Borrowing
College members can borrow as many books as needed, though it’s a good idea to stay on top of your reading and not hoard too many books. Books are usually due for return or renewal by 5pm on Wednesday of 8th Week in Term or in 1st Week after Vacation, but may be recalled by another student and should be returned within 7 days.
Most of the books in our collection can be borrowed, but our rare books, some high-use textbooks, and items such as journals and magazines may only be read within the Library. Look out for the orange ‘Confined to the Library’ labels on their spines. Some will be labelled as confined only for a certain period e.g. ‘Confined Michaelmas Term’, which means they can be borrowed at other times.
Read on to discover how to borrow, renew, and return your books, as well as our fines and charges policies, and information about using other libraries in Oxford.
How To Borrow
We have Self-Issue machines in the foyers of both library buildings. To issue:
- Press ‘Borrow’ on the screen
- Scan your University card under the red beam
- Place your books in a pile on the white pad. The pad can check out multiple books at a time.
- Check that all of your books have appeared in the list on the screen
- Press ‘Finish’
If a book title appears in red on the screen with an error message, doesn’t appear at all, or there is an issue with your card or the machine, just ask us for help. If we’re not around, just write the details in the problem notepad. You may then take the book from the Library and we will sort it for you later.
There is sometimes a short delay in deactivating the security tags on the machine after issuing a book. If the alarm still triggers after a successful loan, just try to issue it again at the machine and it should be fine.
How To Renew
Keep an eye out for email and other reminders to renew your books. To renew:
- Sign in to your MySOLO account (top right corner of SOLO web page) with your Single Sign On (SSO).
- Tick the books you want to renew and click ‘Renew Selected’ or ‘Renew All’
- Make sure all the titles have a new due date. If the due date hasn’t changed it usually means someone else has requested that book and it must be returned within 7 days.
If there are any issues with online renewal, we can also renew books for you at the staff desk or via email. It’s helpful if you bring your University card, but there’s no need to bring the books with you, unless requested.
If you miss the renewal date, you can still renew your books online and borrow for up to another week, after which you will be able to renew but not borrow any more until you have done so. After two weeks, you will need staff help to renew your books, which will allow you to start self-renewing and borrowing again. Just get in touch if you’re not sure what to do.
How To Return
You don’t need to do anything with the Self-Issue Machine to return books. Just leave them in the designated area for the building they were borrowed from and Library Staff will check them in for you.
Please leave books with shelfmarks in the 000s-330s, 350s-600s, Stack, or PER in the book returns box or the staff desk in the foyer of the Tim Gardam Building.
Books with shelfmarks in the 700s-900s, 340s (Law), ANNE, DVD, Jenkins, MR, RP, TE, TR, or Welfare should be returned to the staff desk in Hartland House.
Fines & Charges
We don’t charge fines for regular overdue books, but it is important to renew or return your books in good time so that your library account functions properly.
You may be charged the cost of replacing books if they are not returned after being recalled by the Library or another student, are damaged or lost, or are presumed lost in cases where you fail to respond to multiple reminders to renew or return. Library staff will inform you of these charges and they will be added to your battels.
Other libraries you use in Oxford will have different borrowing and fines policies, so make sure to look out for any notices relating to overdue books or fines from elsewhere.
Using Other Libraries
There are over 100 libraries within Oxford, many of which you can use as University members, though you will not automatically be able to use all of them.
The Bodleian Libraries are a group of 26 libraries, including, the main research library of the University – the Bodleian Library. They are open to all University members and have a common access and borrowing policy: https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/services/borrow
There are a number of other smaller departmental, faculty, and specialist libraries throughout Oxford. Some have specific access conditions, such as shorter opening hours or being open by appointment only, and you may need to register in order to borrow, if at all. It is a good idea to check their webpages before you make a trip, in order to avoid disappointment
As with St Anne’s, other college libraries are usually only for their own members and you cannot use their books or spaces, unless their policy states otherwise. If there is an item you wish to read that is not available in a Bodleian or Faculty library, and we are not able to get hold of a copy, it is unlikely you will be able to borrow it from another college, although access is usually allowed for books not held elsewhere in Oxford. In all instances, you should check their policies and contact their Librarian to make an appointment first.
