Hertford College Library: Borrow, renew and return books

The Library will is open 24/7 for College members only to:

• Browse shelves and borrow books using self-issue machine
• Return books
• Collect books requested via Click & Collect
• Print, copy and scan
• Use study spaces 

The Library will be open for access to books, but no study space will be available in the Library building.  Library staff will provide support remotely by email library@hertford.ox.ac.uk. Students should clean hands at the Library entrance, wear a mask and follow one-way signage.

Free postal loans are available for students away from Oxford.

When are vacation loans starting?

All Hertford Library books borrowed or renewed in Hertford Library from Sunday 12 June 2022 will be vacation loans.

When are vacation loans due back?

Hertford Library vacation loans are due to be renewed or returned on Tuesday 11 October 2022 (1st Week Michaelmas Term).

Do I have do to anything special to borrow for vacation?

No, you can browse and borrow using the self-issue machine and renew existing loans online via SOLO. The vacation loan due date will automatically be applied.

Is there a limit on how many books I can borrow?

No, as usual, there is no limit on how many books you can borrow at once.

Do other libraries in Oxford offer vacation loans?

Yes, most departmental and faculty libraries will offer vacation loans from Monday in 8th Week of term, with books due back in 1st Week of the following term.  For details in specific libraries check the library's website.  

Books can be borrowed during open hours by Hertford College members only using our self-issue machine in the ground floor reading room:

1) Wake up the PC by clicking the mouse

2) Scan the barcode on your Bod card

3) Scan the barcode inside the book

4) The screen will show your name, the borrowed books and the due date

5) Click finish

6) Clean down the mouse etc using cleaning wipes

Things didn't go to plan?

Email library@hertford.ox.ac.uk with the details of what you have borrowed if you can't get the machine to work and library staff will add the books to your library account.

Books can be renewed online via the SOLO library catalogue, as long as no one else has requested to use them.

Return your books by placing them inside the return box in the Library entrance.

Books may remain on library accounts until the following day (or over the weekend), but no overdue fines will be charged.

Library staff will remove books from your account and make them available to borrow again.

• Sign into the SOLO Library catalogue using your Single Sign On login.
• Search for the book you want (tip: you can limit your search to Hertford College Library).

• Click on Find & Request and select the location Hertford College Library from the list of libraries.

• Click on the green 'Request' button.  A new box will open to allow you to 'Send Request'.
• You will be alerted by email when your request is available to collect from the collection point in the ground floor of the Library.

If a book you want to use is out on loan then you can request to be the next person to use it by placing a request via the SOLO library catalogue.

You can also suggest the library purchase additional copies of key texts using the book request form.

This Library is not open to members of other Oxford colleges and other Bodleian Libraries readers. If you have an enquiry about a resources that is only available at Hertford Library please contact the Librarian by email library@hertford.ox.ac.uk or by calling 01865 279409.  

Hertford College undergraduates and visiting students have the following membership:

• Term time loans 2 week loans, renewable online via SOLO library catalogue.
• Vacation loans for all of vacation, renewable online via SOLO library catalogue.
• Overdue fines will not be charged 
• Book allowance as many as you like at once
• Renewals as many as you like as long as no one else has requested to use the book

Graduate students have the following membership:

• Term time loans 4 week loans, renewable online via SOLO library catalogue
• Vacation loans for all of vacation, renewable online via SOLO library catalogue
• Overdue fines will not be charged 
• Book allowance as many as you like at once
• Renewals as many as you like as long as no one else has requested to use the book

Hertford College members with disabilities or learning difficulties are offered the following membership:

• Term time loans 4 week loans, renewable online via SOLO library catalogue or by emailing the Library
• Vacation loans for all of vacation, renewable online via SOLO library catalogue or by emailing the Library
• Overdue fines are not charged
• Book allowance as many as you like at once
• Renewals as many as you like as long as no one else has requested to use the book

Readers with a student support plan from the Disability Advisory Service will be given this membership.  Readers without a support plan or who are waiting for one to be created can contact the Librarian directly to update their membership.