Borrowing from the Library

University of Huddersfield

Borrowing from the Library

How long can I borrow items for?

Standard Loan Items (e.g. books, DVDs and music scores) are available to borrow for an initial one week loan period, and will automatically renew on a daily basis until requested by another library customer (or your account is due to expire).

Specific Needs Students can request extended loans on standard books. Please contact the Library Disability Support Officer for more details.

Audio-visual (AV) equipment (e.g. headsets, dictaphones and transceivers) can be borrowed for up to seven days from the Help Desk.

Laptops can be borrowed for up to seven days, from the self-service laptop lockers outside the library entrance, or in the 24/7 computer suite.

If you need to borrow an item the library doesn't have, you can request it via Inter-Library Loans.

How many items can I borrow?

Different types of library members can borrow different amounts of standard loan items. See the table below for how many items you can borrow.

Borrower Type Items
Undergraduates 20 items
Postgraduate taught students 25 items
Staff and postgraduate researchers 30 items
Specific needs students 25 items
Public members 5 items (books only)

If you have lost a library item, have a query regarding fees, or have any other questions about borrowing library items, please contact the Help Desk. You can visit in person during staffed hours, or use the following contact details:

  • phone: 01484 473830
  • email:

To borrow items, use the self-service borrowing kiosks on Floor 4 of the library.

You will need your campus card. Follow the simple instructions on the screen, and remember to keep your receipt.

If you need assistance, ask a member of staff at the Help Desk.

If you are unable to come into the library to borrow, we may be able to arrange to send them to you by post. Please see Door to Door Delivery for more information.

You can return items using the self-service return units on Floor 4 of the library.

If you need assistance, ask a member of staff at the Help Desk.

If you are unable to travel to campus, you can return your books using a postal service.

  • Package up your books securely and carefully label the package.
  • Address your package to: The Help Desk Team, Computing and Library Services, Level 4, Schwann Building, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH
  • Remember to keep your proof of postage. You may need this as evidence of your return, including the date the items were posted.

Standard items (excluding AV equipment and laptops) will be automatically renewed on a daily basis, therefore they will always be due back in seven days' time, unless someone else has requested them.

Please check your email regularly as we will notify you if a request has been placed on an item that you have out on loan.

You will have seven days to return the item before any charges will be incurred.

Laptops and AV equipment cannot be renewed, and must be returned by the due date to avoid incurring a fine.

If you find a book on Summon that you want to take out on loan, but it is not available or it is missing from the shelves, you can place a request to reserve the item. Once the item becomes available to loan, you will get an email notifying you that it is ready for collection.

You can reserve up to five items at a time. Once you receive an email notifying you about the availability of an item you will have 5 days from that date to pick up the item.

You can only request items that are not available (e.g. someone else has them on loan), so you cannot use Summon to reserve a book that is already on the shelf rather than going in to the library to take it out.

NB: This information is only for requesting items that are in Summon. If you need a book or article that the library doesn't have, you can request it from us using Inter-Library Loans. Or, you can recommend a book for us to buy for the library.

The following charges apply to overdue items:

Type of loan Fee per day Maximum fee
Standard £2.50 per item £35 per item
Audiovisual equipment £5 per item £35 per item
Laptop loan £10 per item £70 per item

Once the maximum fee is reached, you will be invoiced for the replacement cost of the item and the maximum fee.

You may pay your library fees:

If you have been invoiced for the late return of books and you intend to return them, please contact the Help Desk team on 01484 473830 or email borrower.queries@hud.ac.uk.


web page URL: /pages/borrowing/
last updated: Fri 07/Jul/2017 at 1:33pm