Borrowing Items

Borrowing Privileges

• Tulane Health Sciences faculty, students and staff have borrowing privileges at Rudolph Matas Library of the Health Sciences. These privileges also extend to the faculty, students and staff of the university (uptown campus), and LSU Health Sciences Center faculty and graduate-level students.
• Loan periods are the same for all users.

Borrowing Periods

• Journals: 2 weeks
• Matas Commons: 2 weeks
• Course and General Reserve books: 2 days
• Stacks Books: 28 days; 3 renewals allowed
• Headphones and computer chargers: 1 day

Requirements for Borrowing

• A valid Tulane University Splash Card is required to check out any items or request other Matas Library services. Only the personal owner of an ID may use that ID to check-out materials.
• Tulane University Affiliates (adjuncts, etc.) should complete the Affiliate Tulane Account Request Form and return it to campus IT for access to electronic resources. Affiliate Accounts must be approved annually.
• LSU Health Sciences Center faculty and students must be registered with John P. Isché Library and have their current LSUHSC ID in order to register with the Matas Library as "special medical patrons" (library privileges for “special medical” users do not transfer to other Tulane Libraries).

Delivery between the Matas Library and other Tulane Libraries

• Certain materials may be available for delivery service from uptown and from the off-site depository. The book must be neither checked out nor on Hold or Reserve to be be eligible for request via the Library Search for delivery. Some types of materials may not be requested for delivery, including materials from any of the Special Collections.
• Make sure to designate the Matas Library as your pick-up location.
• Borrowing periods are dependent on the department loaning the specific item.

Returning & Renewals

Returning Items

• Materials should be returned to the Matas Library Desk during the library's open hours or placed in the book drop in the 1st floor lobby of the Hutchinson Building.
• There is a book drop available in the 24/7 Quiet Area for use when the Information Desk is closed.
• Matas Library materials may also be returned to Howard-Tilton Memorial Library on the uptown campus. Items are checked-in at whatever desk receives the materials and show "In transit" until they are received at the owning library.

Renewals

• Books and journals may be renewed three times, provided that no other users have placed a hold or recall for the material. Books and journals may be renewed in person or by phone Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Please note that materials placed on Reserve for class use may be recalled at anytime from users.
• Renew your checked out items by signing into your Library Account. Users may also contact the Matas Library Information Desk for assistance at (504) 988-2403 or medcirc@tulane.edu.

General & Course Reserves

Selected textbooks and other course-related materials are kept on reserve behind the Information Desk. They may be checked out for two days. Holds may not be places on reserve items.

Please notify your instructor, as well as the Matas Library, if materials you require for class assignments are not readily available. Also, please notify library staff if any required texts have changed or have been updated with new editions. There is an online form for requesting items to the Matas Library Course Reserves. Reserve placement may also be requested by phone or email. For assistance, e-mail medcirc@tulane.edu or call (504) 988-2404.

Holds

Holds are requests to have materials held for individuals when they become available to use. Holds can be placed on circulating materials that are currently on the shelf or those that are checked out. The requester of the hold will be notified when the item is available and ready for pick up. If you request a hold please come promptly to pick up the returned materials. The item will be held for the user for seven days. If the patron does not pick up the material in that period, it will be sent back to the stacks or to the loaning library.

Fines & Fees

If items are not returned within twenty (20) after the due date, a $10.00 per item late fee and $115.00 item replacement fee will be charged per item and all library privileges suspended until materials are returned or the fees are paid in full. Users with fines may also be blocked from using interlibrary loan. All fines must be paid prior to graduation.

For assistance, contact the Information Services Desk at medcirc@tulane.edu or (504) 988-2403.

Confidentiality

Tulane University Libraries follow the principles of borrower confidentiality. Matas Library staff will not divulge any details of a patron's library record to other patrons or agencies unless required to do by law. Tulane Libraries follow the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association which states, "We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted."

Physicians and medical students utilizing or accessing electronic health record (EHR) systems, integrated delivery systems/networks, clinical data repositories, and/or shared databases should access to confidential patient information carefully. The utmost care should be taken to respect the patient's confidential and privileged information.

View the AMA Code of Medical Ethics: Privacy, confidentiality, and medical records.

Recycling

The Matas Library offers paper recycling bins near the printers. Recycling containers for paper, plastics, and aluminum are located throughout the School of Medicine Building.

For more information about Tulane's recycling program, visit recycle.tulane.edu. Thank you for being Green and keeping the Matas Library clean.