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UHI Inverness Library and LRC

A guide to using the Library and Learning Resource Centre of UHI Inverness

Library opening hours, borrowing, renewing and reserving books

Please note: Due to staffing issues, the Library will remain on vacation opening hours until further notice

 

Library Opening Hours 

Term-time:

Monday 8.30am - 5.00pm

Tuesday 8.30am - 5.00pm 

Wednesday 8.30am - 8.00pm 

Thursday 8.30am - 5.00pm

Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm

Vacation:

Monday - Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm

Please note:  alternative study facilities are available at the Highland Health Sciences Library (now known as UHI House), to the rear of Raigmore Hospital.  Students are also welcome to use the public library closest to them for alternative study space.  Public library opening hours can be found here. You can apply to join the public library by completing their online membership application form.

Member of the public or student of another university?

You are most welcome to use the study facilities in the Library or LRC.  You can use our Guest Wi-fi if you bring along your own device.  If you want to borrow books, you can join as an External Borrower and borrow 2 books.  If you are a student from a university other than UHI, you can join as a SCONUL Borrower.  You will be able to use the Eduroam Wi-Fi network, if you have logged on at your home institution beforehand.

Borrowing books

You may borrow up to 15 items. The loan period is 4 weeks.  You will then receive 2 automatic renewals of 4-week periods.  Following the two automatic renewals, you can then renew the book yourself for a third time.  After the third renewal, if you still need the book, please contact the library.  Books can be recalled if required by others after the first 4 weeks.

We also have a self-issue system called MeeScan.  Located at the back of the library, next to the printer - just follow the instructions to issue and return books without having to come to the issue desk.

As well as print books, the Library service also provides access to a vast collection of eBooks and eJournals. Library Search is our resource discovery platform. There is a useful video guide to using Library Search.

Think we should have more copies of a book in the Library?  Let us know using our online form.

We have an Honesty Library in the LRC if you want to take a break from your course books.  The books are free to take - you can return them or keep them forever, as they are not part of the library collection.

Reserving books

You can place a reservation (known as a 'Hold') on a book using our Library Search platform.  You can specify if you would like to collect the book (Click and Collect) in the Library or have it posted to you (Postal Loan).  Click on the 'Place Hold' button to begin the process.  Please see below for more information on Click and Collect and Postal Loans.

Click and Collect service 

If you would like us to have your books ready for you to collect from the Library, you can use our Click and Collect service.  

Books can be requested through Library Search - click on 'Place Hold' and select 'Click and Collect'.  

Book requests will be processed as soon as possible - please wait until you receive an email saying your books are ready to collect.  You will have one week to collect the books before they are returned to the shelves.  If you are unable to collect the books, please let us know and we will offer you a Postal Loan instead.

Postal Loans service 

If you would like us to send your books to you, you can request a Postal Loan.  Books can be requested through Library Search - click on 'Place Hold' and select 'Postal Loan'.  Please bear in mind that books are sent by 2nd Class Royal Mail, so may take a few days to reach you.  You will be given details of our Freepost service, but please bear in mind that if the book does not qualify for Freepost, you will be liable for the return cost.  Please note:  Due to the cost of posting books, if you are able to travel to campus, please consider using our Click and Collect service instead.

British Library loans 

If the material you want is not available in our library collection, please email us to ask about a British Library loan.  If the book is not in stock, we may also consider purchasing a copy for our collection which you can then borrow.  Please note:  We are currently unable to borrow material from the British Library following their cyber incident in October 2023.  

Do you have a visual impairment or print disability?

If you use screen reader software and the book you want is not available as an ebook, we can search the RNIB's BookShare collection and provide you with a personal electronic copy of a book.  Please ask one of the Library team about this service.

Renewing books

Your books will be automatically renewed after the first 4 weeks.  You will then receive another automatic 4-week renewal.  However, if the book is required by another student, we will recall it from you after the first 4 weeks have elapsed.

After your two automatic renewals, your books will be considered overdue unless you contact us to renew them, or your PAT or PDA has informed us that you have mitigating circumstances which prevented you from returning the book on time. You will then be invoiced for the replacement cost of the book.  It is important to return books on time so that other students can access them.  

UHI Inverness Student Book Fund

UHI Inverness-enrolled students experiencing financial hardship can now apply for print copies of their core textbooks.

The scheme also a ‘Pay it Forward’ element, where students can opt to return the books when they are finished with them, so that others might benefit.

The application form can be accessed here.

Returning books

How to return your books

You can return books in person to the Library or post them back using our Freepost address (please retain the receipt given to you by the Post Office). We also have a Library Book return box. There is no cost to you if you use the Freepost address to send books back to us, but if you have several books, please separate them in to more than one parcel as the weight limit for each Freepost parcel is 2kg - if your parcel weighs more than 2kg, the Post Office will ask you to pay for postage.

Library
UHI Inverness
FREEPOST IV326
1 Inverness Campus
INVERNESS      IV2 5NA

Library Book return box 

There is a Library Book Return drop-box located in the Ground Floor Atrium.  The drop-box is emptied daily by a member of the Library team.

General guidance on using our study facilities

Study facilities

The Library is a quiet space with study booths, computers and over 25,500 books.  The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) is adjacent to the Library and is an open-plan area for individual or group study.  It has computers, flexible study spaces and Nooks (private booths for online classes/study, available on a first-come, first-served basis).  

WiFi is available throughout the College - select Eduroam from the list of available networks.  Login with your student email address and your usual network password.  

Library inductions/support sessions

You can book a library induction or support session, either online or on campus.  We will show you how to use the Library and LRC and can help you make the most of the library resources available to you.  A Library Chat service is also available, Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm (during term-time), staffed by the Library team across the university partner libraries.

Behaviour

The Library and LRC are shared study spaces, and we want everyone to have a positive experience when using our services.  Please speak to a member of the Library team if you feel another student's behaviour is affecting your study time.

Mobile phones should be set to 'silent' so that you do not disturb others. Please leave the area if you need to make a call.

Children are welcome, but please ensure that they are supervised at all times.

Please do not bring food into the Library or LRC (including the Nooks) - this is so that we can maintain a clean and safe environment for you to study in.  A water cooler is available in the LRC.