Services > Circulation

Who may use the library

The LAU Libraries exist primarily to meet the needs of the students, faculty and staff of the Lebanese American University. We also regularly serve alumni and special guests of the university. Other visitors are welcome to use the Libraries’ on-site facilities and resources for research and educational purposes, generally for a limited period of time and depending on individual needs. Follow this LINK for more details.

Loan period

Books, CDs, DVDs, and videos can be checked out of the library according to a set of rules and regulations. Laptops and iPads may be borrowed by students only, to be used inside the library premises for up to three (3) hours, renewable twice. Calculators may be borrowed by students only and for up to four (4) hours.

Renewals, returns and reservations

Books and audiovisual materials may be renewed numerous times unless they are reserved by another user. Equipment such as laptops and iPads may be renewed twice only. Renewals may be done either online by signing in to your account at the Library Online Catalog, by emailing the Circulation unit, by calling the Circulation desk @ Ext. 1213, Ext. 2280, or Ext. 2977, or through WhatsApp.

Eligible borrowers may reserve books and audiovisual materials that are already on-loan. Reservation may be done either through the Library Online Catalog or in person at the Circulation desk.

When a reserved book or audiovisual item is returned to the library, the requester will receive an email informing him/her of its availability.

Charges for overdue, lost and damaged library items

Overdue fines are $0.25/day/item for circulated books, laptops/iPads and audiovisual materials. Users who have overdue materials or outstanding fines will lose all borrowing privileges until cleared. In case a borrowed item is lost, the user will be charged the replacement price.

Library users are responsible for returning books/audiovisuals in the same condition as borrowed.  Any damaged item returned to the Library will entail fines to the borrower’s record. Types of damage for which users will be charged for include — but are not limited to — water damage, pen/pencil marks, highlighting, torn/ripped pages or covers, sticky notes and animal damage. For severely damaged items, the responsible user will be liable to either buy a replacement copy or pay its full price.

If users wish to check out an item which might be already damaged, they should notify the circulation desk staff in order to avoid any responsibility upon return.

All overdue payments are automatically transferred to the student’s record and must be settled in the Business Office.

Alumni library access

• LAU alumni  are granted on-campus access to the LAU Libraries collection and services once issued their alumni ID card.
• LAU alumni wishing to borrow library materials may do so once issued their alumni ID in addition to paying $50 refundable deposit.

Privileges

• Borrowing up to 2 items for a period of 4 weeks.
• On-campus access to the collection.
• On-campus and off-campus access to the services.
• Access to the library PCs and scanners.

Responsibility

• Treat all library materials with care and respect.
• Respect the LAU Libraries regulations and guidelines.
• Pay attention to the loan period and due date of all borrowed materials.
• Borrowed books may be renewed up to 3 times unless reserved by another library user.
• Report lost item that you have borrowed. A replacement fee will be charged for each lost item.
• Do not take any material out of the library before it has been properly checked out to your library account.
• The LAU Libraries take no responsibility for the loss of personal belongings while on campus.

Guidelines

Follow the below links for detailed information pertaining to the LAU Libraries guidelines:

• Rules and Regulations https://libraries.lau.edu.lb/rules/rules-and-regulations.php
• Computer and Internet Use Guidelines https://libraries.lau.edu.lb/rules/computer.php 

Important Notifications

• You are kindly requested to provide a copy of your personal identification along with your valid alumni ID card, by emailing us at circulation@lau.edu.lb, one week prior to your first visit.
• Kindly pass by the Circulation desk upon arrival and provide identification.
• Library privileges may be revoked at the sole discretion of the LAU Libraries in case of violation of the library rules and regulations, disruptive behavior or any activity deemed detrimental to the library or any of its primary users.

For assistance, please contact:

• E-mail: circulation@lau.edu.lb
• Riyad Nassar Library, Ext: 1213
• Joseph G. Jabbra Library, Ext: 2280
• Health Sciences Library, Ext: 2977

Discipline

• NO Food or Drink is allowed in any of the library areas.
• Smoking or vaping is not permitted in the library
• There are severe penalties for the theft or mutilation of library property. For your own protection, do not leave your checked-out library items unattended while in the library.
• Using your belongings to reserve a space is not permitted. Any personal items including books and laptops that are left unattended will be collected by the library staff and moved to the front desk.
• Do not leave your be​longings unattended at any time. The Library is not responsible for any lost or stolen items..
• Library privileges may be revoked at the sole discretion of the LAU Libraries in case of violation of the LAU Libraries rules and regulations, disruptive behavior, or any activity deemed detrimental to the library or any of its primary users.

Group Study Rooms (GSRs)

Several group study rooms are available in each campus library and may be booked online. Below are some important guidelines: 

• GSRs are intended for collaborative study and group projects comprised of 2 or more users.
• GSRs can be booked for a maximum of 2 hours at any one time, renewable upon availability.
• If no booking is in place or if the room is unattended for over 15 minutes, GSRs will be made available to users on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Keep noise to a minimum and all electric devices on low ringer or vibrate as GSRS are not soundproof.
• The library is not responsible for any unattended items left in group study rooms.
• Reservation schedule is updated every Friday.
• Follow this LINK to reserve a Group Study Room.

Locating and and borrowing books and audio-visual materials 

Search the Library Catalog to locate library-owned materials and identify their circulation status. Materials are arranged on the shelves using the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Shelfmark location charts are posted throughout the Library. Users may also ask attending staff at the Circulation desk or any other Information desk for assistance in locating requested materials.

Student should present a valid ID to borrow library materials. He/she is held responsible for anything checked out under his/her name and therefore shall not transfer or lend his/her borrowed materials to others.

Faculty members may authorize their assistant to borrow on their behalf by sending an email to circulation@lau.edu.lb

Special materials (RNL)

• Julinda Abu Nasr Women and Gender collection: This collection parallels the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World. It includes books, pamphlets, documents and flyers on women’s subjects in both English and Arabic. They are shelved separately and marked with the letter “W” at the top of the shelfmark. This method groups related materials for easy location and access by researchers on women’s issues. General borrowing rules apply to this collection.
• Children’s collection: This collection is used by Creative Dramatics, Children’s Literature, and other courses offered within the Education major. All library users may borrow items from this collection. General borrowing rules apply to this collection.
• Audio/Visual collection: This collection includes a variety of subjects related to courses in business, pharmacy, education, sciences, history, politics, opera, theater, art, classical music and cinema studies. Items from this collection may be borrowed on a short-term basis (4 days).
• Closed circulation collection and research topics: This collection includes out-of-print, aged and rare books, as well as certain worn-out books on Lebanon that are out of print. Books in closed circulation are marked “CC” and may be used inside the lLibraries only. Research topics or graduate student projects are also kept in dedicated areas and are marked with “RT” or “RP.” They may be used inside the lLibraries only.
• Islamic art and architecture collection: This collection is meant to enrich the courses on design in general and on Islamic art and Culture in particular. It covers the historical, theoretical, philosophical and practical aspects of this heritage. General borrowing rules apply to this collection.
• Practice teaching: This collection is mainly used by student majoring in Education. General borrowing rules apply to this collection.