Students and staff have many options for borrowing our physical resources, and can even access them away from campus.

You can browse YorSearch to see all of our books, journals and other resources. If you find a resource that you want to borrow and we don't have digital access to it, we have a range of methods of getting physical resources to you.

Collect items from another Library

Most of our physical resources are housed in the main University Library, but we also have collections at the King's Manor and York Minster Libraries, and even some resources stored off-site.

Our Book Delivery Service allows you to request that resources are delivered to a different location for you to collect. You can collect from either the University Library or Kings Manor Library.

You can request for most physical resources to be collected from a different Library, with a few exceptions:

  • We can't deliver items that are for reference use only. You will have to visit that Library to look at the resource and cannot take it away.
  • We don't deliver items to the Minster Library due to space restrictions, but items from the Minster Library can be delivered to the main Library.
  • We don't deliver between King's Manor Library and the Minster Library as these locations are very close to each other in the city centre.
  • Archive material and the Rare Books collection are not included in this service.

Book delivery requests can be placed through YorSearch.

  1. Log-in to YorSearch
  2. Click Request this item
  3. If the item status is On Loan, you can select which library you would like to collect the item from
  4. If the item status is Item on Shelf, this means it is available for you to collect from the shelf. The request box will display the alternative collection location
  5. Click Submit to place the request

If you submit your requests before 3pm, we will normally deliver your items the next working day. Requests will take longer over the weekend, or if they are being delivered from the Minster Library, but we aim to deliver all items within three working days.

Items requested from the off-site stores may take longer to be delivered. We collect items once per week from the store.

Have items posted to you

We're happy to post items out to those who need it through our Postal Loans service.

Postal loans are treated the same as our normal flexible loans and can be viewed from your Library account.

Most of our physical resources can be requested for Postal Loan, but please be aware that we are not able to post reference only items.

Additionally, not all items will be suitable to send via Postal Loans, for example due to their size or condition. We will contact you if this is the case.

  1. Find and open the item that you need in YorSearch. You will need to log in to YorSearch to place a request.
  2. Click on the banner at the top of the page that says Need a scan or postal loan?
  3. Complete the request form, which will automatically capture details of the item you are requesting.

The request form will ask you to choose which of the delivery options you would prefer. We will do our best to match the option that you choose, but please be aware that it might not always be possible to do so (for example if a book is not suitable for postal delivery).

We anticipate that it will take up to 10 working days for your items to arrive, dependent on postal services. All parcels are sent using Royal Mail 2nd Class delivery.

Receive digital scans of physical resources

Our Scan and Send service enables you to request a scan of a book chapter or article for electronic delivery. When your scan is ready we’ll send it via email. 

Currently we are only offering this as an emergency service due to staffing capacity and level of demand. 

Copyright restrictions prohibit us from scanning more than a chapter or up to 10% of a book (whichever gives the greater number of pages). We can scan one article or up to 10% from a single journal issue.

We will only send scans if the item is not otherwise available electronically. Please ensure that you have checked YorSearch before placing your request.

We expect to be able to scan from most items in the Library, but may on occasion decline a scan request due to unforeseen circumstances (for example if a book is too fragile or unsuitable to transfer between library sites). In those cases we will contact you to discuss alternatives.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide scans of items held at the York Minster Library.

  1. Find and open the item that you need in YorSearch. You will need to log in to YorSearch to place a request.
  2. Click on the banner at the top of the page that says Need a scan or postal loan?
  3. Complete the request form, which will automatically capture details of the item you are requesting.

The request form will ask you to choose which of the delivery options you would prefer. We will do our best to match the option that you choose, but please be aware that it might not always be possible to do so (for example if a book is not suitable for scanning).

We anticipate that it may take up to a month for us to provide your scan, due to staffing capacity and the level of demand.

You can also use the Print, Copy, Scan machines in the Library to scan book chapters yourself. This will be a quicker option due to demand on the service.

Return items to the Library

You can always return your items in person using the Book Return Point in the main Library, which is available 8am to midnight every day, or at one of the following book drop locations on campus:

  • Outside the Morrell Library (to the right of the main entrance doors): available 24/7
  • Inside the Law & Sociology building on Campus East: available 24/7
  • At King’s Manor Library using either the book drop outside the Library entrance: available 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm on Saturday; or the self-service return point inside the Library reception area: available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

We will remove the items from your account when we next empty the book drop.

Return items by post

Anyone is welcome to return their Library items by post and we will pay for the postage costs.

You are welcome to return your books in the post using our Royal Mail Tracked Returns service. This is a 48-hour tracked service and books (up to the weight limit) can be sent back to us without postal charge to you, though you will be expected to provide suitable packaging.

To use the service:

  1. Package your items ready to return.
    There is a maximum weight limit of 20kg per parcel and size limit of 61cm (L) by 46cm (W) by 46cm (D). If your parcel exceeds those limits please package your items across multiple parcels. You will need to print a unique label for each parcel (see below). You will need to provide your own packing materials.
  2. Address your items to University Library, University of York, York YO10 5DD.
  3. Visit the Royal Mail website and select University of York from the list of retailers.
  4. Select the shape of your item and confirm the size and weight are below the maximum limits.
  5. Add your details to the form and select Make your label.
    You can choose whether to print out a label to attach to your package, or to send a QR code to your smartphone. If you choose to print your labels, remember that you’ll need one for each separate package that you’re returning.
  6. Take your package to your nearest Post Office or Customer Service Point.
    If you chose to send a QR code to your phone, a return label will be printed for you. You will not be charged for postage.
  7. You should obtain proof of postage and keep this receipt until the items have been removed from your Library Account. If the package does not arrive at the Library, your proof of postage can be used to remove the items from your account.
  8. Upon arrival at the Library, we will remove the items from your Library Account. Don’t worry if your items are slightly delayed in the post; we will backdate the return to the date of postage.

If you are concerned that items have not reached the Library, please contact us.

If you live outside the UK, you will need to pay for costs of returning your books to us in the post. We will then refund the costs of your postage.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Return your items to us by packing them suitably and sending them to University Library, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom.
  2. You should obtain proof of postage and keep this receipt until the items have been removed from your Library Account. If the package does not arrive at the Library, your proof of postage can be used to remove the items from your account.
  3. When we receive your items, we’ll remove them from your Library Account and let you know that they’ve arrived.
  4. You can then apply for a refund of the postage costs by completing the refund request form. You will need to attach an image of your receipt.
  5. We will arrange for a refund to the bank details saved on your University account. Refunds will be paid in Pound Sterling, based on that day’s exchange rate.