Category Archives: Policies and rules

Our visitor policy is changing

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Our visitor policy is changing from the 1 October 2023.

An image of the outside of the Library building

Members of the public who wish to consult printed Library materials which are not available elsewhere, can arrange up to 5 visits to the Library per academic year. All visits must be arranged at least 2 working days in advance (longer notice periods may be required for items held at our Off-site Store or in Closed Access).

If you wish to visit the Library please email library@reading.ac.uk with details of the item(s) that you require, and the dates you would like to consult them.

Further information on our visitor policy, and how to join as an External member, can be found on our website.

If you are looking for access to a study space, then you can join Reading Borough Libraries for free.

Restrictions on Library access during examination period

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Image of University of Reading Library exterior in the sunlight against a blue sky The University Examinations period will extend from Monday 27 March to Friday 9 June 2023. During this time, the Library amends its visitor policy.

Access for members of the public will be restricted to weekends only. This is to ensure that our students have exclusive access to the study spaces that they need throughout this period.

For more information on visiting the Library as a member of the public, please visit the ‘Members of the Public’ page on our website.

 

Your Library Team

Spring into a new term

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Image of Library exterior in sunlight

Find out how the Library can support you in your studies

 

Happy New Year! Are you gearing up for success this term?  Your Library team looks forward to continuing to support you with your studies so bookmark these pages to really get going. 

Whether you need advice or simply want to improve your chances of getting excellent results, our Academic Liaison Librarians and the Study Advisers will be happy to help. Visit our training and workshops webpage for details of the sessions that you can sign up for this term. 

How are you finding our study areas? Study space is available on all floors of the Library, including individual silent study on the 5th Floor. If you’re concerned about noise levels, please use our NOISYCHAT service and help us keep our dedicated silent area silent.   

Want to know more about booking a group study room? Watch our YouTube video (or watch on Yuja) and also see our Instagram tour to discover your favourite space.  

We have over 1,500 study spaces in the Library. This term we’ll be getting much busier so at peak times, you might want to know where else you can find study space. Visit Student essentials to find out about other spaces on campus.  

Last term, we saw a significant increase in littering. We’d really appreciate your help with keeping the building clean and tidy this term. You can do this by eating in the Library Café or other suitable areas on campus. Eating is not allowed in the Library and hot food should not be brought in at any time as it creates unpleasant smells and disrupts other Library users. Please continue to use lidded containers when bringing in drinks and take care to avoid spills. We have fantastic recycling facilities for single use cups, plastic bottles and other items so if you aren’t already an avid recycler, our handy facilities can help you begin.  

Remember to bring your Campus Card with you and keep it with you when visiting the Library. It’s really important that we know who is in the building for health and safety purposes; scanning your card in and out helps us to keep you, your peers and other Library users safe.  

More information about the Library rules and policies can be found here.  

 

Your Library Team 

7-day loans are changing…

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What’s happening? 

To improve your access to, and experience of using Library print books, we’re making some changes! The first of these is to loan types. On Tuesday 12 July 2022 we’ll be making all 7-day loan books standard loans so you can borrow them for longer – nearly 40,000 item records will be updated to become ‘standard loans’.

Standard loans are either 6 weeks for staff and research students, or 3 weeks for all other Library members with borrowing rights.

We hope this will improve your experience of borrowing books and help you manage your Library account more easily.

Floating open book surrounded by bookshelves filled with books in dim light Photo by @jareddc?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Jaredd Craig on unsplash.com

Changes to book loans are underway

What will happen to my loans? 

All 7-day loan books that are currently on loan will automatically be made standard loan and renewed. Please check your account for your new due date(s).

There are many other changes to come, all designed to make borrowing easier. Keep up with further information about updates to Library loans and allowances via our social media, our blog or get in touch.

 

Your Library Team

Library website migration

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The Library webpages have moved over to the University’s new content management system (CMS) – you may already be familiar with the new interface as many areas of the University website have already been migrated.

Partial image of the new Library website.

The migration means that the look and feel of our webpages have changed, but access to all our guidance, resources and other information should remain available. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please email us at library@reading.ac.uk so that we can help you stay on track with all your information needs.

Your Library team

New year, new habits – making the most of your Library

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Happy New Year and welcome to the Spring term. Our Library teams look forward to continuing to support you with your studies.  

If you’re a January starter, we recommend that you look at our top recommendations in the Information for new students LibGuide. If you’re returning to Campus, we’d like to share the following reminders on how to make the most of the services, resources and facilities. 

 

Support with your studies 

Do you need help with an aspect of your studies? Your Academic Liaison Librarian and the Study Advisors will be happy to assist. Take a look at the Training and workshops webpage for more information, links to guides, training materials and more!  

 

Study areas  

Study space is available on all floors of the Library, including individual silent study on the 5th Floor. If you are using this study area, please remember that it is entirely silent so you may prefer to use the individual quiet study areas, located on all other floors, or the range of group study spaces.  

‘Want to know more? 

  • Watch our YouTube video about study areas in the Library or see our Instagram tour to find your favourite space.
  • Find out about additional study space on campus. Visit the Essentials webpages https://www.reading.ac.uk/essentials/Study/Study-space to discover more and, if you’re a postgraduate student, you can also enquire with your department to find out if they can advise on other suitable locations.  

 

Please note: you may find it useful to familiarise yourself with other locations as, at peak times, you may need to find alternative study space. We are currently operating at a slightly reduced study space capacity due to the increased need for ventilation within the building. This provision is aligned with University health and safety guidance. 

 

Stay safe 

If you are using study space in the Library, help us to keep open and stay safe by: 

  • Not moving furniture – study areas have been specifically configured to comply with capacity allowances in relation to ventilation requirements. 
  • Keeping windows open, on ventilation mode, if studying in a space next to a window.  
  • Wearing a face covering (unless you are exempt) when using the Library.  

Masks and other face coverings should cover the nose and the mouth and should remain in place at all times. 

  • Following the one-way systems, using the sanitisation stations and not using the lifts in groups.  

Single occupancy of lifts and other measures are all still in place so please refresh your knowledge of our Covid-19 safety information. Look out for our signage and notices displayed throughout the building to assist you.  

  • Not eating in the Library.  

Help us to keep the building clean, safe and tidy by eating in the Library Café or other suitable spaces on campus. Please do not bring hot food into the Library at any time as this creates unpleasant smells, and is disruptive for other Library users.  

  • Using lidded containers, when bringing drinks into the Library.  

Non-alcoholic hot and cold drinks are permitted – we have recycling facilities for single use cups and plastic bottles.  

 

Visiting the Library between midnight and 8:00? Remember to bring your campus card for entry via the keypad next to the right hand side entry door.  

 

Recalled items 

The Library is a shared resource, so please look out for our recall emails and courtesy reminders. If someone places a hold on an item that you have out, a recall notice will be sent to your University email account. Recalled items must be returned so that other users needing a particular book can gain access. If you still need the item, simply place a request once it has been returned so that the next available copy can be held for you. Further information on recalls can be found here.

 

Opening hours 

24/6+ opening hours resumed on Sunday 9 January – full details of the opening hours may be found here. 

 

Do you follow us on social media? If not, this may be the perfect time to begin so that you can stay up to date and make the most of your Library! 

 Social media icons

 

Your Library Team

Reopening memberships for alumni, past staff and others

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Good news! We are reopening memberships for the following groups:

  • Friends of the University
  • STC and Reading Enterprise Centre
  • Reading graduates
  • Retired University staff
  • Lord Zuckerman Research Centre & RSSL
  • Teachers at partnership schools.

The annual rate for membership for users with a connection to the University is £45 per year. For further information, visit our memberships page.

Membership includes:

  • full access during all building open hours
  • ability to borrow five Standard (3 week) loan items
  • up to five renewals (unless the item is recalled)
  • 24/7 access to your Library account.

If you come under one of the categories listed above and would like to become a Library member, visit us between 9:00 – 17:00 Monday to Thursday, or 10:00 – 17:00 on Friday. To get started, please visit the membership webpage for further information, including the application form and remember to bring a valid proof of your status when you come to complete your application.

We aren’t able to provide general external membership to others yet, but we are keeping this under review so please keep an eye on our website for more information.

If you need further information, get in touch with us in advance of your visit via email at library@reading.ac.uk.

 

Your Library Team

Happy summer vacation!

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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

Library news and reminders

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Visiting the Library for study space or click & collect?

The one way system in the Library

To help to keep us all safe, please continue to follow the Library Covid- 19 Code of Conduct; it is important that you

  • wear a face covering,
  • practice social distancing
  • stick to the study space allocated by the booking system
  • follow the one-way systems and other procedures in place in the Library and on campus.

 

Finishing your studies soon?

If you are finishing your studies at the University soon, please return any outstanding print or other media as soon as you can. If you are not local to campus and are in the UK, please use our Freepost service to return your loans. If you are not in the UK, please get in touch with us for guidance on alternative ways to get your loans back to us safely.

Return loans in the Book Drop flap to the right of the Library front doors

 

New events!

You may have noticed a new addition to the library homepage. We have created ‘New Events‘ to provide a one-stop-shop of information! Although we are still not yet able to provide in person events, there are plenty of learning and study opportunities on offer. Look out for forthcoming webinars and further online support from Study Advice and the Academic Liaison Librarians. We’ll be posting more information about these events on our social media soon, but in the interim, see the Study Advice Webinars LibGuide for details.

New events section on the Library website.

 

Vacation loans

If you are leaving campus for the summer vacation, our vacation loan period should make like easier!

We have renewed all loans, with the usual exceptions such as Inter-library loans, for continuing students until Tuesday 28 September, so why not make the most of the opportunity for some really great summer reading, by taking part in the UoR Reading Challenge and borrow some items before you leave!

June 2021 summer reading challenge- read a book set in a country that you would like to visit.

Library User Services

Introducing your new Library Study Space Assistants… and other important updates for the summer term 

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We hope you found some time to relax over the Easter vacation. 

We’re looking forward to continuing to support all students this summer term, whether you’re on campus or studying remotely. Remember our expert teams, including Academic Liaison Librarians, Study Advice and Maths Support are all available to provide advice and support online. 

If you’re studying on campus this term, we’ve summarised some important developments for you to be aware of when visiting our building.  

New Library Study Space Assistants 

We’ve recruited a team of 10 new Study Space Assistants to help keep you and our colleagues safe this summer term. They’ll be available to help you find your pre-booked seat, provide advice about alternative study space at busy times, and ensure you’re aware of the safety measures currently in place (see below). You’ll notice them in Study@URS too. 

Keeping our Library safe for everyone – what you need to know

Remember hands, face, space to keep all Library members and staff safe

While the positive progress of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown is welcome news, it’s vital that we do not become complacent and risk a worsening of the pandemic in the UK. We all have a role to play to take the necessary precautions to keep those around us as safe as possible.

In the Library, as well as our usual ‘Code of Conduct’, you must: 

  • wear a face covering at all times, even when sitting at a desk and studying alone, unless you are exempt;  
  • keep a 2 metre distance from others (this includes those from your own household when using the Library, to help us enforce these rules with minimum intervention);  
  • take the stairs rather than the lift, where possible (if you need to use the lift, you must use it alone); 
  • sit in your allocated seat only; 
  • vacate your pre-booked seat promptly at the end of the period for which it has been booked; 
  • follow all one-way systems;  

and 

  • bring your Campus Card and keep it on your desk so it is visible to staff, this will help them check you are sat in your booked seat without interrupting you 

We would like to thank all of you who have been continuing to follow these rules to help protect us all. 

If, however, a member of staff or one of our Study Space Assistants notices that you are not following these rules, they will let you know and you will be asked for your details. If this is the first time you have been spoken to, we will record your details but no further action will be taken – we understand that accidental lapses happen from time to time.  You will be given a short letter to explain why your details have been taken. 

If you breach the rules a second time during the current academic year, we will issue a formal warning in accordance with our Student Disciplinary Procedures. If your details are taken for a third time, you will be issued with a fine of up to £200 (again, in line with our Student Disciplinary Procedures). For further incidents, a higher fine or other penalty (such as a ban from the Library) may be imposed. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. We wish you every success for the summer term ahead.  

Your Library Team

Safer studying in the Library – remember to wear a face covering at all times

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The Library continues to remain open for bookable study space and for Click & Collect for those of you here on campus.

Following the announcement of the national lockdown earlier this month, and the risk of increased transmissibility by the new strain of COVID-19, we’ve been reviewing current health and safety control measures.

We’ve updated our face covering guidance which includes a change about how they should be used in the Library. You’re now expected to wear a face covering (unless you are exempt) throughout the duration of your visit, even when sat at your assigned desk.

Remember hands, face, space to keep all Library members and staff safe

This is the only change we’ve made to our current safety measures in the Library so the rest of our previously published guidance remains the same.

The Library is designated as a ‘common area’ along with other spaces on campus as there is a relatively high number of different people using the space each day.

During the Autumn Term and the start of this year some people, understandably, were forgetting to replace their face covering when moving around the building.  Due to this, and as the current transmissibility of the virus is heightened, this additional safety measure will help minimise the risk for all Library users and staff.

Please comply with the new guidance and the existing measures to help us keep you and our staff safe so that we can continue to provide effective library services through this time.  Our staff have been working throughout the pandemic to provide a vital service to support you. Please show them the respect they deserve and comply with their instructions – they are there for your safety.

Breaches of our guidelines are being taken very seriously, and may result in fines and/or expulsion from Halls and/or the University, in accordance with our University disciplinary procedures

We will, of course, keep our policy under review and adjust it as necessary in the coming weeks and months, in line with the wider situation.

See our Current Library Services guide and the Library website for further information about all the services available to you on campus and online.

Your Library team

Study space bookings – changes for 2021

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Through feedback from Library users and observation we have noticed that it’s sometimes unclear for users where they should sit and that spaces are booked but not occupied. So in order to improve your experience when visiting the Library to study and ensure that we can continue to operate in a Covid safe way we’re making some changes to our study space booking system and allocating a numbered space to each booking and sending you a reminder the day before. During the Autumn term we’d already started checking your bookings on our system when you arrive at the Welcome Desk to keep study areas from becoming over-populated. It’s important that we have plenty of space for you to effectively social distance in the building, and to guarantee only people who have a genuine booking gain entry.

CLose up picture of a desk showing a label with number

Sit at the desk labelled with the number and area in your booking confirmation email

From 4 January 2021 all study spaces in the Library will have a number. When you book a Study space you’ll be allocated a specific desk to sit at – yours for the duration of your booking. The desk number and area will be on the booking confirmation email you receive. Desk areas are indicated by signage in the building and desk numbers by a label on each space.

You’ll receive a reminder email the day before your booking, if you don’t need the space any more the email will contain details on how to cancel it to make it available for another user. The same option is available in the original booking confirmation email too.

To book and use a study space please follow these steps

  • Book your space online – please only book for yourself, all our study spaces are for individual study as per government guidance.
  • Bring your Campus Card and booking confirmation email to the Library, and please wear a face covering unless exempt
  • Check your study space area and seat number – ask us if you are unsure where it is
  • Sanitise your space with the supplies provided
  • Once seated you can remove your face covering, but please use it whenever you’re moving around inside the building
  • Please vacate your space on time – someone else will be arriving to use it after you

Not received your confirmation email? Don’t book again! Please contact us and we can check your booking is there and re-send the confirmation email. If the space you booked is unavailable, please ask us for help either in person at the Welcome Desk on the Ground Floor or call us on 0118 378 8770.

We want the Library to continue to be a welcoming and safe space for you to study – please continue to help us by following our study space etiquette guidance. We know space is limited but with your help all Library members can have a fair chance to use our facilities.

Sue Egleton, Associate Director (Systems and User Services)