Borrowing: Flexible Loans

You can borrow print books, CDs and Blu-rays, folios and music scores from the library. Students and staff can borrow up to 75 items at once, and you can take them out yourself using our self-issue machines.

Check your emails so you know when an item you've borrowed has been requested by someone else: our Flexible Loans system means the amount of time you can borrow them for varies according to how popular the items are.

We don't charge fines for late items but...

Our charging policies at York may be slightly different to what you are used to. If you have overdue items requested by another user, you won't be able to borrow anymore items until they're returned. Learn more about our policies and our charges

What can I borrow?

We have around a million print books and you'll find them all in YorSearch, our library catalogue.

We also have Blu-rays, DVDs, CDs, music scores, and maps - these are in YorSearch too.

Browse YorSearch

How do I borrow?

1. Look the item up on YorSearch. It will tell you how many copies we have, whether they're in the library or out on loan, and where to find them on our shelves.

2. Go and find the item in the relevant area of the library

3. Take it to a Self-Issue Machine and follow the instructions on screen. You'll need your library card, or the MyUoY app, to borrow items.

Watch our video guide

That's it. If you can't visit the library buildings, we may be able to get material to you in other ways.

Read more about book delivery, post and scan

Do I need to request this book?

You do not need to request books if they're available on the shelves - just find them and borrow them yourself. If all copies of the book you need are out on loan, then you can request it via YorSearch.

How many items can I borrow?

York Students and Staff can borrow up to 75 items. You don't have to take this as a challenge!

External members can borrow up to 10 items. This includes SCONUL users.

How long can I keep items?

Flexible Loans last for as long as you need them, unless someone else requests the item, in which case you'll be sent an email asking you to bring the item back.

All users have up to seven days to return the item once a request is made.

If there is a queue of requests on a book, and you are a full-time user or external borrower, you will have 5 days to return it.

During vacations the time all users have to return a requested item is seven days for the Easter and Christmas breaks, and 14 days over the Summer break.

How do I renew items?

Flexible Loan items will be automatically renewed for you until you return the item or until another user requests it.

Please note: if an item has been requested and you do not return it, it will be considered lost. This is easily avoided by checking your emails, and do get in touch with us sooner rather than later if you have any problems!

We are currently reviewing our policy around locker keys to make sure all of our users have equal access

They do not currently automatically renew, though you are able to manually renew a locker key loan through your Library account if it has not been requested. If you have a locker key that you are not using, please return it so that others can use this service.

Do Interlending Loans work the same way as Flexible Loans?

Any books borrowed through the Library's Interlending service are not included in the Flexible Loans Policy and must be returned by the given due date. You can request a renewal using your Library account.

How do I return items?

You don't have to return your items to the same library you borrowed them from: for example you can return Morrell items at King's Manor Library, and you can return King's Manor Library items at the Morrell.

The University Library - Campus West

Use the self-return machine on the ground floor of the Morrell, or the book drop outside.

King's Manor - City Centre

Use the book drop on the first floor next to the entrance to the study space, or the step-free book drop located across the courtyard and adjacent to the water fountain and toilet facilities. Both book drops are checked daily Monday-Saturday. Items are removed from your account once they arrive at the University Library.

Ron Cooke Hub - Campus East

We collect books from the book drop in the Ron Cooke Hub, located near the reception area, daily. Items are removed from your account once they arrive at the Morrell.

By post

We also accept returns by post if that’s more convenient for you. You will need to cover the costs but you can use a parcel delivery or courier service of your choice and we will remove the item from your account once it’s delivered to us. All the details, as well as some tips on posting items cost-effectively, are available through the link below.

Tell us what you need!

If you find a book or article we don't already have, which you need for learning, teaching or research, we may be able to get it for you.