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Library Policies

>> General Rules and Regulations:

• The Institute Library is exclusively for the bonafide students, staff, and faculty members of IISER Berhampur. The external members are also allowed to use the facilities with prior written permission from the authorities. 
• All the users and outsiders entering the library shall keep their bags and other belongings at the entrance.
• Do not leave any valuables at the checkpoint. Library is not responsible for any loss of personal belongings.
• Identity Card issued by the Institute is compulsory for getting access to the library.
• Books removed from the shelves by users, should be kept on the book trolley or on table nearest to them after use. Please do not try to shelve them by yourself.
• The newspaper(s) should be folded properly after reading and kept back at the designated place.
• The Lost / mutilated / spoiled book should be brought to the notice of library staff immediately. It will be dealt with accordingly as per the policy of “Loss or mutilation of documents and policy for compensating”
• Students are advised not to issue books to others on their names. Proxy is strictly prohibited.
• In case, students stay in the campus during the summer vacation and want to make use of the Library, she/he has to get permission from the Librarian on the recommendation of their respective faculty member.
• Before registering for new semester, all the dues of the library must be clear including overdue books else borrowing facilities shall withhold.
• Conversation and discussion disturb the library ambience. Therefore, all are requested to maintain dignified silence as we do not have discussion room at present.
• All users are requested to keep their mobiles switched off or in silent mode in the library.
• Library reserves the right to call back any issued book/ item at any time.
• Smoking, eatables and beverages are not allowed inside of the library.

>> Borrowing Policy:

Library Membership:

The faculty members, staff & students of the Institute are required to enroll as members of the Library (upon joining the Institute) by filling out the membership form available at the library circulation desk (along with a passport size photograph). This entitles the use of resources & services offered for the purpose of academic and research work. Institute Identity Card is a must, for issue & return of reading materials.

Borrowing Privileges:

Only registered members can borrow General and Text books, except book marks for “CR” (Course Reserve) and “R” (Reference) for stipulated periods as mentioned below.

** This is defined as a temporary issue for one day only by submitting the Identity card.

Borrowing privileges may change from time to time.

• Books can be renewed for another two terms if there is no demand for them, after which it must be returned to the library.
• The renewal must be done on or before the due date.
• Borrowers are required to return books on or before the due date; failure to do so will result in the obligation to pay the prescribed overdue charges.
• If someone reserves a book that's already been borrowed, the borrower must return the same as soon as possible.
• Library will usually send due reminders to members for the borrowed items, but non-receipt of reminders is no reason for returning books late.

       Restricted Issues: 

• All reference materials such as encyclopedias, handbooks, directories, dissertations/theses, and special collections are accessible for consultation within the library premises and are not allowed to be borrowed.
• Journal-bound volumes, loose issues of journals and the latest available issues of magazines are to be referred to within the library premises and are not available for issuing.

For any type of query regarding Book Issue, Return, Renew, Overdue Fines, Book Hold, Membership, please contact at "circulation.lib@iiserbpr.ac.in".

Circulation Rules:

• Books can be borrowed only upon producing the identity card issued by the Institute.
• Library borrowed books are not transferable and hence should not be lent to others.
• Users are liable for the damage and loss of books, if any.
• If the damaged book belongs to a set, then the user is responsible for the entire set.
• Users should check the physical condition of a book while borrowing the same.
• Immediately after the issue of a book, the user is required to take out the same from the library.
• While going out of the library, users should ensure that they do not carry book(s) that are duly not issued on their name(s), failing which disciplinary action will be taken against them.
• Every user is requested to check the status of book(s) outstanding against his/her name soon after a transaction is over at the counter. Discrepancy, if any, should be brought to the notice of the reception person immediately. Any complaint thereafter is not likely to be entertained.
• When there is demand for a borrowed book, the same must be returned to the Library.
• Users are responsible for complying with copyright act while photocopying any library document.
• All outstanding dues in form of overdue charges or lost book must be cleared within the current academic year falling which membership will be treated as delinquency.

Overdue Fines:

• Books must be returned on or before the due date, failing which the borrower will have to pay the prescribed overdue charges.
• An overdue charge of Rs. 5.00/- per day per book has to be paid.
• Faculty and staff will also be levied library overdue fines.
• Absence and illness are not acceptable excuses for exemption from paying overdue charges. Only Institute holidays are left out of the reckoning. In case the due date falls on a holiday, the book may be returned on the next working day, beyond which overdue charges will be levied.

Loss or Mutilation of Documents:

Library materials are to be handled with utmost care. The user shall remain responsible for maintaining the book clean and fresh during the borrowing period. Marking on pages with pen and pencil is not allowed. The borrower shall be responsible for any loss/damages/disfigures caused to the IISER Central Library material borrowed. If a borrowed book is lost or mutilated beyond usable condition, then the user should inform (in writing) the librarian. For compensation, the library shall follow the following in the same order of preference after finding out the details about the loss of the book:

 The price of the lost document, once paid, will not be refunded at any cost.

• The lost book may be replaced with the same or the latest edition of that book along with an INR 100/- penalty or pay two times the price of such document besides overdue charges.

• Three times the cost of the book shall be payable to the library if the book is out of print.

• If the document forms a part of a series, the borrower will be charged for the replacement of the entire set.

• If the book is reported (in writing) as lost/misplaced, the overdue charge will not be levied in such a case for a maximum period of two months from the date of the report until the same is replaced.

• Nature of book lost: when the library book is lost due to natural calamities such as flood/fire/earthquake/conflicts, etc. in the locality, the borrower shall report to the Librarian along with the proof of the incidents in the form of image. Authority shall take appropriate decision on this matter.

Care of Documents:

When the book (s) is returned to the library, the user should make sure that his/her responsibility is duly discharged and the document is canceled from his/her name. Before leaving the Issue Counter, users should satisfy themselves as to whether the item loaned to them is in good condition. If not, they should immediately bring the matter to the knowledge of the library staff at the Issue Counter. Otherwise, he/she will be held liable for the damages noticed at the time of return. The library documents are very costly. They are for the benefit of both the present and the future users. Therefore, writing and marking, and tracing in the documents is misconduct, and it would be dealt with accordingly as per “Loss or mutilation of documents and policy for compensating”.

Theft or Misuse of Library Resources:

The theft or misuse of library resources like books, journals, reports, and dissertations will be viewed very seriously. Each case will be examined to ascertain its genuineness, and the matter will be reported to the Librarian/Library Committee for further action. Late return of resources, acts of indiscipline within the library, attempts to navigate library resources out of the library without being issued, etc., will also attract fine and disciplinary action or as decided by the Librarian/ILC/Authority from time to time.

>> E-Resource Usage Policy:

• Electronic resources such as e-journals, e-databases, e-books made available by the Library are for academic use.
• Users can search for and browse these resources, and they have the option to download and print individual articles, similar to the process used for printed library materials. However, the downloading or printing of an entire book is subject to the publisher's policy.
• The use of robots, spiders, or intelligent agents to access, search, and/or systematically download from these resources is strictly prohibited. Any breach of this policy will lead to penal action in accordance with the institute's rules and regulations.
• Off-campus/Remote access to the Library's electronic resources is also available for authorized users as defined in the license agreements and permitted by the respective publisher. Such access requires the users to log-in using the library assigned login ID and password. This log-in validates that the off-campus user is a part of the licensed user group of the IISER Berhampur community. Since the usage is being monitored, users should not share their user ID and password of Remote Access with others to avoid usage policy violations.
• The usage terms and conditions for these resources are outlined in the electronic resource license agreements with respective publishers. Individual users are accountable for ensuring that their utilization of electronic resources complies with the terms and conditions specified in the license agreements. While license specifics may differ among publishers, the overarching principles remain as follows:

Note: Violations of the license agreement with publishers may lead to the suspension of access to the resources.