Library Assist: Answers

You've used the LibrarySearch catalogue to request to collect a University Library book from one of the University Libraries - what happens next?

If you have requested a physical book via the Inter-Library Loan (ILL) system, the below advice does not apply. Please see our FAQs about the ILL process instead.

If the item is showing on the catalogue as 'Available'

1. Library staff check for requested items several times each working day. Please see our Opening Hours page for the working days of each Library.
2. If the book is where it is supposed to be on the shelf, it will be taken for processing.
3. A piece of paper with your surname/family name written on it will be put into the item.
4. If you are collecting from that same site, the item will then be placed into the Requested items section.
5. If you have chosen to collect from another Library, the book will be transported between campuses at the next available opportunity. Please note: there are no deliveries at weekends so if you are requesting items on a Friday they may not be ready to collect for several days.
6. When the item reaches its destination, Library staff will put it in the Requested items section of that Library.

If the item is showing on the catalogue as 'Not Available - Loan'

• This means ALL copies are already on loan to other borrowers and you will need to wait for one to be returned.
• When you request it, the Library will automatically send a recall notice to the borrower who currently has the item.
• They will have until the due date stated on the catalogue to return it; if not returned by that date a fine of £1 a day will be applied.
• When the copy that has been recalled for you is returned, Library staff will follow steps 3 to 6 above.

What happens if the Library staff can't find the item on the shelf?

• Your request will stay in the Library system and we will continue to check for the item each day.
• If there are copies at more than one of the University Libraries we will look in all of them.
• If we cannot find it, after 3 days of checking at each Library that should have copies, it will automatically be cancelled and you will be emailed.

How will I know that my request is ready for me to collect?

• The Library system will email you to let you know it is ready. Please make sure you check your University Outlook email for this, not the 'Inbox' tab in Canvas as that is something different.
• The email will contain a date by which you need to collect it, usually you will have one week.
• You have until the Library closing time on the date given in the email to collect it.
• You can also see details of your requests in your Library 'My Account' online.
• If you no longer need the item, please contact us so it can be removed from the Requested items section.

How do I collect my request?

1. Items can be collected anytime during the advertised opening hours of each Library.
2. Go to the Requested items section in the Library. Please ask at the Help Desk if you don't know where it is.
3. All items are arranged in alphabetical order by surname/family name so you can find your request.
4. Take your item(s) to a self-service machine - items are not loaned to your account in advance, so you MUST use the self-service machine to borrow them before leaving the Library.
5. Loan them on the machine. You will need your University ID card for this - it is not possible to borrow items without one.
6. Take your items.

What happens if I don't collect it in time?

• Library staff are alerted by our system to remove uncollected items from the Requested items section the morning after the collection date given in the email.
• Items are then either re-shelved, returned to the Library they came from, or the next person in the request queue is informed that their item is ready to collect.
• If you still need the item and know that you can't collect it by the date in the email please contact the Library asap and we will see if it is possible to give you more time. Please note: if there is a queue of people waiting for the book it will usually not be possible to grant an extension.

Can someone else collect my request for me?

Yes they can collect books on your behalf. Please give them your ID card and a letter/email that says you are authorising them to collect your item(s). They will need to speak to a member of Library staff on the Help Desk. Please note: Library laptops can only be collected by the requester due to the terms and conditions.

Not received the notifications from the Library?

The MyWlv app does not always show emails from the Library - please use the web version of Outlook.

Please note: during the Covid pandemic there have been periods when books have not been recalled and/or it may not be possible for the person with the book to return it to the Library - the Library is unfortunately not able to guarantee that books already on loan will be returned for you to borrow. If you have been waiting for a book for a while, please contact the Library and ask us to check what is happening with your request.

If you have any questions or need help with requesting, please contact the Library.