Borrowing at the Taylor Institution Library

Three students sit around a wooden desk. They are in conversation. There is a bookshelf on one side of the room and large windows on another

Who may borrow?

  • Current members of the University with a (blue-stripe) University card may borrow from the Taylor Institution Library.  
  • New readers should register at the issue desk, which is on the ground floor to the right of the reception as you enter the building via the St Giles' door.
  • Bodleian Reader card holders may not borrow from the library. 

What can be borrowed?

  • Most books from both the Teaching and Research collections can be borrowed.  
  • Books which cannot be borrowed are usually marked ‘Library Use Only’ on SOLO. Open-shelf reference works, periodicals, older (pre-1900) materials and rare or fragile items cannot be borrowed.  
  • For more information about items that are confined to the library, please ask library staff.  

Borrowing rules and procedure

  • You must register your University card with the library in order to borrow books.  
  • Books from the Research Collection and the Teaching Collection should be taken to the issue desk in the Teaching Collection to be checked out and returned.
  • You may not lend or transfer a borrowed book to any other person.
  • You are responsible for material or equipment issued to you until you have returned it, in accordance with library procedures. You must protect material or equipment issued to you and must not damage it or expose it to hazardous conditions. You must not write in, mark, or otherwise deface or damage library material or equipment in any way. 
  • Each reader type has a total item limit. Within this limit, you may borrow any combination of material from the four item categories. Each item category also has its own limit, which you may not exceed. Reader limits are detailed below. 

Borrowing allowances

 

Reader type Item limit Research Collection Teaching Collection Audio items Film items
MML academic staff 32 20 items
56 days		 12 items
7 days		 12 items
7 days		 6 items
7 days
Other academic staff 32 20 items
28 days		 12 items
7 days		 12 items
7 days		 4 items
2 days
Privileged readers 30 12 items
56 days		 18 items
14 days		 18 items
14 days		 6 items
7 days
Research postgraduates (OU) 24 12 items
28 days		 12 items
7 days		 12 items
7 days		 4 items
2 days
Film Studies research students
MSt Film Aesthetics students		 24 12 items
28 days		 12 items
7 days		 12 items
7 days		 6 items
7 days
Taught postgraduates (OU) 24 12 items
14 days		 12 items
7 days		 12 items
7 days		 4 items
2 days
Undergraduates (OU) 20 8 items
7 days		 12 items
7 days		 12 items
7 days		 4 items
2 days
University staff 18 5 items
7 days		 12 items
7 days		 12 items
7 days		 4 items
2 days

 

Renew and return

  • You will be sent an email reminder when your loans are due for return.
  • If, after the first loan period, another reader urgently requires an item which is on loan to you, the library may send you a notice asking for its return.
  • All readers may renew by telephone, in person, or online using SOLO.
  • Disabled readers with privileged membership may also renew and request reservations by email.
  • You must return items to the library on or before their due date.
  • You may renew Research Collection items up to 3 times online. You may renew Teaching Collection books and audio material up to 7 times online. You may renew films online twice.
  • At the discretion of the Librarian, borrowing privileges may be withdrawn if books are not returned on time or when their return has been expressly requested, or if an invoice for replacement is unpaid.  

Lost books

If you lose a book belonging to the library, please let us know as soon as possible. You can provide us with a replacement edition, or we can invoice you for the cost of a replacement. The cost of replacing any library item which is lost, damaged or defaced will be charged to the reader responsible. For books which are not in print, a standard charge will be levied. In addition, a £5 charge to cover processing, handling and administration will be levied. The original copy remains the property of the Institution.