Responding to feedback during the lockdown

Since March 2020 we have responded quickly to rapidly changing situations. We understand that the pandemic has been a difficult time for many members of the UCL community. The safety of our users and staff remains our first priority and we work with the university and follow the government’s guidelines to keep you safe. We also know that your studies and work are important which is why we will continue to support you and invest in additional resources. Your feedback is vital to helping us develop new services.

In January we received the following feedback.

You said you would like to use libraries and study sites during the lockdown

In line with the law and the government’s guidance, UCL is encouraging students and staff to work at home at the moment. We have opened some library sites for those students and staff who are eligible to work on campus.

We have expanded our collection of e-books and introduced new online support tools for everyone who is working or studying at home. Library support is available from the Subject Liaison Librarian and Site Library teams and through online Subject Guides. 

You said you would like to access more books at home

We have invested significantly to improve our digital library, which is now amongst the best of any university library globally. We also have a policy to buy e-books in preference to print where possible, as these are available 24/7 anywhere and can be more accessible.

You can suggest books that you need to support your learning via our suggestion form, or contact your Subject Liaison Librarian or Site Library.

If you need to read part of a print book then, for certain collections, you can use our Scan and Send service to request a chapter of a book to be sent to your UCL email address. 

You said you would like to request more than one chapter through our Scan and Send service.

Due to copyright law we can only scan one chapter of a book or a single article from a print journal. The Scan and Send FAQs provide more information on the service.

You can usually find the book's details on the publisher's website and also on websites like Library Hub Discover and WorldCat; also in Google Books and Amazon and other online bookshops and suppliers. If you cannot find the contents pages using the methods just mentioned then you can request the contents page via Scan and Send.  However, this will count towards your overall percentage of what you can have copied and you would then have to resubmit your request with the chapter you needed.

You said you wanted online access to essential reading for your courses

We work with academics to identify key texts for courses and purchase e-books. Where we cannot purchase e-books, we upload digitised book chapters through Reading Lists Online.

You can suggest books that you need to support your learning via our suggestion form, or contact your Subject Liaison Librarian or Site Library.

You said you were concerned about getting fined as a result of the lockdowns

All book loans for current students and staff have been extended until restrictions are lifted. We are also providing services to support students who completed their courses in Summer 2020 to return their books.

If you have any questions about your library record, please contact us by email library@ucl.ac.uk or through our online chat service. 

Library Services will continue to support you this term by providing enhanced resources to help you study remotely and by keeping some library sites open for those students and staff who are eligible to work on campus.

Please check the Service Updates page for the most current information.

Questions or feedback

If you have any questions or feedback about Library Services please contact us please contact us by email library@ucl.ac.uk, through our online chat service or contact your dedicated liaison librarian or site library (details available on our Subject Guides).