Llibres electrònics

pilot test

a service of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Virtual Library with the Office of Learning Technologies

Regulations of Device Lending Service

1. Service objectives
• To lend out devices for reading e-books to promote mobile use among all UOC-community members.
2. Users
• All active members of the UOC community may use this service.
  The term “members of the UOC community” refers to:
• official and UOC-specific course students
• teaching and research staff (UOC faculty, counsellors and tutors)
• management and administrative staff
• Alumni
3. Terms and Conditions
1. The devices can be selected from the catalogue, just like any other book, but they must be collected and returned to the Support Centre or UOC centre (in the case of management staff). Devices will not be sent to homes.
2. To request the service, users must present their UOC identification card (or enrolment document) and must read, complete and sign the lending form which will be provided at the Support Centre lending desk or UOC centre (in the case of management staff) before the device is lent out. This form will contain the terms and conditions of the service and any fines or disciplinary actions in case of breach.
3. Devices for reading e-books are to be used solely and exclusively for academic purposes.
4. Any users who have taken out devices and have failed to return them within the established deadline will be forbidden to use the service until they have returned them and have paid all fines.
5. In any case, the Library reserves the right to refuse to serve any user at any time for any justified reason, at the Library’s discretion in each case.
6. The user is responsible for the device during the entire lending period. As a result, users may not lend the device to third parties or leave it unattended at any time.
4. Time limit
• The time limit for lending out the device is 15 days for all users. If there is no waiting list, the device may be lent out 1 more time to the user. In any case, devices must be returned to the Support Centre or UOC centre (in the case of management staff) from which it has been taken out on loan.
5. Terms and Conditions for lending
1. The e-book reading devices will be loaned out in perfect working order. Each device has a stylus, a battery charger, a cable for connecting the device-battery charger, a flash memory card and a USB connection (all contained in a box).
2. A leaflet with instructions and recommendations for use will be provided with each e-book reading device.
3. If, at any time during the period that the device is out on loan, the user discovers that the system is not working properly, they must send a notification email to library replies. If the malfunction is discovered once the device has been returned and the user has not said anything, the authorities will consider that the device has been misused and apply the corresponding disciplinary action.    
4. The user is responsible for saving any notes they make on the device once the lending period has expired. The information is automatically deleted each time the device is returned to the Support Centre. Notes can be kept on an external memory device provided by the user themselves.
6. Fines and disciplinary actions
• Minor offences
  • Returning the device late (outside the allocated period of time).
  • Returning the device after changing the system configuration.
• Serious offences
• Damaging the device through misuse.
• Very serious offences
• Failing to return the device.
• Disciplinary actions
• Disciplinary actions for minor offences: suspension of the right to use the Library lending service and access to electronic resources for a minimum of 2 days for each day overdue. If the user has committed the offence more than once, the second time the suspension will be extended to one month and the third time the disciplinary action for serious offences will be applied.
• Disciplinary actions for serious offences: suspension of the right to use the Library lending service and access to electronic resources for the entire academic year.
• Disciplinary actions for very serious offences: replacement with an electronic device with the same characteristics or payment of the value of the unreturned device (€500 (A5 size) – €1,000 (A4 size))  as determined for the current academic year, within a maximum of 30 days.
7. Disciplinary actions will be imposed by the Library management