The Library is for the use of Selwyn College members only; visitors, including members of other Colleges, may be allowed to consult books in our collection during staffed hours but must phone or email the Library first.
Opening hours/studying here
The Library is open throughout the year, except for closure during Christmas/New Year and for the College Snowball and similar events.
Term time: 7.00 am - 1.45 am : Vacation 7.00 am - midnight.
The Library office is usually open between 9.00 and 5.00 pm throughout the working week.
We aim to achieve a balance between keeping the library safe and orderly and encouraging you to feel at home while studying. If you wish to leave your books and papers at a particular desk, please confine your store to one working space and use one of our "Book in use" slips to show that you are actively studying there. Books left without these slips and undisturbed for several days may be cleared away. They will be returned through the system to the shelves and any papers or other items will be placed in a green Lost Property crate.
Borrowing and returning
What can I borrow?
Any book or DVD may be borrowed from the Library, unless it is marked 'For reference only' or 'Not to be taken away'. Journals may not be borrowed.
How many items and for how long?
All students may borrow up to 12 items.
Undergraduates in years 1 & 2 for 2 weeks
Undergraduates in years 3 & 4 for 8 weeks
Postgraduate students for 8 weeks.
Fellows may borrow up to 10 items for 8 weeks.
Please contact the Librarian if you need to exceed these limits for your study.
DVDs are loaned for 2 weeks.
Books marked "For reference only" or "Not to be taken away" can't be borrowed. During the Christmas vacation you can borrow reference books but must bring them to the office to have them issued to your account.
To borrow:
Use the issue PC by the ground floor entrance, check the instructions displayed there. There's a knack to using it, so please ask a member of staff before you use it for the first time
If the security alarm sounds as you leave the building, make a note of your details and any reason for triggering the alarm in the Incident Book at the desk. The Library entrance is monitored by a CCTV camera and alarm incidents will be followed up.
No item may be removed from the Library without registering the loan.
Problems?
If you forget to bring your University card with you, or have lost it ...
If the issue PC isn't working ...
If the issue PC doesn't read either your card or a book barcode ...
Fill in one of the paper loan slips, and note you have done so in the Incident Book as the alarm will sound when you leave; during staffed hours call in at the Library office.
If the book barcode doesn't read in check first that you haven't tried to borrow a reference copy.
University card not working?
The computer system in Selwyn library uses the information from the University card database uploaded from the University Library. If you change your details at the UL, such as your name, borrower category or expiry date, it will invalidate the use of your card in our library. Please let us know if any changes are made at the UL so that we can make the necessary amendments to your record here.
3-4 days before the return date you will receive a courtesy email reminding you that loans must be returned or renewed. The email service is a reminder only, you are responsible for ensuring loans are renewed or returned on time.
Return items by placing them in the large brown box at the foot of the stairs. Please do not return books for other Libraries to this box. You are welcome to return items to the office if you prefer.
Please only return books which belong to Selwyn Library. If you inadvertently return books to us which belong elsewhere we will be able to identify them immediately, and will leave them on top of the returns box. Unfortunately there isn't a system whereby we can return your books to other libraries for you.
You can renew your loans online. If you do so, please check your account again after the procedure to ensure that the renewal has taken effect. Contact the library office if there are any problems.
Type in your University card number from the back of the card, top right corner (eg VKPQJ) - watch out for 1/L and O/0 and your last name.
Select University card/UL card from the "Choose your Library" drop-down menu.
You will see displayed your accounts for each Cambridge University library with which you are registered. From here you may select the books you wish to renew, check your loans and the dates they are due back, and check for outstanding fines.
Please note that each Library has different regulations covering borrowing periods, renewals etc.
You may also renew books by
bringing in the books and re-borrowing them at the loan station;
by emailing us on lib@sel.cam.ac.uk (renewal will be carried out during office hours and you will receive an email confirmation in return)
I can't renew my books ...!
Books can't be renewed if:
they have been reserved by another reader, please return any such books to the Library as soon as possible.
they have been renewed 5 times already, in which case please bring them to the office for re-issue.
... if you have any difficulties, please contact the library office.
Please note that renewal and request policies differ for each Library, see details here
If you need to consult a book which is on loan and have little time left to do so, call in at the office, or phone/email us. We will contact the current borrower for you and ask him/her to get in touch with you.
Alternatively, you can recall any book or DVD which is on loan via the Newton catalogue thus:
Select the full record for the item
Select Make a request from the options at the right of the screen
Enter your University card details and log-in
Select University card/UL card from the "Choose your Library" menu
Follow the onscreen prompts to place your request
Be sure not to select Any copy as your request will fail
Note onscreen that your request has been successfully submitted.
You may place up to three recalls at Selwyn Library.
If you have a full quota of loans from the Library your request may be refused, please contact the Library Office.
You can check any recalls you have placed by logging in to Your account from the Newton
catalogue.
You will receive an email as soon as the item is ready for collection from the Library office. If you don't need the book anymore please let us know straightaway so we can put it back on the shelves for others.
Please note that if you receive an email informing you that a book has been
recalled from you, you must return the book to the Library by the date given.
Fines will be imposed at 50p per item per day for overdue recalls.
Alternatively, if an item is on loan and you would like Library staff to hold it back for you
after it has been returned but can wait until it has been returned by the present reader,
you may do so by completing a book reservation slip available at the issue desk. The current borrower won't be able to renew the loan and you will receive an email notification once it is available.
You will receive an email warning a few days before your books are due back, so please check your messages regularly and act within 3 days of receipt by returning or renewing the items.
Books returned late without good reason will be subject to fines at the following rates:
Overdue books: 25p per item per day
Recalled items: 50p per item per day
You will receive an email notification if you have a fine outstanding. Please contact to the library office as soon as possible if this happens to resolve the matter.
If you think you have lost a Library book or DVD don't panic. First make sure you keep renewing the loan to avoid incurring further fines and then make a thorough check, it's amazing where books get to - under the bed, your friends' rooms, other libraries, etc etc. If you still can't find it, contact the office so we can look out for it in the Library for you.
If an item on your account is lost you will have to pay for a replacement. This means either paying a flat fee of £40 (or the full price of a replacement copy if that is more than £40 + an admin fee, usually £20); or buying a replacement copy yourself. The replacement copy must be in good condition (ie no pencil or pen marks inside).
Don't feel anxious about speaking to staff about overdues, fines and losses. Our job is to help you and we understand that mistakes sometimes happen. But we can't solve problems we don't know about ...
Desktop Services (formerly PWF) computers - on the Bridge
Kiosk PCs - on the Landing and outside the Office. Use these for MS Office and the web (you need your Raven password) and print facilities (DS/PWF password required) .
Catalogue search PC - outside the Office.
Remember : please logout of PCs when you have finished, and avoid using keyboards in the first floor room, which is set aside for silent study.
Printer and scanner - both upstairs on the Bridge.
There are printers on the Library Bridge (Selwyn_Lib_*), in Ann's Court (Selwyn_AC_*) and Cripps Court.
Each has been set with double identities, so first select either b&w or colour printing.
Printing is double-sided by default, so if you require single sided please select this from Properties in the Print dialogue box, and remember to uncheck this box afterwards. (You need to be particularly careful when printing dissertations, as these usually require single-sided printing.)
Paper can be collected from the Porters' Lodge. Any problems should be reported to the I.T. Office (35850).
As well as printing from computers in the Library, you can print to any of the College printers from your own computer; to do so you need to install a printer driver on your computer - see instructions here. Regrettably, this facility is not yet available to Linux users.
There is no upper limit on the amount you may print from College printers, but the cost will be added to your College bill at the end of the year.
To use the scanner, which is also on the Bridge beside the printer, please follow the instructions on the lid.
Photocopier
First purchase a card (£1 coin) from the grey card dispenser outside the office, or from staff. Each card purchases 12 A4 copies.
The photocopier is at the foot of the stairs by the window. Please follow the instructions displayed there.
See also information about College I.T. facilities here
Books for sale
Surplus books are offered for sale on the trolley in the centre aisle.
The Library is for use by Selwyn College members only. Visitors may be admitted only by prior permission from the Librarian.
Doors must be closed securely on exit.
All loans must be registered following the procedures displayed in the library. Items marked For Reference only or Not to be taken away must remain in the library.
The number of items that may be borrowed and current loan periods are displayed in the library. Extended borrowing may be permitted on application to the Librarian.
All loans are subject to recall, and items which have been recalled must be returned within the period stated.
Returned items must be placed in the designated boxes in the library.
Items retained for longer than the permitted loan period, or which are damaged or defaced, will be subject to fines.
Lost items must be replaced or paid for.
Members are responsible for any item borrowed in their name until it is safely returned.
Items held in closed collections, such as rare books, may only be consulted in the Library during supervised hours.
The following are not permitted in the Library:
Smoking
Food and drink (other than water in sealable containers)
Noise which causes disturbance to other library users. Conversations must be
kept to a minimum.
Mobile telephones must be switched off in the Library except for silent text messaging.
Laptop computers may be used in the Library provided they do not disturb other users.
Library materials may only be photocopied as permitted by the current CLA regulations (on display by the photocopier).
These regulations have been designed in order to promote equal access to resources for all students. Failure to comply with them may result in fines being imposed, and persistent offenders may be subject to further disciplinary action. If you require clarification or would like any advice in using the Library please contact Library staff.
The Library & Archives committee meets each Term and is chaired by the Senior Tutor. The other members are 4 Fellows, representatives from the MCR and JCR, the Librarian and the Archivist.
Referencing, copyright, good academic practice and plagiarism
The English Faculty Library's Learning Hub section on referencing.
The Medical Library's information on Endnote and Zotero.
For information about compliance with copyright legislation, please click here. This covers issues such as the copying of works or extracts, fair dealing and the use of materials in lectures and on the internet.
You are responsible for your use of Library resource materials, and should familiarise yourself with the legal requirements. In particular, please note that you may only photocopy 1 article from any 1 journal issue; and one chapter or 5% of a published work, and you may only make a single copy. Copying is only permitted if it is for private study or research for a non-commercial purpose.
Remember that material available on the internet may also be subject to copyright restrictions but you can use a filter in Google's Advanced search to restrict searches to non-copyright material.
DVDs are loaned to an individual for study purposes only. If you wish to borrow a DVD to be viewed by more than one person please fill in a copy of the relevant form when you obtain the disc from the office.
For the University's guidance on good academic practice and plagiarism, please click here. You might also enjoy the University of Bergen's video clip here.
Lots more information at the University's skills page here
