Hong Kong Academic Library Link (HKALL)

Introduction		HKALL Borrowing Rules
Accessing HKALL			Eligible HKIEd Users, Loan Quotas and Loan periods
Requesting and Borrowing Books via HKALL			Recalls
	What can be requested?		Renewals
	How to make a request?		Cancellation of Requests
	What are the borrowing and returning procedures?		Overdue and Fines
			Loss & Damage of HKALL Books
		HKALL User Guide

Introduction

Through HKALL, eligible HKIEd Library users holding IEdSmart Student Cards or Staff Cards can borrow books (excluding media and other non-book materials) from the other seven UGC institution libraries. Requests will be made online and the books will be delivered to the Circulation Counter of Mong Man Wai Library / Town Centre Library for checkout.

To find out more about HKALL, please visit the following site: http://hkall.hku.hk/screens/hkall_2.html.

Accessing HKALL

Eligible HKIEd Library users can enter HKALL by either:

• Transferring a search from EdCAT (HKIEd Library Catalogue) to HKALL by clicking the “Search HKALL” button at the top of EdCAT screen alongside with the other buttons.
• Accessing HKALL by clicking “HKALL” from Quick Links on Library Website, or by visiting http://hkall.hku.hk directly. Searches can be conducted in the same way as in EdCAT.

Requesting and Borrowing Books via HKALL

What can be requested?

• Eligible HKIEd Library users can request books (excluding serials, media and other non-print materials) with the status “AVAILABLE" in other HKALL libraries UNLESS the required books are already available in MMW Library's Circulation Collection (i.e. “MMW Lib Book … AVAILABLE” as shown in EdCAT).

How to make a request?

• Conduct a search in HKALL.
• Select and click the desired title from the search result list.
• Note the “Status” of the copy (copies) listed in the detail record of the title. If a copy is AVAILABLE in any other HKALL libraries, click the “Request this title” button to launch a request.
• When prompted “Which is your home library?”, select “HKIEd Library” click “Submit above information” to send out the request.
• After the authentication of your identity, you can choose your pickup location by selecting either “MMW Library” or “Town Centre Library”. Click “Submit” to send out the request. HKALL will direct the request to a potential lending library.

What are the borrowing and returning procedures?

• Requestors will be notified by e-mail when the requested books arrive.
• Requestors will be given 5 days to pick up the requested books from the date of the notification. Books not picked up will be returned to the lending library without further notification to the requestors.
• HKALL books must be returned to the Circulation Counter of MMW Library / Town Centre Library. Borrowers should not put any HKALL books into the Book Drops.

Eligible Users, Loan Quotas and Loan Periods

* IMPORTANT: The HKALL loan quota of 20 or 10 books is included in the requestor's HKIEd Library loan quota, e.g. a HKIEd BEd student can only borrow 30 HKIEd Library items if he/she has already borrowed 10 books via HKALL.

Recalls

• Local users of a HKALL library cannot recall checked out books owned by other HKALL libraries. They can, however, recall books of their own libraries which are on loan to HKALL users from other institutions.
• HKIEd Library users can hence recall HKIEd Library books on loan to other non-HKIEd HKALL users through EdCAT at any time. Upon recall, the non-HKIEd borrowers will receive e-mail recall notices. The original due dates may be shortened though the borrowers will be given a minimum use period of 15 days.
• Similarly, local users of the lending libraries can recall their books on loan to HKIEd users via HKALL. HKIEd Library users may therefore receive e-mail recall notices requiring them to return the HKALL books on or before a new due date.

Renewals

• Two renewals are allowed if the book has not been recalled by a local user of the lending library.
• HKIEd Library users can renew HKALL books online (only if the books are not overdue) by clicking “View Circulation Record/Renewal” on EdCAT Main Menu.
• No e-mail notification will be sent out and it is the borrowers’ responsibility to observe the new due dates shown in their own circulation records.
• The renewal period will be the same as the original loan period, but will be counted from the date of renewal.
• Renewal is treated as a continuation of loan and thus the renewed book is subject to recall by a local user of the lending library at any time.

Cancellation of Requests

• HKIEd users can cancel HKALL requests only if the requests are still under “HKALL REQUESTED” status in their circulation records. Requestors cannot cancel their requests if the lending libraries have already transferred the requested books to HKIEd Library and the status of the requested books have become “IN TRANSIT” or “HKALL RECEIVED”.
• Cancellation should be made by clicking “View Circulation Record/Renewal” on EdCAT Main Menu.
• The lending libraries may also cancel the requests if the requested books are (i) not found on shelf, or (ii) being checked out by their local users or (iii) found not suitable for loan via HKALL. The requestors will be notified by e-mail if their requests are cancelled by the lending libraries.

Overdue and Fines

• Overdue notices will be sent via e-mail to the borrower when a HKALL book is overdue. Non-receipt of such notice will not be accepted as excuse for waiving or reducing overdue fines.
• Overdue fines for each HKALL book are as follows:

• All borrowing privileges of the borrower will be suspended once a recalled book becomes overdue.
• Once the maximum fine is reached, in addition to suspension of borrowing privileges, the book will be assumed lost by the borrower.

Loss and Damage of HKALL Books

• It is the borrowers' responsibility to take good care of HKALL books borrowed from other libraries.
• HKALL books should not be taken overseas without prior permission from the lending libraries.
• Borrowers will have to pay fines for HKALL books damaged or lost (including assumed lost books) when on loan to them. Fine for each damaged or lost book will be $500 or the full replacement cost, whichever is higher, plus the processing fee of $200 and any outstanding overdue fine.