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Library Guides

Guide to Library and Archive Services: Borrowing and Returning

Borrowing

Borrowing

You can borrow 25 items and make up to 5 requests.

Items are issued for 1 week and are automatically renewed, unless requested by another user - please read the box below.

 

You can borrow and return items using our self service kiosks - tap your university ID card on the reader and place the books on the light-up shelf. 

You also have access to an extensive collection of e-books, e-journals and e-resources via Library Search.

 

Questions? Speak with Student Centre staff at the library counter, via our Chat service, or email studentcentre@westminster.ac.uk

 

Returning

You can return items to any of our libraries through our self service kiosks.

Questions? Speak with Student Centre staff at the library counter, via our Chat service or email studentcentre@westminster.ac.uk

Request a Thesis

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. 

What happens if I bring an item back late?

Item(s) are issued for 1 week and are automatically renewed, unless requested by other users.

If requested, you will receive an email asking you return the item(s).

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 from being automatically renewed. Please do bring your requested books back by the due date to avoid this happening.

Can't Find What You Need?

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

 

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.

Which other libraries can I use?

SCONUL ACCESS LOGO

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 Library or ID Card number from your home institution and your institutional email address to complete the application.