Category Archives: Policies and rules

Borrow until January for Christmas!

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A Christmas tree made of books

Our Christmas present to you! Borrow all vacation, 30 November to 12 January.

To help borrowers heading home early due to UK government guidance, we’re lending everything to all Library members from Monday 30 November until Tuesday 12 January.

These Christmas vacation loans will include standard, 7-day, overnight loans and journals. We hope this will make things a little easier for everyone!

What about holds?

If other Library members have already placed a hold on a 7-day or standard loan item, we will only lend you the item for 7 days. If someone is already waiting to use a Short Loan item we will only be able to lend you the item on overnight loan, so that everyone gets the chance to use the material they need.

If you need an item before January, you can still place holds as normal and we will contact the borrower and try to get it back for you.

We may need to recall your Library books during the vacation if another person requests them, so please check your email regularly. If you have difficulty returning items or any other questions, then please email library@reading.ac.uk for help and guidance.

Vacation hours

See our opening hours for full details of Library opening times over the vacation. No items will be due back between Monday 21 December and Sunday 3 January, the University closure period.

Rebecca Ashley, Library User Services

Keeping the Library COVID-secure

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This is a reminder about COVID-secure measures within the Library:

  • There are no group study spaces. Independent study only is supported – you must be seated alone.
  • All seating has been arranged to allow for social distancing. Please do not move any furniture.
  • Signs about COVID-secure measures are there to protect your health and safety and are not to be removed.
  • The study space booking system has been introduced to allow all students to book a space on an equal basis. Any misuse of the system may prevent students with legitimate bookings from entering the building irrespective of their having a booking, and will be addressed.
  • All study seat bookings will be checked before giving entry to the Library in order to avoid misuse of the system.

Working together, we can ensure that the Library is a safe place for all to work and study in. We rely on your co-operation to make this happen. Thank you.

Stuart Hunt
Director of University Library & Collections Services and University Librarian

Safe studying

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Thank you to everyone who has helped keep the Library a safe place to study by following the procedures we’ve put in place. Now that we’re getting used to a second lockdown it’s even more important to take extra care and carry on following all the guidance to stay safe.

The Department for Education guidance for using libraries and study spaces underpins our hygiene measures and asks that you:

  • Maintain social distancing
  • Wear a face covering
  • Wash your hands frequently, or use our sanitiser
  • Clean your work area with our wipes
  • Study independently

We’ll get through this together!

Your Library Team

Library open daily but not overnight during lockdown

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Book ahead to visit the Library  daytime or evenings in lockdown, but not overnight.

Due to the new lockdown period in England, 5 November to 2 December 2020, the University Library opening hours will be changing. We will close overnight and reopen again at 08:30 each morning, except Saturdays when we’ll close at 21:00 as usual.

Starting from 00:01 Thursday 5 November our revised opening hours will be:

  • Sunday to Friday  08:30 – 00:00
  • Saturdays            08:30 – 21:00

Any study space bookings already scheduled for nights affected will be cancelled – we apologise for the inconvenience.

However, all our services and facilities remain operating as normal during our opening hours so you can still use the Click & Collect service, book study spaces, and book an IT Service Desk appointment. All our online services remain unchanged. See our Current Library Services guide for further information.

Sue Egleton, Associate Director (Systems and User Services)

Face coverings now mandatory for Click & Collect

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From Monday 10 August, following a recent update to government guidelines, face coverings must be worn in the Library when using our Click & Collect services unless you are exempt under government guidelines.

Thank you for helping to keep our Library space as safe as possible.

For more information on how to use the Click & Collect service or place holds for collection, visit our previous blog post.

Tara Healy, Library User Services

Face coverings now mandatory for Click & Collect

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From Monday 10 August, following a recent update to government guidelines, face coverings must be worn in the Library when using our Click & Collect services unless you are exempt under government guidelines.

Thank you for helping to keep our Library space as safe as possible.

For more information on how to use the Click & Collect service or place holds for collection, visit our previous blog post.

Tara Healy, Library User Services

Library Click & Collect service

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Your Library team is excited to announce that from Monday 13 July Library members will be able to borrow some print books via a new ‘Click & Collect’ style service.

Yellow tape on door mat marks social distancing queue points

Please enter the front door and queue two metres apart

We’ve rearranged things so you’ll be able to place holds via Enterprise (the Library catalogue) on items that are ‘on the shelf’, just like you do with items on loan. We’ll fetch requested books from the shelves each day and you’ll get an email from us when your items are ready for you to collect.

You’ll be able to place holds from Thursday 9 July and the Library will be open for collections only 11:00 – 14:00 Monday to Friday from 13 July. We’ll keep your items available for up to five days as usual.

Barrier tape marks route to collection point

There’s a one-way route to your collection point

We’ve worked hard to put procedures in place that will keep you and our staff safe whilst participating with this service. When you arrive at the Library you’ll find a queuing system in place providing a one-way contactless route in and out of the building, and signs showing you where to stand to maintain your social distance from others.

You’ll be able to engage with staff at a collection point in the foyer, one at a time. We’ll ask you to put your Campus Card down and then step back so we can step forward to read your name and card number. Once we’ve issued your books to you we’ll put them down and step back so you can come forward to collect your books and card.

Barrier tape marks route to exit

Exit by the side door

We’ll wipe the collection point in between each person. We’ll also be wearing gloves when we handle your books.

This service is take-away only and the Library building remains closed for general use. For full details of all aspects of this service visit our Click & Collect FAQs webpage.

Sue Egleton, Associate Director (Systems & User Services)

Library Click & Collect service

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Your Library team is excited to announce that from Monday 13 July Library members will be able to borrow some print books via a new ‘Click & Collect’ style service.

Yellow tape on door mat marks social distancing queue points

Please enter the front door and queue two metres apart

We’ve rearranged things so you’ll be able to place holds via Enterprise (the Library catalogue) on items that are ‘on the shelf’, just like you do with items on loan. We’ll fetch requested books from the shelves each day and you’ll get an email from us when your items are ready for you to collect.

You’ll be able to place holds from Thursday 9 July and the Library will be open for collections only 11:00 – 14:00 Monday to Friday from 13 July. We’ll keep your items available for up to five days as usual.

Barrier tape marks route to collection point

There’s a one-way route to your collection point

We’ve worked hard to put procedures in place that will keep you and our staff safe whilst participating with this service. When you arrive at the Library you’ll find a queuing system in place providing a one-way contactless route in and out of the building, and signs showing you where to stand to maintain your social distance from others.

You’ll be able to engage with staff at a collection point in the foyer, one at a time. We’ll ask you to put your Campus Card down and then step back so we can step forward to read your name and card number. Once we’ve issued your books to you we’ll put them down and step back so you can come forward to collect your books and card.

Barrier tape marks route to exit

Exit by the side door

We’ll wipe the collection point in between each person. We’ll also be wearing gloves when we handle your books.

This service is take-away only and the Library building remains closed for general use. For full details of all aspects of this service visit our Click & Collect FAQs webpage.

Sue Egleton, Associate Director (Systems & User Services)

Remember your Campus Card

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Remember your Campus Card – you need it every time you visit the Library to enter through our new entrance gates.

Library user tapping campus card to enter library through security gates

Tap your Campus Card to enter and exit the Library

The gates are to increase your security and prioritise study space for University members.

Library members: you can enter and exit just by tapping your Campus Card (the same one you use to borrow) at the gates …. so there’s nothing you need to do other than carry it with you. If you forget your card, speak to staff at the Welcome Desk who can grant you temporary access on a limited number of occasions.

Members of the public over 18: You are welcome to use and copy Library printed materials Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00. Please bring phographic proof of ID with you when you visit and speak to staff at the Welcome Desk who will ask for your ID, gather some information about you, and ask you to abide by the Library rules. You need to book ahead to gain access evenings and weekends. Please email library@reading.ac.uk telling us when you want to visit and we will arrange for Security staff to give you entrance: if you have not contacted the Library beforehand you will not be admitted.

Everyone can still use the Library Café and Ground Floor toilets, which you will find before you reach the barriers.

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

Settle up before graduation!

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If you are graduating this summer then please don’t forget to return your loans and clear your account before you go. If you have any outstanding fines or bills you can pay online via the Campus Card Portal or at the Ground Floor Information Desk now situated in the Library@URS Building.

Before you leave don’t forget to return:

  • Standard loan, 7-day loan and journal items to the Library Building
  • Course Collection items to the Library@URS Building

Money left on your card?

Save the pennies and avoid having any leftover money on your Campus Card at the end of your course. When you top-up your card via the Campus Card Portal there is now no minimum amount you have to spend. This means you can top-up exactly what you need to see you through to the end of term!

Membership after you graduate

If you are interested in borrowing from the University Library after you graduate, annual Library membership is half-price at £45! Alternatively, if you are beginning a new course at UoR next session you can apply for membership over the summer for a reduced charge of £20. Registrations for membership can be made at the Ground Floor Information Desk in the URS Building.

Matthew Pearson, Library User Services

Restricted Library/URS entry for exam-time

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Despite opening extensive hours from Saturday 6 April until Friday 14 June, please note access restrictions to Library buildings. From Monday to Friday, Library space is reserved for University Campus and Library Card holders only. Visitors are only permitted at weekends with prior arrangement. This is to prevent disruption to our revising students from non-University members, right until their last exam is over.

We operate a ‘no card, no access policy’ and reserve the right to refuse access to anyone, including University members, who cannot identify themselves adequately.

How card-holders get in

You already need your campus card to enter the Library building at all times. You will also need your card to enter Library@URS after 17:00 and before 08:30 on weekdays, and all weekend. When other doors are locked, please enter by the right-hand doors of Library@URS. Card-holders gain automatic entry by placing their Campus Card on the ‘proximity reader’ beside the right-hand door.

Restrictions for visitors

6 April—14 June Members of the public without cards are only admitted on weekends, by prior appointment.

Regrettably, they may not use study spaces here as these are required by our own students revising for exams. Visitors are encouraged to look to their own school, college or public library for study space.

As always, our policy is that children in the Library must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The Library Café will remain accessible throughout, but we apologise to visitors unable to use Café Libro during restricted periods.

UoR campus card faulty?

Should your University Campus Card fail to open our doors with the card reader, please ask Campus Card Services to fix the fault via their Campus Card non-residential door access report form or email cardfinance@reading.ac.uk.

Alternative study space during Library refurb

Whilst refurbishment works continue in the Library building this summer there will be some construction noise. Besides the quieter Library@URS building, UoR students can also use additional study space listed on the Library Refurbishment Project page.

Katie Winter, Trainee Liaison Librarian for
Sue Egleton, Associate Director (Systems & User Services)

Play fair and share in the Library

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Male students reading books

Help make the Library work effectively by respecting everyone’s right to resources and space. Just a minute checking when your Library loans are due back or clearing a desk space for others can help make this term a success for everyone.

Here’s some simple suggestions on how to keep on top of your Library account, save time and money, help your friends, and provide a pleasant and productive working environment for all:

 

  • Return Library items on time

Avoid fines and help fellow users access the material they need. Make use of the e-receipts function on the Library’s new Self-Service machines to keep track of those important due dates!

 

  • Keep up to date with your account

Remember to check your University email to keep updated with any reminders the Library sends you – including new due dates for recalled items!

 

  • Don’t hog study spaces with your belongings

Please free up study spaces for other users when you are leaving the area for a substantial time. This allows other users the chance to utilise out study areas and keeps your valuables safe.

 

Check out our ‘Using the Library’ and ‘Policies and Rules’ pages for more information.

 

Matthew Pearson, Library User Services