You must have your University of Bolton ID card to borrow an item from the library.
First find your items and take them to the self issue machines located in the Link Zone. Follow the simple instructions on the screen and remember to keep your receipt with the details of when the items are due for return. You can also check My Library Account for details of when your items are due and you will receive regular reminder emails too.
If you are having any trouble using the self-issue machines, please speak to a member of staff during staffed opening hours.
If you are borrowing DVDs please remember to unlock the DVD cases on your way out of the library.
Undergraduates
10 items
Postgraduates
15 items
(Education students on postgraduate courses are limited to 10 items)
Researchers
15 items
University staff
15 items
You can also borrow laptops and other equipment from the Library.
Charges are applied for overdue items. See our information on renewals and overdue items and fines for more details.
Most items in the Library can be borrowed for three weeks or one week. You can quickly identify how long you can keep an item for by the colour of the spine label or by looking inside the front cover of a book.
| 3 Week Loan | No coloured label |
| 1 Week Loans | Yellow |
| 3 Day Loans | Orange |
| 2 Hour Loans | Green |
Charges are applied for overdue items. See our information on renewals and overdue items and fines for more details.
You can also borrow laptops and other equipment from the Library.
Some items cannot be borrowed from the Library or have restrictions. They include:
The Reference Collection contains general reference books, such as dictionaries, encyclopaedia and directories as well as some statistical reference material. All items are listed on the Library Catalogue as Reference and have red spine labels.
Many reference titles are also available in electronic format: Credo Reference is a multi-disciplinary reference database providing access to full-text reference material. Oxford Reference Online is another popular reference source.
These books are not for loan. All items are listed on the Library Catalogue as Textbook and have grey spine labels.
The Desk Reference Collection contains out of print books and photocopies. Please ask at the Library Desk for this material which may be borrowed. All books are listed on the Library Catalogue as Desk Reference and have green spine labels.
High Demand is a collection of heavily requested items. These items are two hour loan and listed on the Library Catalogue. Ask at the Library Helpdesk for further details.
The Library has a collection of hard copy student theses. They are kept behind the Helpdesk and may be borrowed within the Library. All theses are listed on the Library Catalogue.
A range of UoB theses can be accessed online and we have a wide range of resources to access theses from other institutions. See our Theses and Dissertations guide for more information.
All journals in the Library are for reference only. However, you can make copies from them as long as you comply with copyright. See our Copyright Guide for more information.