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Is the book you need already on loan? Normal and short loan items can always be requested and should then be available for you to collect within one week. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this…
How do I request a book?
Search for the item you want using the Library Catalogue. If the item is already on loan to someone else you will see a ‘Request’ button appears on the search result:
Click the request button. You will first be asked to log in with your university username and password (or if you are an external borrower, Exeter alumni, fee payer or SCONUL access member you will need to tick the ‘Login using UoE Library identification UniCard or Library Card instead’ box and log-in using your barcode number and Library PIN).
You will now be asked to enter a cancellation date for your reservation. If you know that you won’t need it the past a certain date (perhaps you have an essay deadline) you can enter this date, so if the book hasn’t come back by then your booking will be cancelled automatically. If you have no deadline, or want the book no matter how long it takes, then enter a date here that is far in the future:
Select an appropriate date then choose ‘submit’
You can now request the item. If multiple copies of the same item are available then it usually makes sense to select that book that is due back soonest. Due dates and any pre-existing holds will show on the right:
Click on ‘Request Selected item.’ You should then be taken to screen that will confirm your hold has been successfully placed. Don’t forget to log out of your Library record!
What happens next?
If the item you requested was due back more than a week ahead the loan period will be automatically shortened and the current borrower will receive an email asking them to return it by the new date.
When the item comes back you will receive an email from us and you can come in and collect it from the home library of the book, e.g. if it is a book from a collection in St Luke’s you will need to collect it from there. Forum Library books should be collected from the reservations shelf in Express Collections.
Find your item on this shelf: it will be filed under the first four letters of your surname and your library card number.
Issue the item as normal on one of the machines in this section.
We hold the item here for up to one week (or until your not ‘cancel by’ date is reached, whichever is sooner) after this time it will pass to the next person in the queue, or back into circulation if nobody else is waiting.
You can place up to 10 holds at a time and don’t forget you can always cancel holds you no longer require, or check which items you are waiting for, by logging in to your patron record.
Please note you will not be able to request books that are freely available on the shelves, just come in and get them.
If you have any questions or would like help with this topic please contact Library Staff.
917 students and staff completed Exeter’s Library Quality Survey during November 2012.
The Library would like to extend its sincere thanks to all those who took part in this very important survey, and especially to those who took the time to leave some very detailed and useful comments for us to ponder over.
Your views really are very important to us, and we try hard to respond to requests and suggestions whenever we can. This survey has given us an opportunity to understand, in depth, how our customers feel about the quality of the services we offer, and an opportunity for us to understand where we need to channel our efforts and resources to best meet their needs.
Through the Survey we have been able to identify:
What do you want most?
The ‘Top 5’ areas you consider most important are, in descending order:
L5 The main texts and readings I need for my work.
IC1 Making electronic resources accessible from my home or office.
IC8 Print and/or electronic journal collections I require for my work.
L2 Ease of use of electronic resources.
IC4 The electronic information resources I need.
We’ve listened, and here are just some of the things we’re doing:
More Core Texts:
New £350k annual investment to greatly enhance core teaching collections, including an additional 7000+ e-books, 1100+ print books and 5 large online databases – so far!
Student-Friendly Loan Rules:
Revised loan period and fines policies for Express Collections and DVD collections, making them more student-friendly. Express Collections will also be enhanced with more copies of core texts shortly.
Student-led Purchasing Policies:
‘I want one of these!’ book suggestion scheme, and College-based ‘Library Champions’ (we’ve purchased everything recommended).
New Digitised Reading Lists:
New Digitised Reading Lists service direct into ELE modules, providing ‘one-stop-shop’ access to resources
More Study Space:
Your Forum Library now provides 750 seats (up from the original 400), rising to 1000 at peak exam time. This includes 90 silent study seats, 150 quiet study/individual study seats, 115 computers, 4 assistive study rooms, a new library courtyard, large comfy social learning spaces and 150 additional seasonal seats during exam times. All this adjacent to the full Forum facilities including the Student Service Centre, seminar rooms and cafe.
The phenomenal popularity of the Forum Library means that, even though there are now about twice as many study seats available than ever before, space remains at a premium at busy times. In response, we will be adding even more seats shortly!
Opened in September 2012, the new Amory Study Centre offers a mix of quiet, group and silent study spaces, which together with the Sanctuary provides an additional 432 study spaces for Streatham Campus.
£10 million investment in the Exchange at Tremough has extended library and learning spaces with extended 24/7 opening.
Quiet Study Area in the Amory Study Centre
For a more in-depth look at survey results please see our webpages.
You may be planning some late night revision sessions in preparation for this month’s exams. Here’s a guide to which study spaces are available late:
Study Spaces available 24/7:
The Forum Library: during exam time the Library takes control of the two seminar wings on Level 0 and Level =1 (otherwise part of the Forum) expanding the total available study spaces to 1000+ seats. Library staff are available to help in the Forum Library from 08.00 – 21.00 on weekdays and 10.00 – 18.00. There are a few services that are restricted to staffed hours such as collecting theses or inter-library loans but the building and all the Forum library study spaces are available 24/7 and most stock can be self-issued and returned at any time.
24/7 Space and PC Cluster at St Luke’s Library: The Library itself is open 08.30 – 21.00 on weekdays, 10.00 – 18.00 Saturdays and 14.00 – 18.00 on Sundays but St Luke’s also has a swipe-access PC Cluster and study room (50+ seats) that are accessible 24 hours a day throughout the whole year.
Available until late:
Amory Study Centre: the opening hours of the Amory Study Centre have been extended for the duration of the exam period and this popular, swipe-accessible space is currently open until midnight 7 days a week!
Quiet Study area in the Amory Study Centre
Look after yourself!
Everyone’s revision schedule is different and, here in the Library, we want to make sure that study spaces are available for you whatever time of day or night you need them. But if you are planning on studying late into the night then make sure you take care of yourself.
5 Simple revision tips:
Look after your diet and remember to drink water regularly
Take some exercise – it helps relieve the stress
Get some sleep!
Take regular breaks – you’ll think better if you have a bit of time away
Check your notes; make sure your revision plan is matched to the course objective
Safety First!
Try to avoid walking home alone; if you leave the Library in the middle of the night always try to walk with a friend or perhaps call a taxi.
Did you know free blankets are available for you to use in the Library? Just ask at the reception desk.
None of us like getting Library fines; but at the same time nobody likes missing out on the resources they need to research their next project. Our fines exist to ensure that everyone has fair access to the books they need, and that items are renewed regularly or returned promptly either if no longer required or if they’ve been requested by another user. Managing your borrowing responsibly is one of the ingredients of a successful degree. With self-service machines, email reminders and online renewals we try to make it as easy as possible for you to keep track of your borrowing and the good news is that with a little care you can get the most out of Library resources while avoiding fines altogether. The best way to do this is to understand our loan periods and renewals system, so here’s a handy guide to help you do just that.
Key tips for responsible borrowing:
1. Know the loan rules
Library resources will issue for different time periods:
Normal Loans: 28 days
Short Loans: 1 week
Express Collections (Books and Locker Keys): 24 hours and over the weekend
Express Collections (DVDs): Undergraduates – 24 hours and over the weekend; Postgraduates – 72 hours (3 days); Staff – 120 hours (5 days)
When you issue an item you should always get a receipt which will tell you the date and (if it’s an Express Collection s item) also the time it is due back.
You can also check your record online to see when items are due. To do this either click the ‘patron record’ button on the Library Catalogue or log-in to MyExeter and just click the ‘Library’ tab. Select ‘Your Library Record’ > ‘Items currently checked out’. This will show a list of what you have and when they are due. You can choose to sort by due date, to see which items need to be returned or renewed soonest.
You can renew items as many times as you need so long as they haven’t been requested by another user. If a book gets recalled the loan period will shorten automatically giving you one week to return it (unless there is already less than a week left until it is due, in which case you simply won’t be able to renew at the end of that period).
2. Check your email
We will send you an email if your book gets recalled informing you of its new due date so it’s important you check your University email regularly.
We also send out email reminders when your Normal and Short Loan books are due for renewal and again if they go overdue. Please note that due to the short nature of the loan period we can’t currently send reminders for Express Collections items. Lots of borrowers find it handy to set an alarm on their phone or computer to remind them to renew these items.
3. Renew Online
Your receipt, your online Library record and the email reminders we send should help ensure that you know when you’re reaching the end of your loan period. If you still need the items you can always renew them so long as nobody else has requested them. The best way to renew is online, via your Library Record. Log in to your Library Record, either through the Library Catalogue or via the Library tab on MyExeter.
You’ll see a list of the items you have on loan, together with the date they’re due for return.
To renew all of your items, click Renew All.
If you only want to renew some of them, tick the boxes by the items you want to renew and click Renew Selected.
You’ll be asked to confirm you wish to renew these items. Click Yes to complete the process.
If the renewal was successful, the Status column will clearly state ‘renewed’ and show the new due date. If any items cannot be renewed, a message will appear to warn you of this and the Status column will show the reason why.
Need more guidance? Why not watch our video demonstration of online renewal?
Troubleshooting: please note that you can’t renew your items online, after you’ve been sent an overdue notification, or if you have unpaid fines of over £10. In these situations you’ll need to contact the Library in order to renew.
You can also renew by phone: 01392 723867, by email or in person at any of the Library desks. If you have any trouble with the online system please contact us as soon as possible.
4. If you do get fines…
The above tips should help you keep on top of Library borrowing and avoid items going overdue, but if you do get a fine, these are the things you need to know.
Because fines exist to ensure fair circulation, they are calculated according to demand:
Normal loan: 20p per day
Journals: 20p per day
Short loan: £1 per day
Express Collections: £1 for the first hour and 50p per hour thereafter
DVD £1 for the first hour and 50p per hour thereafter
All Overdue Recalled Items: £1 per day
If you do have an overdue item, the first thing to do is stop fines going up by returning it or contacting us to request a renewal. At the point it is returned or renewed the fine will add to your account. You can check your fines via your Library record, or on any of the self-issue machines on the Library.
Fines and borrowing:
Unpaid fines of over £10 will prevent you from borrowing or renewing further items, so if you are in this situation you’ll need to pay off at least some of your fines. It’s quick and easy to do this online with a credit or debit card: simply visit the fines payment site and follow the onscreen instructions. Always click on the “Finish” button at the top or bottom of the payment summary once you are done (don’t just close the browser!) Please note minimum online payment of £1.
Fines of £10 and under will not prevent further borrowing but will need to be paid off before you finish your studies. You can do this:
Online (as above) 24 hours a day
By cash, cheque, credit or debit card at the Forum Library during their desk opening hours.
By cash or cheque only at St Luke’s or Research Commons during their desk opening hours.
As always, Library staff are here to help so if have any questions or concerns about loan periods, fines or anything else for that matter do get in touch!
There are loads of activities happening over Freshers week across the University and here in the Library we hope to see you for our events which will take place in the Forum Street and the Library.
So what’s occuring?
A
Monday 17th September is Advice and Support day between 10.00am and 16.00pm
Come and join in the Mix ‘n’ Match Librarians – match the Subject Librarians’ heads to the correct bodies and add the image representing the subject they look after. Quickest match can win you 50 pounds worth of vouchers so well worth a go and there are runners up prizes too.
B
Wednesday 19th September is Balance and Health day from 10.00am until 16.00pm
Throughout the day in the Forum Street there will be four showcases of Arts and Culture work that includes student-focused music.
Also come along to our Games and Relaxation space in the entrance of the Forum Library. There will be two free book giveaways during the day and you can enter a team into the “Chopsticks game “.
C
Friday 21st September is for Clever Thinking between 10.00am and 16.00pm.
Head to the Library Lounge and explore our Special Collections “play-table” where you could win a pair of Northcott Theatre tickets to “Classic Cut” by Shobana Jeyasingh Dance at 19:30 on Thursday 11th October, plus some runner up prizes.
Finally get your thinking caps on and enter our Treasure Hunt round the Forum Library. Open from Friday 21st until Friday 28th September the winner will be drawn from all the correct entries and will get the top prize of a Kindle with 25 pounds for the runners up.
So loads going on and remember the Forum library is open 24/7 for you. So come along and see us.
Last year a study was undertaken that showed a link between Library usage and higher degree results, so if you’re beginning or continuing a course later this month why not get in the Library habit right from the start? If you are new to the University of Exeter getting to grips with our three Libraries needn’t be a daunting experience. Here’s a short guide to the variety of ways you can get help from us.
Library Customer Services are the frontline team, responsible for: answering queries or referring you on for more specialist support, helping you find the resources you need and maintaining the Library spaces. We’re here to help you 7 days a week. There are a number of ways you can get in touch with us:
1). Enquiry Desks
Our main enquiry desks are located in the Forum Library entrance next to the Forum Street, and by the entrances in our site Libraries, Research Commons and St Luke’s. During staffed hours there will always a member of staff here who can answer your questions or put you in touch with the person who can.
2). Information Central
Information Central is located on level -1 of the Forum Library. A number of Library staff are based here and available to help Monday – Friday 09.00 – 17.00. You’ll find the help desk immediately on the right as you step through the door. Come in and see us!
3). Meet our Rovers
Can’t find the classmark you need? Library staff are on hand! Library Customer Services are an active team working out and about on the Library floors where you need us most. We wear a white or navy blue uniform and colourful lanyards so we are easy to identify. Equipped with iPads, we can help you search the catalogue, access your library record or deal with a number e-resource queries on the spot. Please ask, we’re always happy to help!
4). Email or Phone
You don’t need to come into the building to get help. Why not send us an email: . We check and respond to messages 7 days a week, so don’t hesitate to drop us a line or, if you’d prefer, give us a call on +44 (0) 1392 723867.
5). Website and Information kiosks
The answers to many common queries, such as how many items can I borrow can all be found on our website. Guidance is also available via the touchscreen Library Information Kiosk located in the Forum Library lounge.
6). Keep in Touch!
Keep up with latest Library news and developments throughout the coming year. Why not follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or set up an RSS feed to get updates from this blog? Or if you’d prefer to put pen to paper there are comments boxes located around our Library spaces. Questions, comments, suggestions and feedback good or bad we’re always keen to hear your thoughts on how we can improve our service, so do keep in touch.
So for everyone gearing up to start or return to University this month, good luck with your packing. Library staff can’t can’ t cram any more in your suitcases for you but there are a huge number of ways we can assist both in person and via phone, email and the web. Just Ask!
The Forum Library lift is going to be out of action between 12pm on Monday 23 July and approximately 8am on Tuesday 24th July for routine maintenance.
This is so the flooring can be replaced. There is likely to be some unpleasant fumes from the adhesive hence the reason for closing the lift!
If you need assistance to access the Library or the resources please do not hesitate to ask library staff or give us a ring on 01392 263873 and we will gladly help.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused by this maintenance.
ns if you wish to sell or dispose of your unwanted textbooks: