USER SERVICES
USER SERVICES Contents: Becoming a Member Book Borrowing/Renewal/Return Finding a Book on the Shelves Document Delivery Service 1
BECOMING A MEMBER Any Qatari citizen/resident can receive a free library card. 2
To register as a member, please follow the steps outlined on our website (www.qnl.qa > Services > Become a Member). Once you have submitted the necessary documents, visit the User Services Desk at QNL and bring along your valid Qatari ID/RP to collect your library card. Alternatively, you can register in person at our User Services Desk but please remember to bring your valid Qatari ID/RP. As a QNL member, you will have special benefits that non-members do not have, such as borrowing books, accessing QNL online resources, and using certain QNL facilities. 3
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Book Borrowing/ Renewal/Return You may borrow materials from QNL according to your membership category, as shown below: Books DVD Kit CD-ROM Membership Category Loan Period Item Limit Loan Period Item Limit Loan Period Item Limit Loan Period Item Limit Children and Teens (0-17) 21 days 5 7 days 2 7 days 1 All Other Members 21 days 4 7 days 2 7 days 1 7 days 1 Renewals Returns You can renew your items before the due date through QNL website, by logging into your QNL account, selecting the item(s) you want to renew and clicking on submit, or in person by visiting the User Services Desk along with your library membership card. A reminder will be sent to you 2 days before the due date. You can renew your books up to 2 times, unless the item is on hold by another user, recalled, or if your account is suspended due to overdue items or fines. You can return the borrowed material through the 24-hour drive-through book drop station in front of the main entrance, through the seven return stations inside the library building, or at the User Services Desk. 5
Finding a Book on the Shelves Each book has a unique call number. A call number is like an address; it helps in locating the books on the shelves. Call numbers appear on the spine of every book, and while searching the online catalog, it appears as a major piece of information under the item location. The QNL books are placed on the shelves following the Library of Congress classification system. Call numbers are arranged from left to right, as shown on the opposite page. However, the fiction books are arranged on the shelves according to a local classification scheme consisting of one, two or three-letter codes to indicate the collection and the author/title shelf arrangement. The non-fiction books in the children s and teen collection are arranged according to the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), according to subject areas. 6
Book Arrangement on the Shelves* L before LA.B45 before.b456 2010 before 2012 L LA 74 104 2327 2328 2328 2328 2328 3535 3535.M.N.M.B.B.B.B.C.C 25 65 3 37 45 456 46 75 75 2010 2012 LA before.b456 before.b46 * Read this chart from left to right QNL Collections: 11. Main Collection: Fiction and Non Fiction 22. Children s and Teens Library Collections: Fiction and Non Fiction 33. Heritage Library Collection 44. Arab Law Collection 7
Document Delivery Service The QNL Document Delivery Service (DDS) provides you with materials, in electronic or print format, for items that are not available in QNL resources and collections. This service includes borrowing from, and lending to, other libraries. If after searching the QNL Catalog and Online Resources you could not find the material you are looking for, you may use this service. Submitting a Request All DDS requests should be submitted via the DDS online form with detailed information including article title, journal or book title, author s name, publisher s name, year of publication and ISBN/ISNN. For any inquiry please send an email to: qnl_ill@qnl.qa 8