appeal by another person who may be legal counsel.

June 2011

ILL Pickup - policy change

When patrons currently come in "after hours" to pick up books that ILL borrowing have obtained on their behalf, the staff member who is retrieving the book is asked to get the person to sign the request form and remove it. As of Monday the request form will no longer be in the book and no signature will be required. The book can simply be handed over to the patron.

Bonnie Horne
August 20, 2010

Renewal and fines changes

On Mon. May 11 at these libraries:

Math, Earth Sciences, Gerstein, Robarts, Engineering,OISE,Media
Commons,UTL Downsview, UTM,Law,Physics,Innis,Music,FIS,ROM,New,Laidlaw,UTSC

University of Toronto faculty, staff and students will be able to renew
books three(3) times, providing that the book has not been placed on
hold by another borrower. As well, all books are still subject to recall
after 2 weeks of the initial loan period when requested by another user.

On May 11, 2009 some libraries(Central system and others) will begin
charging overnight fines on Reserve Room material.(Fining even when
library is closed) Fines on Reserve Room material are 50 cents per hour.

Renata, May 11, 2009

Group Study Room Policy

Group Study Room policy is now as follows:

• Rooms are for the use of groups of 3 or more students. One or two individuals using a Group Study room should be prepared to move if requested to do so by groups of 3 or more students. Thank you for your cooperation.
• Covered beverages are permitted but eating is not.

These changes are now on a sign at the entrance to the new group study rooms on the second floor by the journal stacks. However, the policy applies to all our group study rooms.

Please direct groups of 2 to our 1 Below group study 'area' as an alternative. (below the reference room)