Rules
1. Bilkent University Library resources and services are only available to Bilkent University members; Bilkent University alumni; academic staff from the other Turkish universities with protocol agreements; and non-Bilkent academics and graduate students (Master’s and Ph.D.) who have individual membership of the library.
2. The library collection is protected by an electronic checkpoint at the exit. If necessary you may be subject to a body and bag search by the security staff.
- A Bilkent University ID card must be scanned at the entrance.
- Anyone misusing or damaging library materials or premises will be subject to disciplinary measures.
- Smoking is not permitted in the library.
- The only drink permitted in the Library is water. Food and beverages may only be consumed in the Library cafeteria areas.
- Mobile phones should be switched to “silent” mode and conversations should be held outside of the Library.
- Library users should be quiet in the library study halls and corridors; otherwise, they will be warned by the library staff or the security officers.
- Failure to comply with any of the rules will result in administrative procedures.
In accordance with the Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works (“LIA”), the exclusive right to reproduce the original work or copies thereof, including any book bearing the “Bilkent University Library” stamp, by any means or methods, whether in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, temporarily or permanently, is vested in the copyright holder.
- Accordingly, users of Bilkent University Library are strictly prohibited from photocopying, reproducing, distributing, or otherwise making any portion of these materials available to third parties.
- Any violation of these restrictions shall result in the user bearing full legal liability.
Circulation Rules
- The library sends a reminder email to users three days before the due date for the items that are not returned on time. However, it is the user’s responsibility to return the materials on time.
- A daily overdue fee will be charged to the user’s library account for materials not returned by the due date.
- In the event of a lost library item, the replacement cost will be calculated based on the exchange rate announced by the Central Bank on that day, with a processing fee and any applicable overdue charges added. This total amount will be charged to the user’s library account.
Reserve/E-Reserve Section Materials
- Printed reserve materials are available in the Reserve Sections of the Central and East Campus Libraries.
- Books registered with the library are loaned to readers for two hours with ID. If no other reader needs the material, the loan period can be extended by another two hours upon request.
- For overdue printed reserve materials, a late fee of 1.5₺ per hour is charged to the user’s library account.
- Materials are removed from the Reserve Collection or their stay in the collection is extended according to the date specified on the Reserve Request Form.
Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as academic and administrative staff at Bilkent University, are automatically considered as members of the Bilkent University Library due to their affiliation with the institution Users can renew or place holds on the materials they have borrowed online using their library accounts. Click here to discover what you can do with your library account.
Bilkent University members have remote access to electronic resources. They can access the library’s electronic resources and subscribed databases remotely by connecting to the Bilkent University wireless network or setting up VPN connections.
Undergraduate Students:
- Borrowing Rights: Undergraduate students can borrow up to 15 books, 15 art books, 15 bound journals, 15 scores, 15 easy books for 15 days, and 7 multimedia materials for 7 days.
- Overdue Fees: Reminder and warning e-mails are sent to users for overdue materials. Users with overdue materials cannot perform any transactions other than returning the items. The daily overdue fee for each overdue material is 1.5₺. Accounts with library payments exceeding 50₺ will be suspended.
Graduate Students:
- Borrowing Rights: Graduate students can borrow up to 30 books, 30 art books, 30 bound journals, 30 scores, 30 easy books for 30 days, and 7 multimedia materials for 7 days. Additionally, they can borrow 10 books for 20 days through the Interlibrary Loan Service.
- Overdue Fees: Reminders and warning e-mails are sent to users for overdue materials. Users with overdue materials cannot perform any transactions other than returning the items. The daily overdue fee for each overdue material is 1.5₺. Library accounts with outstanding payments exceeding 90₺ will be suspended.
Faculty:
- Borrowing Rights: Academic staff of Bilkent University have the right to borrow up to 40 books, 40 art books, 40 bound journals, 40 scores, 40 easy books for 120 days, and 15 multimedia materials for 15 days. Additionally, they can borrow 10 books for 20 days through the Interlibrary Loan Service.
Overdue Fees: Reminders and warning e-mails are sent to users for overdue materials. Users with overdue materials cannot perform any transactions other than returning the items. The daily overdue fee for each overdue material is 1.5₺. Library accounts with outstanding payments exceeding 120₺ will be suspended.
Bilkent University alumni can enter the library and use library materials on-site with their Alumni Card. For borrowing privileges, a deposit membership fee is required.
Rights and Responsibilities
- Application Procedures: Alumni should apply to the User and Access Services Unit at the Main Campus Library with the Bilkent University Alumni Library Registration Form and the Bilkent University Alumni Card obtained from the Alumni Office.
- Usage Period: Alumni mayrequest membership cancellation at any time. Upon cancellation, the deposit will be refunded after deducting any overdue or lost item fees.
- Borrowing Rights: Alumni can borrow 2 printed materials with a $90 deposit or 4 printed materials with a $180 deposit for 30 days. The return period can be extended unless the material has been requested by another reader.
- Overdue Fees: Users will receive reminders and warning e-mails for overdue materials. Users with overdue materials cannot perform other transactions. The daily overdue fee for each item is 3 TL. If an item is lost, the user must pay both the current price of the item and the overdue fees.
- Access Rights: Due to license agreements, alumni do not have remote access to electronic resources. However, they can access these resources on campus by connecting to Bilkent University’s wireless internet network.
Library Entry and Exit
- Security: The library collection is secured by a magnetic door control system. In necessary situations, the security guard may search your belongings and bag.
- Card Usage: “Bilkent University Alumni Card” is mandatory for library entry.
For detailed information, please visit the circulation desk or contact us.
Protocol users are academic staff from other universities in Ankara who wish to use the Bilkent University Library. These users can access the library’s resources and services with a protocol document obtained from their university’s library.
Rights and Responsibilities
- Usage Period: Protocol users must renew their registration at the beginning of each term (fall, spring, summer) by presenting an updated protocol document.This allows them to continue using the library.
- Borrowing Rights: Protocol users may borrow up to 5 books, 5 art books, and 5 theses for one month.
- Overdue Fees: Users will receive reminders and warning e-mails for overdue materials. Users with overdue materials cannot perform any transactions other than returning the items. The daily overdue fee for each item is 6 TL. Accounts with outstanding library fees exceeding 20 TL will be suspended. If an item is lost, the user must pay both the current price of the item and the overdue fees.
- Access Rights: Due to license agreements, protocol users do not have remote access to electronic resources. However, they can access these resources on campus by connecting to Bilkent University’s wireless internet network.
Protocol Procedures
- Application Procedures: Academic staff should apply to the User and Access Services Unit at the Main Campus Library with a protocol document obtained from their university’s library and a photograph. The protocol document is valid for 10 days from the date of issue.
- ID Issuance: Once the registration procedures are complete, the user will be issued a Bilkent University Library User Card for library entry and exit.
For detailed information, please visit the circulation desk or contact us.
External users are master’s and doctoral students, academic staff, and employees from other institutions who wish to use the Bilkent University Library. These users can access the library’s services by meeting certain conditions.
Rights and Responsibilities
- Usage Period: External users can use the library for one year from the date of payment. Membership can be renewed annually by paying the membership fee upon expiration.
- Membership Fee: The annual membership fee is 3000 TL for institution employees, 1500 TL for academic staff, and 750 TL for doctoral and master’s students.
- Borrowing Rights: External users do not have borrowing privileges.
- Access Rights: Due to license agreements,external users do not have remote access to electronic resources. However, they can access these resources on campus by connecting to Bilkent University’s wireless internet network.
Membership Procedures
- Application Procedures: Master’s and doctoral students, academic staff, and institution employees must apply to the User and Access Services Unit at the Main Campus Library with a membership request form, a student certificate or an institution ID card, and a photograph. Institution ID cards and other required documents must be presented during registration. Payment will be made as directed by the librarian.
- ID Issuance: After completing the necessary registration procedures, users will be issued a Bilkent University Library User Card for library entry and exit, valid for one year.
- Membership Renewal: Users can renew their membership annually by paying the membership fee.
Library Entry and Exit
- Security: The library collection is secured by a magnetic door control system. In necessary situations, the security guard may search your belongings and bag.
- Card Usage: “Bilkent University Library User Card” is mandatory for library entry.
For detailed information, please visit the circulation desk or contact us.
Collections
- Please apply at the Multimedia Room circulation desk to use and borrow multimedia materials.
- Parts of musical scores must be borrowed and returned with their associated full scores.
- Non-Bilkent University members can borrow Braille scores prepared for the visually impaired through the Interlibrary Loan Service. Up to 5 Braille scores can be borrowed for 15 days.
- In case of loss of multimedia collection materials, the cost will be calculated based on the material’s value at the exchange rate announced by the Central Bank on that day, plus a processing fee and any applicable overdue charges. This total amount will be charged to the user’s library account. The user must pay for the entire score if even one part of a score is lost.
- Collection materials can be used between 08.30 – 17.00 on weekdays in the hall where they are located.
- The half-day usage right for the microform device can be extended unless requested by another user.
For detailed information and appointments, please visit the circulation desk or contact us.
- Materials in these collections are not available for borrowing.
- The materials are accessible on weekdays from 08:30 to 17:00.
- Photocopying of materials from the European Union Information Center Collection and the U.S. GPO Collection is not permitted.
- Special Collection materials can only be used within the designated room and cannot be taken outside.
- Each user may access up to five materials at a time.
- In certain cases, users may be required to wear protective equipment such as gloves or masks.
- No food or beverages, including water, are allowed in the Halil İnalcık Hall.
- Researchers may only use pencils; fountain pens and ballpoint pens are prohibited. Pencils can be obtained from the librarian.
- Photocopying of Special Collections materials is not permitted.
- Storage collections are in a closed shelving system and are available on weekdays from 08:30 to 17:00.
- To access a desired resource, please apply at the circulation desk.
- If the resource is to be used within the library, it will be provided to the user in exchange for an ID. If the resource is to be borrowed, the borrowing rules apply. Reference storage materials cannot be borrowed and are only available for use within the library.
- Books should be returned to the circulation desk after use.
- The vinyl record collection is available on weekdays from 08:30 to 23:00 and on weekends from 09:00 to 17:00.
- Records can be listened to in the V3 video viewing room on the 2nd floor of the block B for the duration of the record, but they cannot be borrowed.
Services
The Interlibrary Loan and Document Supply (ILL) service aims to ensure the sustainability of academic research at Bilkent University by providing access to books and articles not available in the university library’s collection, either from domestic or international sources. This service is available to faculty members, doctoral and master’s students.
Conditions for Bilkent University Members
- Requests can be made by filling out the “ILL Request Form” or through the faculty librarian.
- Only books, book chapters, articles, and theses are provided.
- Users can request up to 5 (five) resources at a time. The ILL service is limited to 25 (twenty-five) books and/or 25 (twenty-five) articles per person per year. Requests exceeding this limit will incur postal charges, which will be billed to the requester.
- Resources from libraries within Ankara that have a protocol agreement with Bilkent University Library must be borrowed directly by the user from the respective library. Bilkent University Library provides resources from libraries outside Ankara.
- Resources are provided either in photocopy or electronic format (PDF) from the lending library.
- Resources from libraries outside Ankara typically arrive within 3 (three) days for domestic requests and 15-20 (fifteen to twenty) days for international requests. Delivery times may vary based on external factors.
- The borrowing period for resources provided within Turkey is 30 (thirty) days, while resources from abroad are loaned for it is 15 (fifteen) days.
- The requester must visit the ILL Office to collect the resource within 3 (three) days of being notified that the resource has arrived. If the resource is not collected within the borrowing period, the return process will begin, and the same resource cannot be requested again.
- The requester agrees to use the borrowed resource in accordance with copyright laws.
- To extend the borrowing period, the ILL librarian must be informed at least 5 (five) days before the due date. Extension periods and quantities depend on the lending library’s ILL policy.
- The requester is responsible for any loss, damage, or late return of the borrowed resource. The rules of the lending library apply in such cases.
- The lending library reserves the right to recall the resource before the due date.
Conditions for Other Libraries
Domestic:
- Academic staff, graduate students from other universities, and users from official or private institutions with libraries can use the ILL service.
- Libraries outside Ankara must make article and book requests through the Interlibrary Request Tracking System (KITS) or the Turkish Document Supply System (TÜBESS). Direct requests from individual users via phone or email are not accepted and will be redirected to the relevant library.
- Official and private institutions within Ankara must submit their requests through their institutional librarians. Resource requests are sent only by mail, with the recipient institution bearing the postage costs.
- Materials from the Reference Collection, Reserve Collection, Halil İnalcık Collection, Special Collection, Hasan Âli Yücel Collection, European Union Information Centre Collection, and U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) Collection, as well as easy books, weekly books, and non-book materials, are not available for loan.
- A library can request up to 5 (five) books/articles at a time.
- The borrowing period for each resource is 30 (thirty) days.
- The borrowing period can be extended once if there is no reservation.
- The daily late fee for borrowed resources is 6 (six) TL. Responsibility for lost, damaged, or late-returned resources lies with the authorized person at the lending library. Bilkent University Library’s borrowing rules apply in such cases.
- Bilkent University Library reserves the right to recall the resource before the due date.
International:
- Requests should be sent via email to illlib@bilkent.edu.tr.
- Materials from the Reference Collection, Reserve Collection, Halil İnalcık Collection, Special Collection, Hasan Âli Yücel Collection, European Union Information Centre Collection, and U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) Collection, as well as easy books, weekly books, and non-book materials, are not available for loan.
- The borrowing period for each resource is 30 (thirty) days.
- Libraries requesting books and articles must agree to make payments using “IFLA Payment Coupons” (four [4] coupons for books, three [3] coupons for articles).
Responsibility for lost, damaged, or late-returned resources lies with the authorized person at the lending library. Bilkent University Library’s borrowing rules apply in such cases.
The thesis submission procedure at Bilkent University Library is designed to complete the graduation procedures for graduate students and make their academic work accessible. Below is a step-by-step explanation of the thesis submission procedure.
*Students continuing to the doctorate must complete the thesis submission and clearance procedures.
1. Preparation of Thesis Format
Your thesis must be prepared in accordance with the format and style guidelines set by Bilkent University and submitted in both printed and digital (CD) formats. The content and layout of the PDF file must be identical to the printed copy. Both formats must include a completed signature page.
Required Documents:
You must bring one wet-signed copy of the following documents during thesis submission:
- Bilkent University Thesis Database Submission and Permission Form
- Bilkent University Doctoral and Graduate Students Clearance Form
- YÖK National Thesis Center Data Entry and Publication Permission Form
- Bilkent University Graduate Thesis Access Postponement Request Form (if there is an access postponement request)
The Thesis Database Submission and Permission Form allows us to make your thesis accessible through the university library and, if necessary, publish it in accordance with the open-access policies. A copy will be taken by the library, and the original signed by the authorized librarian will be returned to you.
The Bilkent University Doctoral and Graduate Students Clearance Form will be signed and returned to you by the authorized librarian upon completion of the library thesis submission procedure.
The YÖK National Thesis Center Data Entry and Publication Permission Form must be completed on the YÖK National Thesis Center platform. A wet-signed copy of the form must be submitted to the library along with your thesis and other documents. This copy will remain with the library.
The Bilkent University Graduate Thesis Access Postponement Request Form is required if there is an access restriction on your thesis work. The information on this form must match the access postponement details specified on the Thesis Database Submission and Permission Form.
2. Thesis Review and Approval Process
To initiate the library thesis submission procedure, you must apply to the User and Access Services Unit at the Main Campus Library with one printed and one digital (CD) copy of your thesis, and the required documents. The authorized librarian will check the printed and digital copies of your thesis. If there are no issues, the submitted documents will be signed, and the necessary copies will be taken. Ensuring that your thesis adheres to the format and style guidelines, includes all required signatures, and has identical content in both printed and digital formats is crucial for completing the library thesis submission procedure..
Any library materials borrowed from Bilkent University Library that have not yet been returned will prevent the clearance process. To complete the thesis submission procedure and clearance process, all borrowed materials must be returned, and any overdue fees must be paid.
3. Publication of Theses in Bilkent University Institutional Repository
If there is no access postponement request, the digital copy of your thesis will be made accessible in the Bilkent University Institutional Repository under the open access policy.
Building and Facilities
A-2 Floor Group Study Rooms
- Group study rooms are available from 08:30 to 23:00 and are not available on weekends.
- Rooms can be reserved for groups of at least 3 and at most 8 people for a period of 2 hours.
- To use the Group Study Rooms, please apply at the circulation desk. Room keys are provided in exchange for an ID.
- In the event of a lost key, a fee of 50 TL will be charged.
- Rooms cannot be locked and left unattended. If this occurs, personal belongings may be removed by the staff.
B-2 Floor Group Study Rooms
- Group study rooms are available from 08:30 to 23:00.
- Rooms can be reserved for a period of 3 hours.
- During the academic year, Bilkent community members have priority for room usage.
- To use the Group Study Rooms, please apply at the circulation desk of the Multimedia Hall. Room keys are provided in exchange for an ID.
- In case of a lost key, a fee of 50 TL will be charged.
- Rooms cannot be locked and left unattended. If this occurs, personal belongings may be removed by the staff.
- Please apply at the Multimedia Room circulation desk to use the video booths.
- The video booths can only be used for the duration of the video.
- The V1 video booth can accommodate up to 2 people, while the V2, V3, and V4 booths can each accommodate up to 8 people.
- Disciplinary action will be taken if these booths are used for purposes other than viewing videos.
- The silent zone, located on the A-2 floor of the library, is intended for individual study.
- Mobile phones, computers, laptops, and other keyboard-equipped devices are prohibited.
- When using headphones, please ensure that the volume level is kept low.
- Leaving personal belongings on tables is not allowed.
- Workstations are available to all users.
- Workstations are intended for educational and research purposes.
- Please do not occupy computer desks by leaving your belongings for an extended period. Desks left unattended for more than 15 minutes may be used by other users.
- The use of CDs/DVDs on the computers is not permitted.
- To print or save data to a CD, please visit the stationery on the B-1 floor with your username.
- Playing games on the computers is prohibited.
- The Room for Visually Impaired is available to Bilkent community members with visual impairments, external users, and individuals assisting these users. It is also accessible to those who are not visually impaired but need to research Braille materials.
- The room is open on weekdays from 08:30 to 17:00 and on weekends from 09:00 to 17:00.
- Braille materials, cassette players, computers, and printers must be used within the room and cannot be taken outside.
- To use the room, please apply at the circulation desk. The room key is provided in exchange for an ID and must be returned to the circulation desk upon leaving the room.
- The Art Gallery is only open to members of the Bilkent community.
- Usage priority is determined in the following order: library administration, followed by academic units of Bilkent University, and then students and clubs. Approval from the library administration is required for academic units and clubs. The library administration reserves the right to refuse any usage request.
- To use the Art Gallery, the “Library Activity Request Form” must be filled out.
- The Art Gallery is available for use on weekdays from 09:30 to 17:00.
- After using the Art Gallery, all equipment, belongings, and materials should be returned to their original position.
- For mini-concerts and similar activities activities, the Art Gallery may only be used between 12:30 and 13:30. The sound level must be kept at a level that does not interfere with other library services.
- Usage priority is determined in the following order: library administration, followed by academic units of Bilkent University, and then students and clubs.. Approval from the library administration is required for academic units and clubs. The library administration reserves the right to refuse any usage request.
- Orientation requests should be made through the online form or via faculty librarians. The “Library Activity Request Form” must be filled out for video screenings.
- The room is available for use on weekdays from 08:30 to 17:00.
- After using the Orientation Room, all equipment, belongings, and materials should be returned to their original position.
- The room is suitable for groups of five or more people to watch films for educational purposes under the supervision of a teacher. The sound level must be maintained at a level that does not interfere with other library services.