Hello again and welcome back! 

Following on from Welcome last week, we wanted to ensure that we said ‘welcome back’ to the Library to all of our continuing students too. 

Large rectangular red pin on badge with white text that reads 'ask me... I work here!'.

We’re here to help you with all of your Library questions

We know last year was difficult for everyone and especially for those of you who grappled with online and remote learning. Many of you have been away from campus for a while so, please ask us for assistance if things feel unfamiliar.  

We are pleased to say that many of the measures that were in operation in the Library over the past year have been disbanded! 

 

Study space bookings 

Since 3 September, study space bookings are no longer required for individual study spaces and group study is available again. The 1st Floor Group Study Rooms can, once more, be booked in advance. See our recent blog for more information 

 

Click & Collect 

Click & Collect has ended and you can now browse the shelves and borrow items without having to place holds in advance of your visit. More information about how and when to place a hold on an item can be found on the Placing & cancelling a hold webpage. 

We’ve retained the one-way system, sanitisation stations and enhanced cleaning as these have all proven to be useful over the last year. Additionally, University health and safety policy is still single occupancy usage of lifts and, if you are able to wear a face covering, we encourage you to use one when moving around the building.  

Find out more about keeping safe on the Student Essentials pages.  

 

Library tours  

Have you seen our Instagram tour yet? Library tours continue to be available online and there are several other options too. 

 

Opening hours back to 24/6+  

We’re back to our normal term time 24/6+ opening hours. This means the Library closes Saturday evening at 21:00 and reopens Sunday at 8:30, apart from that we’re open all hours. Please note that the Library Café closes at 22:00 on weekdays and IT Service desk hours can be found on the DTS website. 

 

Don’t forget to make the most of expert help!  

The Study Advice and Academic Liaison Librarian teams have been expanding the range of online materials available to help you make the most of the Library. Visit the Library website to see our new Training and events guide and links to our newest YouTube videos and other resources. 

 

Blog banner image for University Library News

Bookmark the Library blog to stay up-to-date with any changes

 

Further information 

We’ll continue to provide updates on the Library services on our websiteblog, and social media to keep you informed but if you have any questions, please get in touch via library@reading.ac.uk or see our contact information for other options.  

Your Library Team

UoR Library Welcome tours

Full library tour to show the building and key location for Autumn term 2021 lasting 6.58mins on Instagram

Visit the Library via our Instagram tour

There’s been a lot happening this week across the University so if you want to slow things down, try out our self-paced tour. Go through, online at your own pace and in your own time.

Or, if you prefer something a bit more whizzy, take a look at our Instagram tour.

Expandable maps arranged as a welcoming smile.

Mini folding maps – your friendly Library guide

Alternatively, visit the Library in person, pick up an expandable map and take a look around the building yourself.

We like to think we have something for everyone so if you’re new to the University of Reading, or if you’re a returning student and haven’t been onsite for a while, come and see us for help with all your Library needs.

A table with Library, study advice and other University information displayed along with a table top stand displaying relevant information.

Learn what your Library offers, and how we can help you from the display in our foyer

Your Library Team

Self-service borrowing is back!

We’re pleased to announce that we’re taking another step back to normal as the Click & Collect service is no longer required. This means you’ll be able to browse the shelves and borrow via the self-service machines whenever you want.

The Click & Collect service will cease from midnight Thursday 16 September so please make any requests before then. We’ll be open for a final collection between 11:00 and 14:00 on Friday 17 September and any uncollected materials will be transferred to the Holds shelves.

 

Student picking up a book from the shelf

Now Click & Collect is finishing, browse the shelves in person

 

If you’re a member of our Library and wish to borrow books simply visit us and select them from the shelves. We have floor plans available online and in the building to help you find materials and self-service machines so you can check items out securely.

If an item you want to borrow is already on loan, place a ‘hold’ to ensure that when a copy becomes available, it is held for you. You’ll get an email once the item is ready for you to collect from the Holds shelves. These are located on the Ground Floor, in the quiet study area which some of you will know we’ve been using for Click & Collect.

Inter-Library Loans will be collectable from the Welcome Desk. Just come through the gates and show your Campus Card to collect these from our team.

We understand that this is a significant change for those of you who were used to using Click & Collect, so please ask us if you need help or further information.

 

Your Library Team

Education students, welcome to UoR Library!

Femail teacher at door of school classroom furniture

Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash

Early September, children return to school and we welcome postgraduate students learning to teach them with our Institute of Education. Greetings!

Why not come to meet your Education Academic Liaison Librarians and Study Advisers at the ‘marketplace’ in RUSU’s Cafe Mondial, 10:00-12:30 on Friday 3 (secondary students) or 12:00-13:00 Wednesday 8 September (primary students). We’ll also be around all year to support your studies of course!

Check out our Education subject and referencing guide online to discover online and physical resources – much is online, linked to your reading lists, with printed theory and Teaching Practice Collection resources in the Library building.

You can see what the Library is like right now on YouTube. Do visit the Library on Whiteknights campus once you receive your Campus card. Please note that our opening hours extend in a few weeks time when full term begins. Watch our Library website for changes to accessing collections and our modern study spaces, or follow us on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)!

Your Academic Liaison Librarians for Education

 

Happy summer vacation!

Today marks the end of the UG academic year and the start of the summer vacation opening hours for the Library. We will no longer be open at weekends, except for three Saturdays on 17 July, 14 August and 18 September.

From Monday 14 June, we will be open 08:30 – 17:00 Monday to Friday for study space, and 11:00 – 14:00 for Click and Collect (loans for continuing students are due Tuesday 28 September). Please remember to make your booking for study space before 16:00 each day and continue to follow the guidance in the Current Library Services LibGuide.

We’re still offering online events for continuing students – see our guide to Reference Management Workshops for further information and if you’re finishing your studies with the University, remember to visit the Library website to find out how you can continue to make the most of the resources as a Reading graduate.

Best wishes for a wonderful summer – we look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

Library User Services

Click & Collect during Summer vacation

From Monday 14 June, Click & Collect will be open between 11:00 – 14:00, Monday to Friday. If you request a book and are emailed to pick it up, please make sure to come to the Library during these hours.

The Library building will be closed at weekends, except for three Saturdays on 17 July, 14 August and 18 September. For full details of the Library’s opening hours during the Summer vacation, please see our website: https://www.reading.ac.uk/library/using/hours/lib-hours.aspx.

Click & Collect is located on the Ground Floor of the Library. There is a separate entrance on the north side of the building, near the Co-op. Please bring your Campus Card when collecting books.

Library User Services

Click & Collect during Summer vacation

From Monday 14 June, Click & Collect will be open between 11:00 – 14:00, Monday to Friday. If you request a book and are emailed to pick it up, please make sure to come to the Library during these hours.

The Library building will be closed at weekends, except for three Saturdays on 17 July, 14 August and 18 September. For full details of the Library’s opening hours during the Summer vacation, please see our website: https://www.reading.ac.uk/library/using/hours/lib-hours.aspx.

Click & Collect is located on the Ground Floor of the Library. There is a separate entrance on the north side of the building, near the Co-op. Please bring your Campus Card when collecting books.

Library User Services

Summer Term Library news

Welcome back- or if you’ve been using the Library services through Lockdown 3.0, hello again!

 

Some of you may have noticed that throughout the lockdown period, we have been renewing your loans, where possible, to help alleviate any concerns regarding items becoming overdue. Now that we have reached the final term of the current academic year, we thought it might be helpful through exam season. Consequently, we have taken care of renewals again by extending all loans (with the usual exceptions) until Friday 11 June 2021.

 

Please continue to use the Click and Collect service to get access to the physical resources you require. Click and Collect is available Monday to Sunday 10:00 – 21:00 during the Summer Term.

Mini Maypole

Image courtesy of MERL: Museum of English Rural Life

 

More good news! The Library will be open on the next two Bank Holidays – Monday 3 May and Monday 31 May.

On Monday 3 May, opening hours will be 08:30 -19:00 for study space, and Click and Collect will be available between the hours of 10:00 – 19:00.

 

Please continue to keep in touch, and let us know how we can support in you in achieving some well-deserved successful outcomes.

Library User Services

Easter opening hours at your Library

With the Easter vacation approaching, make sure you know our upcoming opening hours and borrowing policies for the break!

Easter chicks

The Library building will be closed for the University Easter Closure from Thursday 1 April to Tuesday 6 April.

Between Monday 29 March and Wednesday 31 March the Library Building will be open from 08:30-19:00.

From Wednesday 7 April until Friday 16 April, the Library will be open 08:30 – 19:00 Monday to Thursday and 08:30-17:00 Friday to Sunday.

Remember that there will be no Closed Access or Store collections on Bank Holidays. The last Closed Access collection before Easter will be Wednesday 31st March.

Outside the University Easter closure, the PC Labs in the Palmer and Agriculture buildings are also open 24/7. They are accessible with your Campus Card and you do not need to book them.

Please see our opening hours web page for more information. Opening hours for the Summer Term are not yet confirmed – we will post them as soon as possible.

Christine Milne, Library User Services

Library open for study space and Click & Collect

Open sign in rainbow colours

The Library is open – stay safe!

During the new national lockdown the Library is open every day for bookable study space and to collect print materials via our Click & Collect service.

The Library will be open for study space; Monday – Thursday, 08:30 – 19:00 and Friday – Sunday, 08:30 – 17:00

Click & Collect is open; Monday – Thursday, 10:00 – 19:00 and Friday – Sunday, 10:00 – 17:00.

For more information about how the library is operating during the pandemic, please look at our Current Library Services guide

 

Natalie Guest, Document Delivery Co-ordinator / Academic Liaison Librarian

Library open for study space and Click & Collect

Open sign in rainbow colours

The Library is open – stay safe!

During the new national lockdown the Library is open every day for bookable study space and to collect print materials via our Click & Collect service.

The Library will be open for study space; Monday – Thursday, 08:30 – 19:00 and Friday – Sunday, 08:30 – 17:00

Click & Collect is open; Monday – Thursday, 10:00 – 19:00 and Friday – Sunday, 10:00 – 17:00.

For more information about how the library is operating during the pandemic, please look at our Current Library Services guide

 

Natalie Guest, Document Delivery Co-ordinator / Academic Liaison Librarian

Using the Library over the Christmas holidays

Paper angel on top of book tree in the Library foyer

Be like our book angel and stay on top of your library books this Christmas!

Whether you’re heading home soon or staying on campus over the vacation, this summary of available Library services can help you plan ahead. We wish you happy holidays and effective studying – stay safe everyone!

Library opening

Term ends on Friday 11 December, so after this date the Library will be operating reduced opening hours. This will affect the times that you are able to book study space, Click & Collect loans, book IT Service Desk appointments and use the Library Cafe.

From Saturday 12 December till Monday 21 December, the Library will be open from 08:30 to early evening on weekdays only. There are no weekend services available.

Along with the rest of the campus, the Library closes completely on Tuesday 22 December until Sunday 3 January for the University Christmas closure.

From Monday 4 January till Friday 8 January, we resume vacation-hours opening, and from Saturday 9 January we’ll be open for term-time hours again.

Borrow until January 2021

To help borrowers heading home early due to UK government guidance, we’re lending everything to all Library members until Tuesday 12 January. Any items borrowed or renewed from Monday 30 November will issue until 12 January. These vacation loans include standard, 7-day, overnight loans and journals.

Store and Closed Access requests

If you need materials from the off-site Store or from our Closed Access shelves, be aware of the final dates of collection and make sure you place your request in time.

  • Store collections finish for Christmas on Thursday 17 December – get your request in before 08:30 on this day.
  • Closed Access collections will finish for Christmas on Friday 18 December – get your request in before 13:45.

We will next collect from Closed Access on 4 January and from Store on 7 January (these dates might be subject to change if there is a shortage of available staff). For more information, see Requesting items from Store and Closed Access.

Online help

All our expert staff are available online to help and advise you throughout the vacation (except during the Christmas closure period).

If you have a general enquiry, email library@reading.ac.uk or phone 0118 378 8770.

More info

Check our Current Library Services guide for up-to-date information, especially if there are changes to current government guidelines.

Library User Services