Using the library

boredonboards

My friend is a postgrad in Oxford, having done her degree in UCC. She needs to use the Trinity lib this week for some research. Is it possible for her to get in on her student ID or should I lend her mine?

Time Magazine

From http://www.tcd.ie/Library/libraries/admissions.php

Staff and postgraduates from other universities

Apply in person to the Admissions Counter with a letter of introduction from the Head of Department or Research Supervisor together with a home university ID card during Monday - Friday 09:30 - 16:45 or Saturday 09:30 - 12:45. A short-term readers' ticket will normally be issued immediately.

Unshelved

Do not even consider lending her your ID card - it could land you in a lot of hot water (a fine of up to €50 and exclusion from the Library). It's perfectly straightforward to organise a Reader's Ticket - tell her to ring the Admissions Desk 896 1657 for more details.

Time Magazine

But let's be honest here Unshelved, who's going to know? The swipe access at the Berkeley (although a nuisance) requires no photo identification and I don't think anyone would look twice at an Oxford postgrad - I know I've never been asked to produce ID in the library once in there.

I'm not advocating it but I wouldn't lose sleep over it either.

Unshelved

It's utterly foolish to do so when it's perfectly straightforward to get a Readers' Ticket. Just don't say you weren't warned.

Degsy

Ibid wrote:

I'm not advocating it but I wouldn't lose sleep over it either.

You would if you were caught.ANY member of library staff can ask to see ID from a user and wandering around a strange library looking like you dont know what you're doing might be a good way to attract attention to yourself.

Crash

Really? I've spent many a time wandering around the library looking like I don't know what i'm doing....

shay_562

crash_000 wrote:

Really? I've spent many a time wandering around the library looking like I don't know what i'm doing...

As have, you know, most of the students in the college. Hell, even if you only count BESS, that's a few hundred people wandering around the Lecky who don't have a clue how the place works. (and I include myself in that. I didn't know what the Counter Reserve was for until mid-way through SF year when awayindahils showed me)

Unshelved wrote:

Do not even consider lending her your ID card - it could land you in a lot of hot water (a fine of up to €50 and exclusion from the Library).

True, but couldn't you just claim ignorance and say you don't know how she got your card? People lose them all the time. And you guys can hardly fine her since she's not a student here. I appreciate that it's wrong, but I'm curious as to how such punishments are practically enforceable.

Time Magazine

Degsy wrote:

ANY member of library staff can ask to see ID from a user

Does that include shelvers?

wandering around a strange library looking like you dont know what you're doing might be a good way to attract attention to yourself.

But she's a postgrad, once she finds her relevant section (adequately provided by the big navy boards) I'm sure she could figure out the Dewey system as the catalogue is available online.

Degsy

Ibid wrote:

Does that include shelvers?

Nah,they're still students...smart arse:p

Unshelved

True, but couldn't you just claim ignorance and say you don't know how she got your card? People lose them all the time. And you guys can hardly fine her since she's not a student here. I appreciate that it's wrong, but I'm curious as to how such punishments are practically enforceable.

If a book is borrowed on your card, then you're responsible for the book, and any fines that may arise if it's returned late or gets lost. If your card is stolen, then you should report it as such so that a new one can be issued with a different ID number (the last two digits are changed). If it hasn't been reported stolen then you have to cough up.

King.Penguin

I know a couple of foreign students doing research projects over the summer here. They've all been given staff id cards. As a result, they're not allowed to withdraw the s-len books from the library? If I go in and explain to the library what the story is will they make an exception?

Can they withdraw books from open access instead?

King.Penguin

I think so...

Nietzschean

some books are only in S-Len...thankfully whatever rule is against staff doesn't seem to apply to postgrads

Unshelved

I know a couple of foreign students doing research projects over the summer here. They've all been given staff id cards. As a result, they're not allowed to withdraw the s-len books from the library? If I go in and explain to the library what the story is will they make an exception?

They may - it's worth a try. Are you their programme co-ordinator over here? The problem is with whoever issued them with Staff cards in the first place - these blocks can be difficult to over-ride in the Library. The Sub-Librarian in charge of the Hamilton Library is Arlene Healy - you can find her phone number and email address on the Library website. Get their co-ordinator to get in touch with her directly and explain the problem.

Unshelved

Unshelved wrote:

The Sub-Librarian in charge of the Hamilton Library is Arlene Healy

The added bonus in this is that Arlene is great.

Stargal

Myth wrote:

The added bonus in this is that Arlene is great.

Myth, you dawg...

Boston

Your woman that runs the ham library is a truely decent human being, I must buy her flowers at some stage.