FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can I find the document I need?
A: You can search for documents (paper books, e-books) in the common catalogue of the Institut Mines-Télécom libraries. From your search results, click on the record for the document you are interested in. Check its location (IMT-BS TSP Evry, Evry Library) and availability (if the book is already on loan, a return date will be indicated). Note the title of the book and its call number, which specifies its location on the shelves (e.g. 9.12-FLI). All you have to do is retrieve it from our collections and present it to the library staff to borrow it.

Q: Why do some documents have a "Communicable on request” status?
A: In order to cope with the growth of our collections, some documents, particularly those that are less frequently requested, are stored in an archive space called the ‘Silo’. This storage space is not accessible to the public. To obtain these documents, please contact the Library staff, who will be able to provide you with these documents very shortly.

Q: Can we donate books to the Library?
A: Yes, you can donate books, but under certain conditions that take into account their condition, their relevance to our documentation policy and our existing collections. Books that are not suitable for our collection will be sent to Ammareal, an online bookshop specialising in the sale of second-hand books. Guided by its motto ‘Books never die’, Ammareal collects, sorts and sells books online at affordable prices.
This anti-waste and solidarity-based partnership allows us to take concrete action in favour of the circular economy by giving books a second life, supporting the promotion of reading, and participating in the financing of actions to combat illiteracy and promote reading among vulnerable populations.
Our solidarity partnership means that these sales contribute to supporting the Le Secours Populaire Français association, which receives 5% of the sale price of each book sold.
For any donations, please contact the librarians directly.

Q: I 'm a student. How can I apply for a job at the Library?
A: Every year, the Library recruits 5 to 6 student assistants. They welcome, guide and inform the public, supervise the premises and ensure compliance with the internal regulations, tidy up documents, and manage loans, returns and document communications.

• Recruitment conditions: students from M1 level onwards, not benefiting from a doctoral contract or an employment contract with a higher education institution or research organisation.
• Skills and aptitudes: team spirit, rigour, punctuality, ease in working with the public, proficiency in common IT tools and the digital resources of the Library.
• Contract, period and hours: student contract signed for the academic year, starting in September, two weekday evenings (Monday to Friday, 5.30pm to 8.30pm) and daytime shifts depending on student availability (an average of 10 hours per week).
  
• Remuneration: minimum hourly wage + paid holiday allowance equivalent to 10% of total gross remuneration.

You cannot print from a USB stick connected to the copier.

Q: How can I retrieve a lost or lost item in the Library?
A: If it has been found, please contact the staff at the reception desk located at the entrance to the Library to retrieve your item. After a period of several weeks, any unclaimed items will be deposited at the general reception desk on campus.

Q: Can I return a book to a library other than the one where I borrowed it?
A: No, you must return the borrowed book to the library that lent it to you.

Q: How long can I borrow a book for?
A: The loan period is generally one month for all documents.

Q: Can books be returned outside of opening hours?
A: Yes, you can deposit your documents in the return box located near the entrance door of the Library.

Q: Why am I unable to book a document?
A: You may have exceeded the reservation quota per document, the document may simply be available (just go to the Library to borrow it), some documents can only be consulted on site (reference books, dictionaries), or your reader account may not be up to date (expired reader account, overdue documents, etc.).

Q: What should I do if the Library asks me for a document that I have already returned?
A: It may happen that a document is incorrectly recorded when it is returned, in which case it will have been put away directly in the Library. Please contact the Library team, who will be able to search the shelves and find appropriate solutions to update your reader account.

Q: What should I do if I have lost or damaged a document?
A: If you have lost or damaged a document, you will be asked to replace it with an identical copy. If the document is no longer available, please contact the librarians, who will suggest an equivalent title.

Q: How can I find out the return date for a borrowed book?
A: To view the list of your loans and their return dates, you can log in to your reader account or print a summary from the Library self loan station using your student card. The staff at the reception desk can also provide you with this information.

Q: How can I extend my loan period?
A: You can extend your loans from your reader account before the return date of the documents. Once your loans are overdue, it is no longer possible to extend them from your reader account. To obtain a special extension on your loans, please contact the Library and we will email you the new return date for your items.