Borrowing

How to borrow

Apart from Special Collections, our print and audiovisual collections are available on open access and can be borrowed.

Your University or Library Card

You always need your University (students) or Library (other users) Card to borrow items.

You are responsible for everything borrowed on your card and for any fines on items which are returned late. To make sure you keep control of items borrowed on your card, don't lend it to anyone, or borrow items for anyone else.

If you lose your card:

  • University students should go to the Information Centre for a new card
  • Other members should inform Lending Services staff as soon as possible
  • A fee is charged for replacement cards

Find out how to get your University or Library Card and apply to join the University Library from our Membership web page

Self-issue in the JB Morrell Library

We recommend that you use self-issue in the JB Morrell Library to avoid queues. Self-issue also allows you to borrow and renew items when the Library is open for self-service only. It is the only way you can borrow Key Texts.

You will not be able to use self-issue if you have outstanding fines of £20 or more. You will need to pay these in full before you can borrow.

See our opening hours page for information on self-service only times.

Staffed service

You can borrow items at JB Morrell Library Lending Services during staffed hours and from King's Manor Library during opening hours.

Distance Learning Service

We provide a Distance Learning Service to students on a number of specific courses, including postal loans.

For more information see our Distance Learning Service web page.

Total number of items you can borrow

This is a summary of the total number of items you can have on loan at any time. This global total applies across the JB Morrell Library and King's Manor Library.

Look at How many items and for how long? for full details of how many items of different types you can borrow.

Membership group Global total
Undergraduate; Dip HE 20
Taught Postgraduate 30
PhD; MPhil; University staff 50
Associate staff 30
SCONUL Research Extra; UK Libraries Plus; Others 10

How long you can borrow items for

You can borrow items for different periods depending on the type of material, collection or library. Remember that if a book is requested from you or you request a book from someone else this may change the date when it is due back.

You can renew some types of material; the number of renewals depends on your membership group.

Details of how long you can keep items and how many times you can renew them are available here.

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Returning items

You can use self-return in the JB Morrell Library to avoid queues or when the Library is open for self-service only. We recommend you use this rather than the outside return box as all the items will be removed from your library record straightaway. If you put items in the return book box when the library is open it can be up to 2 hours before they are removed from your library record

You can put items in the book return box outside the entrance when the JB Morrell Library is closed.

Key Texts must be returned on the self return machine in Key Texts, or be put in the book return box if the Library is closed. More information is available from our Key Texts web page.

King's Manor Library books may be returned to the JB Morrell Library and vice versa. Books can only be returned to King's Manor when the library is open.

Heslington East Book Drop

The book drop is situated in the Ron Cooke Hub at Heslington East.

Items will not be removed from your library account until received at the J.B. Morrell Library.  You should not return Key Texts, DVDs, 24 HR loans, overnight loans, study keys via the book drop as any items recorded as returned late will be charged fines.

The book drop will be collected once a day, Monday to Friday, usually in the early afternoon.  Please note there is no collection on Saturdays and Sundays.  If the box is full please contact Reception staff in the Hub.

Feedback regarding this service should be sent to Jackie Knowles, Customer Services Manager, jackie.knowles@york.ac.uk

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Remembering return dates

Keep your receipt to remind you of the return date or check My Library Account on the Library Catalogue regularly.

Remember that you and your colleagues may Request an item on loan to someone else and this may change how long you can keep it. We will send you an email (or letter) to tell you about the new return date.

If you can't find out when the items you have on loan are due back, or if you know you won't be able to visit the Library to return items on time, please contact us to discuss your options.

Courtesy return date reminders

We will normally email you to remind you when Ordinary and one week loan items you have borrowed are about to be due back in the Library.

We provide this service as a courtesy and it is still your responsibility to make sure that items are returned or renewed on time.

We don't send courtesy reminders for other items as the loan periods are too short.

Overdue reminders

We will email you (or write to you) to let you know if you still have items on loan after the return date. Remember that we charge fines for items that are returned late.

Returning items at other libraries

You can return Ordinary and one-week loan items borrowed from either the JB Morrell Library or King's Manor Library to either of those libraries. We will transport the items to the Library you borrowed them from.

We can't provide the same service for shorter loan items such as Key Texts and 24 Hour loans, as the loan periods are too short to give time to transport the items between libraries.

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Renewing items

You can renew most items during the week before the return date, except Key Texts, 24 Hour Loans, DVDs, videos and items requested from you by someone else.

We have to make sure items aren't lost. You must return them to the Library after the maximum number of renewals. They may then be available for reissue to you.

You can renew items using:

  • My Library Account on the Library Catalogue
  • Self-issue
  • Lending Services desk in person
  • Distance learners and part-time students can telephone Lending Services. Look at our Distance Learning Service web page for more information.

Renewing items using My Library Account

  • Login to My Library Account
  • Click on Current Loans
  • Click on the title or on the underlined number to the left of the relevant item
  • Click Renew and note the new return date

We recommend that you renew each item individually rather than using Renew All as your items may be due back on different days and you could renew some before it's necessary.

If you do use Renew All make sure that everything has been renewed successfully and has a new return date. Check that no items still have their old return date. As each item is renewed, it moves down the list of current loans. Items with the nearest return date appear at the top of the list.

There won't be a Renew link if:

  • The item has been requested by someone else
  • You have an outstanding fine or overdue item
  • You have reached the limit on the number of times you can renew the item
  • It is an item which is not renewable

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Late return fines

If you return items late we will charge a fine. This is to encourage you to return items for use by your colleagues.

Study Room Key, Key Texts, 24 Hour Loans, DVDs and videos £1 per hour or part of an hour
All other items 30p per day or part of a day
Items requested by another user 90p per day or part of a day

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How to avoid fines

  • Keep your receipt with the return date
  • Check My Library Account on the Library Catalogue regularly
  • Check your email for courtesy return date reminders for Ordinary and one week Loan items, and notification of requests which have changed the return date
  • We will let you know as soon as an item is late. Return the item as soon as possible to keep your fine low.
  • Contact us if you have a problem visiting the Library, to discuss your options

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How to pay fines

Payments can be made by cash, cheque (made payable to the University of York), or credit/debit card (not American Express) at Lending Services.  Cash payments (coins only) can also be made using one of the self service issue machines on the ground floor of the Library. There is also the option to pay online using the University's Online Store. These payments may not be processed straightaway. If you want to pay by card over the phone please ring 01904 323873. The minimum payment by card is £5. We are unable to take payments when the Library is open for self-service only. Please check the Library opening hours.

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Lost Book Charges

If an item you have on loan is lost, stolen or damaged we will charge you a Lost Book Charge of £35 per item.

  • There is a standard £35.00 Lost Book Charge. However the Library reserves the right to charge the actual book price if the value of the book is considerably greater.
  • Please note that the Library does not accept replacement copies purchased by the customer.
  • In addition to the Lost Book Charge any fines accrued up to the point at which the reader reports the book lost or it is deemed lost by the Library (because it is significantly overdue) will be charged.
  • If a lost item is subsequently located and returned to the library then the Lost Book Charge is cancelled and only the fines incurred are charged.

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Frequently asked questions

Are fines charged over the vacation?

Fines are charged on each day that the library you have borrowed from is open.

What is the maximum charge I can have outstanding before I am prevented from borrowing?

If you have outstanding charges of £20 or more you will not be able to borrow more items until you have paid the fine in full. This includes interlending charges.

What happens if I am ill or unable to visit the Library?

If possible, you should ask a friend to return your items for you.

If that is not possible contact us as soon as you know there is a problem so that we can help you.

If you know that you will be away from York when items are due to be returned.

When do staff and postgraduates have to return or renew their books?

Staff and postgraduate students can renew Ordinary and one-week loan items between Monday of Week 10 and Wednesday of Week 11 each term.

Books must also be renewed at the end of the summer vacation, between the last Saturday of vacation and the Friday of Week 1.

Renewal dates are widely advertised in the Library, on York Extra, on departmental notice boards and on the Library website News.

What are the vacation borrowing arrangements?

Borrowing arrangements vary depending on the vacation and opening hours of the Library.

For more information see Vacation borrowing.