Borrowing, Renewing and Requesting Library Items

Requests for library items can be made using our Request and Collect Service. 

If an item you request is available on the library shelf at one of our libraries, it will be made available for you to collect at your chosen pick-up library. If all copies of the item are currently on loan or reserved for other borrowers, the next available copy will be reserved for you to collect at your chosen pick-up library when returned by the current borrower.

Important information about requesting items:

• Library users cannot request or borrow a second copy of an item that they already have on loan.
• Students and staff may have a maximum of 15 requests on their library account at one time.
• External borrowers may not place requests on items. 
• We cannot guarantee the date a requested item will be available for you.
• You will be notified by email when your requested item is ready to collect from your chosen pick-up library. 

Automatic Renewals have been introduced to make things easier. Items on loan from the library will automatically renew unless they are requested. It is therefore vital that requests are placed on any items that you wish to borrow that are currently on loan to other library users. However you can still telephone or email the library to make a request on a book. Remember to have your student number ready. Out of hours there is a voicemail facility.  

How to borrow an item from the library

Most items from the library can be borrowed by using our library self-issue kiosks. Simply scan your University ID card (or your home library card or institutional ID card for external borrowers) at the kiosk and place your item(s) in the machine to issue to your library account. You can also borrow items at the library desk.

Some items can only be borrowed at the library desk, for example, inter-library loans, thesis and other items from library stores, and specialist accessibility equipment.

Which library can I borrow from?

Swansea University staff and students may borrow items from any of our five libraries: Singleton Park Library, Bay Library, the South Wales Miners' Library, Banwen Library and St David's Park Library.

External borrowers may borrow items from any of our libraries except St David's Park, where items may be used on a reference-only basis.

Staff and students may request items to be sent from the library where the item is located, to the library they wish to borrow from, by using our Request and Collect Service.

Undergraduates, Postgraduades and Staff

Number of items: 
Students and staff may borrow up to 30 items at a time (including a maximum of 15 items from St. David's Park Library).

Loan periods:
The normal loan period is 4 weeks, with the following exceptions:

• For high-demand items (items which have outstanding requests from other library users waiting to borrow the item), the loan period will be shortened to 1 week until all requests for the item have been fulfilled.
• If an item you have on loan is requested by another library user, the loan will be recalled and the current loan period will be shortened to 1 week from the date of the recall.

Laptop loan periods:
For students, the loan period for laptops borrowed from the laptop lockers is 2 weeks.

Requests: 
Students and staff may have a maximum of 15 requests on their library account at one time.

External Visitors

Number of items:
External borrowers may borrow up to 5 items at a time (from any library except St David's Park Library, where external borrowers may use library materials on a reference-only basis).

Loan periods:
The normal loan period is 4 weeks. Please note that all loans are subject to recall and if an item you have on loan is requested by a Swansea University student or staff member, the loan will be recalled and the current loan period will be shortened to 1 week from the date of the recall. If the loan is already within one week of its due date at the time of the recall, there will be no change to the due date. In the event that a loan is recalled, you will be notified by email, using the email address you provided when you registered as an external borrower.

Requests:
External borrowers may not request or recall items.

Automatic renewals

Most library loans will renew automatically until you return the item to the library. There are some exceptions to automatic renewals. For example, a loan will not renew automatically if:

• The item has been requested by another library user
• The loan has reached the maximum period allowed for renewals (1 year for UG students; 3 years for PG students and staff; 4 weeks for external borrowers)
• The borrower's library account is due to expire at the end of the current loan period
• The borrower's library account has been blocked - e.g. due to overdue recalls and/or outstanding fines over £25
• The type of item is not eligible for renewals - e.g. laptops, specialist equipment, theses and other items from library stores
• The item is an inter-library loan

If your loan is not eligible for renewal, it will need to be returned to the library by its due date.

How do I know if my loan is renewable?

When it's time for your loan to automatically renew, the library system will take care of the renewal by itself, without bothering you about it. But if your loan is unable to be renewed automatically for any reason, you will be sent an email notification to let you know that the item is due and when it will need to be returned.

You can also check the current status of your loans by logging into your iFind account. You can also check your library account at any of the self-issue kiosks in our library buildings.

Your Loans screen will show all of your current due dates, and will tell you if a loan is not renewable. Remember that the status of your loans can change, e.g. if an item has been recalled, but you will be notified of any changes by email.

Monthly Library Account Statements are sent to all borrowers via email, as a courtesy reminder of all items currently issued to the borrower's library account.

If you have a query about your library account or loans, please contact us. We are here to help!

Where to return library items

Most library items can be returned at any of our library sites, regardless of which one of our libraries you borrowed the item(s) from. Please check the current open hours for the site you wish to visit. Library items cannot be returned when the buildings are closed.

Please note: laptops borrowed from the laptop lockers at Singleton Park and Bay Libraries must be returned to the same library that you borrowed the laptop from.

How to return library items

Self-return kiosks are available at Singleton Park Library, Bay Library, the South Wales Miners' Library and St David's Park Library. Self-return is the quickest and easiest way to return your items, and you can also choose to receive a returns receipt by email from the self-return kiosk.

Most library loans can be returned via the self-return kiosks, but some items must be returned at the library desk, including:

• Inter-library loans borrowed via the Document Supply service
• Theses and other items from special collections in the library stores
• Specialist equipment loans such as long-term loan laptops, digital voice records, accessibility software and hearing loops.

Items can only be returned at the library desk during staffed desk open hours.

Postal returns

If you are unable to return an item in person at the library, we can also accept some returns by post. The cost of postage is the borrower's responsibility. Please contact us first, if you need to return an item by post. 

Late returns

If you return items after their due date you may be fined. Overdue charges are applicable to all categories of borrower, including academic staff. Please see the Library fees and fines section below for more information about overdue charges.

If you are unable to return an item by the due date, please contact us as soon as possible as this may affect other library users who need the item. 
If you have extenuating circumstances preventing you from being able to return an item on time, please let us know before the item becomes overdue.

Overdue fines

It is the borrower’s responsibility to ensure that all library loans are returned by their due date and in good condition. If you return an item after its due date, you may be charged an overdue fine. Overdue charges are applicable to all categories of borrower, including academic staff.

If an item is returned late, the following overdue charges will apply:

Please note: if a borrower accrues fines of £25 or more, their library account will be blocked from further loans or renewals, until the outstanding fines are brought below £25. 

No overdue fines are charged for items from the South Wales Miners' Library or Banwen Library. Replacement charges for lost or damaged items may still apply.

Important information about due dates

• Loan periods may be shortened if an item is recalled for use by another library user. You will be notified by email if your loan is recalled, and if there is any change to the due date.
• Loans may not always be eligible for automatic renewals. This may be because:
  • The item has been requested by another library user
  • The item has reached its maximum loan period for renewals (1 year for UG students; 3 years for PG students and staff; 4 weeks for external borrowers)
  • The borrower's library account is due to expire at the end of the current loan period
  • The borrower's library account has been blocked - e.g. due to overdue recalls and/or outstanding fines over £25
  • The type of item is not eligible for renewals - e.g. laptops, specialist equipment, theses and other items from library stores
  • The item is an inter-library loan
• If your loan is not eligible for automatic renewal, you will be notified by email to inform you of the date by which the loan should be returned.
• In addition to library email notifications, you can also check your due dates and the renewal/recall status of your loans by logging into your iFind account. It is the borrower's responsibility to check email or iFind for due date notifications.

Lost or damaged items

If an item you have on loan is lost or damaged, you may be charged a replacement fee for the item. Please contact us as soon as possible if an item you have on loan is lost or damaged.

We can post available copies of books to you on request. We can only post books to addresses in the UK.  You will be liable for the cost of postage (parcel post rates).  The charge will be added to your library record and you can pay this charge by post or next time you are in the library. Before requesting a postal loan, please check whether we have the book(s) in stock by browsing iFind (the Library Catalogue).

Journal articles and extracts from books can be photocopied or scanned for you (subject to copyright law). Photocopies can be collected from any Swansea University library or we can post them to you. You will be charged for the cost of the photocopying & scanning which is 10p per A4; and for any postage, if applicable.

Important Information - How much can you copy for me? For copyright reasons the library can only supply a single chapter of a book or a single article from an issue of a journal. If you need more than one chapter or article then you will need to arrange to visit the library or borrow the book through the LibraryPlus service.

If we do not have the book chapter or article you require, you can make a request to the Document Supply service.