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Faculty of Philosophy

 

Further information is also available from the Borrowing from Cambridge Libraries LibGuide.

Who can borrow?

All current members of the University are automatically registered to borrow books from the Philosophy Library.

Academic visitors to the Faculty of Philosophy may also register to borrow. They should be introduced by a Member of the Faculty or by the Faculty Administrative Staff. All academic visitors need to be resident in Cambridge for at least a month to be able to register to borrow.

Academic visitors attached to a College or to another University department may register to borrow. They will need a letter of introduction from the department or the College that is hosting them.

How many books can I borrow from the Philosophy Library?

Undergraduates can borrow up to 10 books at any one time for 7 days in the first instance.

Postgraduates and staff can borrow up to 20 books at any one time for 28 days in the first instance.

Books on loan remain the responsibility of the library account holder until they are returned to the library.

How do I borrow books?

Scan the barcode on the back of your University card on the self-service machine in the library entrance and follow the instructions on the screen or ask a member of library staff for assistance.

How can I renew my books?

Your items will renew automatically unless your account has been blocked for borrowing or your library account has expired.  Please contact us if your items have not automatically renewed or you are unable to return recalled books by the due date and we will do our very best to help.

How can I request a book which is on order or on loan?

  • Go to iDiscover and click on 'Login to iDiscover' and select the ‘Current staff and students of Univesity of Cambridge' option and enter your Raven login 
  • Search for the book you want to recall and click on the title to see the full record 
  • Click on the name of the library that holds the copy of the book you want 
  • Click on 'Request'

We will email you when requested items are ready to collect.  If they are not collected after two days, they will be returned to the shelves for others to use.

A recall notice will be emailed to you and the book must then be returned by the new due date or you may be blocked from borrowing any further items.

How do I return books borrowed from the Philosophy Library?

Press 'Return' on the self-service machine in the library entrance and follow the instructions on the screen or ask a member of library staff for assistance.  When the library is closed, you can post them into the external bookdrop next to Lady Mitchell Hall and we will take them off your account the next time the library is open.  Further information about returning books borrowed from Cambridge University Libraries, including help with the cost of posting books back if you have recently left the University, can be found on the University Library website.

Can you remind me when my library books are due to be returned?

Notices are sent via email as a courtesy to remind you of the due dates and to inform you when a book has become overdue. You will also receive a monthly email listing all the books you have on loan from most Cambridge University Libraries and their due dates.  The library does not accept responsibility for the failure or delay of email reminders.

Will I be fined if I return my library books late?

We no longer charge fines for overdue loans. However, if there are two or more books on your account that have been requested by other users and which you have not returned on time, it will be automatically blocked for borrowing any further items.

If you think you may have lost a book from the Philosophy Faculty Library, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss options for replacing the book.