Library loans
If you have any queries about borrowing or renewing items please ask a member of staff at the helpdesk in the library's foyer.
Or you can find more information here (including information about visitor and alumni/SCONUL subscriber access).
You can also email us at library.loans@solent.ac.uk.
Borrowing and returning
It’s easy to borrow or return items from the library using one of the self-service machines in the library foyer. You’ll need a valid campus card to use the machines.
Renewing
Eligible library items should renew automatically each week for current staff and students.
Please remember to check your emails regularly.
If we are unable to renew your loans you will receive an automated email to let you know.
We will not be able to automatically renew your loans if:
- An item is reserved.
- There is a block on your library record (including overdue loans).
- Your course has finished.
- An item has been on loan to you for a long time (these items will need to be returned to the library and re-issued using the self-service machines).
- You are an alumni or borrowing under the inter-library SCONUL access scheme.
If all the copies of a book or DVD you require are on loan to other library users you can sign in to the library catalogue to place a reservation.
A reservation prevents items from being renewed each week until a copy is returned to the library. That item is then put aside for you to collect – we’ll email you when your reservation becomes available, plus you can check your library account for the status of your reservation.
If there's a book or journal article you really need but which is not available in our collections, we can try to get it for you from another library.
The inter-library loan service is available FREE for all Solent staff and students. Please bear in mind that each article request or book loan can cost us anything between fifteen and thirty pounds.
Undergraduate students can submit up to 15 inter-library loan requests per year; staff and postgraduate students can have up to 30 requests. If you need to go beyond these limits, please contact the information librarian for your school to discuss this.
For help and guidance, contact the team by email or call into the document delivery office on the ground floor of the library (ML014).
There is a collection of laptops available just for use in the library. These can be issued and returned using the self-service lockers in the library foyer and on floor 0C. You’ll need a valid campus card to be able to borrow and the laptop will need to be returned 15 minutes before the library closes (or by the following morning during 24-hour opening).
There are also laptops that can be borrowed to be taken out of the library – these are also available from the self-service lockers. You’ll need a valid campus card to borrow and be sure to select the appropriate option from the locker’s touchscreen. The laptop must be returned by the end of the following day. Please note, you must log-in to these laptops while you’re on campus to be able to use them off campus.
If you have any blocks or overdue items on your record, you will not be able to issue a laptop to yourself.