Using the libraries
As a member of Cardiff University, you are entitled to use any of the libraries.
- How many books and journals can I borrow?
- Borrowing and returning
- Fines
- Renewing
- Reserving
- Requesting books and journals from the stores
- Requesting books from NHS Wales hospital libraries
How many books and journals can I borrow?
| Category | Loan entitlements |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 12 |
| Taught postgraduate | 15 |
| Research postgraduate | 25 |
| Staff | 32 |
| Staff of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Velindre NHS Trust | 12 |
| Fellow / Council Member | 12 |
| Short course | 4 |
| SCONUL Access Band A | 5 |
| SCONUL Access Band B | 2 |
| SCONUL Access Band C | 2 |
| Personal external members, Cardiff University Alumni | 4 |
| Corporate external members | 6 |
Users from outside Cardiff University may only be allowed to borrow items from Standard Loan collections.
Borrowing and returning
Bring the books you wish to borrow to the issue desk together with your University ID card or issue them yourself at the self-service machine. You will be given a date when the books are due for return.
If you are a member of the Cardiff University library service and wish to borrow a book from an NHS Wales hospital library, please ask your Cardiff University home library to obtain the book for you. If you are a member of an NHS Wales hospital library and wish to borrow a book not held in your library, please ask your library to obtain the book for you.
You can return books to any library with the exception of 4 hour loans which should be returned to the library they were borrowed from. Books can be returned in book bins at some libraries or at the issue desk in the library.
Fines
There is a charge for late-returning of items:
| Loan Period | Fine |
|---|---|
| 13 weeks | 25p a day |
| 4 weeks | 25p a day |
| 2 weeks | 25p a day |
| 1 week | 50p a day |
| 3 days | £1 a day |
| 1 day | £1 a day |
| Overnight | £1 an hour |
| 4 hour loan | £1 an hour |
Renewing
You can renew your books provided they have not been reserved by another person. You may do this yourself in the library or from home using LibrarySearch. Some short loan books may not be renewed.
Please ask staff in the libraries for further information or for help with renewing books.
Reserving
You can reserve books and journals which are already on loan to another person using LibrarySearch.
Check your LibrarySearch account or your Cardiff University email account regularly to find out when your reservations are ready. Reserved items are held for a limited period and can be collected from the relevant library's issue desk.
Requesting books and journals from the stores
Older, less-used books and journals are kept in Information Services stores. Items held in store are displayed on LibrarySearch with the location 'XStore n : Ask at desk'.
You can request items from the stores by completing a store request form, available from the libraries. The item will usually be delivered to your chosen library within one or two working days.
Requesting books from NHS Wales hospital libraries
If you are a member of the Cardiff University library service and wish to borrow a book from an NHS Wales hospital library, please ask your Cardiff University home library to obtain the book for you.
If you are a member of an NHS Wales hospital library and wish to borrow a book not held in your library, please ask your library to obtain the book for you.