Using the Library

Self-renewal can be done from the library catalogue for 4-week, 3-day and 24-hour loans:

• log on to the library catalogue by entering your University computer username and password or your ID number and PIN number. If you log on with your ID number a PIN number is required for this, please ask at any Help Desk for this
• select Borrower Record
• select Loans to view the list of items you have on loan
• select the item you wish to renew then click on the Renew button

You can use self-renewal to renew your loans for a maximum of 9 times in succession, if the item is not required by anyone else. Thereafter, the item must be brought in to the Library and the renewal done at an Help Desk.

If you have any problems, ask at the Help Desk in the relevant site library.

Fines Summary

Please return items requested from you by the due date given - someone else is waiting. If items are not returned by their due date, other users, who have recalled or placed holds on these items, are inconvenienced. To discourage this, the Library levies fines.

If you have outstanding fines on your record, you will not be allowed to borrow until these are cleared. Students in their final year will not be able to graduate until all debts to the library have been cleared.

All library notifications (Recalls, Overdues and Collects) are sent to your University email address, and are not sent on paper via the Royal Mail or University internal mail unless you write to the Head of Library Services Mr Laurence Bebbington.

Remember: you need never pay a library fine if you return your loans on time!

You can request material that is out on loan, make an advanced booking for an item in Heavy Demand or request an item from another site or store using the Availability tab and Request option in Primo or the Request function from the Holdings screen in the Library Catalogue.

If the item you require is on loan to someone else then, depending on the loan period, the Library will ensure that it is returned and/or reserved for you.

If the item is in a closed access store or at a library on a different University of Aberdeen campus, you can place a request for the material to be delivered to your site library for collection.

For 4 week and standard loan items you will be notified via your University email account when an item is available for you to collect. Only your University email account will be used. If you do not want to be notified by email you must apply in writing to the Head of Library Services Mr Laurence Bebbington.

Request a standard or 4-week loan item

In Primo, if the item is currently out on loan or in a closed access store, it will say Request from in red. If you are a member of the University, you can place a request in Primo. If you are an external member, click on Details and click on the Library Catalogue link.

You can request anything that is out on loan to another reader yourself from the Library Catalogue. When you have located the item you want:

• click on the Request link on the left of the Holdings screen in the library catalogue
• enter your ID number + card issue number, followed by your PIN number

We email the person who has the item out and ask them to bring it back promptly, within 5 days. When it has come back to the library we let you know via your University email account and keep the item for you for a week.

This all normally happens within a week, however if the reader isn't able to bring the item back, your recall is kept active for up to two months. You can change the length of time a recall remains active.

If you have any problems placing a request take a note of the barcode which you will find on the catalogue record, take your ID card to an Issue Desk and ask staff to request the item for you. If the item has already been requested for someone else, we can add your name to the waiting list.

Request a short-loan item

Do this yourself from Primo or the Library Catalogue. When you have located the item you want:

• click on the Request link on the left of the Holdings screen in the library catalogue
• enter your ID number + card issue number, followed by your PIN number

You will be notified via your University email account when the item has been returned. You can also check your borrower Record on the catalogue to see if the item has been returned.

Please note that for 3-Day-Loan or 24-hour Loan Periodicals you will not be notified when the item has been returned.

Intercampus and Closed Access Store Requests

You can request items located in site libraries on different University of Aberdeen campuses or from library stores using Primo or the library catalogue.

When you have located the item you want,

• click on the Request link on the left of the Holdings screen in the library catalogue
• enter your ID number + card issue number, followed by your PIN number

Staff will fetch the material for you and send it to the appropriate site library the next working day (Monday to Friday only). For collection times, please ask at the site where you collect the material.

Further information on requesting print journal parts from store can be found in the Fact Sheet Journals - How Do I Find a Journal?

24-hour Loan Periodicals will be kept for one day before being returned to their home site library. Other Intercampus and Store material will be held for you for up to 5 days.

Daily delivery of Store material to the University Library is by approximately 16:00, Monday to Friday.

Please note: We do not transfer requested items within the Old Aberdeen campus between the University Library and Taylor Library.

Most library material is available for loan. To cater for differing needs, varying loan periods are used as detailed below.

Fines are charged for late return of all loans - a summary of current rates is available.

Long Loan

Loan Period

Valid until the end of the Summer term, but subject to recall at any time, including vacations. It is important that you always notify the library of any change in address.

Fine Rates

£1.00 per day for recalled items. See also Annual Return of books in June. Contact library staff for details.

Renewals

Recalled items cannot be renewed. Prior to the Annual return of Books in June items can be renewed via the library catalogue or in person.

4 week loan

Loan Period

A white band on the spine identifies books in this category. Books are due for return 4 weeks from date of borrowing, but are subject to immediate recall at any time if required by another reader.

Fine rate

The overdue 4 week loan fine rate is 20p per day, for items that have not been requested. Overdue recalled or on hold 4 week loan items are fined at the normal £1 per day rate.

Renewals

4 week loan items may be renewed unless recalled or on hold by another reader. Renew via the library catalogue or in person.

3-Day Loan

Loan Period

A yellow band on the spine identifies books and journals in this category. Return within 3 days, weekends included e.g. borrowed Wednesday, due back on Saturday. Holds may be placed to reserve these.

Fine Rates

£1.00 per day.

Renewals

3-day loan items may be renewed as long as no-one else has placed a hold on the item. You can renew 3-day loan items on loan to yourself via the library catalogue up to 9 times. See here for details.

24-hour Restricted Loan

Loan Period

Return within 24 hours from the time of issue, weekends included, e.g. issued 4.45pm Tuesday, due back by 4.45pm Wednesday.

Fine Rates

50p for the first hour overdue.
5p per hour thereafter for every hour the Library is open.

Renewals

Restricted loans may be renewed as long as no-one else has placed a hold on the item. You can renew 24-Hour Loan items on loan to yourself via the library catalogue up to 9 times. See here for details.

Heavy Demand

Loan Period

• The main loan period is 1 day, due back 10.30am the next day (or Monday if borrowed on a Friday or over the weekend).
• You can borrow books at any time of the day as long as they are back by 10.30 the next morning.
• A few items are on 3 hour reference. You must take the item to the Heavy Demand Desk for issuing but will only be able to read it within the Heavy Demand area.
• DVD loan periods can be found here

Fine Rates

£0.75 per hour if returned after 10.30am

Please note: there is a steep scale of fines for late returns!

Please be warned that the rate of fines for late return of Heavy Demand books is steep, increasing hourly every hour the library is open which is 9.00am - 10.00pm every day during term except Friday (till 8pm) and Sundays, 11.00am - 10.00pm.

Renewals

No phone renewals are allowed.

Renewals must be done in person, with the item present. This is because items must be returned by a specific time during the day and very often the item has already been reserved for another reader. During vacation and under exceptional circumstances we can allow phone renewals. Please phone 01224 272586 for the University Library Heavy Demand or contact the appropriate site library.