Welcome to Day 2 of 5 Days of Library! Yesterday we looked at finding books; today is all about borrowing, requesting and returning those books once you’ve found them!
Requesting a book
Once you’ve found the resource you need in iFind, click on the title and scroll down to the Location information to see how many copies are available. If there are 0 copies available, they are probably out on loan and you’ll need to request the book. You can also use the request option to collect books from a different library so, for example, when the book you need is in Singleton Park Library you can request to collect it from Bay Library if you’d prefer.
You need to log in to iFind to request books; you’ll see a message to remind you if you’re not already signed. (You can also request books from your reading lists in Canvas.) From there you can select which campus library you want to pick it up from. Then you just have to wait for an email informing you that it’s ready for collection! Each library has a Request & Collect shelf – find your order, and then you can issue it onto your account (which we’ll discuss next!). The Request & Collect shelf in St David’s Park Library is in the staff office for security so you’ll need to ask for your book at the desk. You can find out more about Using the Request and Collect Service on our webpage.
Borrowing books
Undergraduate and postgraduate students can borrow up to 30 items at a time. (Please note, for undergraduates this total includes a maximum of 15 items from St David’s Park Library.) We’ll let you know when the books need to come back. Please check your university email every day so you don’t miss any messages! Books are recalled when another library user requests it so you may need to return your book within a week. If no one is waiting for your book, we will automatically renew it for you so you can keep it for longer.
You'll find self-issue kiosks like the one below in our libraries. You can use them to borrow books you’ve requested or books you’ve found yourself on the shelves. Press borrow on the touchscreen and scan your student card, and you’ll be taken to your account. Then just place each book under the scanner! We recommend scanning them one at a time – this makes certain the alarm tags are deactivated. Once the name of the book appears on the screen it’s yours to take! You will need to bring it back at some point though, so let’s look at that next.
Returning
Here’s the returns machine, which you’ll find opposite the MyUni Library information desk at Bay Library, and a little past the MyUni Library desk at Singleton Park Library, alongside the stairs. You don’t need your student card for returns, just press the start button and place the book onto the conveyor belt – it’ll then whisk it away, taking it off your account and sorting it ready for staff to reshelve. Put the books on one at a time and wait for the green light before placing the next book.
St David’s Park Library has no returns machine as the self-issue kiosk also has an option to return – scan your student card and choose Return on the touch screen, then place your books under the scanner in the same way as when you borrow them.
Help! I’ve had an error message!
Not to worry, technology can always be a bit temperamental. You can wait for the message to clear and try again, or just bring the books to the MyUni Library desk so staff can issue or return the books for you.
How can I check what books I have?
You can check your library account at any time by logging to iFind and clicking on your name in the top right corner – your account is one of the options there, and it will give you all the information you need.
Further information
You can find out more about Borrowing, Renewing and Requesting Library Items on our webpage. You can also enrol on our online course, MyUni Library Essentials and go to the section on Using the Library.