All you need to know on how to borrow and renew items, how long they can be borrowed for and managing your library account

Members of the Library

All staff and students are automatically members of the Library and your UWL ID card admits you to our Libraries and enables you to borrow our resources.

  • If you have a problem with your card, or you lose it, please contact the UWL ID Card Centre immediately on 020 8231 2070.
  • Users of the Libraries are reminded that access to our facilities and services is restricted to UWL students, staff and authorised visitors only.

Accessing your Library account

Your Library account allows you to access and manage a range of library services quickly and easily.

Borrowing and returning

  • Borrowing and returning from the Paul Hamlyn Library

    There is a self-service kiosk in the entrance area on the ground floor. Follow the instructions on the touch screen, and remember to take your receipt when you have finished.

    Our automated loans return machine in the entrance area uses RFID technology to make returning your loans quicker and easier than ever before. Simply feed them in to either of the two slots, wait for the machine to recognise the item and print out a receipt. If you have library charges to pay, you can do this in person at the library, online from your library account or by telephone.

    You may return loans to the Paul Hamlyn Library using the postal service. However, you remain responsible for loaned items until they are properly received and discharged by our staff, so we recommend you use recorded delivery.

  • Borrowing and returning from the Reading Campus Library

    There is a self-service kiosk on the 9th floor at Fountain House. Follow the instructions on the touch screen and place returned books in the specified bin as instructed on screen.

    You may return loans to the Reading Campus Library using the postal service. However, you remain responsible for loaned items until they are properly received and discharged by our staff, so we recommend you use recorded delivery.

  • Borrowing and returning from Paragon House

    There is no library facility at Paragon House. However, in the Social Learning Space on the second floor, the library and student services provide a book collection service and there is a self-service kiosk to enable the return of books and other items borrowed from the Paul Hamlyn and Fountain House libraries.

    Follow the instructions on the touch screen and remember to place any returned items in the returns bin next to the machine. The bin is emptied daily on weekdays.

    Please note that you must use the machine to return your loans before placing them in the bin or the item will not be removed from your record until it is received at the Paul Hamlyn Library.

Requesting Books

student in library

Use LibSearch to find the book(s) you need

When you have found your book please follow the below guidance:

  • From the main search screen select Access Now and then Access Catalogue Record
  • Select the Place a Reservation button on the right-hand side of the record screen
  • Select your preferred pickup location (Paragon House Paul Hamlyn Library, Reading Campus Library) from the drop-down list
  • Click on the Confirm Reservation button
  • You can check your reservation in your LibSearch account section

Collecting your books

Once your books are ready for collection you will receive an email confirming this.

You can visit your chosen site and use a self-issue machine to add the books to your Library account.

In order to maintain fair access to our collections, we will retain your book(s) for collection for seven days after the date of your email confirmation. After that time, you will have to submit another request.

Collection arrangements and operating hours will differ depending on what site you are collecting from and if your books are available. You must wait for your email confirmation before coming to collect your books.

  • Collection from Ealing

    If your book is available on the shelves in the Paul Hamlyn Library and you complete your request before 12:30pm Monday - Sunday, you should expect it to be available for collection from 5pm the same day. If you make your booking after 12:30pm and the book you request is available on the shelves of the Paul Hamlyn Library, you should expect it to be available on the following day. We will notify you by email that it is ready for collection.

    If your book is currently on loan to another borrower, or is held at our Reading Campus Library, you should wait for confirmation that your book is ready for collection.

  • Collection from Paragon

    You will collect your books from the Student Services Staff in the Social Learning Space on the 2nd floor. Please ask at the hatch.

    We will let you know when you can collect your book after you make your request.

    If the book is available in either the Paul Hamlyn or Reading Campus Libraries you should expect it to be ready for collection within two to four working days.

    Hours of operation are normally 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, but please be prepared to come back later if there is no member of staff present.

    Please remember that you must wait for your email confirmation that your book is ready for collection.

  • Collection from Reading

    You will collect your books from the reservation shelves in the Library on the 9th floor.  

    We will let you know when your books are ready to collect.

    If you have requested books which are only available at the Paul Hamlyn Library in Ealing, your books should be ready to collect from Tuesday at 4pm if you have requested by 4pm on Monday of the same week. If you request between 4pm on Monday and 4pm on Wednesday, your book will be ready to collect from Thursday at 4pm.

    Operating hours:

    • Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm

    Please remember that you must wait for your email confirmation that your book is ready for collection.

Postal loans service

This service is intended for students who are home-learning and unable to come to campus. Please only use this service if you are not able to visit the Library in person. This service is restricted to UK addresses.

The service allows you to select up to three books at a time to be posted to your home. One request can be made per week, up to the borrowing limit of fifteen items.

Only book titles where there is no ebook equivalent can be requested via this service. Please always check the Library website to ensure that copies of the book titles are available to borrow before requesting this service.

  • Requesting your books

    A stack of books

    Find the book(s) you would like to borrow using LibSearch on the Library website homepage. Make a note of Author(s), title(s), edition(s) and publication year(s) of the book(s) that you wish us to post to you.

    Email the library at library@uwl.ac.uk with the details listed above plus your name, postal address and student number.

    The Library will aim to post out the book(s) to you within three days (Monday to Thursday) of receiving your email.

    The book(s) will automatically renew if no other student or staff request the book(s). This information will be sent to you via your UWL email account so please look out for these emails. The information will also be available via your online library account.

  • Returning books if you're unable to come onto campus

    Library books on a shelf

    If you receive an email informing you that any of your loans have been requested, you must return them within seven days. Please contact library@uwl.ac.uk if you are unable to return your books within the seven days.

    All loans automatically renew on a continual basis so there is no need to return your books unless they are recalled. If you need to return your books and are unable to come to campus, please use the Clicksit service (Collect Plus) for free return of your books from thousands of local shops.

    If you do not have a printer you can also use the same link to download a print in store barcode. If you take this barcode on a smartphone to a CollectPlus store they will print the label for you. You can also email library@uwl.ac.uk and we can send you a label, although please note that this can take up to 3=three working days to be delivered and the label is valid for 30 days from date of printing.

    Please print your label and attach it to your parcel so it covers any original label. Ensure you return your books in the condition that they were received. Pack your returned books carefully to prevent damage in transit. Your return will need to be dropped off at any of the 7,500 local stores offering the CollectPlus service. To find your nearest store visit the CollectPlus website. Please keep your proof of posting receipt until we have acknowledged receipt of your items.

    Please ensure that you post the book(s) back to the Library in good time to ensure that they arrive before the due date.

    If you are unable to leave your house to go to one of the Collect Plus localities, please email library@uwl.ac.uk to discuss your options.

    Graduating Students

    If you have graduated and are unable to return your books to the library in person, please follow the guidance above. Please email us at library@uwl.ac.uk if you require any further information.

Scan it 4 me: request a digital copy of Library resources

Our "Scan it 4 me" service enables students and staff to obtain digital copies of material we only hold in the physical Library.

You can request 5% of a book or a chapter to be scanned as part of this service. You will not be able to request any more pages or chapters from each book title.

You can request three scans at a time and we will aim to email you the digital copy within three working days. The scan will be emailed to your UWL email address.

Loans, renewals and charges

All library materials are issued for one week and will renew automatically on a continual basis unless:

  • you are Sconul Bands A, B and C and Trust members (see the information below under, 'How much can I borrow?'
  • an item is recalled by another borrower. If an item is recalled, you must return it within one week or overdue charges will apply.
  • How much can I borrow?

    Staff | Postgraduate Students | Undergraduates | Nursing Students | Further education (FE) Students

    • Maximum number of items: 15
    • Number of renewals allowed: Unlimited (automatically applied)
    • Charges apply? Yes

    Sconul Bands A, B and C and Trust members

    • Maximum number of items: 4
    • Number of renewals allowed: 6 (automatically applied)
    • Charges apply? Yes

    Loan reminders, overdue notices and other important communications are sent to your UWL email account. Please check this regularly. 

  • Overdue loan charges

    Please return all items when you are finished with them or if recalled. If you fail to return a recalled item, you will be charged at the following rates:

    • One-week loan: £1.00 per day or part of a day
    • Non-renewable loan: £1.00 per day or part of a day (no automatic renewal after seven days)
    • Users with charges totalling £20 or more will be unable to borrow further items until the outstanding charges are paid or reduced below this amount.

    Please Note

    • After you have finished with an item it should be returned to the library.
    • If an item has been reserved by another borrower, it must be returned within one week or charges will apply. You will receive a recall e-mail to your student email account. 
    • Loan periods may change in the Christmas and summer vacations. Please check with your Library for more details.
  • Payment of Charges

    Charges can be paid by debit or credit card by any of the following means:

    • in person at either the Paul Hamlyn Library or at Fountain House Library in Reading during staffed hours
    • by telephone to either 0208 231 2405 (Paul Hamlyn Library) or 0208 209 4434 (Fountain House) during staffed hours

    Overdue charges are payable by ALL borrowers, including staff, and may not be waived except in case of illness.

    • If you are ill and are (or were) unable to return a recalled item, please contact us as soon as possible to explain the circumstances.
    • If you incur charges as a result of your illness, you will be required to produce a medical certificate on your return covering the period of the charges, for these to be waived.
    • Please note that we can only take payments for overdue items up until an invoice is issued for the cost of replacement. Invoices are issued by our Finance Department, who will take payments directly.
  • Avoiding overdue charges

    Our unlimited automatic renewal period is designed to allow you sufficient time to use our resources.  However, it requires your cooperation in returning items promptly should someone else require an item that you have on loan. We charge for non returned items in order to ensure the maximum availability and circulation of our resources to all library users. There is no need that you should ever have to incur a charge if you return your loans promptly when recalled.

    • Check your library account regularly, either online or at a self-service machine.
    • Look out for any reminders sent to your university email account.

    We agree to send you regular overdue notices to notify you whenever you have an overdue item or if an item has been recalled:

    • A first overdue notice two days after an item has been recalled
    • A second overdue notice fourteen days after an item has been recalled
    • A third and final overdue notice and invoice for the cost of replacing the missing item twenty-eight days after it has been recalled with details of how to pay

    Please note

    • Non-receipt of the overdue notice is insufficient ground for the waiving of an overdue charge.
  • Refunds

    Refunds are only given in the event of exceptional personal circumstances, such as illness or library error, and are at the discretion of the Head of Library Service Delivery.

    Refunds will be made to the card or bank account from which the payment was made. Requests for refunds will be administered by the University Finance department and will be made within ten working days. They will need your student number, account number and sort code.

    If you believe you may be entitled to a refund, please speak to the supervisor in charge at the Library information desk in either the Paul Hamlyn or Reading Campus Libraries.

Missing, lost, stolen or destroyed items on loan

Borrowers are responsible for all items issued to their Library/ID card. This responsibility only ends when the item has been recorded as returned on our Library Management System. 

  • I think I have returned a book but I am still getting overdue notices

    Please speak to one of our Customer Experience Supervisors. Our Library Management System and procedures are robust and errors are extremely rare. However, we will carry out a series of shelf checks over a period of three weeks to try to locate the book and if there is evidence of an error, we will acknowledge this and waive any charges.

  • The book I have on loan has been lost, stolen or destroyed

    In the first instance, you must report this to one of our Customer Experience Supervisors.

  • I have lost an item

    If you have made every effort to locate an item and have been unable to, you are liable for the replacement of the item. Normally there is a standard charge of £60 per item or the cost of the replacement, whichever is the greater.

    We will accept a replacement bought by yourself under the following conditions:

    • That we have given you approval to do this
    • The replacement copy has exactly the same title as that on your loan record
    • It is a new copy
    • It is the latest edition
    • If the title is out of print, we may accept a second hand copy but only after we have given you approval to buy this
    • If you subsequently find a lost item and you have paid the replacement charge, we can refund this payment less an administrative charge up to three months after. However, no refund will be issued if you provided a replacement copy
  • An item has been stolen whilst in my care

    You need to provide evidence in the form of a Crime Reference Number. If an item has been confirmed as stolen we will amend our records and waive any charges.

  • An item has been destroyed whilst in my care

    As with Lost Items, if an item has been destroyed in your care, you are liable for the replacement of the item. Normally there is a standard charge of £60 per item or the cost of the replacement, whichever is the greater.

    We will accept a replacement bought by yourself under the following conditions:

    • That we have given you approval to do this
    • The replacement copy has exactly the same title as that on your loan record
    • It is a new copy
    • It is the latest edition
    • If the title is out of print, we may accept a second hand copy but only after we have given you approval to buy this
  • I cannot find the book I am looking for in the library

    Library policy is that all books returned by 5pm Monday - Thursday or 2pm Friday - Sunday will be re-shelved by 10am the following day. 

    If the book you are looking for is indicated as “Available” on LibSearch but is not on the shelf, it may have been misshelved or be around the Library.
    You can report this to library staff who will carry out a series of random checks over a three week period. In the event that we are unable to locate a book, it will be recorded as lost and a decision on whether to replace will be referred to the relevant Subject Librarian.

Get in touch

Student reading in library

In-person: Visit the Help Zone, ground floor at our Ealing & Reading sites. Find out the library opening hours.

Email us: library@uwl.ac.uk

Social media: Twitter

Telephone:  Ealing: 020 8231 2405  /  Reading: 020 8209 4434  (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)

Need help? Chat with us.