Borrowing and Renewing

What you can borrow, how long for and how to return items

You will need your University ID card to borrow items from the library.  Self-service machines are provided at Northampton Square and Cass.  At other sites, you may borrow books from the library service desk. Reserved items can be collected from the service desk.

Loan entitlements   

 

Undergraduate students 15 items
Postgraduate students 15 items
Research students 20 items
Students on validated courses 15 items
University staff 20 items
NHS Trust staff 8 items from SCHS Libraries only

External members

[subscription borrowers, SCONUL
Access and alumni]

5 items

[No short or 24 hour loan items]

 

Loan periods and overdue fines

A range of loan periods and overdue fines are applied to library stock determined by location and levels of demand for the item. 

 

Loan periods and fines
Loan type/period Fines
Normal loan: 3 weeks (staff and research students: 14 weeks) 30p per day
7 day loan 50p per day
3 day loan (maximum 5 renewals) 75p per day
24 hour loan (University Library) 50p per hour
Short Loan (Cass Library) Due at 5.30pm next working day £2 per day or part of day
Short Loan (City Law School Library): 2 hour loan period 50p per hour

 

 

Short loan items cannot be renewed and must be returned to the library from which they were borrowed by the stated time to avoid overdue fines. 

 

 

Renew your loans

You may renew your books online using the library catalogue. Use your IT username and password to access your library account.

 

 

You will be unable to renew your books if...

  • Your books have been requested by another user (i.e. it is on hold).
  • You have accrued fines of £25 or more.
  • There is a block on your library account (including expired ID cards) 
  • Short loan items cannot be renewed.   Remember to return these on time to the the library from which you borrowed them.
  • Three day loan items have a maximum of 5 renewals

When it has not been possible to renew, items must be returned by the due date to avoid incurring fines. 

Returning your loans

Items can be returned to the service desk of any site library, or in the Return box outside the Library when closed.   Short loan items must be returned to the library from which you borrowed them.

Borrower's Responsibilities

  • You are responsible for ensuring items are returned or renewed on or before the due date.
  • Please note that there is no guarantee that it will be possible to renew items. If items have been reserved for another user, they must be returned by their due date. Fines will apply if items are not returned by the due date.
  • Any item is liable for recall at any time if requested by another reader, and to amendment of the date due. Fines will apply if items are not returned by the amended due date.
  • Please remember that you are responsible for all items borrowed on your ID card until they are returned and cleared off your record.

Overdue items

  • If items become overdue while issued to you we will send a courtesy reminder by email or post informing you of this.
  • If you fail to return them at this stage a second overdue message will be sent and your record will be blocked for borrowing and renewal.
  • If you still fail to return items you will be billed for their replacement cost.  

Completing your course?

Students completing their course are requested to ensure all library loans are returned and any overdue fines cleared within 3 working days of their last exam or coursework submission date.

 

4 weeks after course completion dates, we will contact students with outstanding loans or fines on their library account and pass these details to Registry Services

Until your library account is cleared of loans and fines, your degree certificate will be withheld.