Using Our Services

Help & Support

There are lots of ways you can access help and support. If you have any questions about our services, facilities or resources simply search our knowledge base Ask Us which contains the most commonly asked questions.

You can also contact us by:
Telephone – 01695 650800
Email, live chat or text message – ehu.ac.uk/askus
Via Facebook or Twitter

The Helpdesk is situated on the ground floor of Catalyst (Ormskirk). You can access specialist help and support for disabilities, SpLD (Specific Learning Difficulties), subject specific and academic skills along with general library or Student Services and Careers queries at the helpdesk.

We also have a range of online guides and tutorials.

Borrowing

To borrow items from any of our libraries you will need your UniCard.

Loan Allocations
Student inc PGCEs + Masters 20 items
Research / Staff 35 items
External inc Alumni 5 items

Items can be loaned from the self-issue machines at the Catalyst or at the issue desk at the other sites.

Standard loans are a rolling 2 week loan (NB: Some ERC stock is a rolling 6 week loan) so please check My Account or the date stamped inside the book.

All loans will automatically renew 3 days before their due date and, so long as the item is not reserved, this process will continue with unlimited renewals. Should any item(s) be reserved you will be notified by email and the reserved item(s) will need returning by their current due date to ensure fines are not incurred. You can also manually renew anytime via the My Account function in the library catalogue or contact us.

Loan lengths for general issue media items are normally 2 days or 1 week, ask at the Catalyst Helpdesk for further information.

Returns

Items can be returned via the self return machine at the Catalyst, at the helpdesk desk at one of the other sites or via one of the external library book bins. Media items should be returned to the Catalyst Helpdesk by no later than 8pm Monday to Friday.  Fines are charged on overdue items that cannot be renewed.

Reservations

You can reserve any item that is currently out on loan, or at another of the library sites. Go to the Library Catalogue, search for the item and choose Reserve this item. You will receive an email to your University address when the item is ready for collection, items are held for 4 days.

If you have any questions about borrowing library items please do get in touch.

You want it, We get it

Is there a book or a journal article/book chapter you want which you can’t find through the library catalogue?

Books

We will either purchase the item for our stock or borrow it from another library.

Journal articles

If there is an article that you need which is not on Discover More, or a chapter from a book that we don’t have, then we will try and get it for you from another institution.

Make a Book Request

To make a request:

  • Check the library catalogue to make sure we don’t have the item you require
  • Go to the ‘You want it, We get it’ request form
  • Log in using your EHU username and password
  • Complete the form with as much information as possible – the more information you provide, the quicker we can process your request
  • We’ll do the rest!

Make a Journal Article/Book Chapter Request

Journal Articles:

  • Check Discover More using the article title to make sure it is not available there
  • It is also worth checking the A-Z Journal List using the journal title, to make sure the article isn’t accessible through that avenue
  • Go to the ‘You want it, We get it’ request form
  • Log in using your EHU username and password
  • Complete the form with as much information as possible – as a minimum please provide the journal and article title, volume, issue and page numbers and year of publication.
  • We’ll do the rest!

Book Chapters:

  • Check the library catalogue to make sure we don’t have the item you require
  • Go to the ‘You want it, We get it’ request form
  • Log in using your EHU username and password
  • Complete the form with as much information as possible – as a minimum, please provide the book title, chapter title (and number if there is one), and page numbers.
  • We’ll do the rest!

Many articles/book chapters will come from the British Library. If you choose electronic delivery, you will need to register with the British Library on Demand (https://ondemand.bl.uk/onDemand/home) service before you are able to access the documents. You can do this any time, but we would strongly advise you to register before you receive your first article.

Receive, Renew, Return

Receiving items

Books purchased for library stock:
A reservation will be placed on your behalf. When the book is received in the library, you will receive an email to your Edge Hill university email account, advising you that the book has been reserved for you and it will be held on the Reservation Shelf, at the site you specified on your request form, for 4 days from the date of that email.

Books received as an Inter Library Loan:

  • You will receive an email asking you to collect your item for loan from the Help Desk in the Library.
  • Items will be issued to you by a member of staff – it is not possible to self-issue inter-library loans.
  • The bookmark that accompanies the loan contains important information and should be kept with the item whilst in your care.
  • Loan lengths are determined by the lending library. If you need the book for a longer period of time, you can request a renewal (see below)
  • Items borrowed via Inter-library Loan are subject to recall at any time by the lender. You will be notified of recalls via a courtesy email, but you are ultimately responsible for keeping track of the due dates and statuses of your books.
  • Items not returned by their due dates may also be billed for replacement by the lender and the full cost will be passed on to you as the borrower
  • Occasionally, we can only obtain an item on reference use only basis, which means you will not be able to take them out of the library. If the book you request is only available on that basis, we will check with you beforehand that it is suitable for your requirements.

Journal article.

You will either be sent a photocopy to keep or a Secure Electronic Delivery document will be sent via email with a link to the article.

Renewing your Inter Library Loan items

  • As Inter-Library Loan items are not part of our own library stock, they will not renew automatically in your library account.
  • If you find you need your Inter Library Loan book for a longer period, you must contact the Collections and Archives team by email ills@edgehill.ac.uk to request a renewal.
  • Please note that renewals are not guaranteed and are up to the lender’s discretion.

Returning items

  • Our own library stock can be returned via the self-service machines.
  • Inter Library Loans must be returned to the Help Desk in the Catalyst, or the Help Desk at our Aintree and Manchester sites. You cannot return them via the self-service points.

Lost/damaged/unreturned inter library loans

  • Fines will be charged for late returns, loss or damage of inter library loans – please see the Fines page for details of charges

When completing the request form you must tick the box to confirm that you have read and agreed to the copyright terms and conditions.

  • This is a legal requirement. Under copyright law you can only request a photocopy or electronic copy of an article, book chapter or similar once, for the purpose of private study or non-commercial purposes, and ticking the box is equivalent to an electronic signature.

Copyright Declaration

When completing the request form you must tick the box to confirm that you have read and agreed to the copyright terms and conditions. This is a legal requirement. Under copyright law you can only request a photocopy or electronic copy of an article, book chapter or similar once, for the purpose of private study or non-commercial purposes, and ticking the box is equivalent to an electronic signature.

FAQs

Commonly asked questions:

Is there a limit to the number of requests I can make?

Yes, there is a limit, depending on which group you belong to:

  • Staff 100
  • Postgraduate – Research 100
  • Postgraduate – Taught 30
  • Undergraduate 30

Can I use this service if I am a distance learner?

We will attempt to satisfy any requests that are made by Distance Learning students who are registered to use the postal loans service, by purchasing the item for our own stock. A reservation will be placed on your behalf and will be posted out to you in the usual way, once the item is received by the library.

However, due to the requirements of supplying libraries, Distance Learning students should note that print books must be collected from one of our sites.

Journal articles can be ordered and will be delivered either electronically to your Edge Hill email address or posted directly to your home address.

Can I request a Thesis through this service?

If you wish to request a thesis from another UK Higher Education Institution, please check the British Library’s EThOS service to see if it is available.

EThOS is a national thesis service run by the British Library, and from here you can access records relating to theses awarded by over 120 UK institutions. Many UK theses have already been digitised and are available to download free of charge.

If the thesis hasn’t already been digitised British Library will try to obtain a copy for you, but please be aware that this may incur a charge if they have to make an electronic copy.

Please visit the website https://ethos.bl.uk for more information.

The item I want is only available in microfilm/microfiche format, can I still get it?

Occasionally items may be supplied on microfilm or microfiche. Our Ormskirk site provides a microfilm/microfiche reading equipment. This can be used by appointment. Contact ills@edgehill.ac.uk for more details or to make an appointment

How do I request an Inter Library Loan?

  • In January 2020, our Inter Library Loan and Add a Book services combined into one new You Want It We Get it service.  All you will need to do is complete the request form and we will do our best to get the item for you, either by purchasing it for our own stock, or by requesting it from British Library or another institution, whichever is the option.

How long will it take for the item to arrive?

  • Print items purchased for stock will normally take approximately 3 weeks to arrive from the date of the order, but this can vary depending on the availability of the item.
  • Ebooks will usually be available for use within 5-7 working days from the date of order.
  • Inter Library Loans will usually be available for collection within 10 days from the date of request, but again, this can vary, depending on the availability of the item.

Requests from other universities

Institutions within the UK 

We supply loans, articles and chapters from both print and electronic material within our collections.  Please provide your British Library Billing Account number, British Library code and a reference number for each request you make.

We charge at the current standard BL rate.

Institutions outside the UK

We are not currently able to supply any materials to institutions outside the UK.

 

Postal Loans

Learning Services provide access to a wide range of electronic resources via Discover More which includes over 130,000 electronic books.

Students who do not study at one of our main sites (Ormskirk, Aintree, Manchester) may be entitled to request a book from our print collection via the postal loans service. You can register using the form below.

Only students who are classed as distance learners, or who study at one of our outreach centres can register for the postal loans service. The service is not available for students on placement, living outside the UK, or living at one of the following postcodes: L39, L40, L9, M1.

Once you have registered, items can be requested via the library catalogue and when you are ready to return your item, you can visit one of our centres, return via post or use the free parcel force  return option – details will be sent to you in each parcel. Fines are charged on overdue items that cannot be renewed.

You will need a Unicard if you want to visit one of our libraries and borrow items in person, or borrow from another library as part of the SCONUL access scheme. Please email a passport sized photograph in jpeg format to fmhelpdesk@edgehill.ac.uk and they will post the card out to you within 5 working days.

Postal Loan Registration Form

Only students who are classed as distance learners, or who study at one of our outreach centres can register for the postal loans service. The service is not available for students on placement, living outside the UK, or living at one of the following postcodes: L39, L40, L9, M1.

Choose a centre/course from drop down list

Your Name (required)

Address (required)


Postcode

Date of Birth (required)

Edge Hill username and email

Edge Hill username (e.g: 20012345) (required)

Your Edge Hill Email (required)

How we will use the information you provide
Any information that you provide will be used to help support or fulfil your request.
The information provided/recorded will be visible to colleagues in Learning Services.
On some occasions we may need to share some, or all of, the information provided with other Edge Hill University colleagues.

I have read and understood the data protection and privacy statement and agree to Edge Hill University processing my personal data.

Alumni

Once you have registered with the Alumni network you can join the library free of charge.  Simply register using the form below.

Alumni members can:

  • Access the study facilities at any of our libraries (Ormskirk, Aintree, Manchester) and borrow up to 5 books.
  • Browse our book, print journal and newspaper collections.
  • Use a number of educational and academic electronic resources as a day visitor under the terms of the walk in user licence.
  • Access a number of electronic resources off site.

Please note that access  to the Catalyst for alumni and other external users is only during helpdesk hours. 

See resources to support Edge Hill Alumni

For more information about our Alumni offer, please get in touch via Ask Us

Library registration form:

Are you a member of the Edge Hill Alumni network?

For licensing reasons we will check the University Alumni database

YesNo

Name (required)

Home address (required)

Postcode (required)

Date of Birth (required)

Phone number (required)

Email address (required)

Year of Graduation (If known)

I agree to abide by the University acceptable use policy and the terms of the licence for the use of electronic resources.

I have read and agree with the data protection and privacy statement.


Resources to support Edge Hill Alumni

We are pleased to announce that we have recently extended the licence to a number of eResources which means our Alumni can now access over 1,000 eJournals.  These journals are part of collections from 5 publishers.

Our Alumni can access these at home using the Edge Hill library catalogue, or just use the links above.  All you need is your library number and PIN.

Visitors

Visitors and members of the public are welcome to use the University Libraries for research and study. During help desk opening hours visitors can access the study facilities at any of our libraries and browse our book, print journal and newspaper collections. A member of the team  will be happy to help you find the items you need.

During self-service hours access is for current staff and students only.

Visitors who are part-time students, post-graduate students or academic staff at another University can apply in advance to  borrow items under the SCONUL access scheme.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide a loan service for members of the public that do not qualify for SCONUL or alumni access.

Under 18s

Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian unless visiting as part of an organised school visit, event or open day. More information about events and activities for schools and colleges can be found on the student recruitment pages.

Edge Hill Archive

The Edge Hill Archive is located on the ground floor of the Catalyst and can be visited by appointment.  More information on the archive can be found on the archive pages

Wifi

Students and staff from other universities can bring their own phone, laptop or tablet to access the eduroam wireless network.

A guest wifi network, provided by The Cloud, is also available for visitors who cannot access eduroam.

Electronic Resources

Due to licence restrictions, only members of the University have full access to electronic services. However, we can make some resources available to external users and alumni.

Members of the public and other visitors  can be provided with access to a limited number of electronic resources while they are visiting a library.  Please contact us before you visit to check we have what you need.

Collaborative Library Staff can access a number of electronic resources to help them support Edge Hill University students. To apply for membership please fill in the online form.

Alumni can access a number of electronic resources once they have registered with the library. There is an online registration form available on the alumni pages

Retired Staff

To find out how to join the library as a retired member of staff please email library@edgehill.ac.uk.

Using Other Libraries

SCONUL Access is a reciprocal service supported by most of the higher education libraries in the UK and Ireland. If you are a part time student, a member of academic staff, a researcher, or a distance learner you may wish to use other academic libraries, particularly if they are closer to where you live and work. Undergraduates are allowed reference only access via the scheme.

You can also take your wireless device to other universities and by connecting to the Eduroam network with your Edge Hill username and password you will be able to use WI-Fi and access Edge Hill eResources.

How to Apply

The scheme is no longer issuing new cards as these have been replaced by the online confirmation email. You will be able to continue to use your SCONUL card if it is still in date. You only need to apply once and can use the email in as many participating institutions as you wish to access. Go to the SCONUL Access website and complete the online registration process.

Using SCONUL Access at Other Institutions

Take your SCONUL confirmation email (or SCONUL card if not yet expired) and your Edge Hill Unicard to the participating library. The SCONUL Access website lists all the participants and information on borrowing so check their opening times and service levels before visiting. 

Apply online at SCONUL Access. When your application is re-approved you will receive a confirmation email.

Library Charges

Fines are charged on overdue library and media items.

Charges
2 week rolling loans 25p per day*
6 week rolling loans 25p per day*
general issue media items £1 per day*
inter library loan 25p per day
inter library loan – lost/damaged/unreturned £191.95 per item

*only fined if item reserved

Fines can be paid online via My Account in the library catalogue (minimum £1 transaction), or in person at any of our library sites. If you have lost/damaged any library or media items you will be charged the full replacement cost.

Whilst the majority of library services are provided free of charge, some services do incur a fee:

Printing Charges
Black and white printing or photocopying 2p per sheet (A4) and 3p per sheet (A3)
Colour printing or photocopying 5p per sheet (A4) and 6p per sheet (A3)

 

Binding

Learning Services offer a free binding service throughout the year to give your work that professional finish before you submit.

During peak deadline periods we also provide additional staffing support for anyone wishing to metal bind.

Ring binding is self-service and available 24/7 during term time. Metal binding is available Monday to Friday 8am-8pm and Weekends 10am-6pm and library staff will assist you with this process.

Don’t forget, we also provide a series of online guides and toolkits to help you with Dissertation writing and Online Submission on our Uni Skills webpages.