Library

SAC students may borrow items from any of the SAC site libraries using the current matriculation card issued at the beginning of the academic year. Staff are given Library tickets as is anyone wishing to register for an External Membership. If you have any queries about Library membership please ask the Library staff.

How many books may I have?

Undergraduate students may borrow up to 15 items at any one time. For Postgraduate students and staff the entitlement is 25 items. External members may borrow 10 items.

How long may I keep my books?

Most books may be borrowed for up to 4 weeks but there are also Short Loan collections (2 hours only), 1 Week loans, Overnight loans (due by 10.00 the following morning) and 3 Day loans. Reference books may not be borrowed. If you come across an unfamiliar category on the catalogue please check with the Library staff.

Due dates are stamped on date labels at the front of books. Please make sure you know where the date label is so that you return your items before they become overdue.

What kind of resources may I borrow?

Videos and DVDs usually fall into the 1 Week loan category. Journals also may be borrowed for 1 Week but check with your site library whether single issues may be borrowed or not. Sometimes only bound volumes may be borrowed.

May I keep an item for longer than its borrowing period?

If you find you need a book for longer than the 4 weeks you may renew it provided it hasn’t been reserved by any other library user. Books will normally be renewed for another 4 weeks. Either take the books up to the issue desk and ask for them to be renewed or phone your site library and give details to the Library staff. If you do renew by phone please make sure that you write the new due date on the date label. Most items may be renewed twice before they need to be brought back into the library for checking.

You may also renew online (please ask for further guidance from the staff) and you must again write the new due date on the date labels.

How do I return books?

The easiest way to return items is to take them to the issue desk and hand them to a member of staff. Please do not give your books to someone else to return or lend them to a fellow student – if your friend doesn’t return them on time you will be liable for any fines due. If the books should be lost you will have to pay for replacements. Some of the site libraries may have a book return bin sited somewhere outside the Library itself. Please ask if you think you may use that.

Fines are charged at a rate of 20p per item per day for overdue 4 Week loans up to a maximum of £10.00 per item. If you run up an outstanding debt of £5.00 in lost or late books you will not be able to renew or borrow any items. It’s up to you to make sure items are returned on time and that any fines due are paid. 1 Week loans are charged at the same rate of 20p per item per day, 3 Day loans at the higher rate of 50p per item per day, and Short Loan items at 50p for the first hour, an additional 25p per item for each hour overdue after that.

If you think you may have lost an item please inform the Library staff immediately. Fines may be settled by instalment – please ask the library staff for more information.