Borrowing, returning and charges

You are automatically registered as a member of the Library within 24 hours of enrolling.

You will need your ID card to access the Sheppard Library and to borrow items, so if you lose your card you will need to get a replacement. Please report the loss to the Security office in the Quad so they can place a hold on your card to prevent any unauthorised use.  If you do not have your ID card a day pass can be issued. There is no charge for the first two day passes but please note that if a third day pass is issued a charge of £10.00 will be added to your library account.

Your library ID number is the same as the number on your ID card (e.g. M00001234). This card is used to record all transactions made by you through the library system – borrowing materials, requesting items, checking your library record, etc.

You can check your library account using Library Search
For full details please see our Library Search Guide

Any renewable books you borrow will now be automatically renewed for a maximum period of 20 weeks though you must return items if they have been requested by someone else.

Items cannot be renewed if:

• the item is not a renewable type (i.e. loan period shorter than 7 days)
• the item is requested by another user (item needs to be returned)
• you owe £20 or more in fines and/or charges (payment needs to be made)
• the item has been on loan for more than 20 weeks (item needs to be returned then reissued)
• your library account has expired or is about to expire (item needs to be returned)

If your loan fails to renew due to one of the above reasons and the problem is then resolved, you will need to manually renew the item to reactivate the automatic renewals process. Please see our Renewals Guide for more information.

Borrowing entitlements

Undergraduates may borrow a total of 12 items from the main library collection; postgraduates may borrow up to 14 items, including up to 4 short loan items and 2 items of media equipment and one laptop.

Teaching students are entitled to borrow a further 50 items from the Teaching Resources collection. Most of these items are available for 28 day loan, for use in schools. Other students may borrow items from the Teaching Resources collection as part of their allowance, in which case these items are issued for 14 days.

You can search for materials using Library Search. Items that are currently on loan may be requested (See our Library Search Guide for details). You may reserve up to five items at any one time.

Each item you borrow from the main collection will have a designated loan period of 2, 7 or 28 days. Short loan items, which are usually issued for 3 hours, are available from the UniHelp Desk. Please note, each dissertation may only be borrowed a maximum of three times and short loan items borrowed after 3:45pm will be due for return by 6:45pm.

Some library material is available for reference use only in the library, and these items are clearly marked.

Also for use in the library we offer a selection of assistive equipment which can be loaned for 3 hours from the UniHelp Desk. Please note, these items may not be removed from the Library. For a complete list, please see Practical help and equipment on the Library support for disabled students page.

It is important to return items on loan by the due date as items that become overdue will incur charges.  Items with a loan period of 7 days or longer should be returned to the library; short loan items must be returned to UniHelp.

There is a book drop window outside the main doors of the Sheppard Library to return books when the library is closed. Please renew items on loan if you cannot return them by the due date. Most 7 and 28 day loans are renewable: items may be renewed in person, by phone or online using Library Search as long as no-one has requested the item. For further details on how to renew please see our Library Search Guide

Library charges

We'll only fine you if you're late returning an item that is not renewable, or has been requested by someone else. If you keep a requested item beyond the due date we will fine you £1.00 per day for each day that it is overdue until it is returned

Please note that separate charges for late return of laptops apply and these are detailed below.

You will receive a weekly borrowing statement by email so that you can see when your items are due for return and whether any have been requested.

It is essential that you check your weekly borrowing statement and library account regularly so that you know when your items are due for return, and to ensure no-one has requested the items you have on loan.

The minimum replacement cost is £30 per item. Paid for items cannot be returned to the library and no refund will be given.

If you take care and follow the guidelines, you should be able to enjoy a totally free library service. See the Library Charges guide for further information.

Claimed returned items

If an item or items have been returned but are appearing as 'on loan' on your account – please contact the library as soon as possible to inform us and the item will be marked as 'Claimed Returned' on your library account.

When the item is marked as 'Claimed Returned', an email message will be sent to the email address stated on your library account, informing you that the item(s) have been marked as 'Claimed Returned' and explaining what happens next.

The item(s) will be searched for three times in the library, during this period the item(s) will appear on your library account as 'Claimed Returned'.

Items found will be checked in and no further action is necessary.

Items not found will be marked as lost and you will be charged the replacement cost.

Until any lost items are either paid in full or returned you will be unable to borrow or renew any other items.

A letter will be sent informing you that this is the case

If you find and return the book, only the overdue charges will apply, so please return any items before paying any charges.

Laptop loan charges

The charges for overdue laptops issued from the laptop cabinets are: 50 pence per hour, up to a maximum of £50.

Thereafter, laptops are considered ‘lost’ if still unreturned and the borrower is billed for the full cost of replacement (which is currently around £738.00).