Guide to Library and Student Centre: Borrowing Books

You will need your University ID card for

• Entrance to all University buildings
• Borrowing library books through the click and collect service
• Accessing the online library content such as e-books, e-journals and databases
• Your IT username is w + first seven digits of student ID​

• You can borrow 25 books at a time
• Borrow or return a book using the self-service kiosk
• You need your university ID to borrow books
• You can borrow and return books at any campus library 
• Books are one week loan
• They are are automatically extended to two weeks for students registered with Disability Learning Support 

Understand how to find a book on the shelf with this helpful guide or watch the quick video below.

Books are automatically renewed unless: 

• they have been requested by another user
• you have overdue loans
• your account is blocked
• your library membership has expired

Check your Library Search account regularly to keep your loans up to date.  The library sends reminders to your Westminster email account.

You can make an online request for the item to be sent to your campus library.  You can request most items and you can request up to five items at a time.

To request:

• Sign in to Library Search
• Search for the book you need 
• If it's not available at your campus library you can request it 
• Click the title of the book and then click Request
• You'll receive an email when your requests have arrived at the The Student Centre counter. You can also view the status of your requests under ‘My Account’ on Library Search

• You can return your books at any of our library campuses.
• Please use the self-service machines to return items rather than placing them straight in the book return bin slots.
• The system will generate an automatic confirmation email of your return.

We do not charge fines. If you return a requested item late, your library account will be blocked. This means that you will not be allowed to borrow or request items for the length of time the book was overdue, and this may prevent other loans on your account being automatically renewed.  Bring your requested books back by the due date to avoid this happening. 

What happens if I can’t find the item I need?

Make a request using Can't Find What You Need?, an enhanced service where we will either purchase the item you need or borrow on your behalf from another library (this replaces our Inter-Library Loan service). 

You can request the following types of items that relate to your research: books, book chapters, journal articles, and conference papers. We offer this service for free to all current University of Westminster staff and students. 

We’ll let you know the best way we can provide the resource and how long you can expect to wait for it. 

We aim to process your request within one working day but the time it will take for you to receive the item depends on its format and availability. Please check your university email account for updates.

You can only request items not held within the library in any format. If you would like to suggest a book for a reading list, request additional copies, or request an existing library book in a different format, please get in touch with studentcentre@westminster.ac.uk

Looking for PhD Theses? Check the EThOS database, which contains information relating to doctoral theses produced by researchers within the UK

If you have any questions please contact the Student Centre via email or chat westminster.ac.uk/current-students/support-and-services

Request a PhD thesis from the University of Westminster

Many of our PhD theses are available for download via our university repository. Before requesting a thesis, please check whether an electronic copy is available in Westminster Research.

Anyone consulting a Westminster thesis is required to accept the University of Westminster thesis loan privacy policy and must adhere to copyright regulations.

Photocopying, photographing or scanning is not allowed, without explicit permission from the rights holder. A signed letter or email, with verifiable contact details must be submitted prior to consultation.

Requests by members of the University of Westminster
If a thesis is not available in WestminsterResearch and you are a member of the University you can place an Inter Library Loan request.

It will take 1-2 weeks to make the thesis available to you. It is reference only, and you will only be able to view the thesis within the Marylebone Library.

Requests from external users

If the thesis that you require is not available for download, and you would like to consult the print copy, you can request access via the link below. Please note, that we cannot digitise theses.

Request a thesis

It will take 1-2 weeks to make the thesis available and you will only be able to view the thesis within the Marylebone Library for one week from arrival of thesis, within staffed hours, as laid out in the email you will receive. 

Looking for PhD Theses? Check the EThOS database, which contains information relating to doctoral theses produced by researchers within the UK

(Currently not available due to the cyber attack on the British Library)

You will need a Reader Pass to use the British Library reading rooms. Pre-book an appointment online to request or renew your pass.
Further information on using the British Library.

SCONUL Access is a reciprocal scheme which allows many university library users to borrow or use books and journals at other libraries which belong to the scheme.

To join SCONUL Access and find out which libraries you can use, Click here You will need your student ID Card number and your institutional email address to complete the application.

You will only need to make one application. When first applying, select a preferred library. This will give you access to all eligible institutional libraries. It can take up to 2-3 working days to process your application.