Library rules
Main Function of Library and Hours
Membership of the Library
External Members
Use of the Library by Visitors
Distance Learning Students
Reference Material
Rare Books and Archives
Use of PCs, Laptops and Electronic Resources
Photocopying
Disciplinary Action
Main Function of Library and Hours
1. The Library is primarily intended for the use of staff and students of the School. Other accredited persons may be admitted, for reference only, to consult the Library's specialized holdings (see Use of the Library by Visitors) and certain non-members of the School may apply for limited borrowing privileges (see External Members).
2. Library opening hours are posted at the entrance to the Library and on the Library's website on the page. Variations in these hours occur around national holidays and during occasional School functions.
3. Users may not conduct mobile phone conversations anywhere in the Library. All mobile devices should be set to silent mode whilst in the Library. MP3 players etc should be used with consideration towards other Library users.
4. Food and drink (other than bottled water) may not usually be brought into the Library. Users with a disability who require access to food and drink whilst in the Library should contact the Reader Services Librarian.
5. Cases and bags may be taken into the Library but, for their own security, Library users are advised to use a locker. The School accepts no responsibility for the loss of any unattended valuables.
6. The use of bags, coats etc to reserve study space is not permitted.
7. Users may apply for a Library locker, for use only while they are in the Library. Property left in a locker (or, exceptionally, behind the Enquiries Desk) is at the owner’s risk ; the School accepts no responsibility for any property lost or stolen while the locker is issued to a user. A replacement fee will be charged for lost keys.
8. Lockers may not be held overnight. Any locker still in use at the time the Library closes will be emptied, its contents left with Reception and the lock changed.
9. Library staff may ask to inspect any bag or publication being taken out of the Library. If the theft detection alarm sounds as a Library user leaves the Library, the user must return to the Enquiries Desk for appropriate checks to be made.
Membership of the Library
10. Taught course students are registered for membership of the Library automatically at the beginning of their course. Membership expires with the end of the student's course of study.
11. Research degree students are registered for membership of the Library automatically on an annual basis as they register for study at the beginning of each academic year.
12. Staff may join the Library by completing a Library membership form, which should then handed in at the Library Enquiries Desk in person. The applicant will also need to present their School ID card. Membership is granted for a period of three years from the date of registration, or for the duration of employment, whichever is the shorter.
13. Members of the School may borrow up to 10 items at any one time, which can include one overnight loan.
14. Students must return all loans by the official last day of their course. The Registry will be notified of any students who still have loans so that the University can withhold their degree certificate until all loans and any debts have been cleared.
15. Staff must return all loans by the official last day of their employment.
16. Library users must pay the replacement cost of any item issued to them that is lost or damaged while it is in their possession.
External Members
17. Certain categories of visitor, as detailed below, may apply for membership of the Library as an External Member.
18. External Members are required to adhere to all Library Rules. Failure to do so may result in withdrawal of access.
19. Members of the LSHTM Alumni Association, and current staff, research degree students and eligible taught-course students from SCONUL institutions may apply to join as an External Member. Staff and research degree students from M25 Consortium institutions may also apply. All applicants must complete a registration form in person at the Library Enquiries Desk, and provide a passport-sized photograph. Alumni applicants must present proof of home address and a letter of introduction from the LSHTM Alumni Office. SCONUL and M25 applicants must present their current institutional ID card and a current SCONUL Access or M25 card.
20. External Members must show their LSHTM Library card and complete a visitor’s card each time they visit the Library.
21. External Members cards are valid for one year and may be renewed, at the discretion of the Head of Library & Archives Service, on production of the documentation detailed above.
22. External Members may borrow up to 5 items for the designated loan period. Reference material and items from the Overnight Loan Collection may not be borrowed.
Use of the Library by Visitors
23. Non-members of the School (hereafter referred to as ‘visitors’) may use the Library specifically to refer to its specialized holdings: access purely to use other facilities or for
study purposes is not permitted.
24. Visitors are required to adhere to all Library Rules. Failure to do so may result in withdrawal of access.
25. Visitors are required to comply with the current access procedures, and will be asked to show some form of identification verifying either current membership of another institution or current home address. Visitors, with the exception of those categorised above in External Members, cannot remove any materials from the Library.
26. Visitors may only have access during extended term-time opening hours (i.e. after 8.30 pm on weekdays, after 12.30 pm on Saturdays, and at any time on Sundays) by prior arrangement with the Reader Services Librarian. For security reasons entry will not be possible unless prior notice has been given and this has been acknowledged by the Library.
27. Visitors may not have access to networked services and the Internet. The Library catalogue can be searched using the dedicated workstations adjacent to the Enquiries Desk.
28. Visitors may use the photocopiers (subject to the rules under Photocopying) to copy materials from this Library.
29. No visitor is permitted to enter other parts of the School without prior authorisation.
Distance Learning Students
30. Students currently registered as distance learning students with the University of London External Programme who are visiting London may use the Library for reference purposes.
Reference Material
31. Print copies of theses and MSc project reports may only be consulted in the Library. Readers using such materials are required to sign the Theses Book at the Enquiries Desk, and to return these items to Library staff. Where electronic copies of these materials are available they may be consulted via the School network.
32. Journals, reports and material marked as reference only may not be borrowed from the Library.
Rare Books and Archives
33. Access to material from the Rare Book collections is only be possible on weekdays between 10.00am and 4.00pm. Access is by appointment only. Material in these collections may not be removed from the Library.
34. All users of Rare Book material must complete a Secure Room Request form agreeing to abide by the Guidelines for Using the Rare Books (available at the Enquiries Desk and on the Library’s webpage). Visitors are required to comply with the current access procedures, and will be asked to show some form of identification verifying either current membership of another institution or current home address.
35. Access to the archives is only be possible on weekdays between 10.00am and 4.00pm. Access is by appointment only. Materials in this collection may not be removed from the Library.
36. All users of Archive material must complete and sign a Registration Form for Users of the Archives and agree to abide by the Guidelines for Using the Archives (available from the Archivist & Records Manager). Visitors are required to comply with the current access procedures, and will be asked to show some form of identification verifying either current membership of another institution or current home address.
Use of PCs, Laptops and Electronic Resources
37. Members of the School may use Library PCs and laptops, or their own laptop (once configured by IT Services), to connect to the School’s network.
38. Laptops may only be plugged in at the study carrels. Users are advised to never leave their laptop unattended.
39. All users of PCs and laptops must abide by the School’s Regulations for the use of Networked Computing Services, the CHEST Code of Conduct for the Use of Software or Datasets, UK FAM and JISC Terms & Conditions of Use, the School’s Guidelines for use of electronic journals and the licence agreements for specific resources.
40. Material may be printed within the terms and conditions of the above agreements and UK copyright law.
Photocopying
41. Any user of the Library may use the Library’s photocopiers on purchase of a Flexicard. Anyone using the Library’s photocopiers must obey current UK copyright law, guidance to
which is provided adjacent to the photocopiers.
42. Flexicards are the responsibility of the purchaser and refunds will not be made on unused units or cards.
43. Loss of units through machine failure or poor copy quality will be refunded by Library staff, who will normally provide replacement copies of lost or spoilt pages. Refunds will not be made on a cash basis.
Disciplinary Action
44. The Head of Library & Archives Service reserves the right to withdraw Library facilities from anyone in breach of any of these Rules and Regulations. Additionally, anyone found making illegal photocopies or prints, damaging School property, tampering with someone else’s property or acting in an abusive or disruptive manner may be reported to the appropriate authorities for further disciplinary action.
