Requesting and booking

Follow the collections link to find more information on all our collections.

Requesting items on loan to someone else

You can Request items if they have already been borrowed by someone else (but not Key Texts or DVDs and videos).

  • Choose Request from the Holdings screen on the Library Catalogue and follow the instructions.
  • If the return date changes we send an email (or letter) to the person who has the item asking them to return it by the new date which will be 5 days after the request is placed. The minimum loan is for a week.
  • When the item is returned we immediately send you an email (or letter) telling you it can be collected.
  • Collect requested items from the Library indicated in the email (or letter). The email details the hours when the items can be collected.
  • You have 4 days to collect the item. After that the item will be returned to the shelves. If you have a problem with collecting please contact us.

Help your colleagues and avoid fines by returning and collecting items promptly. Check your emails and My Library Account regularly.

Please cancel Requests if you decide you don't need the item so that someone else can use it. You can cancel a Request using My Library Account on the Library Catalogue.

Please let us know if you no longer need an item that is waiting for you to collect.

Remember:

  • You can request items which are already on loan to someone else (look for the Due date), Being catalogued, Being labelled, or On order.
  • If there is more than one copy, all copies will need to be on loan to other people for you to place a request.
  • There is a limit to the number of requests you can have at one time:
    • Undergraduate students: 6
    • Postgraduate students and staff: 10
    • Others: 6
  • If there is more than one copy it doesn't matter which request you click as the first copy returned will be the one kept for you.
  • If other people have already requested the same item you will join the queue. You can see how many requests have already been made by looking at the No. of requests column next to the Request link on the Library Catalogue.
  • You cannot request an item which is available on the shelves, or if you have a copy on loan or requested already, or if there is a problem with your library record (an error message will appear).
  • If the item will only be of use to you before a specific date, you can change the end date or period of interest for your request.
  • When you request items during vacations, the return date doesn't change on the Catalogue. However, if you need the item urgently you can complete an online Request form (PDF , 19kb) and we will write to the borrower to try and get the book back sooner for you.
  • If there are 3 or more requests on each copy of a book one copy will automatically be added to the Key Texts collection.

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Booking DVDs and videos

You can book up to three DVDs and videos for specific days up to 21 days in advance.

  • Choose Booking from the Holdings screen on the Library Catalogue and follow the instructions.
  • Click on Request next to the day you want to use the item.
  • Collect the cases yourself from the Audio-Visual Room in the JB Morrell Library and take them to the Lending Services desk for the DVD(s) to be put in the case(s) and issued to you.

Remember:

  • Every day the 24 hour booking and loan period starts at 11:00 and ends at 11:00 the following day.
  • A booking lasts for the first 2 hours of the period, after that anyone may borrow the item.
  • You can book a maximum of 3 DVDs and videos.
  • Please cancel your Booking if you decide you don't need the item so that someone else can use it (use My Library Account).

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Booking Closed Stack items (including theses)

Closed Stack items are kept in store, so you must book them in advance so that they can be collected for you. You can book up to six items at a time.

If an item says Closed Stack under Loan category on the Library Catalogue:

  • Choose Booking from the Holdings screen and follow the instructions.
  • Click on Request next to the day you want to use the item.
  • Collect items from JB Morrell Library Lending Services.

Remember:

  • On Monday - Friday items are available from 10:00 if booked before the day you want to use them.
  • On Saturday and Sunday items are available from 11:00 and must be booked before 10:00.
  • To use an item on the same day (Monday - Friday) you must book it before 09:00 for it to be available from 10:00 and before 13:00 for it to be available from 14:00.
  • You may book up to 6 items, up to 21 days in advance.
  • Bookings last all day and items can be collected at any time and used in the Library only until the Library closes.
  • If you need to use an item again the following day, book it again on the Library Catalogue and tell Lending Services staff when you hand it in.
  • Please cancel your Booking if you decide you don't need the item so that someone else can use it (use My Library Account).

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Booking Special Collections

We have a large collection of rare and valuable items which are kept in a secure store. You must book these in advance via the Borthwick Institute for Archives and you can then consult them in their Search Room.

For more information see our Special Collections pages.

Cancelling a request or booking

  • Please cancel your request or booking if you decide you don't need the item so that someone else can use it.
  • Choose My Library Account from the Library Catalogue.
  • Login if you haven't already.
  • Click Requests or Key Texts or Bookings depending on which you want to cancel.
  • Click the underlined number to the left of the relevant item.
  • Click on Delete.

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Frequently asked questions

What if I can't find the item on the shelf and it isn't on loan?

If you can't find an item you want on the shelves in the JBM Library, and there is no Request link on the Library Catalogue:

  • Make sure you have got the whole Shelf Location and are looking in the right place. For example, is it a Quarto (Oversize book)? Is it in the Reference Collection?
  • Check the books waiting to be shelved (Re-shelving) at the bottom of the stairs in the JB Morrell Library.
  • Check near the photocopiers in case someone has left it behind after doing a photocopy.
  • Ask for help at the Enquiry desk or Lending Services.
  • If you still can't find it we'll ask you to fill in a paper Missing Form and we'll look for it and let you know when we find it. If it's lost you can ask us to get it on inter-library loan. Forms are available on the Enquiry Desk or on the stand at the Key Texts entrance.