Our commitments, your responsibilities

Library staff are committed to providing excellent facilities and services to support your learning and research, but this can only be done in partnership with you.

Please help us to help you make the most of library services and resources.

Zones

Zones within the library explain the rules and expectations, which you'll also find recreated in other areas of the campus. Each Zone has simple rules around noise levels, as well as food and drink consumption; we have very clear signage in the library explaining what you can and can't do in these Zones, and also the nearest place you can find other Zone types. For the library to work for our whole community, we rely on everyone to work with the right approach for the Zone they're in.

Silent Zones

These are all about concentration, and as such there's no conversation, no sound from headphones, and phones need to be on silent. Only bottled water is allowed.

Quiet Zones

Noise kept to a minimum, hot and cold drinks allowed, and cold food is allowed.

Studious Buzz Zones

Group work and conversation allowed, as are hot and cold drinks, and hot and cold food. Note takeaways are not allowed anywhere in the library buildings.

I need silence...

Silent Zones can be found on Burton Floor 1, Morrell Floor 3 and in Library@Piazza

I need quiet...

Quiet Zones can be found on Morrell Floors 0, 1 and 2, and in the Vanbrugh 24 hour Library Study Area

I need noise...

Studious Buzz Zones can be found on Fairhust Floors 0, 1 and 2, and in the Ron Cooke Hub 24 hour Library Study Area

More on Library Study Spaces
More on Library locations

Services

You can expect us to:

  • treat all users with courtesy and respect
  • keep your personal details and your borrowing record secure
  • provide all relevant library information and keep you up to date with changes
  • provide an enquiry service
  • offer you an induction to the library and information skills training
  • allow rapid self-service loans, renewals, requests and returns
  • offer ways for you to communicate your views about the library

We expect you to:

  • treat other users and library staff with courtesy and respect
  • never lend your University or library card to anyone else, or share your username and password
  • check your emails and My Library Account regularly, to know when your items are due for return and to check we have your current contact information
  • ask for help when you need it
  • familiarise yourself with library policies and services
  • offer any ideas on how we can improve our service

Environment

You can expect us to:

  • provide a safe, clean, quiet environment for study
  • provide study areas for different types of learning
  • provide recycling bins for waste in accordance with the University's recycling policy
  • ensure that library staff make regular patrols of the building to maintain a suitable environment for study

We expect you to:

  • treat library buildings and facilities with respect
  • not smoke in the Library or within the no smoking zone outside of the Library entrance
  • keep any valuable possessions safe with you at all times
  • respect the rules of the Zone you're working in (see Zones information, above)
  • not reserve seats and tables for unreasonable amounts of time. Please note, if you leave a study space unattended for more than an hour, your belongings may be removed from the area by library staff
  • dispose of your litter appropriately, including in the recycling bins provided
  • leave the Library promptly when asked to do so in an emergency

Resources

You can expect us to:

  • provide a range of print, electronic and other information resources to support learning and research
  • maintain a catalogue to help you find the resources you need
  • provide equipment and network/wireless facilities to access these resources
  • provide photocopiers, printers and scanners
  • enable you to access resources available from other libraries and universities through collaborative arrangements

We expect you to:

  • return requested items on time, respecting the needs of other users
  • not write on, highlight or otherwise mark books or journals, or damage them in other ways
  • not use computers to download or circulate offensive material
  • be aware of and comply with current copyright law and licences
  • be aware of and comply with the University's regulations for use of computing facilities

See also: