Library Books

lou91

Had a mild freakout today when I realised how much college books cost. Read the other thread about not buying books, but just want to clarify - is every book thats available for lending have copies that can't be taken out? I thought the ones with the yellow stickers could be borrowed and the ones with no stickers had to stay. There seemed to be a few of both for the main texts. Then - 5 FU*KING MINUTES AFTER MY LECTURE - I went back and they were all gone.
Can all copies of the books be taken out?
(the online library catalogue just confused me even more btw)

mathew

Only certain copies can be taken out..
Conter reserve copies can only be used in the library and you can only be taken out of the counter reserve for 4 hours (IIRC)

When you take out a book you get it for a week. You can renew the loan online if noone else has reserved the book, so you can get it for longer than a week like that.

If all the books that can be taken out are gone, put in a request for one, youll get a copy in at most a week then (once loads of people havnt reserved a copy).

There are other Open Access copies of each book too usually.. They can be used in the library.. and you just take them off the shelf yourself. You use that for as long as you like in the library.. but do return it to the racks if youve finished.. dont just leave it on the desk beside you!

edit: This should help: http://www.tcd.ie/Library/using-library/borrowing.php#UndergraduateLendingCollection

Corruptedmorals

The side of the book needs to have an LEN (lending) prefix for it to be taken out. Or alternatively the inside front pages should have a reader record thing with stamps. Yellow stickers mean they're 1-week only books. Non stickers (but with LEN) are 1 month. Both types can be renewed online countless times (until someone puts a hold on it).

lou91

Alright, thanks.
But on this page here;
http://library.catalogue.tcd.ie/search~S1?/tintroduction+to+brain+and+behaviour/tintroduction+to+brain+and+behaviour/-3%2C0%2C0%2CB/frameset&FF=tintroduction+to+brain+and+behavior&1%2C%2C2/indexsort=-
it says that two of the non-LEN ones have been taken out.
Actually, the dates aren't the same, does that mean they'll be ordered then or something?

shay_562

RandomUserName! wrote: »

Alright, thanks.
But on this page here;
http://library.catalogue.tcd.ie/search~S1?/tintroduction+to+brain+and+behaviour/tintroduction+to+brain+and+behaviour/-3%2C0%2C0%2CB/frameset&FF=tintroduction+to+brain+and+behavior&1%2C%2C2/indexsort=-
it says that two of the non-LEN ones have been taken out.
Actually, the dates aren't the same, does that mean they'll be ordered then or something?

Some students with disabilities can take out books that don't have an LEN prefix. That could be it.

Meeja Ireland

shay_562 wrote: »

Some students with disabilities can take out books that don't have an LEN prefix. That could be it.

Postgrads and lecturers can take them out too. Postgrads are encouraged not to take out the LEN books, as this reduces the undergraduate lending pool, so they will generally go for the non-LEN option if it's there.

Thirdfox

Not sure if non-law students experience this too but here is what some b*stards do in the law library:

Take out a LEN book
Hide one LEN book
Renew own book indefinitely...

By hiding a book they make sure others can't reserve the book online as the catalogue shows that one book is "available" (though it's been hidden somewhere in the library.)

Haven't encountered this in the US or Chinese law schools I've studied in. I worry about my fellow law students sometimes

Brian

Commendable resourcefulness.

Thirdfox

Baza210 wrote: »

Commendable resourcefulness.

If that's what you think then I look down on you as a person. An university is a institution of learning - not about tearing other people down.

I suppose you support tearing pages out of 50 year old law books so that other students cannot read them? Or tippex-ing or drawing over key sentences? That's rather "resourceful" too in preventing others from gaining access to knowledge. edit: (this happens in TCD law library too by the way, it's a very disappointing thing to see from people who will ultimately be advocating the law).

Unshelved

Not sure if non-law students experience this too but here is what some b*stards do in the law library:

Take out a LEN book
Hide one LEN book
Renew own book indefinitely...

By hiding a book they make sure others can't reserve the book online as the catalogue shows that one book is "available" (though it's been hidden somewhere in the library.)

Haven't encountered this in the US or Chinese law schools I've studied in. I worry about my fellow law students sometimes

Just to clear this up. You can't renew a book indefinitely - the longest any student can hang on to a book is eight weeks provided nobody else is looking for it. In the case above, report the hidden book to the Duty Librarian. We will change the status of the book to "Missing" and recall the only copy available from the borrower, and put it on Counter Reserve if needs be.

This ensures that everyone who needs to can get hold of it until the missing copy is either recovered or another copy bought.

The borrowing period from Counter Reserve is five hours, not four as stated above.

Don't suffer in silence - if you have a problem, then let us know! We'll do our best to help you out.

Thirdfox

Though I hear that you can renew past the 8 weeks by going in person to the library and renewing at the counter?

Unshelved

There are other Open Access copies of each book too usually.. They can be used in the library.. and you just take them off the shelf yourself. You use that for as long as you like in the library.. but do return it to the racks if youve finished.. dont just leave it on the desk beside you!

NO! PLEASE DO NOT RETURN BOOKS TO THE SHELF!!! If you put it back in the wrong place it's as good as lost. Leave it on one of the trolleys or at least, just leave it on your desk.

Though I hear that you can renew past the 8 weeks by going in person to the library and renewing at the counter?

Technically, it's returned and then lent back out again. But that can only be done providing no-one else wants it.

Brian

Thirdfox wrote: »

If that's what you think then I look down on you as a person. An university is a institution of learning - not about tearing other people down.

I suppose you support tearing pages out of 50 year old law books so that other students cannot read them? Or tippex-ing or drawing over key sentences? That's rather "resourceful" too in preventing others from gaining access to knowledge. edit: (this happens in TCD law library too by the way, it's a very disappointing thing to see from people who will ultimately be advocating the law).

Cool inference bro.

gnl

As far as law books in counter reserve go, how do you know which ones you can borrow (for five hours) and which ones you can't?

Is it to do with blue stickers? I borrowed Irish Legal System yesterday no probs, but after I gave it back and tried to take out some Irish Law Reports (it had a blue sticker on it) the guy said I'd have to read it in counter reserve. I don't understand the point of having it there if you can't borrow it.

I have to say though - the Law library "tour" we got post-reg was shockingly bad. The guy told us that instead of a tour we were adults, and so should give ourselves a tour. Regardless of age, if you've never been in a law library and don't know how its divided - that kind of "tour" is useless.

Thirdfox

gnl wrote: »

As far as law books in counter reserve go, how do you know which ones you can borrow (for five hours) and which ones you can't?

Is it to do with blue stickers? I borrowed Irish Legal System yesterday no probs, but after I gave it back and tried to take out some Irish Law Reports (it had a blue sticker on it) the guy said I'd have to read it in counter reserve. I don't understand the point of having it there if you can't borrow it.

I have to say though - the Law library "tour" we got post-reg was shockingly bad. The guy told us that instead of a tour we were adults, and so should give ourselves a tour. Regardless of age, if you've never been in a law library and don't know how its divided - that kind of "tour" is useless.

The law librarians are all quite helpful I've found so if you ever need some advice in how to find something just ask the two gentlemen or the lady. And the pit has been upgraded this year to have plug sockets finally

Official publications (turn left from the stairs) is where the serious people go to study come exam time.

And I'm not entirely sure about which books can be taken out of counter reserve - perhaps periodicals cannot be checked out? Many of the journals and cases can be found online through justis.ie/irlii.org - the electronic resources are very handy. And no book hiding problem there

Unshelved

As far as law books in counter reserve go, how do you know which ones you can borrow (for five hours) and which ones you can't?

Everything in Counter Reserve - or, as it is now termed, the Short Loan Collection - can be borrowed. You can borrow up to four items, for five hours and they must not be removed from the Library Building.

More details here -
http://www.tcd.ie/Library/using-library/borrowing.php#ShortLoanCollection

Jammyc

Just checking, but is anything you get from stacks not able to be checked out at all?

Unshelved

Stacks and Santry items can be borrowed by postgraduates and staff only (unless they're old, rare or journals/periodicals).

Jonathan

Is the new library system really worth it?

Yesterday's email was a pretty big oversight.

lilmizzme

I agree, placing items on hold online is a major feature of the library and with so many books in high demand and short supply, I would say its a necessity...hopefully they get it back up and running soon.

devinejay

OP The library is your friend even if it isn't perfect. Sure you mightn't always be able to get what you want or take books home, but the vast majority of the time you'll be fine, and as you mentioned college books are really expensive so if you are unhappy it's rarely worth going out and buying books instead, especially when you can always just rant on boards:D

Wish someone had convinced me of this last year, I have a fairly redundant copy of University Physics looking at me here that cost €60!

Gloom

Will most likely be transferring next year so I don't want to buy books this year.

My plan of action is to get started A.S.A.P and gradually study/work. As opposed to cramming come exam time.

lou91

Gloom wrote: »

Will most likely be transferring next year so I don't want to buy books this year.

My plan of action is to get started A.S.A.P and gradually study/work. As opposed to cramming come exam time.

Can't you transfer before next Friday for free?

Yeah, ordered a stacks book, didn't realise it wasn't LEN. The non-renewing thing is a bit crap, but I'll just aim to be in the library at 9 to get the ones on the shelves.

Another question - when you take a book off the shelves to read, can you keep it for the whole day? The stacks one I ordered is only available for 4 hours.
The master plan is to just do the semester reading of each course in 2 or 3 days.