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.
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.
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.
That's it. If you can't visit the library buildings, you can also get material other ways - via Postal Loan or our Scan and Send service.
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 eight weeks, unless someone else requests the item in which case you'll need to return it sooner. You'll be sent an email asking you to bring the item back if it is requested by another user.
Full-time University students and external borrowers will have three days to return the item once a request is made, or two days if there is a queue of requests.
All University staff, students registered with Disability Services, and all part-time University students, will have seven days to return the item once a request is made (this is the same whether there is a queue of requests or not).
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?
If no one else requests an item, you can renew it as many times as you like: either using a self-issue machine in the library (you don't need the books with you to do this) or by logging in to YorSearch and going to Library Account.
You will not be able to renew if: the item was requested by another user at the time you borrowed it, or has been requested since you borrowed it (and you have received an Item Requested email).
Please note: if an item has not been renewed after two months you will be billed for the item as 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!
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.
At the Morrell
Use the self-return machine on the ground floor of the Morrell, or the book drop outside.
At King's Manor Library
Return books to the Help Desk when the library is open, or use the book-drop beside the library entrance (open 8am - 6pm).
At the Campus East book drop
We collect books from the red box in the Ron Cooke Hub, located near the reception area, daily at 10am, Monday to Friday. Items are removed from your account once they arrive at the Morrell.