Library essentials for students and staff 2020-21

This guide is for students and staff to find information on how Library Services can support your research and teaching in 2020-21. This information is subject to change so please check this guide, and the Service Updates webpage regularly.

Current Services

The following library services are currently available.  All other library sites are closed and onsite services suspended. 

• Bookable study spaces in the Student Centre, Royal Free Medical Library, 1-19 Torrington Place, Ramsay Hall and Bidborough House - see Opening Hours. Please note that only staff and medical students working and studying at the Royal Free are permitted to access the Royal Free Hospital Medical Library at present.
• Click and Collect service from the Science Library (for Main and Science Library books) and the Institute of Education Library, plus a limited Stores Service.
• Scan and Send service for material held at the Main Library, Science Library and the Institute of Education Library.
• Online resources and Library Help Services.

Library Chat Service

Our Library Chat Service is available Monday - Friday, 12:00 - 19:00. If you would like to chat to a member of Library Staff during these times please visit our Library Help webpage and fill in the box under 'Contact Us' to begin your chat.

Borrowing books - Click and Collect

Books for borrowing must be requested in advance, through our Click and Collect Service. Books can be requested via Explore, and further information can be found on our Click and Collect webpage.

If you are unable to access the UCL campus to collect books that have been requested, for example if you are self-isolating, you can arrange for another UCL Library member to collect them on your behalf. Please email lib-accessibility@ucl.ac.uk to arrange this.

Any books that were due back between 1 December 2020 and 5 March 2021 have been extended until 26 March 2021.

Returning books

Books can be returned in person to the Science Library during its opening hours or to the book bin at the Main Library entrance. At other times books can be left at the Front Gate Lodge on Gower Street (opposite the Cruciform Building).

Books can also be posted to our address listed on our contact page. For those users who do not wish to visit a Post Office, Royal Mail now offers a Parcel Collect service which allows you to pay for postage online, print off an address label and have your parcel collected from your door.

Please note that we are not currently charging fines for the late return of books.

Scan and Send Service

Our Scan and Send Service allows UCL students and staff to request copies of journal articles and book chapters to be scanned and emailed to you directly.

This guide covers:

The main contact point for any library-related enquiries is library@ucl.ac.uk. This service is staffed Monday - Friday, 09:00 - 17:00, and enquiries will be directed to relevant colleagues.

Our chat service is available Monday - Friday, 12:00 - 19:00.

Feedback
If you have any feedback on our services please use our Library Services Feedback Form.