Borrowing and returning items

Borrowing items

To borrow items you need to issue them to your account. Tap your University campus card, staff card, or guest access card on the self-service unit, and then follow the onscreen instructions. A receipt will be emailed to your University e-mail address (for staff and students) or registered e-mail address (for library guests) showing the return date for each item. This information can also be found by logging into your library account. Log into your library account.

If you are a student, you can borrow a laptop from one of our lapsafes. Learn how to borrow a laptop.

Returning items

Follow the on-screen instructions to return your print items. A receipt will be emailed to your University e-mail address (for staff and students) or registered e-mail address (for library guests) to show proof of return. Please keep your receipt as your confirmation that the return has been successful. We recommend double-checking your library account to see if the return has been successful. Make sure you return your items on or before the return date to avoid any blocks. Log into your library account.

If you have borrowed a laptop from one of our lapsafes, return it to the same lapsafe. Learn how to return a laptop.

Renewing items

Items (except laptops) can be renewed up to an extra 196 days, 28 days at a time. The maximum renewal date, calculated as 196 days from the date the item was first issued, will be displayed on your account. Renewals will not be possible if the resource has been reserved by another library user. You can renew items by logging into your library account. Log into your library account.

Borrowing periods

Loan Category Description Fine per day per item overdue Maximum
28 Day Loan* All wider reading materials, including DVDs and other materials. N/A N/A
Not For Loan Items that cannot be borrowed from the library and are used within the library for reference. N/A N/A
Laptops Self-service laptops. £5 £35

*At the point of issue, if a 28 Day Loan resource is reserved, the loan period will automatically change to a 7 Day Loan and renewals will not be possible, to ensure the fair circulation of resources. If a resource is reserved whilst on loan the due date will not change but renewals will not be possible.

Check your self-service receipt and manage your loans by logging into your library account. Log into your library account.

Borrowing limits

Students 25
Staff 25
Eligible guests e.g. SCONUL Access and Alumni Association 4 
Borrower Borrowing Limit

Current students can borrow up to one laptop at a time. Guests are not eligible to borrow laptops.

If you are eligible to access our e-resources, these do not need to be issued and do not count towards your borrowing allocation. Print interlibrary loan items do count towards your borrowing allocation.

Notifications & blocks

Courtesy messages are sent 2 days before an item's due date. Overdue messages are sent 7 days after the due date (or 1 day after the due date for laptops).

Overdue items (not returned or renewed before the due date) will trigger an automatic borrowing block on your library account. This block prevents further borrowing of library resources. Blocks are added 14 days after the due date or 3 days after the due date for laptops. To remove this block, please return the items or speak to a member of Library staff. Get in touch with us using Library Talk.

Items classed as lost & replacement costs

Overdue items will eventually be classed as lost and a bill for the replacement cost will be issued. Items are classed as lost after 28 days (laptops are classed as lost after 7 days). If you have a billed item in your possession we can waive the replacement cost once the item has been returned. If you find the item after you have paid the bill we may be able to refund the amount if it is within three months of you paying the bill and you are still studying at the University of Sunderland. Learn more about our billing procedure.