Borrowing at the English Faculty Library

A student handing a book to a librarian at the information desk

Who may borrow?

  • Most of the English Faculty Library’s collection can be borrowed. Exceptions include rare books and special collections, periodicals, quick reference material and selected titles in the main collection (usually additional copies of heavily used books). Items which cannot be borrowed are indicated on SOLO as ‘Library Use Only’.
  • If you are reading or teaching English at Oxford University, you are entitled to register as a borrower at the English Faculty Library.
  • New English undergraduates and taught postgraduates are automatically pre-registered as members of the library.
  • Members of other faculties who need to access the library's collections for academic purposes are welcome to register as borrowers. To register, readers must bring their University card to the issue desk.
  • The film collections are open to all those studying and teaching film in the Faculties of English and Modern Languages, as well as those using film to support other courses or research across the University.

Borrowing books

We offer the following borrowing allowances to our readers:

English Faculty

  Total items Standard borrowing period Short loan items (2-day loans)
Readers with a disability 15 28 days (4 weeks) 2
Undergraduates 10 7 days (1 week) 2
Taught postgraduates (MSt) 15 14 days (2 weeks) 4
Research postgraduates (DPhil) 15 28 days (4 weeks) 2
Senior members 20 90 days 2

Other readers

  Total items Standard borrowing period Short loan items (2-day loans)
Readers with a disability 15 28 days (4 weeks) 2
Students and visiting students 8 7 days (1 week) 2
Senior members 12 28 days (4 weeks) 2
Non-academic staff 8 7 days (1 week) 2

Vacation borrowing

Vacation borrowing for most items begins on Monday of 8th week each term. Short loan vacation borrowing starts Thursday of 8th week.

Borrowing films

  • Films may be borrowed for educational purposes only. Commercial copyright regulations strictly forbid the copying of DVDs and videos.    
  • DVDs in non-Region 2 format have been labelled with warning stickers. If you wish to borrow an item in non-region 2  format, please only do so if you are sure that your DVD player/PC can play it.  Any replacement costs will be charged.
  • A film viewing area for VHS and DVD is located in the Computer Room. Full instructions are located in front of the TVs. Headphones must be used, and can be borrowed from the Issue Desk if required.
  • Portable DVD players are available for loan from the issue desk. Please ask staff for more information.
  • Vacation borrowing begins Friday of 8th Week in Michaelmas Term and Friday of 9th Week in Hilary Term. MSt Film Aesthetic students and academic staff may also borrow over the summer vacation, beginning Friday of 8th Week (Trinity Term).
  DVDs/videos Borrowing period
Students (undergraduates and postgraduates) 4 2 days
Academic staff and MSt Film Aesthetics students 6 7 days (1 week)

Renew and return

  • You may renew library items up to 3 times. After that you will need to bring them back to the library to have them renewed. Items can be renewed online using SOLO, or by phone (01865 271050) or email.
  • Items may be renewed if they have not been reserved by another reader.
  • Always return borrowed items to  the issue desk. Items remain your responsibility until they have been checked in. Do not lend your University card or your books to anyone else.
  • Take care of items borrowed from the library; we will charge the full replacement cost for lost or damaged items.

Lost items

If you have lost an item borrowed from this library, you must report it to a member of library staff at the issue desk or by email, giving the author's name and title of the book, your name and any additional information. On receiving notification of your lost item, we will contact you within 3 working days (Monday – Friday) to confirm that we are dealing with this matter. We will renew the book you have reported missing for 2 weeks to give you time to look for it, provided the due date has not already passed. At the same time, we will send you an invoice for the cost of the missing book.  

If after two weeks you are unable to find the item, you must pay the replacement costs in full. If you do not pay the invoice on time, your account will be debited for the amount and you may be blocked from borrowing across the Bodleian Libraries. Once the invoice has been settled, the item will be removed from your library account and any blocks removed.  

You may pay for lost items online by credit or debit card. If your payment is made outside of weekday library opening hours, there may be a delay in this charge being removed from your library account.