THE UST Miguel de Benavides Library has relaxed its circulation policy, allowing students to check out as many as 15 books at a time starting Aug. 16.

Ma. Cecilia Lobo, chief librarian, said the new policy was in response to clamor from students and faculty members.

“We decided based on the demand…of the faculty members who were asking why only six or 10 [books] were allowed to be borrowed at once. The students were asking as well, so [we decided to have the new policy] so we can also utilize the resources of the library,” she told the Varsitarian.

Administrative officials, members of the Dominican community and faculty members are now allowed to borrow a maximum of five newly acquired books for a week, which can be renewed for an additional week. They can also borrow up to 20 circulation books for a week, which can be renewed for a three-week period if the items have not yet been reserved.

Graduate School, Civil Law and Medicine students are allowed to borrow five new acquisitions for three days, with a three-day extension, and 15 circulation books for a week that can be renewed for a three-week period.

Undergraduate students and high school students are allowed to borrow three newly acquired books for three days, which can be renewed for an additional three days, and a maximum of 10 circulation books for five days, which can be renewed for a 15-day period.

Support staff can borrow up to three newly acquired books for a period of two days, which can be renewed for another two days, and a maximum of 10 circulation books for two days, which can be renewed for another six days.

Statistics from the library showed a decrease in the total number of books borrowed, from 84,520 books in Academic Year 2017-2018, to 71,856 books in Academic Year 2018-2019.

The Faculty of Arts and Letters had the most number of books borrowed last academic year, at 14,954 books, followed by the Senior High School and the Graduate School with 6,342 and 6,039 books borrowed, respectively.

Lobo said the library received good feedback from faculty members because of the new policy, and was expecting the same from students.

“The faculty members and students who are doing research will most likely benefit from the new policy since they can now borrow more books,” she said. with reports from Ahmed Khan Cayongcat