Borrowing
You can borrow a wide range of material from the Library using the self-service facilities located on each floor. Don't forget you'll need to bring University ID card with you if you want to borrow items.
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While the Library is open, items should be returned using the self-service machines on level 3 of the Library, or in case of further queries, to the Customer Services Desk. If you cannot get to the Library during opening hours, there is a return slot to the left hand side of the main Library doors.
How many items can I borrow?
| Type of patron | Maximum number of loans |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate students | 15 items (4 of which can be High Demand) |
| Undergraduate finalists | 20 items (4 of which can be High Demand) |
| Postgraduate (taught) students | 20 items (4 of which can be High Demand) |
| Research students | 30 items (4 of which can be High Demand) |
| Staff | 30 items (4 of which can be High Demand) |
| Alumni | 8 items (no High Demand) |
| External users | 4 items (no High Demand) |
How long can I borrow items for?
| Type of item | Length of loan |
|---|---|
| Long loan | 4 weeks for students Until the end of semester (or summer) for staff |
| Week loan (green spine label) | 7 days |
| High demand (yellow spine label) | Until 2:30pm |
Distance and part-time students and those registered with DANs can borrow long loan items for 6 weeks and week loan items for two weeks.
Please note that all items remain available for recall at any time.
What are the fines for late returns?
| Type of item | Fine |
|---|---|
| High demand item | 50p per hour or part thereof |
| Any other type of item | 50p per day |
The Library will send you overdue reminders (via email initially and via letter if you haven’t replied to the first two overdue reminder emails) when items become late. During this period, the fines will continue to increase daily on each overdue item. If you fail to respond to these notices, the Library will invoice you for the replacement cost of the book and you will be fined a further £20 to meet Finance Office costs.
Please note if you have more than £5 in library fines you will be unable to borrow further items until your fines are reduced below this level or paid off completely.
N.B. If you have any query about what is on your account, please contact the Customer Services Manager immediately or ask for assistance at one of the Library’s enquiry desks.
What happens if I lose an item?
First please have a good look for the item before reporting it to the Library as lost as you will be charged the cost of replacing the item plus a £10 admin fee. You may also be charged fines for non return of the item.
Leisure reading collection
New for the 2012/13 academic year, we have a selection of books in our leisure reading collection.
Any items in this collection (located on Level 3 of the Library with a white spine label and pink dot):
- are loanable by any category of user for 4 weeks (maximum 2 loans per person)
- can be reserved (maximum 2 reserves per person)
- are not subject to recalls
Can I borrow books during the vacations?
The week before term ends we roll the due dates on for the vacations for all students so that books issued or renewed in that final week are issued until the start of the next term.
N.B. Any book can still be recalled during the Easter and Summer vacations, so you should continue to check your staff/student email account and post the book back to the Library if you are not in Loughborough.
Frequently asked questions about borrowing
Q: How can I request items?
Any Long or One Week Loan item which is out on loan to another reader may be requested on Library Catalogue Plus by selecting the blue Request option to the right hand side of the availability tab on the catalogue record. Again, you will be need to be signed in with your username and password to request items. This will then take you to another screen, where you need to click on the orange request button again.At the end of a successful transaction, the screen will display a yellow box with the message:
Action Succeeded .
You can book a High Demand item for any particular day (Mon-Fri) up to a week in advance, whether it is currently on loan or not, by selecting the blue Request High Demand option to the right of the catalogue record, selecting the date you would like to request to item, clicking in the select time slot circle and clicking on the orange request button. When requesting High Demand items, please remember to log-in before you begin your search.
How do I check my requests?
You can see if your requested items have arrived by using the My Account option on Library Catalogue Plus, then choosing Requests.
If a reservation is marked On Hold, the item is waiting at the main Customer Services Desk for collection. It is held for three working days.
How can I cancel reservations?
If you no longer need a reserved item, you should cancel your request in the Requests screen of My Account. Click cancel on the far right hand side of the title you would like to delete. N.B. You will not be able to cancel a request if the item is already on hold for you.
Q: What happens if a book is recalled?
Please be aware that any of your books can be recalled. You will receive an email from us to warn you that the item has been recalled. You have 7 days from the date printed on the email to return the item for long loan items. Week loan items that have been requested will not be renewable and should be returned according to the date in the email. Check the email carefully to ensure you are returning the correct title.
The recall system works for you as well. If you reserve an item, you can expect to receive it in about 7 to 10 days, unless it is in very heavy demand.
Q: How do I check my loans?
If you need to remind yourself which items you have currently out on loan, use the My Account option on Library Catalogue Plus. You will need to sign in using your username and password (the same one you use to access your emails) and choose My Account .
If you are not sure what your username and passwords are you can ask at one of the enquiry desks in the Library or at the IT Services helpdesk in Haslegrave, providing you have your student/staff card with you.
You can also check your account on the self service machines in the Library.
Q: How do I renew my books?
To renew the items you have out on loan, log on to the catalogue and select My Account (as above) and then click on Loans. A list of all the items you have out on loan will be displayed. You can renew one item at a time by selecting the item and following the instructions. If the system is unable to renew an item it will inform you of the details of the book so that you can return it to the Library.
There is a short video of how to do this online.
You must always bring High Demand Loans to the Library on the due date. If they have been booked for that day by another reader, you will not be able to renew them. They must be returned on the self service machine in the High Demand section before 2:30pm.
High Demand books cannot be renewed by telephone. Long Loan items may only be renewed by telephone if you are rarely in Loughborough (see the concessions outlined below).
Q: How do I avoid fines?
Firstly, it is important to make a note of when the book you have borrowed is due for return. When issued on the self-service machines, you will be issued with a receipt which outlines the return date for every item on your account. It is your responsibility to make a note of this due date and return the books accordingly. This is particularly important with books in the high demand collection – which could be due for return on the same day of borrowing
Secondly, make sure you keep an eye on your staff/student email address. We send out reminder courtesy notices between 3-4 days before a book is due for return.
Thirdly, make sure you know if a book has been requested by another user – we will send recall notices to your email address informing you the return date has been amended and telling you the new due date (usually 7 days from the date of recall). The book must be returned by this new due date or it will incur fines on a daily basis.
Finally, when you do return items on the self-service machines, make sure your transaction has registered correctly by checking (and retaining) your receipt. This is your proof in case of query.
IF the Library contacts you about an item on your account that you do not recognise or think have returned, please contact the Library asap either at one of the enquiry desks or by contacting the Customer Services Manager directly.
