Some UCL Library Sites have different loan periods and arrangements. Please check our sites & opening hours pages for further details.

A high proportion of books and some journals can be borrowed if you are eligible for a borrowing card.

However, books labelled 'Reference only' and most scientific journals cannot be borrowed (many journals are now available electronically; please see the electronic journals web pages for further information).

Loan periods for borrowable materials are indicated on UCL's eUClid catalogue in the 'Item status' box displayed when you have found the title you want and selected the site as below:

Apart from standard loans, loan periods for books and borrowable journals are shown on the cover

Loan periods and fines are:

• Not all library sites will have all these loan types on the shelves.
• The standard loan (8 week) period will be shortened if somebody else requests the item. You will be advised of a new return date by email (see below).
• One week loans are non-renewable if somebody else has requested the item.
• Materials held to support teaching are not always available for non-UCL users: ask staff if unsure.
• Fines are charged on overdue items, see above for rates
• If you have fines outstanding, or overdue books you will not be allowed to continue borrowing.

Where and how to borrow

Borrowable materials found on the shelf must be taken to the issue desk (or the self-service issue machine at the Science Library).

The due date will be stamped inside the book if you borrow it from the issue desk.

OR you will be given a receipt with the details if you used the self-service issue machine at the Science Library.

Please note that the issue desk is not always open when the library is open.

Advance warning of due dates

Library Services sends automatically generated emails to your UCL email account (for external users, to the email address you provide us when you become a member), to warn you that 1 week and Standard Loans are becoming due for return or renewal. We are not in a position to guarantee that these notices will always arrive with you in time for you to take the requisite action, so please do not rely on them. You will still be liable for fines for overdue books if you have not received such a courtesy notice. The messages are intended as a courtesy from the Library and were introduced following requests from library users. We hope you find them helpful.

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There are limits on the number of items you are allowed to borrow at any one time, as follows:

To borrow, you must present your College ID card, which will have been/can be barcoded for library use.

NO CARD = NO BORROWING

* UCL taught postgraduate and UCL research postgraduate borrowing limits increase by 5 items during the UCL summer vacation.

• Issue Desks in UCL's libraries are not always open for the full period during which the library building is open for reading and study (please see our sites & opening hours pages for further details).
• Issue Desks and self service facilities always close at least 15 minutes before the building itself: a warning will be given (at the Main Library a bell rings 15 minutes before closing, an announcement is made at the Science Library).
• Check locally and see posters for times.

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To borrow or renew one week and standard loan books, please use the self service borrowing and renewal machines located in the learning Laboratory on the ground floor of the Science Library. A self-service machine for borrowing, renewing and returning is also available in the Eastman Dental Institute Library.

One week and standard loan books can be returned through the separate returns machines also located in the Learning Laboratory.

For help, please visit the Assistance Desk.

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Standard and 1 week loans can be renewed if nobody else has requested them.

How to renew:

• In person at the Issue Desk
• At the Science Library - at the self-renewals terminal
• * Do it yourself: see Using and checking your own library account, below
  
  * Please note:
  
  
  • Self-service renewals are normally possible 7 days a week, except for a short maintenance outage at 3:00am.
  • Self-service renewals have two conditions attached - a debit balance of less than £20.00 and there are no overdue loans on your record
  
  
• By telephone, during opening hours:
  UCL Main Library - 020 7679 7792, UCL Science Library - 020 7679 7795
  For other sites, please see our sites & opening hours pages

  It is our priority to attend to patrons waiting in the queue at the issue desk, so we may not be able to take your call. You may telephone any of the library sites to request renewals if you have difficulties getting through.

Note the new return date.

You CANNOT renew books by email.

If your books are already overdue, please telephone one of the library issue desks.

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• Bring the items back to the Issue Desk you borrowed them from.
• Items are due back on or before the due date and by the time shown, where applicable.
• Some sites also have a 'book bin' where you can return books out of hours. Don't use these for short loan books.

Recalls

If another library member requests a standard loan on loan to you, we will email you/send you a note asking that you return it within a week. This new date overrides the original return date and a fine is payable if it is ignored.

If a one-week loan item is recalled you will not be able to renew the loan beyond the current due date.

We operate a system whereby a request on one copy of a book prevents renewals on other copies of the same loan period at the same site. This ensures that if you request an item that is not returned, another copy can be held for you instead.

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1. Reserving standard and one week loans

You can reserve these only if all copies (with the same loan period) are on loan in a particular library site.

You can only request standard and one week loans.
If a book is on loan to somebody else, a due date is shown on eUClid and a 'Request' link displayed.
You are limited to 3 requests at any one time.

To place the request via eUCLid, the library catalogue:
From the catalogue record select a copy of the book from the site and with the loan period you want. Click on the 'Request' link on the left-hand side of the screen, as below:

You are then asked for your

• Barcode = the number on the back of your library/UCL ID card
• PIN code = a four digit number unique to you. Ask staff if you don't know yours.
  Click 'GO'

PLEASE CLICK 'Reset' ON THE CATALOGUE TERMINALS IN THE LIBRARY WHEN YOU FINISH.

You will receive an email when the book is ready for you to collect from the Issue Desk. You have a week to collect it.

2. Requesting books not yet on the shelf

Books that appear on the library catalogue with an item status of: On order, In cataloguing, Unclassified and In processing can be requested through the catalogue. The book will be rushed through as quickly as possible to fulfill your request, but we are unable to guarantee how long this will take, especially in the case where books are "on order".

You will be notified of the book's availibility for pick-up in the normal manner.

3. Advance bookings - short loans

Loans of 2 days and 3 hours can be booked in advance for specific timeslots whether they are on loan or not. Follow the above procedure, selecting the required timeslot as displayed on the screen. These are:

1000-1300; 1300-1600; 1600-1000 (next day); or Monday if taken on a Friday night.

You must collect the item you booked within an hour of the beginning of the time slot.

You are limited to 3 advanced bookings at any one time.

4. Cancelling a Reservation/Request

If you no longer require a book you have requested, please cancel your request so that it is available for other library users.

Note: you can only cancel a request for a standard or one week loan if it is still "in process". If the book is "on hold" it is waiting to be picked up at the issue desk and needs to be cancelled in person.

See below

Self-service is normally available 7 days a week, except for a short maintenance outage at 3:00am.

Select 'My account' from the top menu bar of the eUCLid library catalogue.

You are asked for your:

• Barcode = the number on the back of your library/UCL ID card
• PIN code = a four digit number unique to you. Ask staff if you don't know yours. Click 'Log on'.

* To renew a book, view your loans and select the item(s) you want renewed; select 'renew'

* Please note:

• Self-service is normally available 7 days a week, except for a short maintenance outage at 3:00am.
• Self-service renewals have two conditions attached - a debit balance of less than £20.00 and there are no overdue loans on your record

To cancel a reservation select 'Hold requests' to display your reservations and then select the 'Delete reservation' option.

You can also change your PIN here.

When you have finished looking at your record, click 'Reset' (top left of the screen on eUClid terminals) to make sure that other users cannot get access to your record.

Lost books

If you lose a book on loan to you, please contact the issue desk you borrowed it from as soon as possible. We will either ask you to pay for a replacement or allow you to purchase a copy of the book in agreement with the Subject Librarian responsible for that collection.

If a loan is stolen from you, unfortunately we still have to ask you for the replacement cost. We can, however, provide you with a written receipt for the cost, which you may be able to use to make a claim with your insurance company.

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Staff and students: College requires that you regularly check your UCL email account.
This is where the library will send you messages about your library use.

Non-UCL members: please give Issue Desk staff your email address; otherwise we have to rely on the post to get in touch.

Books on loan to you must be renewed and returned on time or YOU PAY THE FINE!

Check your UCL email account for library messages at least once a week

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Last modified 5 March 2010