Loans

• How to borrow a book or journal
• How to borrow Short Loan Collection (SLC) items
• How to find out what you have on loan
• Returning items, recalls and charges

How to borrow a book or journal

Take the book or journal that you wish to borrow, together with your UCard, to the Issue Desk.

You can also use self-issue terminals in the following libraries:

• Arts and Social Sciences Library (video on using the self-issue terminals in ASSL, 1 minute 50 seconds)
• Medical Library

You will need your UCard and Library PIN in order to use self-issue terminals.

Borrowing limits

There is a limit to the number of books you can borrow at any one time:

• Undergraduates: 25 items, unrestricted by library (including up to 4 Short Loan Collection items and 4 3-day loans)
• Taught Postgraduates: 35 items, unrestricted by library (including up to 4 Short Loan Collection items and 4 3-day loans)
• Research Students: 75 items, unrestricted by library (including up to 4 Short Loan Collection items and 4 3-day loans)
• Staff: 75 items, unrestricted by library (including up to 4 Short Loan Collection items and 4 3-day loans)

Notes

• Most books are available for loan, although some reference books and individual copies of popular titles may be confined to the library.  A number of our libraries do not loan journals.
• Loan periods for books and journals vary according to the library and the level of demand for a particular title. When you find the details of a book or journal on the Library Catalogue the holdings screen will indicate the loan period.
• Sometimes journals are referred to as serials or periodicals.

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Borrowing Short Loan Collection (SLC) items

Most of our libraries operate a SLC, consisting of key texts for taught courses and other high-demand books and journals.  These can be borrowed during fixed loan periods and must be returned to the Issue Desk at the end of each loan period. The Library Catalogue will indicate on the holdings screen whether a particular book or journal is held in the SLC.

Some libraries have open-access SLC areas, in others SLC books must be requested from the Issue Desk. For details of how to use the SLC in a particular library, including loan periods, go to Our libraries and select the relevant library and SLC page.

A maximum of 4 SLC items across all libraries can be borrowed at a time. It is possible to reserve an SLC item for a particular loan period on a particular day up to two weeks in advance. Please ensure that you collect the item within the specified time period.

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How to find out what you have on loan

To see a list of items which you have on loan and the date(s) that they are due for return, choose the 'My Library Account' option from the top menu of the Library Catalogue. To sign in to your account you will need to enter your University of Bristol username and password.

Click on the 'Loans' link to see a list of your loans and to be able to renew them (except for SLC, overdue or reserved books).

For further information on the 'My Library Account' option, please visit the My Library Account page.

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Returning items, recalls and fines

Please return any items borrowed from the library when you have finished with them, and always by the due date.

Reminders (courtesy notices) are usually sent to readers approximately nine days before the due date, for standard loans only.  Please note, however, that these notices will not be produced at times when the library computer system is unavailable; therefore, it is your responsibility to monitor your loans using the ‘My Library Account’ option on the Library Catalogue.

Recalls

If an item that you have on loan is reserved by another reader we may recall it by sending a notice to your University of Bristol email account. You must return the item by the date specified on the recall notice.

If you are not a member of the University of Bristol, the notice will be sent to your registered email address or your postal address.

Overdue items

Overdue notices are sent to your University of Bristol email account. If you are not a member of the University of Bristol, the notice will be sent to your registered email address or your postal address.

Fines and charges

Fines are charged for the late return of books: please visit the fines page for details of charges.

Once books have been issued to you, you are responsible for their safe keeping; do not pass them on to others. You will be charged for the cost of replacing books that are lost while issued to your library account, together with an administration fee.

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